FAITH VERSION: VOL 2

GROW IN CONFIDENCE. KNOW YOUR IDENTITY.

2

urney

FOR GIRLS OF FAITH

The leaves on the covers of our Brave & Beautiful Series represent the leaves from the tree of life that are for the healing of the nations. We pray this Brave & Beautiful Journey will bring healing and life to you as well as to the nations of the world.

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL Copyright © 2022 Releasing Generations Published by Releasing Generations Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

All articles, art, and photographs have been published and printed with the permission of their creators.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society.

Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.

Art Direction and Graphic Design: Ahava Design, LLC. Photos by Unsplash and Pixabay.

BRAVEANDBEAUTIFUL.WORLD Brave & Beautiful is a publication created by Explicit Movement, a Christian faith-based movement that heals and empowers youth and young adults to walk in sexual integrity and healthy relationships as they embrace their God-given identity and God's beautiful design for sex. We provide faith-based resources that equip youth, young adults, parents, and church leaders to have conversations concerning healthy dating and navigating sexuality issues with confidence, leading the way for young people to thrive in relationships.

CREDITS COVER Floral pattern: Maria Galybina. 3 Photography by Luminous: Emily Ganiko and Dreamstime. 24 Photography: AmericanReject.movie 55 CDC study description from: About the CDC - Kaiser ACE Study: cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about. CDC quote on linking to brain development and chronic healthy problems: November, 2019, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Preventing early trauma to improve adult healthy: cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html. Descriptions of ACES from: ncjfcj.org/publications/finding-your-ace-score/.ncjfcj.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/FindingYour-Ace-Score.pdf. 78 By @nataliaandreichenko1384

WELCOME BACK TO

Brave & Beautiful — vol.2

REAL TRUTH. REAL LOVE.

••

Bave  Beauful Jurney

Sh

eR e l e ases ••

Sh eB

e li e ev

s

c o v

e r s •• She Accepts ••

i D ifu l •• S h e

eE •• x p re s s e s

ut

s

4

••

Journey 01

e

&

a e B

Sh

B ra ve

Journey 02

10

SHE IS BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

8

SHE RELEASES

16

SHE DISCOVERS

20

SHE TRUSTS

30 SHE ACCEPTS

28

SHE CRIES

40 SHE BELIEVES

40

SHE BLOOMS

58 SHE EXPRESSES

50

SHE PERSEVERES

70 SHE CONNECTS

58

SHE PROTECTS

84 SHE RESTS

68

SHE SPARKLES

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

re

••

She s

Sh

e

s

Sh

cts •• She Re sts

nne

Co

e

he Celeb •• She Sparkles •• S ra te

C

he s •• S

••

Sh

eP

Pro

t e c ts

A

es

Journey 03

Journey 04 Listen

8

10

PORNOGRAPHY

20 SHE LOVES

16

SEXUAL ABUSE & TRAUMA

30 SHE GIVES

32

SEX TRAFFICKING

40 SHE DREAMS

50

VOICES OF FREEDOM

48 SHE CREATES

58

HOPE RISING

SHE CELEBRATES

e

r e a te

She Bloom •• s

ri s

Sh

es

eC ri

e m s •• S h

Sh

D re a

s

ves •• She Give o L e s • Sh • ••

She Lstens!

56 SHE ARISES 5

er

ve se

VOLUME 02 – PART 1

She She She

Releases Trusts Cries

how’s your heart?

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart— put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

MATTHEW 5:8 MSG

H

ow is your soul doing? What is going on in your inner world?

We are so much deeper, wider, and multifaceted than what the eye can see.

For some of us, fashion and make-up and pedicures can be a fun way to express our own unique style and flair!

Yet, ponder how much time and money we invest on our improving what is on the inside.

Caring how we appear to the world is not a ‘bad’ thing, but do we ever take a

6

BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

look at what is on our inside and invest in our own soul health? Our soul is made up of our mind, will, emotions, thoughts, attitudes, our character, and even our moral makeup—in other words, our inner world.

The purpose for these next three chapters, She Releases, She Trusts, and She Cries is to support you in navigating the negative emotions of anger, fear and sadness. These three common emotions are often ‘stuffed’ and handled in unhealthy ways that can affect us for

years to come—and even our physical health over time. The culture we live in and even our family culture often may not model or teach us how to handle our emotions in a healthy way.

Entire books have been written on each of these subjects! We hope to plant seeds of truth in your mind and heart and share some helpful tips along your journey to becoming ever more emotionally and mentally healthy, strong, and thriving!

Your Emotional Health Matters!

Did you know that your ability to connect with God is directly impacted by your emotional health?

If we are in the depths of depression, filled with steaming rage, feeling bitter with unforgiveness, or paralyzed by fear, our spiritual life will be impacted. We can try to comfort ourselves through ways such as eating, porn, shopping, social media, getting good grades, drinking, drugs, sex, gaming, and even work—to escape and distract ourselves for the moment.

God cares so deeply about your health—body, mind, soul, and spirit—your entire being! IT'S OK TO GET HELP! If you feel you need additional support, for starters, you can go for counseling and/or to a reputable prayer ministry in addition to spending time with God and meditating on His Word.

ACTIVITY: Reflect on the following questions and rate yourself from 1 to 10 (1 being poor, 10 being excellent) on your emotional health in the areas of your mind, will, and emotions: MIND:

How has your thought life been about yourself, others, your circumstances?

Do you tend to have positive and hopeful thoughts or do you find yourself stewing in negative and cynical thoughts?

WILL:

How have you been managing the virtue of self-control?

Are you a pushover where you have little boundaries and can’t say no?

Are you a control freak?

Have you been trusting God and seeking godly direction, or taking things into your own hands?

Have you been making good and wise choices?

EMOTIONS:

Do you find yourself on an emotional roller coaster?

Are you stuffing your emotions?

Do you feel peaceful and content overall?

Are you even aware of your emotions and avoid ‘going there?’

NOTES

7