UGM April Edition

A P R I L

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CONT

FEATURED CONTENT

LIFESTYLE

08

ON CHOOSING THE PERFECT COLLEGE Alyssa Land

10

EASY-PEASY BAKING With Christina

16

WHEN PRAYER DOESN’T FIX IT Leah Stinnett, M.S., L.P.C.-M.H.S.P.

14

UNCOMMON THREADS Featuring Khyeanna Hooke

24

MEET OUR TEAM Get to know Morgan!

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ENTS

WHAT’S TRENDING

UNCOMMON FOUNDATIONS

20

UNCOMMON GIRL Featuring Casey Johnson

07

DEVOTION #1 Come out of hiding.

28

UNCOMMON NOTES Dating questions answered.

12

DEVOTION #2 I’m sticking with Jesus.

19

DEVOTION #3 I plan to have your plan.

26

DEVOTION #4 Tell it like it is.

31

DEVOTION #5 It’s ok to ask.

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LETTER from our EDITORS Morgan Kawakami & Sarah Wilson Uncommon Girl Magazine Co-founders

There is something about spring that stirs up a joy on the inside. The winter has been quiet and grey, then one day, the sun is finally shinning and the birds are singing. What was once dead is beginning to bloom, and you can finally step outside and take a breath of fresh air. The spring seems to set in place - a new beginning.

Speaking of new beginnings, Morgan and Sarah have stepped into a new journey of traveling and sharing what exactly it means to be an uncommon girl. With a few conferences under their belt, and a few speaking engagements conquered, they are stepping out of fear and choosing to be authentic for Christ by sharing their stories and the message of God’s love.

It’s time to step into spring and let God start a new beginning in you. The winter was long, but it’s time to embark on the journey God has placed ahead. Take a deep breath, let the sun hit your face, walk on and leave fear behind.

Here’s to God breathing a fresh breath of air over you this spring. We can’t wait to see what He does.

Give us a follow: @morgan_kawakami @sarahjwilson14 @uncommongirlmag

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Let Him draw you out of hiding, plant your feet, and prepare your path again.

Today’s prayer: Jesus, I confess that I have sinned. (Feel free to place in specifically what you have done.) I know I have been hiding from You, and I do not want to do that anymore.

Give me courage to pick up the broken pieces and begin again. I submit my will to You, come and have Your way in me Jesus. I start this day new, knowing I am washed and cleansed by Your grace and love. Amen.

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Devotionals

W R I T T E N B Y: M O R G A N K AWA K A M I

COME OUT O F HIDING Today’s Verse: Genesis 3:8-9 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’”

Something about winter causes us to go into hiding. Sure, it could be a list of things: the cold weather, dreary skies, sickness, nonetheless; we go into hiding. We slowly stop seeing people, we begin missing out on church and its’ activities, then all of a sudden we wake up one day and wonder where our relationship with the Lord went.

Perhaps during the season of winter you fell off the bandwagon. Maybe you slipped into that old habit you thought you quit, you’ve started seeing that guy again when you already broke up, or maybe there just hasn’t been that relationship with the Lord you set out for at the beginning of the year. Whatever it is, has it left you hiding? Has it left you feeling shameful and distant from God? When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they hid from God because they felt shameful. God goes looking for them and calls out after them, “Where are you?” The thing about God is, He already knew where they were. He wanted Adam to come to Him, to confess what had happened and repent.

Can you relate to Adam and Eve? Are you hiding from God because you know you messed up? Do not let yourself be downcast! The good news is you can confess your sins and repent to God. Let Him draw you out of hiding, plant your feet, and prepare your path again.

As a bonus, listen to Steffany Gretzinger’s song, “Out of Hiding”.

God’s love. creation!

Think about it:

Take a minute to write out what you have been going through.

Why have you been in hiding?

On Choosing the Perfect College F E A T U R E D W R I T E R : A LY S S A L A N D

What was a loan again? Who cares about loans? I’m going to be the next Sutton Foster!

Don’t you want to see me in my debut role as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray??

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I had massive plans for college. I had taken a gap year after high school to be better prepared for the future. So, when it came time to apply for colleges, I pulled up my big girl pants and started googling theatre schools in big cities.

We have this fear as high school seniors that if we pick the wrong college then we’ll pick the wrong friends and we’ll never meet our husband and our whole lives will get off course and God will leave us forever.

Broadway was not even ready for the storm that was approaching their front doors.

Listen, some people know exactly what they want to do, they go to college for it, and then they get a career in it. But those people are unicorns. And you should never compare your life’s journey to that of unicorns.

I didn’t care about student loans. I knew nothing of debt, and I didn’t want to know.

I just wanted the experience that Elle Woods had in Legally Blonde or Beca in Pitch Perfect. I was ready to be pushed into something challenging and marvel as my wings spread out behind me.

You know what ended up happening? I graduated. I am a wife, a mom, a singer, a friend, a mentor, and a decent cook; my degree and the school I went to has nothing to do with any of those things.

What I found instead of support from my parents, was a response that sunk my dreams faster than the Titanic. Which I guess wasn’t that fast because Kate and Leo seemed to struggle on that ship for forever.

I met my husband at Lee, but you want to know something funny? He got his masters at the only other school that I had been considering that spring before I applied to college. So, I probably still would have met him.

“You can go to school anywhere you want, but we aren’t taking out any loans.”

You won’t get to make all the decisions that change the course of your life. Some of them are just dealt to you, or are made by circumstances out of your control. Or by wise parents who want their daughter to graduate college debt-free.

What was a loan again? Who cares about loans? I’m going to be the next Sutton Foster! Don’t you want to see me in my debut role as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray??

But don’t let doubt and worry drive the car of your life. Get in the driver’s seat! Be kind and respectful to other drivers. Do your best driving your own car and My options became few. A school in Cleveland, TN offered the best eventually you’ll end up somewhere beautiful and have no clue scholarships. I auditioned for a singing group that paid for the how it happened. But you’ll be really thankful you took over the rest of school and it was settled. steering wheel.

Not if it was going to cost them more than what they had.

Wow. The tears. The drama. The journal entries in furious College is what you make of it. And you’ll find that most things slanted fonts of my woes in your life are that way. and rambles on how my whole future was Your job will be what screwed. The best colyou make it. Your best lege experiences were friendships will be waiting for me in big the ones you work the cities! Nothing great hardest for. And the could happen 45 miles future will be the best away from home. when you are making the most out of all the little I got my class schedule steps along the way. and the list of textbooks I would need. They cost Rarely ever will you walk $445,927. I would never into a perfect situation. eat again.

How boring would that be! The more you embrace the unpredictability of this life, the I cried some more. sooner you’ll realize life is not actually the Titanic sinking, and college can be great even if it’s next door.

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G I V E C H R I S T I N A A F O L L O W : @ A U D A C I O U S LY. A U T H E N T I C

with

Christina

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Chocolate Chip Oat Bites Ingredients 1 stick butter, softened 1 stick margarine, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 4 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup quick-cooking oats 1/2 bag of miniature semisweet chocolate chips Instructions 1. Heat oven to 350 F 2. In large bowl, beat butter, margarine, and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

3. Stir in flour, baking soda, vanilla and oats.

4. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. On baking stone (or uncreased cooking sheets), drop dough by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart.

6. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool 1 minute; remove from baking stone (or cooking sheet) to cooling racks.

Tid-bits For all my gluten free friends, you can easily swap out the flour and oats for gluten free brands! Here, we used the Quick 1-Minute Quaker Oats, but they also have a gluten free version you can find at most local grocery stores (it’s my go-to!). You may not have a baking stone, which is totally okay, though, my family has found that it gives the cookies a softer texture than a typical baking sheet does. Either way, the tasty level stays the same!

Behind the Cookie When going into middle school, my mom and I were looking for a simple, easy, and affordable gift for friends and teachers on certain celebratory days. That’s when my mom came across a Betty Crocker recipe for these chocolate chip oat cookies. We experimented, changed this and that, made some not so good batches, and then finally, we came to the recipe you have here! These little cookie bites became all the rage among people we know and the quickest thing to go at church gatherings or get togethers with friends. Small disclaimer: you could eat these things like popcorn! Bake them for a night hang with the girls, stick them in a cute jar to gift someone special, or just make a batch to enjoy with your family on movie night.

Either way, these lil’ guys are a great, quick, and simple treat to really fill that sweet craving!

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Devotionals

W R I T T E N B Y: M O R G A N K AWA K A M I

I ’ M STICKING WIT H J E S US Today’s Verse: John 15:2 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Growing up, I was in a music rut. What is a music rut you ask? Well, I did not know any good Christian music. In my house, we weren’t allowed to listen to anything but Christian, so more often than not I didn’t listen to anything.

Of course once I was at friends houses or in the car I had the radio, but I merely was filling my mind with trash. It wasn’t until college that I discovered so many Christian worship groups, and really grew fond of listening to music that built me up and drew me closer to God. There is a singer I love and her name is Steffany Gretzinger. I wrote down a quote by her once, “There is only one hero in the story and it’s Jesus.” So many times in life we try to do things on our own don’t we? We lose sight of God, He didn’t show up when we wanted Him to, or He didn’t stop something bad from happening; so we take matters into our own hands. We think, I’ll fix this problem, I won’t ask God because I know He doesn’t care, etc. If we aren’t careful, we try to make ourselves the hero in our own story. All about me, my fame, my acknowledgements, and self-glorification.

This thought led me to the scripture found in

John 15:2, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” You see, we need God. He tells us directly we can do NO thing without Him. So why even try? Quit exhausting yourself and running, or trying to make your own agenda, give everything you have over to Him. If you find yourself today in the slumps because you’ve tried too long to do life on your own, there is hope for you. Let God be the only hero in your story, not you. Make a decision to stick with God, and every day will get better and better.

Think about it:

Have you been trying to do things on your own? Get somewhere quiet with God, write down everything you feel you have taken into your own hands. Next, journal what you hear God saying about that.

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Let God be the only hero in your story, not you.

Today’s prayer: Jesus, I crown You Lord over my life. If I have been trying to be the

hero in my story, I am sorry, please forgive me. Never let me forget that I cannot do anything without You. 13 UNCOMMON GIRL MAGAZINE April 2019

INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY BY: SARAH WILSON

When you’re shopping, what is your “Go-To” color?

My go-to color is definitely black!

It’s super flattering and it goes well with everything!

Was there ever a time when yo u f e lt u n c o m f o r ta b l e i n yo u r clothes?

Of course! In middle school, I didn’t know what type of clothing flattered my body type or even what my body type was. I also hadn’t figured out my style at that point! But with experimenting and stepping out of my comfort zone, I found what made me feel both comfortable and confident!

Do you ever feel the pressure to dress like everyone else?

Never! I’ve definitely been inspired by celebrities and women around me, but I quickly came to the realization that I feel most beautiful in the clothing I love, not what someone else loves. God created me to be me, and part of who I am is how I choose to express myself through what I wear.

What tip could you give a girl who just doesn’t feel confident in her own skin?

Don’t worry about what anyone else is thinking! Wear whatever makes you feel beautiful, whether or not it pleases the eyes of others!

Why is this your favorite outfit?

I feel especially confident in this outfit! And when I feel confident, I feel like I can conquer the world.

If you had to wear one pair of jeans for the rest of your life, what brand would they be and why?

PacSun jeans are my favorite by far! I never have a problem finding the right size in both my waist and height! They’re also SO comfortable & SO flattering!

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Did you know it’s ok to be a Christian and still deal with anxiety and depression?

It’s true! Pastors don’t often discuss mental health illness, but the Bible does.

In fact, fear and discouragement are mentioned all throughout scripture. Here are just a few examples: 1. David wrestled with depression his entire life! The book of Psalms (much of which he wrote) is full of sadness and despair. For instance: “My tears have been my food day and night…” “O God… Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief…” “Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?”

(Psalm 42: 3, 9, 11) Despite his depression, God still made David the King of Israel and called him, “a man after my own heart.”

(Act 13:22)

3. Peter, a disciple who walked with Jesus and saw miracles face to face, still constantly struggled with doubt and fear. He started to walk on water, only to sink at the last minute because of fear. Thankfully, Jesus pulled him from the water (and from his fear!) before it overtook him. (Matthew 14:2532) Scripture overflows with examples of anxiety, depression, mood swings, bad decisions, and any other issue imaginable. This is how I KNOW that God accepts you, and does not condemn you, right in the middle of your mess.

In my practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor, here are a few tips I’ve found helpful for clients dealing with mental health issues.

1. Don’t feel guilty for the struggle! It’s not your fault if you’re anxious or depressed. Shame is just a dirty trick to keep you trapped in negative feelings!

2. Don’t accept the depressed/ anxious thoughts in your mind as your own! The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “take captive every THOUGHT.” This means that some thoughts invade our mind without our permission! Intrusive negative thoughts are not from God or ourselves. Recognize them as intruding lies, so you can start to fight back.

3. If you can’t stop the negative thoughts/ feelings, that’s ok! We can’t always stop certain thoughts, but we can REPLACE them with truth! What positive truth does God say about you and your life? Write a list. Read it out loud every day. Even if you don’t FEEL like it’s true, keep saying it.

4. Keep yourself MOVING. That means physically, verbally, mentally, emotionally…. When you feel stuck, break up your normal routine. Exercise, call a friend, watch a funny movie, listen to encouraging music, get in nature, and don’t isolate yourself!

5. Hold onto hope. I’m telling you, as a therapist, that you will not feel this way forever! God has a good plan for you and your future (Jeremiah 29:11).

He is working all things for your ultimate good - even this

painful m e n t a l health issue (Romans 8:28). He came to give you abundant life!

(John 10:10).

Lastly, it’s always ok to need help.

If you’re dealing with depression or anxiety, tell your parent, youth pastor or a trusted adult.

Prayer and Jesus are important, but therapy helps too! Let’s get all the support we can, and beat these struggles together!

Le

2. Gideon suffered from chronic anxiety. His anxiety and poor self-image were so bad he even argued with angels when they said he was a mighty hero! Catch up on that story in Judges 6-8.

God asked him to lead an army against his enemies, but he was terrified the entire time! Even in his fear, though, God stayed with him. Gideon turned out to be a mighty hero after all.

ah

in St

n

, e tt

, L.P.C.-M.H.S.P .

M.S.

Today’s prayer: Jesus, even though I know You have always been in control of my

life, it is really hard to sit in the passenger seat. My flesh wants to take control, please help my spirit to listen to You. I give my discouragements to You when life doesn’t pan out the way I want, and I trust You hold my future. I commit to You my ways, and I look forward to what You will do.

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Devotionals

W R I T T E N B Y: M O R G A N K AWA K A M I

I P LAN TO HAVE YO UR PL A N Today’s Verse: Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

High School can be such a fun time in life. I remember that time for me, and sure there were many days I couldn’t wait to just get out of there. I was ready to live my life beyond those walls. Looking back though, it really was a period I enjoyed and I know I obviously can’t get back.

I always loved filling out those “my future plans” questionnaires. The guidance counselors would come to our classes, and for about forty-five minutes we would answer questions about what we wanted to do, what careers interested us and so forth. It felt as if I had all the power in my hands to just decide what I wanted to do, and do it. Have you ever tried to take plans into your own hands? Can you think of a time or two when God just wasn’t doing what you wanted, so you made things happen for yourself on your time? I have bad news, life doesn’t work that way! Proverbs 16:3 tells us,“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” It also says in 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” How misleading were my guidance counselors? I understand they were trying to get me to think of the future and simply what I wanted to do, but it would have been nice if someone would have written at the top, “In the end it’s what God wants.”

It’s just a matter of fact that God writes our story, and if we try to take our life into our own hands, we will fail miserably. Our carnal plans lead to death. Please don’t take me wrong here and think, “Oh great I don’t need a plan because God’s got this.” A tentative plan is always good, just knowing it is subject to change per God’s request. As you go into this spring season, I encourage you to take a deep breath, and surrender your plans to God. Let Him do the writing, you turn the page.

Think about it:

List out your tentative future plans. It is okay to make your requests known to God. Now, ask the Father what His plans are for you. What do you hear Him saying and see Him showing you?

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FEATURING:

CASEY JOHNSON

W R I T T E N B Y: JONNA MCGILL

Continued on page 22

Casey, a high school dropout, was trying to help keep her mom afloat while dealing with her own uncertainties and questions.

Meet Casey Johnson, a 22-year-old girl who used to live a regular life with a seemingly perfect family.

That is, until that perfect family fell apart and her regular life went MIA. She grew up in a Christian home, but life was far from easy. Her family went from going to church every Sunday to hardly ever going at all. Casey’s dad became consumed by alcohol and her mom fell into a deep state of depression. Talk about a world turned upside down.

It was like everything she knew that held her together was suddenly stripped away. Just like that - gone, leaving her feeling as if she was all alone.

She became ashamed of her life. Her mom’s depression became so consuming that she tried to take her life, multiple times. As time passed, life passed, and after another devastating divorce, Casey and her mom became homeless. With her mom too mentally unstable to hold down a job, she ended up going from house to house, living with friends and other family members. Not the way she pictured her once Christian, church-attending, life.

When Casey was a junior in high school she received a phone call from a family friend that her mom was staying with. He urged Casey to dropout of school to come live with them because her mom was starving herself and refusing to eat.

So, what does a daughter do with that ultimatum?

She chose to drop everything and take care of her.

Now, Casey, a high school dropout, was trying to help keep her mom afloat while dealing with her own uncertainties and questions. In her words, she was in, “the most hopeless situation of [her] life.”

Yes, growing up was difficult for Casey, but she knew God had a plan and purpose for her life.

Casey shares about her faith during one of the hardest seasons of her young life: I remember being a little girl crying out to God as I watched my parents give their hearts to the desires of their flesh, and telling God, “but you can have my heart. I love you.” I kept repeating, “I love you,” over and over again, hoping that my love for Him would be enough. Life was chaos, but His love for me was my anchor. I lost many friends throughout my school years because I completely abandoned myself to Jesus. I was so ablaze with His love that I wasn’t going to let anything snuff it out. I held God’s hand in every season that I walked in, and because of that, He opened doors that no man could have ever opened for me. I was in pursuit after His heart.

And God did indeed help her walk out each season.

He crafted every moment to lead her to her divine purpose. Meet Casey, the missionary. After she cried out to the Lord, the door for a ministry program suddenly opened for her. Her camp

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pastor at the time approached her and recognized the calling on her life. He told her about a ministry program called School of Ministry Charlotte.

So suddenly 18 year old Casey, who, by the grace and miraculous hand of God, finished high school on time, was now moving from Michigan to North Carolina! It’s a good thing God had prepped her in the area of swift and sudden change! She gave Him her yes: Throughout the ministry program people asked, “What do you feel like God has called you to?” I never knew how to answer that question. All I had known was that I wanted more of God, and to be like John and hear His heartbeat. I wanted to be like David, a man after God’s own heart. But what does it mean to want God like that? To want His heart? During my morning prayer & devotion time, I specifically asked the Father to show me His heart. I was bound, and determined to know. I knew that if I searched for more of His heart, I would find more answers. I wanted to know just how intricate His heart was, I wanted to know the patterns, what makes it pound,

what makes it speed up and what makes it slow down. And then in that moment, I imagined a pair of hands molding His creation. The Creator’s eyes shown bright as He gazed at his masterpiece. He was in awe. I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me, “Daughter, you are My heart. You are what I treasure most. You want to know My heart, go reach My people. My people are My heart.” And it all suddenly made sense. It was as though the puzzle pieces of my life were finally coming together, and I was seeing the picture that God had for my life.

While in this ministry program, Casey was presented with the opportunity to go on a missions trip to Ecuador.

My life completely turned upside down after this trip. In Ecuador, we went to one of the main cities evangelizing, I remember standing in front of a massive crowd, sharing the love of Christ and seeing how drawn they were, listening to the good news of Jesus Christ. There were many moments throughout the trip like this, where I was completely terrified of what I was about to do, but I knew

that this was bigger than myself. That Jesus laid His life down for them, so why wouldn’t I? We went to an indigenous area in the Amazon jungle. This particular group was only ever introduced to the Gospel a month or two prior to us coming. We had the privilege of holding a chapel service for them, and afterwards many gave their life to Christ.

After going to Ecuador, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that was what I was called to, and what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing.

Since accepting the call as a missionary, Casey has been privileged to go to Ecuador, Honduras, Mozambique, South Africa and Nepal where she has seen many experience the love of Jesus and find salvation. “I went from being a broken girl from a broken home, to being a daughter of the King, extending out invitations for other sons and daughters to come home.”

It’s amazing how Casey is now being used to minister to the hurting in a MAJOR way. She is truly an example of an uncommon girl, the best friend

or classmate, who is doing something truly remarkable with this life. Growing up she lived with labels, probably like many have. So, what was it that allowed her to see past the hurt, past the day she was living in and into what she couldn’t have ever imagined? She knew that because Jesus lived on the inside of her, that greatness must rest on the inside as well. She refused to settle. She knew she was called, even in the midst of the disfunction. She went at it with her whole heart. A mentor of hers once said, “Pain motivates you in ways pleasure never will.”

If I could say anything to my younger self, or those broken and hurting as I was, I would say that God hears you, that your voice is important. You have a defender who is defending you and has your best interest in mind. You don’t have to carry the wait of the world on your shoulders, and it’s not your job to be anyone’s savior. You are enough, even when you feel like you don’t fit in. Most importantly, don’t be afraid or ashamed, because God loves you, He has His best interest in mind, and He accepts you even in your mess.

Morgan Kawakami is the co-founder and editor of Uncommon Girl Magazine.

She lives in Georgia with her husband Stephen and their two kids, Willow Marie Hope & Milo Jack!

Enjoy getting to know her!

Why Uncommon Girl Magazine?

Growing up I really struggled making friends. Sure, I had plenty of people to talk to, but true friends were hard to come by. When I did find one, it always seemed at some point, they would hurt me, burn me to the ground, and every relationship ended up damaged. It wasn’t until college that I learned what true friends were; girls who encouraged me, built me up, prayed with me, and really established a relationship built on trust and most importantly, God. I really believe this magazine is going to build you up in Christ and establish a community of girls that cannot be shaken by the lies and hurts of other people. I can’t wait to hear of friendships built across the country because of this!

You can check out Morgan on social @morgan_kawakami

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Devotionals

W R I T T E N B Y: M O R G A N K AWA K A M I

TE L L I T LIKE IT IS Today’s Verse: Matthew 16: 23 “Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’”

Struggles. We all have them. In fact, if you don’t have them, I would say, “Who are you and what are you doing?” Haha. Struggles are apart of life. Sometimes they come in seasons and waves, sometimes it’s a daily thing. Rest assured, there is nothing wrong with you and you are normal!

Jesus had struggles. I find that amazing about Him, that He became like us and He wouldn’t ask us to go through anything that He didn’t already experience. I love this verse when He just tells Peter like it is. “Get behind me Satan!

You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Peter was tempting Him, and He just flat out tells him to get behind Him. Basically, leave me alone. That’s what some of us need to do. We need to look Satan straight in the face and tell him, “Leave me alone! You don’t have my best life in mind for me! You are a stumbling block to me!” Now, don’t go around telling everyone they are Satan and leave you alone. But, some

of you may to need to tell that girl or guy who aren’t the greatest influence, “Hey, this friendship/relationship isn’t good for me. I’m going to have to cut it off.” Some of you may need to begin to take a stronger stand against sins that keep presenting themselves to you.

As you go about your day, ask God to help you recognize when you’re being tempted and to turn the other way. Don’t be afraid to kindly tell people when something isn’t good for you.

Definitely don’t be afraid to tell the enemy to straight up, leave you alone.

Think about it:

What is in your way that is a stumbling block to you? A fear, a person, a future event your undecided about? Write it out. Listen. What does God say about it?

Today’s prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have given me a good example of how to stand up to the enemy. I thank You that You walked life first, and You wouldn’t ask me to go through something You didn’t already conquer. Give me endurance to run my race, and boldness to tell the enemy like it is. Amen.

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UNCOMMON notes LETTERS FROM OUR READERS BIBLICAL ADVICE FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS WALKED IN YOUR SHOES

W R I T T E N B Y: C H R I S T I N A S T A F F O R D

“WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DATING AT A YOUNG AGE?” S U B M I T T E D B Y: @ J O C E Y Y Y Y. B I find it interesting that the Bible doesn’t talk about dating at all. What it does touch on, though, is marriage: Biblical marriage and what it is to be the bride of Christ. My response on dating would be the same to a younger person as it would to someone older. Dating should be a season of preparing your heart for marriage.

Through my years of middle and high school, I witnessed a lot of relationships form and develop among young people I knew. Some were very successful, others plummeted fast. There was a noticeable difference between the two. The question I would ask is, “Do you feel secure enough in who you are in Christ and in your faith to take on another person’s heart?” This is a question I would ask anyone considering joining the dating pool. Regardless of age, the reality is, the majority of younger people haven’t reached a place of maturity or spiritual security to truly value and care for the relationship they’re longing for.

That’s not to discount people who are young. Not even in the slightest, but maturity and wisdom come with time. Heck, I always thought of myself as, “mature for my age,” but, I know I wasn’t truly ready for the relationship I dove into at the age of fifteen. My heart wasn’t firmly grounded in Christ, and marriage wasn’t the long term goal. In my humble opinion, I’d say dating at a young age isn’t, “wrong,” it’s just that a lot of young people date for the wrong reasons. Matthew 6:33 tells us, “To seek God first in all things and He will provide all of our needs.” If you’re seeking Him first and foremost, I firmly believe He will guide you to a beautiful and blessed relationship, whether that be when you’re young or old. But in all things, I just encourage you to seek Him out first.

“HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A GUY YOU’RE INTERESTED IN IS REALLY BEING GENUINE WITH YOU? A LOT OF GIRLS IN OUR GENERATION HAVE TRUST ISSUES INCLUDING MYSELF, SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU COULD TRUST SOMEONE WITH YOU HEART?” S U B M I T T E D B Y: @IBRIANNATHOMAS Boy, oh boy, have I gotten SO burned by guys I’ve been interested in because I’ve been so quick to give into my feelings. And, ya know, I think that’s where a lot of it comes from. We as girls tend to be very emotional (as I’m sure you know), and because of that and being all up in the feels of liking someone, we tend to make some not so wise decisions. We freely hand over our hearts with a gift receipt attached instead of waiting for the one who will truly value it for the treasure it is. The most profound thing I’ve ever heard was from a mom giving her teenage daughter advice. The daughter was interested in a guy and her mom encouraged her to look at 2 Corinthians 13:4-7 and, each time she saw the word love to replace it with the guy’s name. Go ahead. Try it. I guarantee you that will help you to evaluate some of what you may be questioning in a guy right now.

Aside from that, though, if a God honoring guy is being genuine with you, he will show it in his actions and the ways he pursues you. If he is, in fact, interested in you he’ll pursue you with love and respect, and honor the things you have to say or value. He will be intentional. A guy who is not being genuine will be ready to push his own agenda on you or simply play with your feelings like it’s a game. Your heart is much too valuable for that. Surround yourself with wise women who can help pour into you. Pray about it and surrender your thoughts and feelings to Him. He hears you, girl. He knows what worries you.

He’ll lead you in the right direction.

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Today’s prayer: Father, I thank You that I can bombard You with my questions.

More than that, I thank You that You hear me and You promise to open doors for me.

Inspire me to come to You more, ask You more, and seek You more. I love You, and I am looking forward to our journey together.

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Devotionals

W R I T T E N B Y: M O R G A N K AWA K A M I

I T’S O KAY TO AS K Today’s Verse: Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

I am a mom. I’m not trying to make myself sound old to a bunch of young girls here, but that’s just the facts. I have a daughter, she’s three. Have you ever been around a toddler?

They ask about a million questions in five minutes! Try watching a movie with them! If you’ve not had the pleasure of knowing what I’m talking about, give me a call and you can come hangout with us.

Something about this journey of motherhood has painted such a more simple picture of Jesus for me. I realize He’s so much more attainable than I ever thought. I came across Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Doesn’t that sound so easy? Just ask. I was always told growing up that it was okay to ask questions. They help us learn and discover, they help us learn right from wrong, questions can bring clarity at times, and at others just add more confusion.

Nonetheless, Jesus tells us to ask Him, seek Him, and doors will be opened to us.

I know we are all in different phases of life as we sit here and read. As I said, I’m a mom, you may be twelve or seventeen, you may have a small question for God, whereas I have big. It doesn’t matter because we can all ask the same Father questions and get answers.

That’s the beauty of Him. If I leave you with anything until we meet again in the summer it would be, don’t be afraid to ask Him questions. Ask what sports you should play, who to hangout with, or what clubs to join. He is concerned about You, He loves you, and He loves to hear from You.

Think about it:

Take a few minutes to write out some questions you have for God. They can big or small.

Sit quiet and listen. What is the Father saying in response to you?

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