Simply Radiant Magazine: Summer

SUMMER 2015 

STEPS TO A 

PERFECT LOVE 

PAGE 26 

Taking 

My Beauty 

Back! 

PAGE 12 

SIMPLY 

SNACKING 

PAGE 10 

LEARNING 

HOW TO 

HEAL 

INNOCENCE LOST 

PAGE 20 

+ FINDING YOUR VALUE 

IN GOD’S EYES 

PAGE 08

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED ON THE NEXT PAGE 

Letter from the Editor 

THIS IS TOO COOL— 

welcome to our very first 

issue of Simply Radiant 

Magazine! 

I have to say, life is a trip. 

I have experienced some very 

fun and amazing times, and 

also some very discouraging 

and depressing times. The 

creation of this magazine 

has been one of those 

amazing times. However, in 

my past, I have experienced 

painful times, and have 

learned so much over the years because of 

them. I made many costly mistakes along 

the way and hurt myself and others. Though 

painful experiences are sometimes how we 

learn best, there is no need to seek them. If 

they do occur, the best thing to do is learn 

from them—as I did. 

For over twenty years I have been driven 

to help young women walk in freedom, 

wholeness and victory, and away from past 

mistakes. And though I am still growing and 

changing myself, I have come to realize it 

is through my exposed frailties and flaws, 

and being transformed and renewed on an 

on-going basis, that God works best. His 

radiance shines best through us when we 

allow Him to heal our wounds and we share 

how He healed us with others. We let His 

love and light radiate through our healed 

hearts as we look to Him for identity. 

Angel Cantrell 

This message is now being 

spread from those in my life, to 

you and all the beautiful young 

ladies who read our magazine. 

The staff is a powerful collection 

of strong women with ages 

spanning 18 to 51 years old, 

married and single, and a variety 

of ethnic backgrounds. These 

ladies have surrendered their 

hearts to Jesus and desire to 

please and serve Him with 

abandon. Their desire is the 

same as mine—for all young 

ladies to know that their true 

worth and beauty are found in Christ alone. 

Simply Radiant Magazine has five sections: 

Health and Beauty, Love and Relationships, 

When Life Hurts, Intimacy (Into-Me-See), and 

A Radiant Heart. It is a quarterly magazine 

for you to grow from, be encouraged by, and 

experience healing through. We pray that as 

you read Simply Radiant Magazine, you are 

inspired to live a radiant life—one that reflects 

God’s beauty, love, and power, and then pass 

His love to others. 

We are so excited for your participation on 

this amazing journey to a free life, and we are 

so happy to have you as a reader of Simply 

Radiant Magazine. 

With great expectations for a radiant life, 

ANGEL CANTRELL, EDITOR IN CHIEF

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS 

ANGEL CANTRELL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

BRITTANY WALLACE 

MANAGING EDITOR 

RUBI Z 

PHOTO EDITOR 

SONIA RODRIGUEZ 

DEPARTMENT EDITOR 

KALYN VALENTINE 


JADA CANTRELL 


AURORA GREGORY 

MARKETING/CIRCULATION DIRECTOR 

RANÉ FRANKLIN 

MARKETING/CIRCULATION DIRECTOR 

JENNIFER LUXTON 

ART DIRECTOR 

CONTRIBUTORS 

JACKIE WRIGHT, COURTNEY EARNEST, 

BRANDY BRADLEY, WENDY CRUZ 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 

TO GET INVOLVED OR CONTACT THE 

SIMPLY RADIANT STAFF, CHECK US OUT 

AT SIMPLYRADIANTMAGAZINE.COM 

DREAMS DO COME TRUE 

S 

imply Radiant 

started out as 

an unattainable 

dream for me. 

Since I came 

to know 

Christ, my 

deepest hope 

was for God 

to allow me to 

bring His truth 

to His daughters 

all around the world. 

It wasn’t until I met Angel that I 

realized my dream could actually 

be reality. Angel’s passion for 

young women to know who 

they are in Christ is deeper and 

more charismatic than anything 

that I have ever seen. It blew my 

mind that she, too, wanted to do 

something big for the kingdom of 

God. Shortly thereafter, I began 

to notice how God was placing 

different people into our lives to 

help make this dream real. 

The heart of Simply Radiant is 

Psalm 34:5: “Those who look 

to Him are radiant and their 

faces will never be ashamed.” 

Our primary prayer is that our 

readers would come to know 

who they are in Christ and know 

that they can look to Him in 

every situation in their lives. My 

life and the lives of our staff are 

all different, but the common 

thread is that at some point, 

we didn’t know who we were 

to Christ and it wasn’t until we 

understood how precious we 

were to The Father that we were 

able to boldly move forward in 

our lives. That is exactly what 

we want our readers to get from 

this magazine. 

Be bold. Be radiant. 

Brittany Wallace 

MANAGING EDITOR 

03 

SUMMER 2015 | WWW.SIMPLYRADIANTMAGAZINE.COM

04 

11 

THOSE WHO LOOK TO HIM ARE 

12 

06 

18 

Radiant 

Stories 

EDITOR’S LETTERS 02 

A RADIANT HEART 

EXPOSED—INSIDE AND OUT 06 

WHAT AM I WORTH? 

YOUR VALUE IN GOD’S EYES 08 

HEALTH & BEAUTY 

SIMPLY SNACKING 

SIMPLY FIT 

TAKING MY BEAUTY BACK 

THREE WAYS TO BE SIMPLY RADIANT 

10 

11 

1 2 

15

05 

20 

26 

SUMMER 2015 | WWW.SIMPLYRADIANTMAGAZINE.COM 

36 

15 

INTIMACY (INTO-ME-SEE) 

HELLO, MY NAME IS PERFECTIONIST 18 

WHEN LIFE HURTS 

INNOCENCE LOST 20 

LOVE & DATING 

STEPS TO A PERFECT LOVE 

ENVISION A GODLY HUSBAND 

FLIRTING WITH DARKNESS 

26 

30 

32 

HEAR MORE VOICES 

AND READ THE MAGAZINE 

ONLINE AT 

SIMPLYRADIANTMAGAZINE.COM 

PUBLICATION SPONSORED BY 

LIVING VICTORY CHURCH 

LIVINGVICTORYCHURCH.ORG 

PLAYLIST 36 

INVITATION TO RADIANCE 38

06 


A RADIANT HEART - DEVELOPING A HEART OF DEVOTION 

Exposed - Inside and Out 

BY AURORA GREGORY 

H 

ave you always wanted to be radiant? 

To be so beautiful, your face glowed 

with a light that is out of this world? 

To look so amazing, people gazed in awe? 

It is possible to be that beautiful, that 

lovely. It is possible to be radiant. 

Do you want to know how? It starts with 

your heart. 

Your heart is the center of who you are. It’s 

where who you are, how you are, and what 

you are all come together to make up the 

person that shows up every day at school 

and at church, with family and with friends. 

The problem is, sometimes we don’t like who 

we are. We don’t think we’re good enough, 

smart enough, or pretty enough, so we take 

WHEN MOSES CAME DOWN FROM 

MOUNT SINAI…HE WAS NOT AWARE 

THAT HIS FACE WAS RADIANT BECAUSE 

HE HAD SPOKEN WITH THE LORD. 

(EXODUS 34:29) 

on the impossible job of trying to cover up 

who we are so no one sees the real us. 

But there is someone who sees you, sees 

the truth of who you are, and that someone 

loves you, just as you are. 

God sees you – all of you, inside and out. 

He knows the doubts you have, the worries 

you carry, the fears that live in your heart,

and the lies that trouble your 

mind and keep you anxiously 

awake at night. 

God wants to change this. He 

wants to exchange those doubts, 

fears and worries for His peace 

(John 14:27). This trade happens 

when you to spend time with Him. 

The Lord invites you to get to 

know Him and let Him transform 

your heart. He has incredible 

things to tell you and when you 

hear them, you will be changed. 

He will make your heart radiant— 

and when your heart becomes 

radiant, you become radiant. 

CALL TO ME 

AND I WILL TELL 

YOU GREAT AND 

UNSEARCHABLE 

THINGS YOU DO 

NOT KNOW. 

(JEREMIAH 33:3) 

07 


MY PEACE I LEAVE YOU, MY 

PEACE I GIVE TO YOU…DO NOT 

LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED 

AND DO NOT BE AFRAID. 

(JOHN 14:27) 

Moses learned that when he spent 

time with God, he looked different. 

When he talked with God, Moses 

learned how much God loved 

him and how much He loved the 

people He had brought out of 

slavery. 

When Moses was done spending 

time with God, his face glowed. He 

was different. He was radiant. 

Let the Lord tell you how much He 

loves you. He wants you to have a 

heart that is confident in who He 

says you are—not anxious over what 

you or others may think of you. 

If you’ll accept His invitation, He 

makes you a promise. He will give 

you a radiant heart, and when your 

heart is radiant, you will be radiant. 

Will you come and meet with Him? 

PONDER, JOURNAL, DISCUSS 

• What are your biggest fears? 

• How do your fears make you feel? How do they 

make you act? 

• Do you believe that God can make you radiant? If 

not, why not? 

• Is spending time with God a priority to you? 

• What can you do to increase the time you spend 

with the Lord? 

THREE WAYS TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD 

• Wake up 20 minutes earlier to read your Bible. 

• Read a short devotional at lunch time. 

• Spend 10 minutes in prayer before going to sleep.

08 


Discovering My Value 

IN PART FROM SECRET KEEPER GIRL BY DANNAH GRESH 

D 

o you believe God is there for you when you 

hurt? That He sees your heart, tears, worries 

— and He cares? 

Do you believe that God is actively involved in 

your life and is trying to bring you His best? 

If you do not believe or know how deeply God 

loves you, you will not be motivated to value 

what He values. You will make no or little 

attempt to pursue purity. 

THE KING IS ENTHRALLED BY 

YOUR BEAUTY; HONOR HIM 

FOR HE IS YOUR LORD…ALL 

GLORIOUS IS THE PRINCESS IN 

HER CHAMBER; HER GOWN IS 

INTERWOVEN WITH GOLD. IN 

EMBROIDERED GARMENT, SHE 

IS LED TO THE KING. 

(PSALM 45:11, 13 – 14) 

HOW DO YOUR ACTIONS SHOW HOW MUCH YOU FEEL YOU ARE WORTH? 

A STYROFOAM CUP: 

Cheap 

A CERAMIC MUG: 

No big loss if broken; 

easy to replace 

PRICELESS TEACUP: 

Expensive; not easy 

to replace 

Activity 

Fill in the box with the appropriate letter 

(S= Styrofoam, C=Ceramic, T = Teacup) 

In the way I dress 

In the places I am willing to go on dates 

In the movies I watch 

In the things I am willing to do on dates 

In the TV shows I watch 

In the things I talk about on dates 

Regardless of how 

you answered these 

questions, you are 

a princess. Your 

behavior and the 

choices you make 

must be governed 

by THAT value. 

You must present 

yourself as you 

would a priceless 

china teacup. 

In the material I view on the internet 

In the music I listen to 

.

09 

WHAT DOES GOD SAY IN HIS 

WORD ABOUT YOU? 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Look for Scriptures in the 

Bible that say this about you: 

He takes great delight in me… 

I am the apple of His eye… 

His banner of love covers me… 

My name is written in the palm 

of His hand…. 

He rejoices over me with 

singing… 

He loved me enough to send 

His only Son to die for me… 

Find your own Scriptures that 

speak to your heart. 

Memorize these Scriptures. 

Speak them out loud 

throughout your day, every 

day, for as long as it takes, 

until you believe these 

Scriptures. 

Quiz: 

T / F If a young lady wears clothes that are tight 

or shows a lot of her body, a boy/man can see her 

and begin to have sexual thoughts. 

T / F It is my responsibility, in some part, to help 

keep guys (my brothers) pure in their thought life. 

T / F The way I dress (anytime) does not cause 

any guy to struggle to keep their thoughts pure. 

(A woman of God) is clothed with strength and 

dignity...- Proverbs 31:25. 

Dress like you believe and know He has given you 

His strength and dignity to wear. 

“I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE; 

I HAVE DRAWN YOU WITH UNFAILING KINDNESS” 

(JEREMIAH 31:3) 

2015 | WWW.SIMPLYRADIANTMAGAZINE.COM

10 


SIMPLY SNACKING 

EASY-TO-MAKE FOODS FOR 

ANY TIME OF THE DAY 

Health Done Easy (and Tasty) 

BY JADA 

CANTRELL 

A HEALTHY 

DELECTABLE 

SNACK 

F 

eel like eating, but it’s not yet 

lunch or dinner time? Check 

out these fun, delicious and easyto-make 

snacks for any time of the 

day, whether your feeling hungry 

or you’re in the mood for a fun 

treat - you can eat while still 

maintaining a healthy diet! 

CHOCOLATE— 

COVERED PB AND B 

To create this simple, bitesize 

snack, carefully slice 

two bananas and place 

them on a cookie sheet. 

Spread peanut butter on one 

side of half the pieces. Place 

another piece on top to make a 

sandwich. Once all of the banana 

slices have peanut butter between 

them, set the cookie sheet in the 

freezer for about 30 minutes to 

an hour, until they are almost 

frozen. While the bananas and 

peanut butter are in the freezer, 

melt half a bag of milk or dark 

chocolate chips in a microwave 

safe bowl and microwave on 

high for about 30 seconds. Stir 

and reheat at 15 second intervals 

or until the chocolate is melted. 

Remove banana “sandwiches” 

from the freezer one by one and 

using a spoon, dip the PB and B 

in the chocolate, making sure all 

sides are covered. Then set the 

pieces back on the cookie sheet. 

For extra crunch, sprinkle small 

peanut bits on top! Place the 

cookie sheet in the freezer and 

let them sit for two to three hours 

or until chocolate is hardened. 

Once the pieces are solid, remove 

from the freezer and enjoy your 

delectable snack. 

TINY TORTILLA TOTS 

Creating these Tortilla Tots is 

no sweat. Lay out a tortilla, then 

layer on ham, turkey, lettuce and 

any other tasty lunch items you 

typically enjoy on a sandwich or 

wrap. After very tightly rolling the 

tortilla, make the wrap bite-sized 

by cutting the roll to your desired 

width. The shorter, the better! No 

heating or refrigeration necessary 

before enjoying.

Pilates That Count 

BY JADA CANTRELL 

I 

SIMPLY FIT 

t’s no surprise that our 

bodies are useful for 

getting things done and 

taking us places, but Joseph 

Pilates also saw the human 

body as a complex piece of 

artwork and a masterpiece. 

Our hands, wrists, arms, 

shoulders, feet, ankles 

and neck—just to name a 

few—are all elaborate and 

carefully designed. Joseph 

Pilates created some exercise 

techniques in order to enhance 

each unique body part, their 

intricate movements and 

limitless abilities in everyday 

life. Each move was specifically 

designed to begin and end with 

the concentration of the core, 

the spine and the oneness of 

the entire body as a whole. 

CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE 

BEGINNING ANY EXERCISE PLAN 

“THE HUNDRED” 

• Lay on your back, with hands 

to your side. 

• Lift legs off the ground to 

“tabletop” position or until 

they bend at a 90-degree 

angle. 

• Lift your head off the ground 

until you’re looking at your 

waistline. 

— Your back should not be 

arched and lower back should 

be touching the ground. 

• Lift your arms off the 

ground with palms facing 

down and begin pumping 

them up and down 

— Your arms should be firm and 

straight. The movement should 

begin from your shoulders. 

11 


12 

BECOMING THE MOST RADIANT YOU 

Taking My Beauty 

Back—Finding Me 


BY SONIA RODRIGUEZ 

Radiant (ra·di·ant) adj.: sending out light; 

shining or glowing brightly 

Sonia 

Rodriguez 

ORIGINALLY FROM 

AUTHENTIC BEAUTY 

BY LESLIE LUDY 

(FROM THIS 

POINT FORWARD) 

A 

re you sending out light, 

shining and glowing 

brightly? If not, then what 

are you waiting for… 

it’s your time to be 

RADIANT! The word of 

God says, “Those who 

look to Him are radiant, 

their faces are never 

covered in shame.” As we 

look to God, we become a 

reflection of Him, and that’s 

why He calls US radiant. We 

begin to shine His light, glowing 

brightly in the fullness of God! God 

makes it so simple! Imagine it now… 

as we look to Him, the beauty of 

heaven, the beauty of God in all his 

LOVE and MAJESTY becomes what 

we reflect to others. God’s glory 

and love surpasses any other type 

of beauty… Nothing compares. Be 

BEAUTIFUL in the presence of God! 

If we are honest with ourselves, 

we all want to know that we are 

beautiful. The truth is that we ARE. 

No matter how beautiful you are, 

you’ll never think you are beautiful 

enough if you’re measuring beauty 

by the world’s standards. 

“ideal” body for yourself, but also 

that you are only valuable if you 

do. Young ladies, you possess so 

many wonderful qualities that the 

media ignores. Movies, television, 

music, magazines (the media) 

reduce you to what you wear, how 

you diet, what makeup you use, or 

how you smell. They are basically 

telling you that nobody cares if you 

are generous, kind, funny, creative, 

loyal, or friendly. 

True beauty, purpose, and 

satisfaction come only in 

discovering God’s TRUTH. 

The message from the media is 

not only that you should reach the 

So how do we stand up against the 

media? I’m glad you asked. We take 

it back to the TRUTH. The Bible 

says, “Don’t be so well-adjusted 

to your culture that you fit into 

it without even thinking. Instead,

13 


fix your attention on God. You’ll 

be changed from the inside out. 

Readily recognize what He wants 

from you, and quickly respond to 

it. Unlike the culture around you, 

always dragging you down to its 

level of immaturity, God brings the 

best out of you, develops wellformed 

maturity in you (Romans 

12:2, MSG).” 

Look up this verse, Romans 12:2, 

in your favorite translation and 

write it down. This verse is the KEY 

to knowing that you are beautiful. 

Negative messages get into your 

MIND. They tell you what is wrong 

with the way YOU look. When you 

recognize these false messages, 

Readily recognize what He wants from you, and 

quickly respond to it. God brings the best out of 

you, and develops well-formed maturity in you. 

you gain POWER over the impact 

they have on your life and you 

begin the journey of transforming 

your mind. Ask the Spirit of God to 

help you in this process. 

The only lasting cure for negative 

body image is spiritual. Are you 

ready to discover real beauty?

14 


KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND 

WE BELIEVE IT’ S TIME YOU 

THINK ABOUT THE REALITY 

OF THE MEDIA AND THE 

IMPACT IT HAS ON HOW YOU 

SEE YOURSELF. 

How has the media (commercials, 

movies, music, magazines) 

undermined you and kept you from 

accepting the brilliant, wonderful, 

beautiful girl you are? What are you 

going to do about it? Knowledge is 

power, and we believe it’s time you 

think about the reality of the media 

and the impact it has on how you 

see yourself. 

Activity 

THINK OF ONE THING YOU 

LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. 

It could be that you like your 

laugh, your creative edge, your 

smile, hair or feet. Think of that 

part of you, acknowledge that God 

made that part of you, and receive 

it as His gift to you. 

Say aloud or to yourself, “I am 

beautiful and wonderfully made. I 

really like my ____________ (eyes, 

feet, hair, etc.). 

Repeat this activity every day and 

add to the list… embrace yourself, 

you are God’s masterpiece! 

Was that hard to do? Why? 

Now take it one step further… pray 

for a friend who you know could 

join you on this journey. Tell your 

friend how awesome she is and 

encourage one another as you walk 

in the radiance of Jesus together!

Three 

Ways to 

be Simply 

Radiant 

ORIGINALLY BY 

SAM LEVENSON 

15 


For attractive lips, speak 

words of kindness. 

For lovely eyes, seek out the 

good in people. 

For poise, walk with the 

knowledge you’ll never 

walk alone.

16 


HOW GOOD AND 

PLEASANT IT IS FOR 

[SISTERS] TO DWELL 

TOGETHER IN 

unity 

PSALM 133:1

17 


INTIMACY 

(INTO - ME - SEE) 

Hello, 

My Name is 

BY KALYN VALENTINE 

G 

rowing up as a “pastor’s kid” 

and as the oldest child, I felt 

like I had to be perfect. I couldn’t 

make mistakes and I couldn’t 

reveal any flaws. During high 

school, I was the girl that was 

in 10 clubs at the SAME TIME! I 

was in honors and AP classes, did 

sports, leadership, kept my room 

clean and helped watch my little 

brothers. I was always afraid that 

if I wasn’t perfect, people might 

judge my family or me— or my 

little brothers might see me and 

repeat my mistakes. 

Unfortunately, my life was turned 

upside down when my step-dad 

(the now ex-pastor) turned to 

alcohol and drugs to solve his 

problems. In a matter of a few years, 

I lost a father figure, a stable home, 

income, health insurance, my car, 

along with countless other things. 

During the situation with my 

step-dad, my physical needs were

unmet and I experienced panic attacks, 

sadness, and severe physical ailments as my 

world was turned upside down. I felt alone 

and out of control. Much of my anxiety and 

physical issues were caused by the inability 

to look “perfect” or “put together”. I feared 

failure, or at least the perception of failure. 

I couldn’t get myself together because my 

circumstances were bigger than me — but 

not bigger than God. 

MY PAINFUL EXPERIENCES DID 

TWO THINGS: 

1 

2 

They showed me God’s love. 

They taught me that I can’t be 

perfect, no matter how hard I try. 

It’s ok that my life doesn’t look like the 

movies (big house, white picket fence and 

perfect family). To this day, I struggle with 

an obsession with perfection influenced 

by my upbringing. Now, I wake up every 

day and lean on God’s word that says, 

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for my 

power is made perfect in weakness…” (2 

Corinthians 12:9). 

19 


To this day, I have to wake up and 

choose to believe that no matter the 

circumstances, God’s got me. Despite 

the fact that I know the truth, sometimes 

I feel as if I’m not “good enough”… 

But the truth is, I will never be “good 

enough.” I will never be perfect, but 

God loves me regardless. As much as 

God loves me, He loves YOU with an 

everlasting, passionate and sacrificial 

love that cannot be paralleled. 

I know that He and He 

alone is the reason why 

I am still alive today. 

Out of this ash heap of a situation, God 

provided me with a place to live with a 

wonderful lady (who later adopted me 

as one of her god-children), a job that 

provided me with enough income to get 

a car, and a church home that has been 

loving and supportive. Through it all, God 

was there. There were many times when I felt 

His presence holding parts of me together 

like glue. I know that He and He alone is the 

reason why I am still alive today. 

IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME, CHECK 

THESE BIBLE VERSES OUT! 

JOHN 3:16, GALATIANS 2:20, 

ZEPHANIAH 3:17, 1 JOHN 3:1.

20 

WHEN LIFE HURTS 

INNOCENCE 


LOST 

WALKING AWAY 

FROM SHAME

21 


22 

THOSE WHO LOOK TO HIM ARE

23 

Usually when we behave in ways to 

protect ourselves, we end up hurting 

ourselves and others. 

BY ANGEL CANTRELL 

S 

ometimes it is hard to identify when we’ve been hurt 

(physically, emotionally, or spiritually), because sometimes the 

hurt or injury is so normal, or common, we don’t think it’s a big 

deal. Therefore , we feel like we aren’t really hurt. 

One way to assess, or know, if we ever have injuries (wounds) 

from the past that have not healed is to examine our behavior. 

Look at the following list and see if you find any traits you 

struggle with regularly. 


CIRCLE ALL THE ONES THAT FIT YOU: 

• Speaks harsh words 

• Judgmental 

• Controlling conversations 

• Passive/Withdrawn 

• Isolating yourself from others 

• Aggressive toward others 

• Difficulty maintaining friends 

who you can be transparent 

with and honest with 

• Surrounding yourself with many 

surface/superficial friendships 

• Unforgiving heart 

• Not trusting 

• Unable to enjoy being with 

people who disagree with you 

• Substance abuse and/or use of 

sleep aids (to take off edge) 

• Sexually impure thoughts/ 

behavior (any sexual acts that 

are not with your husband) 

• Sarcastic/Snarky 

• Consumed with other people’s 

business, social media, reality 

TV, gossiping with friends, 

etc. 

• Excessive sleeping/eating 

• Dishonest with yourself 

and others about your true 

emotions and thoughts 

• Perfectionist (failing at 

anything is unacceptable) 

• Flirtatious 

• Attention seeking regularly 

• Martyr/victim behavior 

If you find yourself on this list, it’s a good chance you have 

experienced hurts in your life that have not healed. These 

behaviors are not healthy, loving, or free. They were developed 

to protect your heart, however, usually when we behave in ways 

to protect ourselves, we end up hurting ourselves and others 

(sometimes on purpose, sometimes on accident).

24 


When we protect 

ourselves, we cover 

our light/ radiance 

(reflecting Jesus). 

I did this for a long 

time. I was covered 

with shame. As a five 

year old girl, I was 

(PSALM 34:5) 

sexualized(abused) and 

this experience put into 

motion a lot of unhealthy behavior that 

I developed which, in turn, brought me 

more shame. The definition of shame is a 

painful emotion caused by a strong sense 

of guilt, embarrassment or unworthiness. 

I did many things to make up for my 

shame and to prove my worth. I have 

since gotten help and understand this 

particular wound in my life and it’s effects. 

God has been walking me though a 

healing process. Regardless of the types 

of wounds you may have experienced in 

life, you never have to be covered with 

shame (Psalm 34:5). This scripture says, 


RADIANT AND THEIR FACES ARE 

NEVER COVERED WITH SHAME 

“Those who look to 

him are radiant and 

their faces are never 

covered with shame.” 

And I have now tasted 

what it is to walk in His 

light and freedom. I’m 

not perfect...and I still 

struggle but not nearly 

as much as I use to. As 

we get to really know Jesus and spend 

time with Him, His truth will kill any lies 

and wounds that you have ever received. 

His Word and His love give us the courage 

and humility to get help and face our past 

and heal from it. 

If you would like to pursue healing and 

freedom from past wounds, I encourage 

you to: 

• Pray that God brings you a mature 

Christian sister (mom, sister, friend, 

counselor, mentor, pastor).

• Tell that sister the entire story 

of your life (the abuse, neglect, 

shame, abandonment done 

to you. And your dirty deeds 

as well). 

• Identify the lies you believe 

from the wounds you received 

and did.(ex. I’m ugly...) 

• Find Scriptures that tell the 

truth on that lie. (ex. “I am 

altogether beautiful...” Song 

of Solomon 4:7); write the 

truth on a card, repeat it out 

loud to yourself regularly, and 

memorize these scriptures. 

• Let that person see your heart 

and tears, comfort you, and 

speak into your life. Listen to 

their advice that lines up with 

the Word of God. 

• Join a girls/ladies Christian 

group and/or Bible study. 

• Regularly read your Bible and 

devotional books. 

• Listen to and sing worship music. 

• See a professional Christian 

counselor if necessary. 

25 


I DID MANY THINGS TO 

MAKE UP FOR MY SHAME 

AND TO PROVE MY 

WORTH. GOD HAS BEEN 

WALKING ME THOUGH A 

HEALING PROCESS. 

Walk in your radiance, your 

freedom, your healing. Be 

determined to shine His light 

on others and help them walk in 

their healing. His love is so good 

and life is really sweet! 

When life hurts, God heals.

26 

LOVE & DATING 


STEPS TO A 

PERFECT LOVE 

HE EXISTS! 

BY BRITTANY WALLACE 

A 

t different times in my life, it seemed that just about everyone I 

knew was dating or in a serious relationship. After several failed 

attempts at dating and relationships, I wanted to find out what the 

Bible had to say about it. I was sure that Jesus, in all of His complete 

perfection, had something to say 

about the way that we were to go 

about dating; but He never did. 

After several failed attempts of my own dating 

and relationships, I wanted to find out what 

the Bible had to say about it. 

Instead, what I found were several 

examples of how to love others, 

how important it is to be selfless, 

what it means to be patient, and 

what it looks like to serve another 

person. None of these principles

27 


come to mind immediately when most 

people think about dating. Many think: Cute 

guy. Cute girl. Hand holding. Kissing. Cute 

Instagram photos. Having someone to do 

fun stuff with. Not being lonely. 

The truth is that Jesus gave us perfect 

examples of how to love people, regardless 

of their position or the nature of the 

relationship. When it comes to dating 

though, I’ve outlined some of the lessons 

I’ve learned and observed from other 

healthy relationships. 

1 

DEFINE IT 

What does dating mean to you? To 

some people, dating means an exclusive 

boyfriend/girlfriend relationship while to 

others, it means going on dates with different 

people without forming a deep attachment 

to any of them. Or it could mean that you’re 

simply getting to know someone. 

In my opinion, it’s most important to know 

yourself first and honestly assess whether or 

not you are ready for dating. Only you know 

what you can handle.

28 

that’s growing between them. Level 

Three is what a lot of people would 

call “exclusive dating” or “courting.” 

This is where the two are open and 

honest about their feelings, and 

their future life goals together; it has 

become the focus of the relationship. 


Joshua Harris, author of the widely 

popular books “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” 

and “Boy Meets Girl,” expresses that he 

does not think it is wise to date for the 

sake of dating at all, but rather to only 

enter into a courtship with the purpose 

of marriage in mind. He explains that 

it’s good to have friendship, deeper 

friendship, and then courtship; but 

advises against entering into deeper 

friendship and courtship until you are 

spiritually healthy enough to do so. 

Maximize your singleness by 

devoting the time that you have 

to serving in your community, 

mentoring, or at your church. 

Some Christian authors who have written 

on the topic of dating have differing 

perspectives. For example: 

Chuck Miliam wrote “We’re Just Friends and 

Other Dating Lies”. In his book, he provides a 

chart that outlines different levels of dating 

and what they include. 

Level One is the low risk “dating for 

something to do”- This includes no 

physical contact and getting to know the 

other person in a group setting. Level Two 

involves a medium gauged risk relationship 

that is not exclusive. However, both parties 

acknowledge the attraction and interest 

Some of these theories were hard for 

me to grasp at first, because in my 

mind, it seemed right to date different 

guys to find out what you like and 

what you didn’t. Then, hopefully, one 

of those relationships would work out 

and you’d marry a great guy who had 

all of the good, and none of the bad 

you found in ex-boyfriends. I learned 

that this is a selfish way of thinking. The 

most important person in scenario is YOU, 

and that’s not at all how Christ loved. Jesus 

commanded that we love others the way 

that He loves us. Never once did He love 

us just to “try us on” or to find out what He 

doesn’t like. He just loves. 

THE PURPOSE FOR 

2 ENTERING INTO A 

RELATIONSHIP IS MARRIAGE 

There’s no point in wasting one another’s 

time if marriage isn’t where one or both of 

you desire to see the relationship move.

With this thought in mind, painful breakups 

and heartache can be avoided. 

*Note: I would suggest that you refrain 

from dating until you believe that you’re 

ready to be a wife. If you’re not there yet, 

that’s a perfect position for God to use you 

for His service. Maximize your singleness 

by devoting the time that you have as 

an unmarried woman to serving in your 

community, mentoring, or at your church. 

3 

KEEP GOD AT THE CENTER 

The purpose of a dating relationship 

shouldn’t be to make you feel good 

or to have someone to hold hands with; 

it’s to pursue Christ as the common 

goal and serve in building the kingdom 

together. I cannot stress how 

difficult it is to date someone 

who does not hold the same 

spiritual values that you do. If 

Christ is the most important 

thing in your life and the guy 

you’re dating or want to date 

has no interest in Him, it will 

be nearly impossible to pursue 

a life of kingdom building 

together. Paul (from the Bible) 

knew this too, and he explained 

it is impossible for a believer 

and an unbeliever to be together. “Don’t 

team up with those who are unbelievers. 

How can righteousness be a partner with 

wickedness? How can light live with 

darkness? What harmony can there be 

between Christ and the Devil? How can a 

believer be a partner with an unbeliever?” 

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 

4 

BOUNDARIES 

For me, this has been the most difficult 

because when I like someone, I want 

to spend time with them, and talk to them all 

the time. This can get tricky when time spent 

together gets physical and leads to dangerous 

territory. The best way to protect your purity 

is to maintain boundaries. For 

example, hanging out in a group 

setting and staying away from 

alone, one on one time together 

will allow you to get to know a 

guy in a healthy environment; it 

will also lessen the temptation for 

physical contact. 

5 

CHECK YOUR MOTIVES 

Most importantly, you have to make 

sure that your motives for dating are 

pure and not self-seeking. The goal can’t 

be for you to get your needs and desires 

met by hanging out with a guy or having 

his affection. You have to be sure, first and 

foremost, that you are as whole as possible 

and that you aren’t looking to a man to 

“complete” you. Also, it’s important to keep 

in mind that you have the responsibility 

of looking out for the guy you’re dating 

and protecting his heart so that deeper 

attachments don’t form if things don’t work 

out. You have to value the well-being of the 

guy you choose to date just as much as you 

value your own; and he should be doing the 

same for you. 

The purpose of a dating relationship 

shouldn’t be to make you feel good or to 

have someone to hold hands with; it’s to 

pursue Christ as the common goal and serve 

in building the kingdom together. 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain 

conceit. Rather, in humility value others above 

yourselves, not looking to your own interests but 

each of you to the interest of the others. In your 

relationships with one another, have the same 

mindset as Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-4 

I know all of this may sound a bit foreign 

because we’re overloaded with dating and 

weddings on TV and every form of social 

media out there. The truth is that when we 

date just to date, we waste our time and the 

time of the other person. The purpose for 

dating should be the same as every other 

relationship- to draw that person closer to 

Christ and to serve Him together. 

You have to be sure, first and foremost, that 

you are as whole as possible and that you 

aren’t looking to a man to “complete” you. 

29 


30 

Envision Your Husband 

BY ANGEL CANTRELL 


REMEMBER: YOU ALREADY HAVE A 

PERFECT LOVE; ONE TRUE HUSBAND 

- NOW “FOR YOUR MAKER IS YOUR 

HUSBAND-THE LORD ALMIGHTY IS 

HIS NAME...” 

(ISAIAH 54:5) 

I 

f you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it. 

If you hope to be married one day, what 

does your future husband look like? What 

kind of marriage do you see for yourself? 

Is it like the home life you came from? Or 

better? Will he be a college graduate? Will he 

go to church? Will he serve in the church in 

some capacity? Will he work full time? If you 

have kids, what kind of Dad will he be? What 

does he look like? What kind of personality 

does he have? What are his dreams? Will 

they match yours? Is he a spiritual leader? 

Exercise 

DESCRIBE YOUR HUSBAND 

Action: 

HOW WILL HE FIND YOU? 

What about his list? One day there will 

be a Godly man who is looking for his 

Godly wife. How will he find you? Is your 

character what it should be? Are you letting 

your true personality shine through when 

you are around guys or are you putting on a 

show? Would he know, just by being around 

you, that your faith in Jesus is strong? How 

would you measure up if the guy who is 

waiting for you were praying and dreaming 

of you right now? 

Quiz: 

T / F 

I have been attracted to (and/or) dated 

guys who do not match this list. 

BECOMING THE BRIDE 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Spend more time in your Bible than in 

your mirror (everyday). 

Find someone to help and serve 

(everyday). 

Listen to Christian songs (that YOU 

like) at least once a week. 

Find a girlfriend who loves Jesus deeply 

and develop a sisterhood with her. 

T / F 

T / F 

I do not believe that the guy I 

described even exists. 

I believe I will have to lower my 

standards from this list to get married.

31 


32 

Flirting with Darkness 

H 

ow do you flirt with darkness? (Circle agree or disagree) 


PASSPORT2PURITY BY DENNIS AND 

BARBARA RAINEY 

AGREE DISAGREE As long as you don’t cross the line, and go ‘all the way’, 

you are pure. 


AGREE DISAGREE You can keep your actions pure, but not have a pure heart. 

AGREE DISAGREE True Purity is a direction – a persistent, determined pursuit 

of righteousness that starts in the heart and is expressed in a 

lifestyle that flees opportunities for compromise. 

ONE LITTLE STEP AT A TIME 

You cannot pursue (do) right and wrong at the same time. True purity runs as fast and 

as far as it can from sin and compromise. 

Read the story of King David in 2 Samuel 11. 

When did King 

David cross the 

line in purity? 

A When he saw Bathsheba bathing. 

B When he touched her and kissed her. 

C When he didn’t go to war when kings go to war 

(‘How far can I go’ 

‘What can I get away with’) 

(God’s righteousness) 

As we can see from King David’s story, 

impurity isn’t something we step into 

suddenly. It happens when we lose 

our focus on God. Purity begins in 

our hearts, our motivations and our 

attitudes. 

Is there anything you are ‘trying to get 

away with’ or see ‘how far you can go’ 

without sinning (tv, music, clothes, 

friends, boys)? 

If yes, ask yourself why and discuss 

your heart with your mother, mentor, 

youth leader (Christian female leader). 

I TELL YOU THAT 

ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT 

A “MAN” LUSTFULLY HAS 

ALREADY COMMITTED 

ADULTERY WITH “HIM” IN 

“HER” HEART. 

(MATTHEW 5:28) 

Do the exercise on the next page and 

assess how close you are to falling off 

the edge of God’s cliff of safety.

One Little Step at a Time 


PASSPORT2PURITY BY DENNIS AND 

BARBARA RAINEY 

Imagine you are the princess at the bottom of a hill and you need to be carried to the 

top safely to your castle. This symbolizes you arriving sexually pure on your wedding 

day. The safest way to be carried is slowly and hugging the mountain; not fast and 

recklessly close to the edge. 

Put the following numbers on the blank spaces below ranking each activity from safest 

(closest to the mountain) to most dangerous (closest to the edge). 

1 – Lying down while hugging and kissing 

2 – Hanging out with groups only 

3 – Touching below the neck 

4 – Holding hands 

5 – Touching below the waist 

6 – Frequent one on one time (texting, 

Facebook, phone, dates, etc) 

7 – Hugging and kissing 

8 – Intercourse (sex)/any form of 

sexual arousal 

9 – Hugs 

10 – Taking clothes off 

33 


As you assess your own life, how close 

are you to going over the edge? What 

changes, if any, do you need to make to 

arrive safely at the top of your mountain? 

We recommend group time only, #2 on the 

scale above until you are ready for courtship 

and marriage. This may sound extreme, but 

we will talk more about courtship in our 

next issue of Simply Radiant. 

What if I have already gone over the edge? 

It is never too late to repent and reclaim 

your innocence and purity or heal from 

the pain of someone who took it -- in the 

name of Jesus. Nothing you or anyone 

has ever done to you, can change the 

amazing beauty of your worth and value. 

NOTHING! Again, talk to your female 

leader or contact us if you want more 

information on this subject.

34 

BECAUSE HE BENDS 

DOWN TO LISTEN 

I will pray 

AS LONG AS 

I HAVE BREATH 

PSALM 116:2

35 


36 


Our 

“TRY” 

COLBIE CAILLAT 

Angel’s pick 

“HAPPY” 

TASHA COBBS 

Brittany’s pick 

“YOUR GLORY” 

ALL SONS & DAUGHTERS 

Jada’s Pick 

“UNTIL I PASS OUT” 

UNCLE REECE 

Brandy’s Pick 

“OCEANS” 

HILLSONG 

Sonia’s Pick 

“SUPERHUMAN” 

ANDY MINEO 

Kalyn’s Pick 

“BROKEN SPIRITS” 

MALI MUSIC 

Wendy’s Pick 

“DANCE WITH ME” 

JESUS CULTURE 

Jackie’s Pick 

“I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME” 

DARNELL EDWARDS 

Group Pick 

Playlist

37 


38 

INVITATION TO RADIANCE 


I don’t really know who Jesus is, 

BUT I’M INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT… 

Y 

ou may have read a few things in this 

magazine and something in your heart 

told you that what you were reading was 

true. But you may be unsure about the whole 

Jesus thing. Maybe you have never gone to 

church or read anything in the Bible, yet your 

heart is pressing you to find out more. Or, 

maybe you were raised going to church, youth 

groups and camp retreats, but you have turned 

away from God and have been living a life 

away from God’s love and ways. You, too, may 

also be questioning if the whole Jesus thing is 

really true. 

Well, I want you to consider that there is an 

empty space in all of us that cries out to be filled. 

Our minds and hearts just don’t seem at rest 

and at peace because ‘something’ always seems 

to be missing. We try to fill that ‘something’ 

with love and affection from guys , approval 

from people, ‘fixing’ ourselves to look pretty (as 

defined by magazines, TV, and movies), and/or 

success at whatever we can find -- academics, 

work, sports, dance, music, church/ministry 

-- the list is endless. And, for a while, these 

fixes work. But eventually, we wind up back at a 

restless and ‘peaceless’ place. 

The reason why is because there is a Creator 

– a God, that created that empty space to 

be filled by Him and Him alone. No other 

person, place or things can fill this space. I, 

and millions of others can tell you the change 

He has made in our lives. He gives a peace 

beyond all understanding. He is the missing 

piece that makes you complete and whole, 

lacking nothing. 

So let me challenge you. Try Jesus. Give Him 

100% of your effort to find out who He is. Try 

Jesus for one month. You have nothing to lose. 

With a sincere heart, seek Him and see if He 

responds. Ask Him to show Himself to you. 

Here are a few ways to seek: find a kind, Bible 

teaching church and attend; read the Bible 

frequently; read Christian devotion books; 

go to a kind, safe, Bible teaching small group; 

listen to your flavor of Christian music; find a 

mature Christian woman who is transparent 

and vulnerable who can mentor you and can 

answer your questions; pray – talk to God - 

daily. If you try these activities, with an open 

heart, then you have done your part. If you 

don’t hear or see evidence of a God that loves 

you, you haven’t lost anything. You’ll be where 

you started. However, if you see evidence 

of a loving God who sees you and cares, you 

should respond. Respond by accepting Jesus, 

God’s son, into your heart as your Savior. You 

do that by believing that Jesus died for your/ 

our sins and that God raised him from death. 

Choose to turn away from a direction of sin 

and follow Jesus. 

Your life will be forever changed if you choose 

to surrender into the arms of Jesus. There is 

a team of ladies praying for you. And even 

though we don’t know your name, He does, 

and He hears and answers prayers. 

Don’t delay, start right away. Start today. 

Look to Him…discover your beauty. Seek Him 

and find your life.

39 


NEED PRAYER? 

LET US HELP! 

Submit your prayer requests online at 

simplyradiantmagazine.com/prayers 

YOUR PRAYERS WILL ONLY BE SEEN BY OUR PRAYER TEAM

WWW.SIMPLYRADIANTMAGAZINE.COM 

THOSE WHO 

LOOK TO HIM ARE 

RADIANT; THEIR 

FACES ARE NEVER 

COVERED WITH 

SHAME. 

PSALM 34:5

Simply Radiant Magazine: Summer

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