Purpose Edition (January/February 2019)

volume 8, issue 1
jan/feb 2019

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019
CONTRIBUTORS
- writers -
ANASTASIA MATIAS / LEAH BUFFALINO / AMANDA
BROWN / REBECCA CARAWAY / OLIVIA NICKERSON /
LISA ELIS / KATIE FRENCH / SARAH CNOSSEN / RACHEL
BROWN / JANELL WOOD / ANNA MCAULEY / EMILY
SEAVER
- photography -
LEAH BUFFALINO / RACHEL BROWN /
AMANDA BROWN
- illustrations -
RACHEL BROWN
- design -
AMANDA BROWN
Volume No. 8, Issue No. 1
WWW.OHBELOVEDONE.COM

THEME: PURPOSE
person not posession 06
kingdom creative: leah buffalino 10
trust and full surrender 27
JOURNAL ENTRY 31
plans for you 12
JOURNAL ENTRY 14
more God, less me
33
more God, less me 33
just like stars 36
plans
for you
12
when plans change 38
love God. love others. 44
4 ways the world 48
tells us to find purpose
open & close 15
their purpose 18
JOURNAL ENTRY 21
new year, not a new you 22
JOURNAL ENTRY 26
specifics
47
cover: Leah Buffalino
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WWW.OHBELOVEDONE.COM
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Amanda Brown
EDITOR - IN - CHIEF
Purpose is something very huge and very personal to me, especially in this
season of life. I’ve written an article that delves more into the specifics of my
search for purpose last year (that article is tucked neatly in the back of this
magazine), but here’s my note to readers.
You can live in your purpose daily. Even right now. Even when you don’t have it
all mapped out yet.
I’ll never forget what my friend Seth told me at camp: “We are invincible.” And
it’s true. Until God decides it’s our time to go, nothing can get to us. No trial
can wipe us out, no force of evil can overwhelm us, we can’t even die without
His sovereign okay (And even then, He’s just bringing us home to a better future
than we ever could’ve imagined.).
Your purpose is bringing glory to God daily. If you focus on that by becoming a
Prayer Warrior, if you pour over the Scriptures and highlight so many “favorite
verses” that your Bible is colorful as His rainbow, He’s going to bless you and
reveal that purpose.
Maybe it’s right in front of your nose. Maybe it’s right around the corner. But
God has promised that He has plans for you.
Hopefully, this issue will encourage you in your purpose. We have reminders
about our ultimate life purpose, tips on finding that specific purpose, and lots
and lots of verses and quotes.
Enjoy, beloved!
OH BELOVED ONE | 2

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM ARTICLE TITLE HERE
I wish you could see the purpose that I see in your eyes.
You’re told to give up trying, because they think you’ll just
fail anyways. Well, if you want to believe that, you can.
But if you want to prove them wrong, you can as well.
Look — you were born with a passion that nobody else
was given. You were created with an innate goal. I want
you to live and love it. But most importantly, I want you
to shake free from the box that you have been put in by
others and see that you’re capable. Oh, so capable.
GO ACHIEVE MY FRIEND.
julia ryan
OH BELOVED ONE | 3

hey, beloved.
When you get that job you’ve always wanted, you are beloved.
When you walk down the halls of your school, you are beloved.
When your best friend leaves you in the dust, you are beloved.
When your mom is diagnosed with cancer, you are beloved.
When you can’t do it anymore, you are beloved.
//
When God made you: YOU WERE BELOVED.
When He saved you from your sin: YOU WERE BELOVED.
If you’re a daughter of God: YOU ARE BELOVED.

hey you’re cool
um
we should
like
hang out more
buy me in print
by scanning this
barcode thing
OH BELOVED ONE | 5

P
[NOT POSSESSION]
E
R
S
O
N
an interview with
anastasia matias
OH BELOVED ONE | 6

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM PERSON NOT POSSESSION
You are important + what you’re doing is important.
-anastasia matias, founder of person not possession
Anastasia Matias started her trafficking-awareness brand as a project for her entrepreneurship class back when she
was a senior in high school. The idea grew into something more than just a class project soon after Anastasia decided
to keep it going even after the class ended.
why are you so passionate about this cause?
I was sitting in youth group listening to a 17-year-old girl talk about the time in her life when she was
trafficked. She described being raped, abused, starved, and broken all over the period of a few weeks. She
described being bought and sold to different men as they did to her what they so pleased.
I stared at this young girl as she so bravely told her story and I then realized that human trafficking was a
real issue that happened all around us. She was trafficked only 45 minutes away from where I lived and
I was taken aback as I did my own research and found out that human trafficking happened in the most
unsearched place: our own backyards.
I created this clothing brand so that people can stand up against human traffickers and show that people
are not meant to be bought and sold as if they are toys. If one person wears my merchandise and can start
conversation because somebody else asks what that shirt means, then I am making a difference.homeschooler’s
life, but that’s how it’s been.
how can i stand up if i’m scared?
I believe that if a girl wants to stand up for something that
she thinks is important, she should just do it!
Life is way too short to think about the
people that are in your life that think
your cause is not important.
When I decided to start my clothing brand, I announced it
to my entrepreneurship class and I distinctly remember a
boy in my class telling me: “That is not that important. Is
that really something that people would care about around
here?” I looked at him and told him: “People like you are
the reason I want to start my business.” I knew I wanted
to awaken ignorant people in our society that have no idea
this huge issue is right around them and it affects millions
daily.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM PERSON NOT POSSESSION
People should just do it because your cause is bigger
than your feelings. If you want to raise awareness, or
just help prevent something that is a problem in our
society, please do it! Every person that is passionate
about that cause can make a huge different whether
you believe it or not! Every day I am intimidated by
other people and whether they will care at all about
human trafficking. However, I have to realize and remember
that I am literally paving the way of freedom
for victims because I donate 20% of my proceeds to a
nonprofit that helps those being trafficked.
To the one afraid to start: You are important! What
you’re doing is important!
// FUTURE PLANS
In January I am rebranding my
whole clothing company and
coming out with a new clothing
line. As of January 19th, my business
will now go by Person Not
Possession (instead of Butterfly
Effect): a clothing line dedicated
to raising awareness to young
activists about the human trafficking
problem so that they can be a
solution in their own backyard.
Starting in the new year I will be
using my brand to inspire people
and show them that human trafficking
exists in our cities and we
must do something about it. I am
very excited to launch!
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM PERSON NOT POSSESSION
fi first steps
Do your research and ask for advice. I spent hours and hours asking business people, clothing companies, and trafficking
safe havens about what they did and how it could pertain to my ideas and endeavors. Take notes and you will be surprised
by how much that information can help formulate your business or cause as you grow.
favorite girl boss resources
One of my favorite girl boss resources is Jordan Lee Dooley. She is an inspirational Christian speaker that speaks
life into many young women on the daily. She has a clothing brand called ‘Soul Scripts’ that teaches the idea that
you can bring your brokenness to the cross and God will love you as you are. She is so inspiring to me and I aspire
to speak life into many young people one day just as she does.
how has
G od used your gifts to run this?
I am a very outgoing and friendly person. God has allowed me to use those gifts to inspire people that come across
my business and the people I sell my merchandise to. I can use my outgoing personality to easily talk to people and
talk to groups about human trafficking and why it is such an important issue.
OH BELOVED ONE | 9

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM KINGDOM CREATIVES
k i n g d o m
c r e a t i v e s
for fellow
ADVICE creatives
Be true to your own style and
realize that, even as artists, we
have our limitations. Know
those but also know your own
strengths and then practice,
practice, practice (It really does
make almost perfect). Know that
just as you cannot always do
what another creative is doing,
the same people cannot do what
you do. The world has never
seen your personal view on
things so develop your own style
and gifts and don’t be afraid to
execute them with passionate
and excitement.
CREATIVE
OUTLETS
Makeup + Fashion // I cannot
tell you how many times it has
sparked so many conversations
with strangers who have an
appreciation for visual art. In the
mall, coffee shop, school, thrift
store, you name it. And that
immediate connection opens so
many opportunities for further
conversations.
GOD-GIVEN
TRAITS
I‘m very passionate and very
intense. I have such a love for
creativity that it is never halfhearted
for me and that intense
love brings me together with
others who can lift me up in that
way. And it also gives me a opportunity
to connect with people
about something that I am truly
devoted to, because I see it as so
much more than a simple trait
or talent but more a lifestyle in
general.
how God has prepped
me for my purpose
meet leah buffalino
she’s also the magazine’s amazing photogrpher!
OH BELOVED ONE | 10

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM KINGDOM CREATIVES
#lovely
#galentine
#purpose
OH BELOVED ONE | 11

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM PLANS FOR YOU
“But the
plans of the
LORD stand
firm
forever —
the purposes of his
heart through all
generations.”
Psalms 33:11
clipart created by Freepik
p l a n s
f o r
y o u
by rebecca caraway
OH BELOVED ONE | 12

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM PLANS FOR YOU
PURPOSE. It’s a word we hear quite often. But what does it really mean? Why do we need to have one? How can we find
our purpose and glorify God through it? Let’s start simple. What does purpose mean?
The dictionary definition of the word purpose is “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something
exists.” But what does the Bible say about purpose?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
So what are these plans God has for us and how do we find it?
It always makes me sad when I hear songs where the singer wishes they knew what the point of life is, or I see movie
characters wonder what their purpose is.
If you look around at a lot of the nonbelievers in your life, you will notice that a lot of them are lost and, honestly, it’s
heartbreaking. I’m so blessed that, because I’m a child of God, I know what my purpose is. Now you may be asking,
“I’m saved but I still don’t know what God’s plan for me is. Is that a bad thing?” The answer is no! God just hasn’t
revealed the plan he has for you yet. But, until you know what you want to do with the rest of your life, there are some
things you can do to glorify God.
chosen people,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you
1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a
may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Our purpose as Christians is to
glorify God and shine his light through our actions and words. As his chosen people, it is our responsibility to share
his word with everyone.
So does that mean we all need to be missionaries and pastors’ wives? No. The truth is, most of us aren’t meant to be
pastors’ wives and missionaries. But, you can share the Word of God in other ways: with people in your work, school, and
your younger siblings. If you’re a mom, then share with the parents involved in your kid’s school.
So we covered what our purpose is as Christians but, let’s be honest: sharing God’s Word does not pay the bills (though
God will provide for us, He also says He helps those who help themselves). So how do we find our purpose here on earth
while also fulfilling our purpose to God?
Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” So, what we
have planned may be different from what God has planned for us. How do we know what God’s plan for us is?
The truth is many of us will spend years trying to figure out what God has planned for us. Some of us know when we’re
children exactly what job we want and what school to go to, but others may be in their twenties and still not know. That’s
all part of God’s plan. If you still don’t know what your purpose for here on earth is, then the best thing you can do is
pray. Pray that God reveals his plans to you and also pray that you will be open and ready when He reveals his plans.
meet the
author
Rebecca lives in Southern California with her eight younger siblings. She is currently a senior in high school and
plans to study journalism and English in college. She loves spending time with friends, listening to music, and writing.
You can often find her in a coffee shop hanging out with friends.
OH BELOVED ONE | 13

journal entry
What is purpose? Take the time to brainstorm your own definition below. Then collect definitions from other places (an old
dictionary, your best friend’s mom, a poem, etc.).
polaroid created by Freepik
background art created by Freepik
OH BELOVED ONE | 14

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM OPEN & CLOSE
open &
close
by olivia nickerson
OH BELOVED ONE | 15

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM OPEN & CLOSE
Many times we wonder, “Lord, w h y
am I here? What is it that you
would have me to do in my life?”
We all have those moments, and after that we
may think that any sort of “nudge” or “feeling”
in our hearts or minds are maybe directing
what ​is ​our purpose in life.
Some just throw open their Bible, pick a verse,
and think that is their ultimate purpose. ​I
would ​not​advise doing that, for the reason
that you could open to a passage which could
be ​something as non-applicable to your life as
Job 19:17 (NIV): “​My breath is offensive to
my wife; I am loathsome to my own family.”
Rather, don’t stress about it! We may not
yet know what God wants us to do in our
individual lives. Sometimes it’s as clear as
day. For example, you may have a sensitive,
caring side that always comes out when others
are hurting or in pain, physical or mental.
Maybe then it’s more clear that being a doctor,
therapist, or counselor would be your obvious
purpose in life. The same would be if you had a
knack for baking, could decorate creatively and
beautifully, have a steady hand and a creative
side. Perhaps then your purpose in life would
be to be a baker or a chef of some sort.
I was talking to my mom a few years ago about
what I was going to do in life. I was unsure,
believe it or not, about my writing career.
I didn’t know exactly if it was the right path
for me to take. She said, however, to just
take that step of faith: that if this was
something that I was interested in—that I
wanted to do—then to go for it and move down
that path, and that God would open and close
the “doors” for me along the way. If I wasn’t
meant to do that thing, then God would close
the “doors” for me to do it. He will always
guide us along the way. We don’t ever have to
be afraid about our future.
Psalm 31:15a says,
“My times are in Your hands.”
But that doesn’t mean you should just sit by
and wait until God brings an opportunity your
way. Just because things may not be clear right
now doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do anything.
First, search God’s word. As I was talking
about at the beginning of this article, don’t
just flip open to a random page and take that
as your life verse. Really ​search t​he Word.
Find relevant verses to your situation and
evaluate your interests and abilities in light of
what it says. A couple of good questions to ask
yourself are, “How can my interests or abilities
ultimately glorify God and show others His
love? How can I keep God as the main focus
of my career?”
Psalm 119:105 says:
“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.”
God’s Word is the lamp that sheds light on our
path. Have you ever tried walking or driving
down a street when there are no street lamps?
This has happened to me previously when I
was in New Brunswick, Canada, and let me
tell you, when there are no street lamps, it is
pitch black outside! The same is when you
don’t search God’s Word properly for answers.
You’ll be in pitch black in terms of what you
should do until His Word “shines,” so to speak,
that light on your decision-making.
Through it all, we need to remember the most
important purpose in life: spreading the gospel
to others and telling them of God’s salvation
for those who turn away from their sin and
trust Him as their Savior. This focus can help
us use our careers, talents, and hobbies for the
glory of God. As the One Who gave us these
gifts, and the One Who saved us, He deserves
all of the praise and honor. So are you ready?
Let’s use the command from Jesus in Matthew
28:19-20 to spur us on.
meet the
author
Olivia Nickerson is a high-school student, growing writer, and a Christian saved by grace. She loves Lindt chocolate,
being an aunt to little Jasper, spending time with her family and friends, and dreaming. Besides writing, Olivia
loves spending time with her family and friends in almost any way, playing board games, sports, and music.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY “Therefore
2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM ARTICLE TITLE HERE
GO & MAKE
disciples of all
nations . . .
background art created by Freepik
And surely I
am with you
always, to
the very end
of the age.”
OH BELOVED ONE | 17

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM THEIR PURPOSE
their
purpose
by lisa elis
“Remember your leaders …
consider the outcome of their way
of life, and imitate their faith.”
One of the questions we ask as
teenagers-who-will-soon-becomeadults
is what is the purpose of our
lives? Often we generally know the
purpose God has for all Christians, but
how do we discover that SPECIFIC,
TAILOR-MADE, UNIQUE purpose
He has for us, ourselves?
Perhaps we can take a look at the lives
of some of the great Christians of the
past two centuries to see just how they
found their purpose, and if we can get
any hints from them about how God
might show us.
OH BELOVED ONE | 18

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM THEIR PURPOSE
that which
is in front
of us
Ida Scudder
The story: Ida Scudder grew up on the mission
field. Her parents and her grandparents before
her had been serving as doctors in India for over
50 years. Coming to America as an eight-yearold,
she was stunned by what a clean and good
country it was compared to the famine-stricken,
disease-ridden India – where she determined never
ever to live in again. And she stayed strong in that
resolution until her visit to the country when she
was twenty. During her stay she was convicted by
God how essential a female doctor would be to
the people in India – and that she was to be that
female doctor.
What we can learn: I think that often we
bullheadedly run in the direction we want to go
in – after our interests, our comforts, our dreams.
Sometimes we think we know where we belong,
but then, maybe God has other ideas. Our purpose
might be right in front of our faces, but maybe we
can’t always see it.
The story: Betty Greene always wanted to be
a pilot. She started following that dream as a
sixteen-year-old. Later on as a young woman,
she flew for the air force during the second World
War. However, deep in her heart she knew that she
wanted to use this talent to serve God– and so she
did. As one of the founders of Missionary Aviation
Fellowship, Betty spent much of her life serving
missionaries by flying them to remote settlements
and locations that were impossible to reach in any
other way.
a combination
of passions
Betty Greene
What we can learn: God gives us gifts according
to our ability to use them, and He gives us our
talents for a reason. The story of Betty Greene is a
great example of how we can couple our passions
with our love for God, and use that what he has
given us to serve him. Maybe we can find a little
of our purpose by exploring our abilities, and
exploring how we can use those for good.
OH BELOVED ONE | 19

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM THEIR PURPOSE
The story: Elisabeth Elliot was surrounded by
exemplary and active Christians all her life.
During her childhood, her family constantly
housed visiting speakers and missionaries, not
to mention that her parents used to be ones
themselves. As a girl, she secretly hoped that
God would call her to be a missionary – and yes,
He did. Her story – and the story of those who
worked alongside her in Ecuador – is amazing,
and she went on to become a well-loved writer
whose work continues to encourage people to this
day.
a childhood
Elisabeth
Elliot
dream
What we can learn: Sometimes God gives us
those guiding dreams, especially if we give our
desires to Him and ask Him to give us His desires.
I also believe that we are placed exactly where we
are supposed to be and that He has given many of
us the childhood that will shape us for that what
is to come. So (just maybe) your childhood dream
wasn’t just a childhood dream, but a sign of your
lifelong calling.
trial &
error Amy Carmichael
The story: Amy Carmichael was already serving
the people who lived in the Irish and English
slums, but after hearing God tell her to go, she
went – but at first, not to the country or the
mission we remember her so well for. Initially,
she tried China. Her poor health prevented her.
Then she traveled to Japan, but after a couple of
successful years, illness drove her away. She went
to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), but that wasn’t it either.
After many disappointments and “detours”, she
finally found her home – India. And that’s where
she spent the rest of life.
What we can learn: Someone once said that
instead of waiting around our whole lives to find
out exactly what kind of plan God has for us, we
should go find where God is working and join
in. Essentially, experiment. Trial and error. Just
go and find out. He’ll lead you. I can’t say that
it wasn’t God’s will for Amy to go to Japan or
Ceylon – maybe he meant for her to take that
“detour”. Maybe it was her mistake, but I doubt
it. I believe that as long as you’re listening to him,
you can’t go that far wrong.
meet the
author
Lisa Elis is a busy high school junior from Canada who spends her free time chasing many literary interests. She’s
also into art and design, orchids and sunshine, plus all things that grow her wanderlust. Find her scrambling to post
every week at www.thisinkwell.blogspot.com.
OH BELOVED ONE | 20

journal entry
Sometimes, finding your own purpose can be jumpstarted by taking a look at other peoples’ purposes. Who are some people
you really respect? What do they do? Think of people like your mom, grandma, or favorite writer/blogger. You can even
consider historical women whose stories have captivated you.
polaroid created by Freepik
background art created by Freepik
OH BELOVED ONE | 21

N E W
Y E A R
[not a new you]
Shattering the World’s Expectations
for How One Should Embrace
the New Year
by katie french
OH BELOVED ONE | 22

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM NEW YEAR, NOT A NEW YOU
art created by Freepik
Currently at the beginning of a
new year, it is impossible to go
about everyday life without a
thought that pertains to the future.
With the world telling us to
make resolutions,
change for the better,
& dream big
we cannot help but meditate—
even if it is but for a moment—on
these ideals that are subtly infiltrating
our culture. Ultimately,
this worldly focus is on humanity
and what we can do in our
power to improve ourselves and
the world around us. While there
isn’t anything inherently wrong
with this mindset, I think it is safe
to say that it has consumed us
more than we might realize.
From personal experience, I know
that I often approach the new year
with a “can do / will do” attitude,
meaning that if I believe I CAN
change something, I WILL implement
that change. Unfortunately,
the WILL is where the problems
start—where resolutions,
goals, aspirations, and dreams
fail. Where all hope seems to
be lost, and where utter frustration
and discouragement
begin. And, despite these
horrendous outcomes, the
world encourages us to repeat
this vicious cycle every year. Of
getting ourselves all geared up,
all ready to use our strength to
follow through when in fact we
have none.
Perhaps you saw more people in
the gym on January 1st than on
any other day of the year.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM NEW YEAR, NOT A NEW YOU
This is why.
Maybe you’ve noticed that recycling
cans are fuller than they
would be on any other Wednesday
when they get dumped.
This is why.
Maybe you observed more new
faces curiously peering through
the front doors to your church this
past week than there would be on
the average Sunday.
This is why.
Despite these seemingly hopeful
situations, as the year progresses,
an increasing number of treadmills
lie vacant, recycling cans
can shut, and church attendance
remains stagnant. Why? Because
humans are far too vulnerable
to implement the WILL on our
own.
So, how do we solve this dilemma?
Some people resort to getting
rid of resolutions altogether.
They don’t make them because
they fear the consequences of not
keeping them. However, while
// some people just
don’t make resolutions
because they fear the
consequences of not
keeping them.
OH BELOVED ONE | 24

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM NEW YEAR, NOT A NEW YOU
art created by Freepik
this might seem like the best
path to take, is it the right one?
Are we to not make goals, strive
for change, or crave growth just
because we might make mistakes?
No, we should and must continue
to pursue these things.
Without them, we are hurting
ourselves and ultimately, are not
allowing our sanctification process
to manifest itself to the fullest.
However, our pursuits must
be driven by someone other than
ourself, by someone who does
have the WILL—our Heavenly
Father. He alone can help us
achieve desired outcomes if they
fall in line with His truth.
Psalm 23, a passage that we
as Christians are very familiar
with, emphasizes that He is our
shepherd. Knowing this, why
should we not look to Him as
our primary source of guidance?
Not only for every new year, but
for every day and every breath.
Yet so many people look to the
world. To the material things it
has to offer to satisfy our hunger
for resolutions. From weight loss
programs to get fit to coupon
books to save money, you name
it. Don’t fall into this snare. Be
driven, not by yourself but by
the ONE who created you. No,
a new year does not mean a new
you. It means a moldable you,
one who is willing to be bent,
broken, and reshaped to better
serve Christ and advance His
kingdom.
meet the
author
Katie French, a Washington state native, is currently a freshman at Bob Jones University in South Carolina with a
major in Journalism and Mass Communication. She endeavors to honor her Lord and Savior most of all, and desires
that her pursuits fall in line with that goal. She enjoys writing, and hopes that that may be a means by which she can
relay truth to others.
OH BELOVED ONE | 25

journal entry
Make a fail list. Yup, you read that right! What are some times you really botched life up? But we’re not staying
negative. After you’re done, direct your pen to the other column and list out lessons you learned from failing . . . and
plans to try again.
fail list
lesson list
created by Freepik/Macrovector
OH BELOVED ONE | 26

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM TRUST + FULL SURRENDER
trust & full surrender
by sarah cnossen
OH BELOVED ONE | 27

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM TRUST + FULL SURRENDER
As we enter the new year of 2019, I imagine most girls are re-evaluating their
goals from last year, making new ones for this year, and contemplating life
& futures. I cannot speak for the guys, but I do know girls tend to overthink,
over-worry, and overdo ALL the things.
For me, one particular subject revolves around the unknown future and
my humble purpose in life. I recall my junior and senior years of high school
and attempting to decide what I wished to do with my life after graduation:
college? no college? Full-time job? Part-time? Find a profitable hobby??
That general question STRESSED me out. And I suppose it’s because absolutely
everyone simply HAD to ask you what you’re plans were, thereby
adding pressure—however unintentionally—to my decisions for the future.
My answer was this: I’m taking at least one year and then perhaps I’ll decide.
Best decision ever! That one year gave me time to think, pray, learn more of
who I am, and actually learn to listen to my God and what He had to say. I
had absolutely no desire to go to college and spend money I didn’t have for
something I didn’t have a clue of studying for (and would probably never use
anyway). So, I stayed home. I worked on the family farm, got a part-time
job, and waited for God to direct my steps. I was no wallflower—no princess
waiting in my tower for rescue. I learned to be productive and diligent in my
time and efforts.
I suppose I knew it all along. But it was probably the year I turned eighteen
when my dream—my purpose—really sank in: I wished to get married,
become a wife and someday mama, and live my ministry of home-maker
with a husband and family. (Note: I didn’t have a boyfriend, nor had I ever
previously dated.) I was extremely insecure, anxious, and overly fearful of
my unknown future. I wrote poems during this time reflecting the burdens
of my heart, and often cried myself to sleep, until finally, I gave it all to my
gracious and merciful Savior. I still worried. So. Very. OFTEN. (And still
do!) But God gave me a peace to know He truly is in control; comfort, that
even if my dream to be a wife was never fulfilled, I would never be alone; and
contentment & patience to wait on Him.
Not long afterward, God opened the door to show me a young man, whom my
OH BELOVED ONE | 28

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM TRUST + FULL SURRENDER
family & I had known for several years already. He
expressed the desire to further our relationship with
the end goal of marriage.
Long [beautiful] story short, and loads of prayer later,
we were married in October 2016, and later welcomed
a beautiful baby boy into our little family in
August 2018.
God is so good to show us His grace—in His
timing. Simply put (and easier said than done), it
only takes a bit of trust and your full surrender to find
guidance & fulfillment in the purpose He has for you.
And oh, what joy there is when we are serving right
where He wished us to be all along!
I still worry. I still struggle. I am SO not perfect.
But there is something in knowing one’s purpose that
gives us the motivation to get out of bed each day and
pray for the strength & courage to tackle life head on.
I love my job as a wife & mama. This is my mission
field.
it only takes a
bit of trust and
your full surrender
to find
guidance &
fulfillment in the
purpose He has
for you.
This is MY purpose.
I wrote poems
during this time reflecting
the burdens
of my heart, and often
cried myself to
sleep, until finally,
I gave it all to my
gracious and merciful
Savior.
meet the
author
Sarah Cnossen is a stay-at-home wife to Evan & mama to Gabe. She’s a native Tennessean, a daughter of the King,
an aspiring writer, and avid reader & reviewer of books. She blogs at sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot.com, and is
99.9% sure she’s a Disney princess and that she married her Beast.
OH BELOVED ONE | 29

“If you still
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM ARTICLE TITLE HERE
have a pulse,
God still has
a purpose.”
// david hughes
OH BELOVED ONE | 30

journal entry
If you already know your purpose, write it down below. Start out with a bullet point list of what
you’re good at, then flesh it out into a kind of mission statement. Don’t know your purpose? No
biggie. Write a list of your favorite pastimes, your talents, things you WANT to be your talents.
created by Freepik/Kstudio
OH BELOVED ONE | 31

Y HIM, FOR HIM,
HROUGH HIM
BELOVED
CHOSEN
WAS NOT ANYTHING
MADE THAT WAS MADE

y rachel brown
OH BELOVED ONE | 33

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM MORE GOD, LESS ME
It’s hard not knowing what your
future looks like.
It’s hard questioning yourself
about the path you’re going
down.
It’s hard not knowing what God’s
will for your life is.
(I know from experience that
finding your purpose can be
difficult.)
Thankfully, a very godly lady at
my church showed me some of
these verses when I was struggling
with God’s will for me and
my purpose. God’s word showed
me that I needed to trust God
more and think about myself less.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were
created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16
First of all, realize you were created for God. If you’re a Christian,
your life isn’t your own. The reason you’re on this earth is
for God’s purpose. Because He created us, we need to open ourselves
up to be used by him and submit to His will for our lives.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the
Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are
the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord
that will stand.”
It’s important to acknowledge that God does have a plan for you!
Sometimes you may feel small and insignificant when you compare
yourself to others that look like “super Christians.” But God
will use the seemingly insignificant people. He promises us that
He knows that plans that He has for us.
Know that, although you may
have your own plans and goals,
God’s plan is the best. It may
seem obvious, but God’s plan
is the only one that will stand.
His plan for you is the one that
ultimately matters.
OH BELOVED ONE | 34

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM MORE GOD, LESS ME
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself
in the Lord, and he will give
you the desires of your heart.”
When I was shown this verse, it
was like a light bulb turned on.
This verse doesn’t mean that if
you love God He will give you
whatever you want! It actually
means when you draw close to
God, He will place those desires
into your heart, sort of like a way
to guide you where He wants you
to go. I think this verse is absolutely
beautiful!
Finally, let’s look at Micah 5:8.
“He has told you, O man, what
is good; and what does the Lord
require of you but to do justice,
and to love kindness, and to walk
humbly with your God.”
He will give you
the desires of
your heart.
Remember what God’s general
will is for you. Part of our purpose
is to obey these commands
that God has given us. This won’t
seem as obvious as the other
verses, but this outlines what
God wants us to do: have just (or
right) behavior, possess a genuine
interest or pleasure in being kind,
and imitate Christ with a modest
estimate of your importance. If
we do these things, we are actually
following God’s general will
for our lives, and that will lead us
down the path toward His specific
will.
meet the
author
Rachel Brown is that rare balance between math AND art smart. Baker of the most amazing brownies in the whole
entire solar system, she loves illustrating for Oh Beloved One and buying way too many plaid shirts. You can follow
her baking endeavors on Instagram @BloggingBrownie or her blog, www.bloggingbrownie.com.
OH BELOVED ONE | 35

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM JUST LIKE STARS
just like
by amanda brown
I was at camp. My world had
stopped and I needed to take a
breather. I was lost as all get-out
(which I should’ve been used to
since I have the directional sense
of an inebriated gerbil). I’d made
a blueprint of my perfect life and
then BAM! It was shredded up in
God’s holy “worthless plans” paper
shredder.
I started Oh Beloved One when I
was 12-years-old out of my love for
words. Over the years, it expanded
into a blog. I even published a
devotional and several free e-books.
Oh Beloved One was my baby,
but until summer of 2018 I never
imagined how pertinent to my
purpose it would be.
I still don’t have all the details as to
OH BELOVED ONE | 36

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM JUST LIKE STARS
Dreams crash and burn, just like
stars. Just like meteors. They’re so
big, so hot, so real until one day you
find yourself so far away that they’re
just a pinprick in the sky.
Have you ever had a dream die? It’s
okay, I’m sure we all have. When
those very specific dreams of white
Victorian houses and fresh vases of
flowers bought weekly disintigrate
into wherever all broken dreams go,
what do you do?
created by Vecteezy
what my purpose is. After all, God
doesn’t send us a message in the
bottle with all the specifics because
He wants our complete trust. James
1:6 challenges us to ask God for
things (like a purpose) “with no
doubting, for the one who doubts is
like a wave of the sea that is driven
and tossed by the wind. For that
person must not suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord.”
But now I see so clearly how God
has given me these gifts of my
talents and personality. Who am I?
I’m a girl who dabbles in everything.
I’m a visionary, who always has a
future project boiling in her head.
I talk far too much, love far too
passionately, and aim far too high.
God has let me dabble in so much
that I can use my graphic design to
lay out this magazine/devotionals;
my writing skills to write articles
like this, as well as blog posts; He’s
made me a visionary so I always
see new merchandise, magazine
editions, plans for podcasts and
meetings and videos. He’s given me
the gift of gab so I can hopefully
one day speak to young ladies
like me; the gift of loving so I can
commiserate with the broken and
lost so I can point them back to Him;
and the gift of aiming high so that,
even if I don’t quite make it, I still
feel the powdery stardust.
If you found you were mistaken in
your purpose, chase after God like
your life depends on it. Because it
does. If you want to get to the end of
your life and hear “well done, thou
good and faithful servant,” you’d
better get hot in pursuit.
Make a list of everything you’ve
ever wanted to do. Learning
Spanish, getting your diver’s license,
kickboxing: you name it. Live a life
you’re proud of. Wake up extra early
and read through ten chapters of the
Bible. If you seek Him, you’ll find
Him. If you knock, that holy door
will open.
Who knows? Just like me, your
purpose may be right in front of your
eyes. A little murky, but nonetheless
ready to be owned.
meet the
author
Amanda Brown collects words in her pockets and stars in her hair. Known to name inanimate objects, you can often
find her planning her next crazy project, hugging books, or telling *slightly* exaggerated stories. She is the Head
Editor and Blogger at www.ohbelovedone.com. Find her on Insta @thumbelina627 or @thegirlwhoworeyellow.
OH BELOVED ONE | 37

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
OHBELOVEDONE.COM
when
plans
by olivia nickerson
OH BELOVED ONE | 38

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM WHEN PLANS CHANGE
LET ME
INTRODUCE
YOU TO
SOMEONE.
In this particular article,
I’m interviewing someone
inspirational to me. Someone
who has found her purpose. And
that person is my mom.
Let me give you some
background. She is the mother of
nine kids, grandmother of one.
She keeps our house running,
gives comfort and guidance to
everyone she comes in contact
with, is an incredible witness and
testimony for the Lord, and she
is always striving to serve Him
better.
She has homeschooled us all
(and still does) from preschool
to grade twelve. She encourages
us and is one of our biggest
supporters. I hope one day to be
like her.
Meet my mom: Jackie.
QWhat interested you as a future
pursu it
as you were growing up ?
For the longest time, I wanted
to be a veterinarian. And then I
wanted to be a missionary. And
then I wanted to be a missionary
nurse. I ended up becoming
a nurse, and then a wife and
a mom, which is something I
always wanted as well.
QHow did your plans
change as you grew older?? ?
I found out that going to be a
veterinarian would be seven
years of schooling and that did
OH BELOVED ONE | 39

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM WHEN PLANS CHANGE
not appeal to me. I became a
Christian at the age of twelve
and by the time I was fourteen
I wanted to be a missionary.
I learned that I had to have a
certain profession that would
help people in other countries,
and I felt drawn to the nursing
field.
After acquiring my nursing
diploma, the Lord closed the
doors to an overseas missions
field and drew me into the
marriage and motherhood
mission field, and my mission
field became more local as
opposed to overseas.
Q
?
God teach you
What lessons did
He taught me to trust Him even
though I couldn’t see the end;
that there is joy in serving Him
no matter what He gives me to
do; and to be grateful to Him for
making me a part of His purpose
and plans.
Q
What advice
would you give to
someone looking for
?
their purpose?
Seek God’s wisdom in prayer,
trusting Him that He will make
it clear. Then pursue the things
you feel passionate about and
interested in as part of your
future profession.
Be alert and receptive to changed
directions or closed doors outside
of your control.
Be ready and receptive to making
adjustments to your plans
according to God’s redirections.
Be thankful and always full of
praise to the Saviour, Who has
your best interest in mind as well
as His glory through what you
end up doing.
QWhat would you
say to someone whose
purpose was redef ined?
?
Be encouraged and rejoice that
God’s ways are not always our
ways, but His plans are always
higher and according to His will.
We can feel confident and
trustworthy of His new direction
The reason for and satisfaction of
a job, activity, or pursuit.
OH BELOVED ONE | 40

lackberry
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM ARTICLE TITLE HERE
Number one, be diligent
to spend solid times in the
Word. Number two, be constantly
in prayer over thepeople
interactions you have
(whether family, friends,
neighbors, or people you
goseberry
meet in the public sphere).
Paper texture created by Freepik
pomelo or
grapefruit
created by Vecteezy
OH BELOVED ONE | 41

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM WHEN PLANS CHANGE
You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You, because
he trusts in You.
of our life.
Q
What is the most
rewarding part of
following God’s will
Seeing Him work in the lives
of people from my family and
others whom I’ve been able to be
a testimony to.
Q
What verse would
you use to spur others
in their walk)? ?
Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present
?
your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God, which
is your reasonable service. And
do not be conformed to this
world,but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of
God.”
Q
Do you have a
favorite verse
?
One longtime favorite verse has
been Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in
the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct your paths,​” because it
gives me great comfort and
security in God’s promises to
direct my ways if I look to Him
for guidance.
Another verse is Isaiah 26:3,
which says, “​You will keep him
in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on You, because he trusts
in You.”
Another one of my favorites that
is encouraging is Romans 8:28.
“And we know
that all things
work together
for good to
those who love
God, to those
who are the
called according
to His purpose.”
meet the
author
Olivia Nickerson is a high-school student, growing writer, and a Christian saved by grace. She loves Lindt chocolate,
being an aunt to little Jasper, spending time with her family and friends, and dreaming. Besides writing, Olivia
loves spending time with her family and friends in almost any way, playing board games, sports, and music.
OH BELOVED ONE | 42

the
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM ARTICLE TITLE HERE
PURPOSE
of the
LORD
will
stand.
// prov 19:21
OH BELOVED ONE | 43

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE.
LOVE GOD.
by janell wood
I had found my purpose. I knew then that
I wanted my life to be characterized by
loving God and loving people.
I consider myself
a passionate
communicator. I love to
write. I love to tell stories. I
love to talk about Jesus Christ
and how he’s set me free. I love to
encourage others and laugh along with
them about life’s hilariousness (because
for real, life is crazy some days). I’m
thankful to be blogging every week and
co-hosting a mini podcast along these
lines.
I feel like I’m living an abundant
purpose-filled life.
When I was eighteen years old, a speaker
came to my university and shared this
simple phrase, “Love God. Love people.
Nothing else matters.”
It was a paraphrase of what Jesus said
when he was asked about the greatest
commandment. But somehow, when I
was eighteen, it was a total aha moment.
But then I kinda obsessed over this: how
would I do that exactly?
In fact, that became the big question. I
knew I loved to write and share from
my heart. That had been a passion of
mine since I was a little girl. But instead
of looking at God for answers, I started
looking at myself and looking around me.
I became overly focused on the HOW
instead of the WHO.
HOW would it look like to live a life
serving Jesus? Forgetting to ask the
question, “WHO is it I am I living for?”
I looked at how other people were doing
their things. And I started measuring my
performance with theirs. I felt insecure
about my story-telling abilities. Maybe I
wasn’t good enough? I felt frustrated with
myself about the desire to be seen. Maybe
I was just being a narcissist? I felt like I
was doing a bad job at x,y, and z because
my friend, so-and-so, did things a different
way.
Do you know what I’m talking about?
OH BELOVED ONE | 44

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE.
Have you ever felt passionate about
loving God and loving people but instead
of loving God first, you started looking
everywhere else for answers? And then
maybe in the midst of that, you lost your
purpose along the way?
I’m sorry to admit that’s been a big part of
my story.
I started believing lies about myself. And
for years, I put writing and speaking off for
various reasons. Yet inside me, there was a
deep longing. Then one day, I felt a nudge
on my heart. It was as if God was saying to
me, “You will never know what I could do
with what you have in your hands unless
you surrender your gifts to me.”
“Buuut God!” I wanted to wail. “I’m not
good enough. I’m not the best writer. I’m
not a great public speaker. I get stage fright
and feel like I’m going to throw up. Plusss
and this is a biggie God, I like it too much!
I feel like by enjoying the spotlight, I’m
automatically disqualified.”
delivered to me two talents; here, I have
made two talents more.’ His master said to
him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little; I will
set you over much. Enter into the joy of
your master.’ He also who had received the
one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I
knew you to be a hard man, reaping where
you did not sow, and gathering where you
scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I
went and hid your talent in the ground.
Here, you have what is yours.’ But his
master answered him, ‘You wicked and
slothful servant! You knew that I reap
where I have not sown and gather where I
scattered no seed? Then you ought to have
invested my money with the bankers, and
at my coming I should have received what
was my own with interest. So take the
talent from him and give it to the one who
has ten talents. For everyone who has
One day while reading in the Bible, I
believe God answered me. I came across
the parable of the talents. Jesus was telling
a story about a rich man who leaves talents
with each of his servants before he goes
away on a long trip.
To one servant the man gives five
talents. To another he gives two
talents. And to another he gives
one talent. While the man
is away, each servant is
responsible for the talents
they’ve been given.
And then this is
how the story
unfolds, “Now after
a long time the master
of those servants came and
settled accounts with them.
And he who had received the
five talents came forward, bringing
five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you
delivered to me five talents; here, I have
made five talents more.’ His master said to
him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little; I will
set you over much. Enter into the joy of
your master.’ And he also who had the two
talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you
OH BELOVED ONE | 45

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE.
will more be given, and he will have an
abundance.” (Matthew 25:19-29a)
Interesting that the master never tells
his servants how to invest the talents.
But I believe the way they perceived
their master was key. Two of them were
welcomed into the joy of their master. But
the servant who did nothing with the talent
except bury it was clearly distrustful of
WHO his master is.
After reading the parable, I realized God
had entrusted certain talents and abilities
in my hands. And perhaps HOW I invested
them was less important to God (my
Master) than whether I knew WHO he was
and trusted him enough to take a step of
faith and invest them in the first place.
So I asked myself, “Will I trust God with
the talents he’s given me? Will I allow him
access to everything- even my battles with
pride, insecurity or comparison? Will I
give everything back to him?”
I told God I wanted more of him.
And then, for me, investing
the talents meant I started
typing. I started saying yes to sharing from
my heart. I’m trying to focus on WHO he
is and less on HOW this journey is going
to look. And trust me, it’s a daily process
of surrender and struggle.
What about you?
Will you ask God today to use you for his
glory?
Will you focus on WHO he is?
And then will you respond by taking the
talent he’s entrusted to you and step out in
faith?
I believe we all have a purpose: to glorify
God by loving him and loving people.
We all have different talents and abilities.
But when we focus on loving WHO God
is, trust that he’ll show us HOW to love
the world around us.
“And you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your
strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.’ There
is no other commandment greater than
these.” Mark 12:30 & 31
meet the
author
Janell loves to inspire others to recognize the greatness of the God they serve by using their talents and gifts as evangelists
for Jesus Christ. Janell has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and is passionate about using her
home as a mission field. She is an avid blogger, writer, and co-hosts the “Be The Girl” monthly mini-podcast for the
Delight & Be blog. She lives in Washington state with her husband, young kids, and a teenage exchange daughter.
OH BELOVED ONE | 46

specif cs iby anna mcauley
“What is your purpose?” This question can instill fears,
doubts, and anxieties in many of our hearts. What should we
be doing with our time on this earth? What purpose did our
Father create us for?
It can be so hard to discern this, and that leads us to wondering
what we’re doing with our lives, what we’re supposed to be
doing, and where we’re going. It leads to uncertainty, and
uncertainty often leads our hearts to fear and doubt. We worry
that we’re not doing enough, or that we might be doing the
wrong thing.
But here’s the thing: Our purpose doesn’t necessarily have
to be so specific.
Our purpose is to serve and love and honor our God.
We’re meant to praise Him, to rejoice at His goodness
and thank Him for His mercy, to share His story with
the world, and to try our best to love others as He
loves us.
The rest will figure itself out. God has given each
of us a unique set of passions, skills, desires, and
assets. We’re meant to use these to build His
Kingdom here on earth; He gave us our talents so
that we may use them to glorify His Name.
Not knowing the specifics of how to use your
gifts is okay. It will come. And no matter
where you are in life, you can still be fulfilling
your purpose: to praise Him. To rejoice in His
goodness. To be grateful for His mercy. To
share this story, this beautiful story of mercy
and goodness, with those around us. To love
others; to do our very best to love others as
Christ loves us.
That is our purpose, my friend. It will
play out in different ways in each of our
lives. Whether you’re using your talents
and passions to do something big for the
kingdom or you’re in a season of waiting
and wondering, you can still be fulfilling this
purpose.
Live out your purpose in life’s big
moments, and live it out in life’s small,
everyday moments.
meet the
author
Anna McAuley is a North Carolinian sci-fi writer who spends her days as a full-time student and a part-time nanny
(+ tries to find time for friends, writing, art, and reading!). She survives on copious amounts of coffee, tea, and
Jesus. Anna also blogs about books, pandas, and life at her personal blog: seedtosequoia.blogspot.com.
OH BELOVED ONE | 47

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM PURPOSE ACCORDING
TO THE WORLD
4 ways the world tells us
to find our purpose
by emily seaver
(and how our purpose should really be found)
OH BELOVED ONE | 48

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 OHBELOVEDONE.COM PURPOSE ACCORDING
TO THE WORLD
“find your purpose by listening to your peer’s advice”
My immediate response to this is: no, no, no! But that shouldn’t necessarily be the first thoughts to pop
into your head. Your peers can give good advice, especially your Christian friends. But, because most of us
are still teenagers and young adults, we need to filter our friend advice! Teenagers (if you haven’t noticed)
can be very opinionated, and many of us will want everyone to agree with us. I’m not telling you to refuse
everything your friends are telling you, but be discerning to what you listen to. If you are not sure about
something, ask a parent or trusted adult!
// Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future // proverbs 19:20
“find your purpose by surrounding yourself with positive people”
There is nothing wrong with being surrounded by positive people, but are those positive people encouraging
you in God’s word? I encourage you to have non-Christian friends. They are the mission field. But you need
to get your advice from trusted adults and Christian friends rather than worldly people, no matter how kind
and friendly they may be. As teenagers, it can be easy to hop on the latest trend, including our purpose in
life. For example, I have a lot of friends who want to go into the medical field. It would be easy, especially as
we are thinking towards college, to want to go wherever my friends are going. Part of finding your purpose
is finding your identity, and if you are a Child of the King that’s where your identity lies.
“find your purpose by donating time, money and talents”
Some people don’t feel like they have anything to offer. I’ve had times like that. You might believe that you
can’t help your church or your community. Everyone feels like that at times, but it’s not true. God made you
for a purpose that you might not know yet, so use the things you can do have to serve for his glory. But for
those who have discovered their many talents, don’t serve out of selfish ambition.
// Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion
to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his
exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts
of mercy, with cheerfulness // romans 12:6-8
“find your purpose by exploring your interests”
I agree with this one. You should totally explore what you are interested in to use as a starting point. I cannot
express enough how important it is to know your identity is in Christ. Explore your interests and find ways
to use them to serve in the church! If you are an artist, paint a picture to bless someone in the church. If you
enjoy graphic design, help design the slides for your announcements. If you are an athlete, see if you can
help organize a sports camp to outreach to your community.
There are so many things to do with your life, so much so that it can be overwhelming! But if you know that
your identity is in your Creator, and not the things you create/achieve/earn, then you can rest assured that
your eternal reward is in your eternal home. Also, pray! Prayer is incredibly powerful.
meet the
author
Emily lives in the sunny, ever-humid southeast and co-blogs at growingintofriends.com. She spends her days being
creative and dreaming up impractical yet exciting ideas when she doesn’t have to deal with reality. She is a freshman
in high school, uses as many big words as she can find, and reads every book she can get her hands on.
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VICTORY
Life hurls a *lot* of stuff at us. How do we reign victorious
over all of it? Is victory just getting through something,
or maybe even the absence of challenges? Or is victory
becoming a stronger person, taking the hard route, and failing
but learning? Learn more in the upcoming issue of Oh Beloved
One, coming your way February 2019.