L I V E L O V E | R O M A N S 1 2 | R E C E I V E G R A C E {1}   issue

philosophy believe in miracles

release your skin’s

full potential dual-action restoring cream for volume and lift

philosophy: like you, your skin is full of natural promise. release its potential for visibly firmer, fuller, uplifted skin. our advance dual action restoring cream features a unique protein recycling complex that works to breathe new life into existing proteins,* supporting natural collagen and elastin for visibly improved volume and lift. in 4 weeks** 90% saw visibly lifted skin, 88% felt firmer, more resilient skin and 82% noticed fuller cheekbones and more defined contours. now that’s promising.

*in  ep

idermal  layers**%  of  w

omen

 no5

cing  im

provem

ent  b

ased

 on  a  4-­‐week,  tw

ice  daily  use  stud

y  am

ong  49  wom

en  ages  3

5  to  60  

hey you… yes, you. stop being so unhappy with yourself. you were created in God’s image. stop wishing you looked like someone else or wishing people liked you as much as they like someone else, stop trying to get attention from those who hurt you, stop hating your body, your face, your personality, your quirks, love them, without those things you wouldn’t be you, and why would you want to be anyone else? be confident with who you are. smile it will draw people in, if anyone hates on you because you are happy with yourself, say my happiness will not depend on others anymore. i’m happy because i love who i am, i love my flaws, i love my imperfections, they make me, and ‘me’ is pretty amazing.

JANUARY Model MOMOE MURRAY Photographer QIAO QIAO JADE Make-Up Artist NANETTE BRIGGS

O N T H E C O V E R

” I n h i s g r a c e , G o d h a s g i v e n u s d i f f e r e n t g i f t s f o r d o i n g c e r t a i n t h i n g s w e l l . S o i f G o d h a s g i v e n y o u t h e a b i l i t y t o p r o p h e s y , s p e a k o u t w i t h a s m u c h f a i t h a s G o d h a s g i v e n y o u . I f y o u r g i f t i s s e r v i n g o t h e r s , s e r v e t h e m w e l l . I f y o u a r e a t e a c h e r , t e a c h w e l l . I f y o u r g i f t i s t o e n c o u r a g e o t h e r s , b e e n c o u r a g i n g . I f i t i s g i v i n g , g i v e g e n e r o u s l y . I f G o d h a s g i v e n y o u l e a d e r s h i p a b i l i t y , t a k e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y s e r i o u s l y . A n d i f y o u h a v e a g i f t f o r s h o w i n g k i n d n e s s t o o t h e r s , d o i t g l a d l y . ” Romans 12:6-8

content

giving back in the City of Angels

-THE DREAM CENTER-

EVERY ISSUE

 - FROM THE EDITOR - BY YOU. . . - FACT OR FICTION - THE WALK

in her words…

JUMPSTART 2013

HEALTH  

TRENDS  

putting faith back into fashion

- FINDING YOUR CENTER - GET INSPIRED - COLORS THAT WORK - 5 UNDER 50

THE GUIDE

A RENEWED FAITH I WANT A LOVE LIKE THAT

from the EDITOR  

 …  a  few of my favorite things o many times you hear and read

things focusing that Proverbs 31 is such an example of how women should live. I’ve looked to it myself, and seen it shows powerful insight into how a woman should handle herself there are some parts that may never apply to me. Now while I don’t disagree that these verses hold truth or have the ability to carry out powerful teachable moments. Not every woman may be meant to get married, desire to carry children, or to sit quietly behind the scenes. So it leaves the question, where do the modern day, career seeking, God fearing passionate women who want nothing more than to follow Christ look for example? I believe Romans 12 to be a great start.

Living a life of love can be challenging, so many times we are combatting major struggles of life like deaths or illnesses. But I’ve found that sometimes it’s the little thorns that can pack a larger blow in ways we don’t understand at the time. Being the women who raises the bar rather than waiting for someone else to do it for you takes courage. Have you ever told a lie that at the time you believed to be harmless only to later find out has affected the way a person you respected may forever perceive you? Have you ever grab the last of something and in pure laziness not replaced it? Only to affect the person who came along later, causing them to run late while replacing your time? Have you ever just plainly taken the low road of a situation, maybe running to the first person you see, telling them all about whatever situation just happened to you that was so appalling furthering the domino effect of negativity instead of trying to repair the situation in love?

Throughout my life I have learned, in not the gentlest of ways that “love must be sincere”, and that when you do “cling to what it good”

things start to mellow out. While the everyday tests of life still come, embracing the attitude of love can change any situation. So my challenge for you this month is to “not repay evil for evil, do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” “If your enemy is hungry feed them; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink”, and finally “do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” –Romans 12:9-21

 eliza  

S

Eliza Beerbower, Editor in Chief eliza@magazine-grace.com

Because  your  love  is  better  than  life,  my  lips  will  glorify  you.  psalms 63:3

Ph

oto

gra

ph

y |

Ha

ir &

Ma

keu

p: J

ess

ica

Frie

ling

| M

od

el:

Ma

rissa

Du

Bo

is

If  someone  were  to  ask  me,  “Why  him?”  I  would  answer,  simply,  “he  has  always  accepted  me.”  Every  time  I  have  fallen  short,  every  time  I  have  broken  trust,  every  time  I  have  run  away  or  hidden  my  face  -  he  has  forgiven  me,  he  has  trusted  me  anyway,  he  has  found  me,  and  he  has  always,  always  accepted  me.  And  he  always  stays  with  me.  God  has  taught  me  so  much  about  Himself  through  the  way  he  cares  for  me.  Tonight,  through  tears,  I  shook  my  head  and  said,  “This  is  me.  I  am  a  mess.  I  would  understand  if  you  walked  away.”  And  him,  though  hurt,  he  just  smiled  and  said,  “I  forgive  you.  I  accept  you.  You  are  so  beautiful  to  me.”  Grace  is  uncomfortable.  But  I’m  thankful  that  God  lets  me  experience  it  in  such  meaningful  and  permeating  ways.             - 525 project -

the GUIDE  

fact  or  fiction  

china  has  more  people  who  speak  english  than  the  united  states  

the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog uses every letter in the english language

the average golf ball has 336 dimples a  snail  can  sleep  for  3  years  

the flinstones was the first 30 minute cartoon to be aired during prime time

a leach has 18 brains

The #146 can be found on the back of a $5- bill in the bushes at the base of the Lincoln Memorial

ondontophobia  is  the  fear  of  bread  

The  most  money  ever  paid  for  a  cow  in  an  auction  was  $4.6  million  

three best known names in China: Jesus Christ, Madonna, Teddy Roosevelt

visit magazine-grace.com to find out which statements are fact or fiction

 MONEY  

the GUIDE  

ets face it saving money can be rough sometimes. We’ve seen it in movies and read articles all the time… freeze your credit cards, hide your $20 bills, only spend fives. The list goes on and on when it comes to the crazy advice that works for some and fails for most. The bottom line is that savings takes discipline. This technic is definitely not fail proof, but its also one of the more easier formulas for putting away a little extra something for a rainy day, a well deserved vacation, or even better a charity or mission organization.

the  52  WEEK  SAVINGS  plan Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week

Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week

Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week

Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week

$1      =  $1  $2      =  $3  $3      =  $6  $4      =  $10  $5      =  $15  $6      =  $21  $7      =  $28  $8      =  $36  $9      =  $45  $10  =  $55  $11  =  $66  $12  =  $78  $13  =  $91  

 

$14      =  $105  $15      =  $120  $16      =  $136  $17      =  $153  $18      =  $171  $19      =  $190  $20      =  $210  $21      =  $231  $22      =  $253  $23      =  $276  $24      =  $300  $25      =  $325  $26      =  $351  

$27      =  $378  $28      =  $406  $29      =  $435  $30      =  $465  $31      =  $496  $32      =  $528  $33      =  $561  $34      =  $595  $35      =  $630  $36      =  $666  $37      =  $703  $38      =  $741  $39      =  $780  

$40      =  $820  $41      =  $861  $42      =  $903  $43      =  $946  $44      =  $990  $45      =  $1,035  $46      =  $1,081  $47      =  $1,128  $48      =  $1,176  $49      =  $1,125  $50      =  $1,275  $51      =  $1,326  $52  

$1,378  

L

the  GUIDE  

giving back in the

CITY OF ANGELS

Located in the heart of LA in the old Queen of Angels hospital, the Dream Center began back in 1994 with Pastor Matthew Barnett as the lead. The DC is a modern day well, created to help the community by “finding a need and filling it”, beginning with residential recovery programs, safe houses for sex trafficking victims, and a shelter for homeless families. Over the years it has grown adding a mobile food bank, offers medical care, and educates those whose interests lie in furthering the kingdom through missions & ministry. While DC has many who darken the doors of their mission, everyday looking for a helping hand up the story of Alisha is different. She is a women of strength, courage and most of all, an amazing reminder that God’s plans are always greater than ours can ever begin to be. . .

At that point, she had just graduated from cosmetology school, acquired $10,000 in student loans ,but God quickly convicted her to open her heart to the opportunities she was being introduced to. As Alisha explained, “The sermon that night was about seeking wisdom and discernment, and I felt like the pastor was speaking directly to me. After the sermon I went to pray and being kind of a brat testing God I said “ God if this is where you want me, send someone to pray for me”. Two seconds later an older man came up to me and prayed over me. I was shocked and wanted to say just kidding I didn’t mean it God. But he had other plans. I started to panic this was not logical, I had my student loans , just moved out of my parents home, I had bills and didn’t need another tuition. As soon as my mind panicked God hushed me and said “If I sent you I’ll take care of you“. The whole rest of the weekend he kept saying to me “I want you to myself. I want you here to myself”. I made the decision to listen and applied for The Movement and have never looked back.”

As a student in the Dream Center Leadership School. Alisha entered the 9 month ministry training program in September taking a leap of faith, trusting God would carry her through and provide more than she could need to attend. But her walk with Christ began far before that. As a child Alisha grew up being raised by teenage parents whose bad relationship and abusive ways from her father poured deeply into her upbringing. Despite this, her mom always made church a priority in Alisha’s life.

By the age of three, her parents had divorced but through the rebuilding of a new family and step-father’s support and structure, love reentered, but the scars from her early childhood always remained. Hanging with the wrong crowd led to a strong sexual addiction to the point of Alisha finally giving up on Alisha. Completely broken and empty with nothing left to live for, God intervened,. Placing mentors to help her through, she began her fight back to her relationship with God. In April of last year, Alisha’s best friend, was doing her own leadership program at DC. Deciding to check out the facilities , Alisha unknowingly arrived during the weekend of Sneek Peek ( a special weekend designed to give an in-depth look at life as a student) with no intention to join The Movement, in her words. “It just wasn’t logical”

the  GUIDE  

“ I know I can't do anything with out my Father in heaven. His relationship, His word and His presence.

Having gone through everything I've gone through, I want to start a ministry someday for teenage girls. Based all around the idea that we are daughters of the King. Princesses. To deal with real issues that girls go through and just really instill what it means to be a woman of God.

I believe that beauty & confidence really go hand in hand and both come when you've found your identity in Christ. Knowing the God of the universe died for you and you are fearfully and wonderfully made for a divine and distinct purpose. ”

the  GUIDE  

A L I S H A A V I L A

Photographer : Everardo Keeme | Model : Alisha Avila

the  GUIDE  

the  GUIDE  

Caitlin Crosby of MTV’s The Hard Times of RJ Berger, began her journey of paying it forward with the intention of helping the homeless who were looking for opportunities to transition out of their current living situation by engraving recycled keys that are now sold all around the world. With over 50 pages of stories told, the connections The Giving Keys are creating are beyond phenomenal.

the  giving  keys  

www.thegivingkeys.com

the  GUIDE  

Head over to our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/magazine.grace. - to tell us what word you would select to have engraved on your key.

The  giving  keys  

the  GUIDE  

Our  ideal  bookshelf  each month we are going to introduce you to what’s trending, what’s on our shelves here at {grace} and what we believe should be on yours…

books  

music  

podcasts  

John Piper The Internet Monk

WHILE NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE A STOP IN YOUR TRACKS, LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE LIKE ALISHSA’S OR BEGIN A COMPANY, LIKE CAITLIN, THAT IMPACTS OTHERS. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SLOW DOWN, QUIET YOURSELF AND REALLY EXPERIENCE GOD, AND TRULY SEEK HIS WILL WITH THE INTENTION OF DOING GREAT THINGS. START AT THE SOURCE – WHILE THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT RESOURCES OUT TODAY ON THE INTERNET & IN BOOKSTORES. TAKING 30 MINUTES A DAY TO READ THE BIBLE WILL BE LIFE CHANGING. THE BIBLE IS A LIVING WORD- MEANING THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WRITTEN 1000’S OF YEARS AGO IT STILL APPLIES TO US TODAY. PRAYER & MEDITATION – THESE TYPES OF WORDS CAN TEND TO BE SCARY SOMETIMES. QUESTIONS LIKE “IS GOD LISTENING” “HOW DO YOU EVEN BEGIN TO MEDITATE” CAN BEGIN TO CREATE DOUBT. GOD WANTS US TO TALK TO HIM, HE LOVES US ENOUGH TO CONNECT OUR HEARTS TO HIM. IN SPEAKING TO HIM & STOPPING OURSELVES LONG ENOUGH TO SAY “LORD I’M READY TO HEAR YOUR PLAN FOR MY LIFE” WE BEGIN A FORM OF WORSHIP. I BELIEVE ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS GOD LIKES HEARING FROM US IS, “LORD, I’M SEEKING YOU TODAY, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO STOP ME IN MY TRACKS OF LIFE DOWN THE ROAD.” BEGIN JOURNALING – THERE HAS TO BE A REASON WHY EVERY SELF-HELP, HOW TO BOOK OR ARTICLE SUGGESTS JOURNALING. KEEPING ONE FORCES YOU TO ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS, SET YOUR INTENTIONS, AND CHRONICLE THE DIRECTION GOD IS TAKING YOU IN YOUR LIFE AS YOU BEGIN FOLLOWING HIM.

connect WITH  us      

www.magazine-grace.com

-  we  love  engaging  with  our  readers,  if  you  have  fashion,  trends,  or  tutorials  you  would  like  shared  with  our  community  you  can  find  us  at  the  following…  

Or    

or  

#gracetrends

the  #gracetrends

L I G H T T H E W O R L D

WINTER

How has Christ shown himself to you in your life?

 Well this is actually a very easy question for me, I lost both my parents very, very young. I was molested and beaten by the closest people in my life. I was angry and full of hate for a very very long time. A lot of people have said, Amy with everything you have been thru in life, how do you even believe? Well its simple! I'm still here!! I am in my right mind and I have three healthy beautiful children that he covers under his strength everyday. I have the ability to work, love, smell, see, feel, and yes even cry. I know without Christ and his strength I would never make it thru a single day. Yes I have been thru what many believe is more than my share of heartache and pain, but I am stronger on the other side of all that. I was on a path of destruction, Christ broke me down, showed and is still showing me everyday just how much he is control and I will never lose sight of that again.

the TRENDS  

in  her  words.  .  .  

Ph

oto

gra

ph

er

: Ta

mi S

imm

on

s | M

od

el :

Am

y B

ree

the TRENDS  

What drives you & how do you as an individual want to impact the world?

Daily, I am driven by the humbling respect of being giving another chance to do better, every time I open my eyes. To provide for my �family, and ask in prayer that I can guide my children away from mistakes that I have made in my life. If I had the chance I would help young individuals that aren't quite sure what their purpose in His path is. To be there for anyone that feels they have no one and let them know they aren't alone.

Ph

oto

gra

ph

er

: Ta

mi S

imm

on

s | M

od

el :

Am

y B

ree

the TRENDS  

What does feeling beautiful & confident mean to you?

The feeling of beauty and confidence… that's exactly what it is. Do you feel beautiful when you look in the mirror? Or do you only feel confident that your beautiful if your makeup is just right? ALL FALSE. For a long time I never saw the beauty in myself. But I stopped looking in a mirror for it, and it was right there. Beauty to me is seeing someone in need and reaching out. Noticing the tears one is trying to hold back and sincerely asking if that person is okay. Beauty is in laughter, in children, in the blue sky as your driving to work. And to be confident is knowing what you are truly ready to sacrifice and commit to helping anyone you are not looking for acknowledgement or reward. Beauty and confidence to me is to step out of your body and really see yourself from the inside out. I know many very beautiful and confident people, and those whether pretty or not, are the ones I know Christ has placed in my life as angels.  

Ph

oto

gra

ph

er

: Ta

mi S

imm

on

s | M

od

el :

Am

y B

ree

L E T I T S H I N E

2013

connect WITH  us      

www.magazine-grace.com

-  we  love  engaging  with  our  readers,  if  you  have  a  story  to  be  considered  by  us  to  inspire  our  community  you  can  find  

us  at  the  following…  

Or    

the WALK  

By:  Melodie  Anne  Coffman    Everyone  has  those  pesky  New  Year’s  goals  –  you  know  the  ones.  Lose  weight.  Exercise  more.  Fit  into  those  skinny  jeans.  Sure  it’s  great  to  have  a  life-­‐changing  goal  at  the  end,  but  if  you  focus  on  the  big  picture  every  day,  you’ll  miss  all  of  the  little  milestones  you’re  hitting  along  the  way.  You’ll  wind  up  right  back  in  your  old  routine  in  a  matter  of  weeks,  feeling  guilty.  Instead  of  zeroing  in  on  that  one  big  weight-­‐loss  or  Litness  goal,  start  incorporating  little  good  habits  into  your  daily  life.  If  you  keep  up  with  it,  that  big  target  will  happen  naturally,  with  minimal  extra  effort.  

Get  Up  and  Move  Exercise  has  to  be  a  part  of  your  daily  routine.  It  helps  stabilize  your  weight,  makes  you  happy  and  gives  you  more  energy.  Between  working  10  hours  at  the  ofLice,  taking  your  evening  classes  and  Linding  time  for  your  signiLicant  other,  it’s  hard  enough  to  Lind  time  to  shower,  let  alone  exercise.  Don’t  always  think  of  exercise  as  a  1-­‐hour  trip  to  the  gym  every  day.  Small  increments  are  equally  important.  Rather  than  emailing  your  co-­‐worker  down  the  hall,  get  up  and  walk  to  her  ofLice.    

Make  yourself  stand  up  and  walk  in  place  while  you’re  listening  in  on  a  long  conference  call.  Taking  stairs  instead  of  the  elevator  is  always  helpful,  start  slow  though.  If  you’re  up  on  the  15th  Lloor,  take  the  elevator  to  Lloor  14  and  walk  up  one  Llight  of  stairs.  By  making  an  effort  to  increase  your  overall  steps  throughout  the  day,  you  can  burn  between  120  and  180  calories  in  30  minutes  of  extra  walking.  And  when  you  do  have  some  down  time,  head  to  the  gym  for  some  weight  training.  

jumpstart 2013

Get  More  Fiber  You  hear  it  in  just  about  every  commercial:  Get  more  Liber.  Already  you  know  that  Liber  helps  keep  you  regular.  It  also  helps  with  satiety.  High-­‐Liber  foods  –  think  fresh  fruits,  vegetables,  nuts  and  whole-­‐grains  –  force  food  to  sit  in  your  stomach  for  a  longer  period  of  time.  Once  Liber  reaches  your  intestinal  tract,  it  slows  the  digestion  of  everything  behind  it.  Some  Libers  even  bulk  up  when  they  come  into  contact  with  Lluid,  giving  you  even  more  of  a  full  feeling.  As  a  mid-­‐morning  pick-­‐me-­‐up  have  some  nuts  and  dried  fruit,  baby  carrots  with  hummus  or  a  peanut  butter  sandwich  on  multi-­‐grain  bread.    

the WALK  

Drink  a  Lot  of  Water  Of  course  it’s  naturally  calorie-­‐free,  but  it’s  also  a  Liller.  Water  adds  bulk  to  your  belly,  making  you  feel  full,  without  adding  any  sort  of  calories  to  your  diet.    Before  you  sit  down  to  eat,  make  yourself  drink  two  8-­‐ounce  glasses  of  water.  You’ll  wind  up  consuming  between  75  to  90  fewer  calories  from  that  particular  meal,  according  to  research  presented  at  the  240th  National  Meeting  of  the  American  Chemical  Society  in  2010.  That  may  not  sound  like  a  lot,  although  research  participants  who  did  this,  lost  an  average  of  5  more  pounds  during  the  12-­‐week  study  than  those  who  didn’t  drink  the  extra  water.    

Don’t  Focus  on  Numbers  Don’t  be  terriLied  of  your  scale.  Sometimes  the  numbers  aren’t  always  telling  the  truth.  Remember  that  muscle  weighs  more  than  fat  and  if  that  number  goes  up  a  little  or  doesn’t  budge  at  all  for  days,  you’re  most  likely  gaining  muscle  from  all  of  your  exercise  efforts.  Rather  than  staring  blankly  at  the  scale,  try  on  that  pair  of  jeans  that  were  a  little  tight  last  month.  Odds  are,  they’ll  Lit  better.  It’s  always  more  beneLicial  to  see  how  your  goals  are  coming  along  based  on  how  your  clothes  feel,  rather  than  focusing  too  much  on  a  number.    

If  water  bores  you,  spruce  it  up  with  fresh  basil  leaves,  mint  sprigs  and  slices  of  lemons,  limes  or  oranges.    

These  Librous  snacks  will  tide  you  over  until  lunch,  so  you’re  less  likely  to  run  to  the  vending  machine.  Aim  to  get  14  grams  of  Liber  for  every  1,000  calories  in  your  diet,  as  suggested  by  the  Dietary  Guidelines  for  Americans  2010.  If  you’re  on  a  stringent  1,500-­‐calorie  per  day  diet,  you’ll  need  21  grams  of  Liber  each  day.    

the WALK    Sexy  is  conLidence:  It  is  owning  your  essence.  I  think  as  long  as  it  is  something  you  are  exuding  honestly,  all  is  well.        

I  think  feeling  sexy  is  an  attribute  women  should  carry  with  them,  looking  sexual  needs  to  be  reserved  for  behind  closed  doors.  I  think  you  can  feel  sexy  without  Llaunting  your  body.  

“I  think  women  can  look  and  feel  sexy  with  out  it  being  "sexual"  because  modesty  is  actually  quite  becoming  and  how  we  feel  about  ourselves  dictates  how  we  carry  ourselves,  how  we  treat  people  and  how  others  treat  us.”      

I  think  us  women  feel  great  when  we  feel  sexy  and  sould  not  keep  if  behind  closed  door,  if  it  makes  us  happy.      

So  many  times  sexy  is  a  term  as  Christians  that  either  gets  overlooked  or  misunderstood.  Is  it  ok  for  a  Christian  woman  to  feel  sexy,  to  be  sexy,  or  is  that  considered  taboo  and  what  makes  a  woman  sexy?        

in  your  words  

ashley   amy  

melody  

jen  

Join  us  in  the  conversation  head  over  to  Facebook  to  tell  us  what  you  think.  

the WALK  

 Have  you  ever  been  off  track?  I  mean  really  off  track.  The  kind  of  off  track  that  people  in  your  life  might  have  thought,  “Wow,  who  are  you?”  or  “this  isn’t  the  person  I  used  know.”  You  were  living  your  life,  doing  your  best  to  improve  where  you  can  and  then  all  of  a  sudden  you  look  in  the  mirror  and  realize,  this  is  not  who  I  intended  to  be.  It’s  a  gradual  process  and  doesn’t  happen  over  night.  One  compromise  after  another  lands  you  in  a  place  that  you  would  have  probably  never  jumped  right  into  but  none  the  less,  there  you  are.  

By: Melody Hawks

When  we  Lind  ourselves  in  this  place  and  we  look  around  and  feel  like  God  has  just  given  up  on  us  or  feel  that  He  is  no  longer  guiding  or  directing  our  path,  that  He  has  left  us.  I  have  come  to  realize,  it’s  not  God  who  moved  away,  it’s  me  and  what  I  really  need  is  a  new  faith.    

faith renewed

The  Bible  says  in  II  Corinthians  5:17  Therefore,  if  anyone  is  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creation;  old  things  have  passed  away;  behold  all  things  have  become  new.  God,  through  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  can  make  things  new  for  you.  This  might  mean  new  friendships,  new  relationships,  a  new  way  of  thinking,  the  possibilities  are  endless.  You  see,  the  truth  is,  people  have  a  hard  time  grasping  the  thought  that  forgiveness  in  Christ  means  that  our  short  comings  are  cast  as  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west  and  that  our  past  can  stay  right  where  it  is…  in  the  past.            So,  if  you  are  off  track  or  were,  know  that  where  you  are  isn’t  where  you  are  required  to  stay.  God  doesn’t  give  up  on  us.  In  fact,  he  loves  us  with  an  unfailing  love.  If  you  think  you  don’t  deserve  that  kind  of  love  you’re  right.  None  of  us  do.  That’s  the  miracle  of  

the WALK  Either  way,  as  you  go,  your  mind  will  be  renewed.  You  will  develop  a  new  thought  process  and  God  will  start  pointing  out  things  here  and  there  to  focus  on  or  change.  So  we  can  be  yielded  to  the  renewing  but  it  is  God  who  transforms  us.    

{grace}

In  Romans  12  Paul  urges  us  to  “be  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your  mind.”  This  transformation  and  renewal  are  concepts  that  we  should  consider.  This  transformation  is  something  only  God  can  do.  It’s  not  something  we  can  do  ourselves;  however,  we  have  to  be  yielded  or  willing  to  be  transformed  by  renewing  our  minds.  Taking  in  that  which  is  good  is  a  good  start.  Begin  to  read  The  Word.  If  you  aren’t  a  good  reader  there  are  places  on  the  internet  where  the  bible  can  be  read  to  you  and  you  can  follow  along.  Don’t  know  where  to  start?  You  can  start  at  Genesis  but  if  you  are  a  new  Christian  or  just  wanting  to  know  more  about  who  Christ  is,  a  good  start  is  the  Gospel  of  John.    

Not  a  new  religion.  Not  a  turn  from  my  beliefs  that  I’ve  always  held  to.  Maybe  a  better  way  to  put  it  is  a  restored  faith.  If  you  have  ever  accepted  Jesus  as  your  savior,  you’ve  probably  experienced  the  joy  in  your  heart  of  having  eternal  assurance.  For  me  it  was  a  relief  that  I  am  no  longer  doomed  to  an  eternity  apart  from  God  and  then  the  joy  of  knowing  that  the  Creator  of  the  universe  cares  for,  loves  and  even  protects  a  little  speck  like  me.  But  those  emotions  don’t  stay  with  me  forever.  I’ve  gotten  off  track  before.  It’s  those  times  when  I  need  my  faith  restored.  In  Psalm  50,  King  David  asks  of  God  the  Father  to  “Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation”  in  other  words,  “bring  me  back  to  that  place  in  my  heart  when  I  Lirst  felt  the  joy  of  knowing  you”  we  tend  to  want  to  go  back  to  the  place  we  were  before  but  when  we  go  back  to  where  we  were,  we  have  to  be  mindful  not  to  make  the  same  bad  choices  or  compromises  that  we  did  before,  in-­‐fact  not  only  do  we  need  to  be  restored,  we  need  to  be  renewed.  

the WALK  

With the world of technology developing the way it is, the era of a handwritten notes is becoming obsolete. What person doesn’t love getting mail? Taking the extra 10 minutes out of your day to handwrite a thank you will leave an impression beyond anything an email or text message can begin to do.

Thank  you  

connect WITH  us      

or  on  the  web  @  www.magazine-grace.com

-  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…