Saturday Morning Links // 1

Happy Saturday morning y'all! We're starting a weekly link round up post for you, so you can sit down with a cup of coffee after a stressful week and let your mind be refreshed, inspired, and informed! If you have some links to share with us and others, comment below...we'd love to see them!

• How to create a Twitter account people want to engage with and follow.
• This post is 110% right on...what we wish we knew when we first started our businesses
• Mackenzie and Sarah visited each other last week and their hearts were reminded that living alive is hard, but oh so beautiful.
• Take a look at some of these tips on how to plan for your business in 2014.
• An old goodie from Hannah Brencher.
• As these two weeks this weekend is bordering are finals weeks, are you choosing to thrive in this season, or just survive it?
• God will fulfill His purposes for you.
• Regardless of if you like Beyonce or not, her new album was a huge marketing success and was a piece of art because it pushed conventional boundaries.
• A reminder of how much God cares...He designs the smallest things so intricately.
• Look at this gorgeousness...typographic gift wrap!
• Eight things to think about how you do email.
• You'll always have excuses to not do what you've dreamt of doing....do it now.
• Sometimes your passions change...and you have to be okay with that.
• Need to cut down the emails in your inbox? Enter Unroll.me.
• And some good Christmas spirit to make you smile (or cry).

Winter Edition Contributor Search

For all you ponderers, writers, thinkers, and believers, we want Y O U. The Shine & Soar Magazine Winter Edition is swiftly underway & we are on the search for authentic articles. Embrace this cold season of life, the refining, the trudging, the warmth of a fire, the fuzzy socks (perfect for sliding across the floor), the giving & uneasy heart, the lack of clarity, or the overwhelming voice of "This is the way; walk in it.", we want your passion. We believe in intentionality, especially during the holiday season, share with us your heart & vision & come partner with us in publishing this years final issue! 

Email article submissions & collaborations // sarah.shinesoar@gmail.com

Issue Three : Fall Edition // Launch Day

Our hearts are skipping a beat over the fact that the "Issue Three | Fall Edition" has finally graced the presence of our online followers! This season has been a challenging one to say the least & this issues happening are completely by the grace of God. A huge thank you to all our incredible contributors, your words, images, prayers, and hearts make this magazine come to life and we are so grateful for you. 

“It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.” - Winston Churchill

     

For we know that this perseverance produces hope, and our hope is that you would be refreshed, encouraged, uplifted, and inspired as you flip through the pages of this issue! Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let your heart and mind be enlightened.  

Issue Three : Fall Edition // 11.18.13 Update

     The Shine & Soar Magazine "Issue Three : Fall Edition" files have sadly been corrupted due to technical difficulties, the Shine & Soar Team is diligently working away to rebuild this issue as soon as possible. We are so very sorry for the delay! Our NEW LAUNCH DATE is November 22nd. We covet your prayers as we undertake this new challenge, but we are so grateful that Jesus is good all the time and that we our promised rest in His presence! Help us spread the word and change your Facebook cover photo with us!

xoxo,
Shine & Soar Team

      

Fall Edition Issue 3 Launching 11.18

The whole S&S team has been hard at work prepping for the launch of Issue three next week! Our hearts have been so inspired in this season of life by the concepts of legacy & heritage, and how they intertwine in our lives. Our contributors have been pouring so much love into what they are giving to this edition. We are overflowing with excitement, and hope you guys are too!! 

Launching in 6 days. The Fall Edition - Issue 3. Filled with lots of love, tears and hope.

xoxo,

The S&S Team

When The Going Gets Tough

Life is just plain tough sometimes. You want to curl up in a ball and wish it all away, for it all to stop, for just a moment. But it doesn't. It keeps on chugging sprinting along.

As you can probably guess, this has been the story of the entire Shine & Soar team this semester. We've have been trying to balance a load of classes, midterms, daily devos, online exams, SATs, personal trials, clients, weddings to shoot, jobs, family, and traveling for our businesses. Oh and running a magazine ;) It has been a season full of growth and tears, but we know that this is where we're planted for now and we need to use it wisely.

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. // Romans 5:3-5

I've been clinging on to this verse in this season, knowing that it's not just talking about the bad things that happen to us (e.g. house burning down, losing a friend, parents divorcing, etc.) but the everyday hard things. Working hard for hours on a school project. Staying up late to deliver photos to clients early. Saying no to sweets. Getting outside and running a mile or two. Things we CHOOSE to endure through. Why? Because it grows us, it builds our character. I'm excited to see all the ways I've grown and worked over the semester, but right now it's outright agonizing.

So with that, The Fall Edition | Issue 3 is coming in a few weeks. It will be shorter than our previous issues, but the writers who are in this issue have amazing hearts and voices that I have no doubt are going to encourage you so much, it won't matter.

If you are also going through one of your most stressful and busy seasons in life, keep clinging to Jesus, keep clinging to Jesus, and keep your nose to the grind.

xoxo, Bethany

Featured // Bricolage Events

     Happy Friday Friends! I am so very excited to introduce you to these two beauties, Abby & Libi, the heart and hands behind Bricolage Events! These two have such a creative and servant heart, they radiate with His love & it pours out over those whom they surround themselves with. Their genuine smiles, their calm presence, and their joyful personalities are hard to quickly dismiss. I know these girls are going to bless the clients they encounter and I am so honored to have them featured on the blog! 

     I meet these two for dinner last week, snapped a few shots of them, and listened to their future dreams for their event planning business and it was refreshing to say the least! 

"As our hearts are aligned with Jesus our fears shrink to extinct & His power, purpose, & light radiates into our lives."
Be inspired as you get to know these two lovely ladies!

xoxo,

Sarah Delanie 

Bri.co.lage // a construction made of whatever materials are at hand; something created from a variety of available things.

Follow Bricolage Events here // bricolagedevents.wordpress.com

Abby // Hi! I'm Abby, a 17 year old juggling her senior year of high school, a nanny job, and the wonderful work that comes with being the second half of Bricolaged Events! I love playing piano and ukulele, baking sweets, beautiful quotes, reading, and a glass of southern, sweet iced tea anytime. Ever since I moved to Fort Worth Texas, away from all my friends and the only place I had ever called home, the Lord has really been teaching me what it means to truly trust Him. The Lord taught, and is teaching me, to be dependent on Him, and Him alone. Through that hard transition in life, God gave me a friend. From an outsider's point of view it, would be almost unexplainable how we became friends, due to the vastly different personalities Libi and I have, but God had a bigger and better plan than any we could have imagined. This amazing call to entrepreneurship is such a whirlwind of excitement, and I'm trying to enjoy it all, every bit of it as it whips by. As I walk with the Lord, I am also blessed to take this journey through the realm of entrepreneurship with my dear friend Libi .

Libi // Hullo, my name is Liberty Vrazo and I am one half of Bricolaged events. I am eighteen and I've always been a crafter, an artist, a creator. I don't know how to look at something and not immediately think of how I could make it myself. I love craft blogs, craft stores (Which I often get lost in), coffee and tea, reading, and playing the ukulele.This business and blog is the culmination of everything that I can do well and really love to do and It's such a gift that I can pursue a career in something that gives me so much joy (and with my best friend too!). God is so very good to me and I really hope that this business will always be a testimony of that. I have learned so much in such a short space of time and feel so blessed and joy-filled to be able to do this with my best friend, Abby. She's so smart and talented and we've grown so much together during this process. I can see God working in both of our lives through each other and I look forward to many years of friendship, entrepreneurship, and the sanctification that is sure to occur during the process.

"God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events and reserved for Himself the knowledge of them, that He may train us up in a dependence upon Himself and a continued readiness for every event." -Mathew Henry

Light // Sweet Light

"Light is sweet and it pleases the eye..." Ecclesiastes 11: 7 

"I am a sucker for that soft warm glow filtering through trees. The creamy effect makes me so happy, and I love the film-like look it creates!"// Amy Hamilton of Photography by A. J. Hamilton

"I love light because it means hope. When the sun rises in the morning, it banishes the darkness of night. When the sun sets in the evening, it leaves us with a sunset, a promise to return again tomorrow. Light is also the first thing that God created when He began forming the earth. It gives life. That is why I love light." // Image courtesy of Emily Boyd

Take a look at the little things around you this week, soak up the littlest of blessings, and let Jesus open your eyes to an authentic kind of beauty. It makes life so much more vibrant, alive, and precious. Happy Monday! 

xoxo,

Shine & Soar Team 

Be Poured Out

Poured into.

Loved on by others. Being mentored. Spending time alone with God. Going to a life-giving Church. Listening to sermons. Reading books. Encouraging texts. Being prayed for. Receiving surprise gifts. Reminded of God's faithfulness + truth + goodness by others. Being invited. Listened to. Remembered. 

Does your life resemble that? Of always being poured into, your cup overflows with love and encouragement from others and from Jesus? Mine often does. 

But I am convicted of not being poured out as much as I'm poured into. A blessing hoarder, if you will. As important as it is to have a full cup (as in, not running on E in life), it can get even fuller by being poured out. I feel more whole when I reach out, encourage, and love on others (though it's usually hard at first). And when we pour out our cups for others, it gives it room to be filled up again by God and by others once again. It's a continual cycle.

I know that the teen years is a season of preparation in a variety of areas as we try to get as far ahead as we can before our time is eaten up by a full time career and other adult responsibilities. And this can get us focused into a constant mode of building ourselves up all the time. It's of course good to work on our character, relationship with God, and figuring out where we want to go exactly in our lives, but let's not forget that we are called to help others too be built up in their seasons too.

Being poured out is as much as a blessing as being poured into is.

We are called to be women who give, pray, love, listen, mentor, remember, encourage, embolden, and strengthen others. And in turn, we also get encouraged, loved, mentored, strengthened by others.

In this new week of possibility we have upon us, ask God to align your heart to give wherever you can. Text three people encouragements. Call a friend to listen to her in her hard time right now. Ask a girl that is just starting out her business out to coffee and give your time to help her on her way (and showing up with a package of things to help her grow would knock her socks OFF). Pay for someone behind you in the drive-through. Be available for others.

If I can be of help to you in any way shape or form, or if you need to talk to someone, my email inbox is always open. Shoot me an email :)

xoxo, Bethany

Favor & Benevolence

    "Basking at the thick, dark, wall clouds surrounding the suburbs while the vividly white birds fly straight across the sky to their home before the storm hits. The leaves on trees are whistling their song, calling on the rain, preparing for it's fall. 

| F A V O R : on the side of, giving support to |

For some reason, I just can't wrap my mind around it.

Psalms 90:17 "Let the F A V O R of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes establish the work of our hands!

Proverbs 16:15 "In the light of a king's face there is life, and his F A V O R is like the clouds that bring the spring rain."

The truth that the Lord's favor falls on the work of our hands like a spring rain baffles me. It is benevolence at its highest degree. Take heart to not only walk in the will of the Lord this weekend, but seek the light of His face, for there is life & favor just waiting to fall.

Fall Issue 3 // Model Search

Cover shoot model search for Fall Issue 3 has now begun! Camp fires, french press, knit socks, and sweet fellowship are sure to accompany this fun evening. We are looking to execute an "editorial Free People" feel to this shoot, so think layers & textures! Sound like something your interested in & think you'd be a perfect fit? Shoot us an email with your headshot & a 100 word bio for a chance to be chosen! There will be a small fee of 20.00 which will include your state park entry fee, professional headshots, and a feature in the Shine & Soar Magazine Fall Issue 3! You will not want to miss out, share this with your friends & join us, we can't wait to hear from you!

xoxo,

The Shine & Soar Team 

Be Bold

Jude 1:24-25 " Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before his presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

He who is found kneeling in the presence of God, fully surrendered before the Lord can confidently face anyone.

better than all the world can give...

It is because of His grace.

mercy.

pursuit.

love.

It is amazing what His love will do & it is amazing how vibrant life can be when we make a choice to serve, love, & encourage others. These things don't come naturally and they never will, we have to be willing to learn. The great news is, our teacher is Perfect. Jesus will never betray us, he promises us peace and comfort in His presence, He will not let his children fall before God, he is upright, and His love, perfection, joy, and goodness will transcend into our lives.

Be bold.

Shine & Soar // The Instagram

Follow us on Instagram for the latest sneak peaks, previews, & updates! Hashtag #instashineandsoar & share with us YOUR entrepreneurial journey & future dreams. We love to share & connect with our followers, spread the word!    

"All's Not Spoken" // NEW single by Kayte Grace

Some of you may remember this beautiful girl from the launch of the Summer Edition // Issue 2 & we are more than excited to be apart of announcing Kayte Grace's latest single & music video "All's Not Spoken!" We L O V E this new single & cannot stop listening to it, take a moment to listen & watch this new single, along with taking a peak into what Kayte's proceeds support! Kayte, we adore you, are proud of you, and oh so very honored to be apart of your journey!

About Katye Grace

"Just four years after first picking up a guitar, Kayte Grace has been featured not only by The Washington Post (who called her "impressive and "a talented musician") and YouTube, but also by NBC and ABC in Georgia, Columbia Spectator, The Augusta Chronicle, Ivy League Christian Observer and Washingtonian Magazine. Kayte has 660,000+ views on her YouTube videos, has released 3 albums and two singles and has songs playing on over 130 college & independent radio stations. She's organized, booked and self-promoted 3 national tours, including the 20 city, 22 show "Written On" tour, where she shared the stage in Nashville with her legendary cousins Victor Wooten and Roy "Futureman" Wooten. She's played nearly 200 shows in 19 states, including a performance during SXSW at Red Gorilla Music Fest (Austin, TX), opening for Gabe Dixon & The Voice's Lelia Broussard and performing in NYC venues like The Studio at Webster Hall and The Bitter End. Her songs have been featured in two independent films. And as a Screen Actors Guild member, Kayte has acted professionally for over fifteen years, landing roles in national commercials and in television shows like Law & Order: SVU, HBO’s The Wire, and Gossip Girl."

About the Single

The single, "All's Not Spoken" is the first track to be released from my forthcoming, IndieGoGo funded, 5 EP, 22 song "Set Fire to Separate Lives" project - a concept project that'll use the EPs as chapters of a larger love story.


"All's Not Spoken" is available for download (pay what you'd like!) at: https://kaytegrace.bandcamp.com/track/alls-not-spoken-single

About the Organizations I'm Supporting with the Download Proceeds

50% of the download proceeds will go to two organizations I'm passionate about: the New York City Urban Project, which fights human trafficking, feeds the homeless and mentors and tutors NYC youth, and Sasha Bruce Youthwork, which provides safe homes and opportunities for homeless and neglected youth in Washington, DC.

About the Video

One more interesting angle: the video was made possible because filming and editing it was actually a case study, created by a friend of mine from church, the CEO of Light Iron, Michael Cioni. He used the video to demonstrate what could be in the future of film making, using tools and techniques that are brand new. He posted a (fascinating and quite technical) behind the scenes video here: http://vimeo.com/73797466

Follow more of Kayte Grace's art here // Official Website + Facebook + Twitter + iTunes + YouTube + Blog

Beginnings & Adventures

The creative industry has so rapidly evolved over the past few years that sometimes we feel our rate of learning or growth should continue at the same speed. It's so easy to compare skill levels to those close to you in your industry. The truth is, we don't all learn and grow at the same rate, and beginning something new does not make you an expert. Don't let comparison steal the joy out of new adventures. I have been guilty of this lately as I've been toying with the idea of shooting more editorial work... I so easily fall into the trap of comparison or doubt. What we need to remember is that with new beginnings come fresh eyes to see new concepts and an excited, motivated heart. So, begin anywhere and know that you're not the only one growing.

Happy Monday, friends! 

Mackenzie

Vlog Three // Diligence

Vlog three, Sarah and Ciera share their hearts on the topic of diligence, what areas in your life are you most diligent in and how are you diligent in them? What areas in your life are you not diligent in and how do you plan on becoming diligent in them? Share your heart trails & triumphs with us as we pursue diligence in our everyday lives!

"Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains." William Penn

Don't Forget To Live // every second counts

Ephesians 4:31-32 // Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you.

Make your weekends count, as young entrepreneurs balancing school & business is testing. Regardless, keep pushing forward, allow the Lord to open your eyes to the beauty around you in people, places, & things. Live in the FULLNESS of His joy. Do not let your heart be hardened, bitter, or resentful, that will hinder you from experiencing life as Jesus intended it to be! Beautiful, messy, but rewarding. This weekend Don't Forget To Live, make every second count.

"I am not where I began, but I am not quite where I want to be." // Find Your Motivation

We need to stop living in survival mode, we need to start living in significance mode.

     It is that time of year again. Summer, full of excitement, new, extravagant adventures, friends, experiences, timeless moments, dreams & coffee dates, are all coming to a close. It is painful, bittersweet, challenging, & stressful. Our hearts feel the relentless tug of rebellion & the adamant "I will put down my foot" stubbornness towards school, schedules, & deadlines. How do we fight it? How do we maintain passion, excitement, & ultimately the fire within our souls that long for an exciting, free spirited life?

     I can not say I have figured out the crossed "t" and dotted "i" of how to maintain this extravagant, spontaneous, life that accumulates over the summer, but I can share my personal motivations & advice that I myself am going to put into action this school year. Along with beautiful words of encouragement from readers like YOU! 

     Personally, I am full of anticipation & excitement for what is in store this year. This past year has overflowed with change & while I still find that "change" is this relentless, reoccurring, motion in our lives, I can confidently say I am grateful to be where I am in these moments.

 
 "I am not where I began, but I am not quite where I want to be."

          One of the heaviest struggles that has come my way is balancing school & business. I love the intentional investment that I am able to pour into my work & the people around me during the summer, but school always seems to suffocate that to an extinct existence. This creates goal number one..

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Intentional, Pursuing, Friendships // Proverbs 27:5-6 "Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

     Surrounding your environment/world with friends who are intentionally investing in you & you in them is critical to maintaining that flame in your heart for the Lord. They fight to uplift you & push you towards Jesus, who ultimately refreshes you, propels you forward, & equips you to accomplish excellence in your school work & business. I find myself often compelled to cave into the desire of my flesh, leading to disappointment & exhaustion. I have found the blessings in the smallest of moments & when your heart is set on the hidden blessings that only few a man can see, you will find such life, excitement, beauty, & treasure in the day to day recurrences. This year, I am going to be intentional with my time & intentional with my surrounding. I will fight to fill my ears with uplifting words, my eyes with moving moments & I pray life & refreshment would roll of my tongue. 

Scripture // "Most of us don't need more information; we need power. We don't need inspiring words about God; we need the inspired presence of God's spirit breathing life into us." -Chris Hodges "Fresh Air"

     While this "goal" might seem like something you have always seen, it is the most important. Devotionals have always been that thing that I reserved 10min. to max each day & not until recently was I convicted about not holding scripture as ultimate authority in my life. I never realized that my tendencies of feeling "stuck" where simply because of my lack of honor & admiration for the one thing in this world that would propel me forward. Not only that, but Jesus deserves our everything. Walking in step with His spirit each second of everyday, that is real life. That is our true reality. Do not take this lightly, because with out Gods word, yes, the words spoken out of His mouth, for you, you will go nowhere. Let the Holy Spirit breath life into your every day.

Time Management // John 3:30 "I must decrease so that he may increase."
   
  "Hello time, it is nice to meet you!" Time is my enemy and priorities my struggle. If your a schedule/timeline kind of person, then do it! If your not, I encourage you to find a way to love it. It is not easy and never will be, but if we are diligent with our time and efforts, we will find relaxation & say farewell to anxiety! Living life free of worry allows room for the joy of your salvation in your heart & keeps your thoughts focused on treasures in heaven. It is a beautiful thing. Set aside time to enjoy the Lords presence in your life, whether that be sitting down with a coffee & reading a book or going out for a jog while filling your ears with worship music. Time can be your worst enemy or your best friend, spend it wisely.

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 That's my two cents! I truly do hope this post will encourage those of you reading as I think we all secretly struggle with this as young entrepreneurs. I can not say with confidence that this is the answer or that I have cracked the code, these are just simple guidelines I have given myself for this year personally & would love to hear yours! I have attached a few "testimonials" as you could call them, from every day girls to hopefully provide different outlooks & views down below. If you feel like sharing we would love to hear how you fight burn out in the comment section below. The best of luck & most valiant of prayers to you as you begin a new chapter in your life this school year! Treasure every moment.

xoxo,

Sarah Delanie

Briana DeWeese, Owner of Bree's Hope Photography // In new seasons, from one to the other, it does get easy to become sluggish and burned out on life. I've found a couple of things that challenges and keeps me motivated to reach goals, create new ones, accomplish goals, and LIVE LIFE. Finding a good routine is one of them. Do your thang, get up and go for a jog, have some quiet time, drink a cup of coffee. Grab those little things that you enjoy and put a little something together just for you. That "little something" is that thing that I can look forward to day in and day out and it continually builds me up. Throw in a short (or long) Bible study and that REALLY keeps you going. It's part of the food to each day and gets you pumped for what God has in store. It makes me so excited for what He has and THAT is what genuinely keeps me motivated. I love changing up that "little something" in between seasons always giving me something to look forward to!

Amanda Bourne, Student at Marymount University // I've found that intentionality makes me stay focused in day-to-day college life. It might be something as simple as incorporating a new idea into my study routine, or a new scripture reading into my devotionals. I try to remain intentional in my interactions with others as well. If I know someone is going through a hard time, or is feeling drained, I try to put in a little extra - be it sending them a good morning text or telling them how great they look. I also try to maintain weekly involvement with my professors outside of the classroom. Obviously, I am not able to do this with some professors, but for the professors in my major (especially), I try to come to office hours once a week, or just poke my head in and say hello. By being intentional with other people, I motivate myself throughout the semester.

Bethany Aleshire, Founder of Shine & Soar Magazine // School time is school time and personal time is personal time. If I mix either of these together - my enjoyment of either goes way down. And I get no weekend time or Sabbath. Slow + steady on business - keeping things regular and not dramatic, like spending 5hrs building a newsletter or staying up to 3am editing photos. As much as I love doing both, that's unwise because I feel out of it the next day or feel guilty when I glance up at the clock and half of the day is gone. So an hour at the end of the day, everyday, to work on business is something I'm trying to do. Waking up early fuels me up and makes me feel like a powerhouse. I also sprinkle in purposeful + filling breaks. Not just checking all my social media...that drains me. Things like watching my favorite vlog, listening to pop hits + having a dance party, or reading a favorite book on the bus from the way home from school...these breaks fill me. It's a fight to stick to my boundaries, but truly having time off + not being worried about school to do's is invaluable.

Shelby Alexis, Owner of Shelby Alexis Photography // You wake up in the morning to the sun streaming through the blinds hitting you in the face. Rub your eyes and think to yourself, "NO SCHOOL!". Well, those days are NO more. You have novels to read, essays to write, and math homework a mile long. This being my Senior year I know it will be insane at times and in the end incredibly rewarding. This next year my prayer is that I will have motivation to wake up every morning ready to hit the ground running and with a zeal for the Lord to share his love to world. The verse I keep reminding myself is, Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Whether it's your first year of high school or your final year in college. Don't do anything for yourself or fellow man. God has a plan and like anyone we may be uncertain at times of His plan for you. He is always there. Never changing. Just do everything for His glory; NOT yours.

Catherine Marsh, Founder of You're Awesome Awards // WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS - on one sheet write "Personal Goals", on a second sheet write "School Goals" and on a third write "Business Goals" - and under each write down those goals! - this helps me get focused and have an overview of what I would like to accomplish ! (If you want a more focused idea - check out Lara Casey's Blog! http://laracasey.com/blog/)

Ciera Chante, Creative Director of Shine & Soar Magazine // What keeps me fired up is celebrating the everyday. Using that fancy lip gloss I’m saving for a ‘special day’, painting with watercolors, or wearing my favorite outfit are some of the ways I like to celebrate. I’m learning that those ‘special days’ may or may not come so to celebrate them here and now while I can enjoy it. I schedule a little creative time in each day to help me maintain my passion + fire in my business and life. Another thing that I love to do is spontaneous surprises for my friends + family. It’s a great way to love on others plus, it always ends up blessing me a whole lot more than it does them. I love to see their face when I show up on their front door with their favorite Starbucks drink in hand. For my out of state/long distance friends I love to send care packages & letters as well as leaving little notes on their social media sites.

Troubled Waters :: To be Cleansed

As you grow tired, as the busyness of life drags you down, never forget that through the bad and the good God is cleansing you. Molding and shaping you.... Transforming you. He is giving you an opportunity to relinquish your life plans and let go of yourself to become who He created you to be.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the

 mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar

and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

Psalm 46:1-3

Embrace the challenge. Be cleansed. Pursue Christ and use these moments to chase greatness.

cheers,

Mackenzie

Vlog Two: Balancing Life

Today, Mackenzie and Bethany are talking about balancing life and being intentional with our time as summer is ending and school is starting. If you have any tips/tricks that help you keep organized and intentional with your time, share them in the comment section below!

 

Try Something New

Inspired by this quote? Let us know in the comment section below what you are going to try next!

Sweet Serenity & Incomprehensible Glory

A slow breeze & a steady rain.

     Sitting on a black rocking chair with an assortment of flowers to my right & a tiny red tricycle to my left all underneath a covered, wooden, patio. White, french, doors open & close with new faces coming in & out. There is a soft thunder in the distance.. or maybe it is a plane.

     While the birds chirp & splash in all their delight I feel as though I am starring into a reflection of what I desire my spiritual life to reflect.

A slow breeze & a steady rain.  

     Tiny rain drops find their way onto vibrantly red flower petals while the pesky, little, pup nibbles at my toes. Gearing my eyes to Jesus all around me, it is a beautiful thing.

// Sweet serenity & incomprehensible glory //

     Letting Jesus breathe in the weakness of my lungs & rain on my thirsty heart. Slow & steady. Constant & never ending.

Until I finish my race.

xoxo,

Sarah Delanie

Vlog One : Shine & Soar Magazine

    Sarah & Ciera are so excited to be kicking off the first official vlog! This is so new to us & we are still trying to figure everything out + please have a little mercy on poor baby C, she has been sick all week, but pulled it together the best she could just for you! We are so ready to hear your heart & get to know you all a little bit better!

Happy Saturday!

Giveaway // Custom Shine & Soar T-shirt

     It's giveaway time! We are looking for a name & tagline to call our bi-weekly vlog series & want you to join in!

The contestant that comes up with the most authentic & relevant name/tag line for the vlog, that the Shine & Soar Team loves will be the winner of one custom made Shine & Soar Magazine T-shirt!

     INSTRUCTIONS: Type your name, email, & super-awesome-creative-Name/tag line for the Vlog Series in the comment section below to enter! For extra entries, post this image on Instagram tagging @shineandsoar & hashtaging #shineandsoargiveaway along with telling us what you would love to hear us vlog about, questions you'd like to ask us, & things you'd like to know about us as a team! Our entire team has these shirts & they are the most comfortable t-shirts ever, you will not want to miss out!

T-shirt Size : Medium

Custom Made by :    

A Personal Touch www.facebook.com/sarahspersonaltouch

 
 use this image for Instagram

We can not wait to see what YOU come up with!
Deadline to enter // August 29, 2013

Issue 2 // Meet the Models

I just want to hug each of these girls and bottle up their souls forever. Yep, they're seriously that amazing. Hearts afire for Christ, chasing the dreams on their hearts, and doing life with their own flair. They had no camera shyness in them, even when all of our team members had a camera pointed at them (4 cameras people!). So meet the fabulousness of Ashley, Alex, and Jaana....

Hello! I’m Ashley, a 20 year old Minnesota girl pursuing a degree in elementary education. I am looking forward to being an RA this coming fall at college and having the opportunity to invest in the lives of the girls on my floor. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the piano and violin, going shopping, having coffee dates with friends, biking and rollerblading, reading a non-school-related book, and participating in anything that has to do with water (the ocean is my favorite!). But beyond all these things, my personal relationship with Jesus Christ is what I’m most passionate about. Each day is a brand new opportunity to walk with Him, every struggle is an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus and become more like Christ, and every triumph is an opportunity to love Him more. I’ve found that life in the will of God only gets better in each phase that we enter, and there is no greater joy than living wholly for Jesus Christ!

hello hello! i'm alex anne, a seventeen-year-old midwesterner living the life of a Jesus-loving creative. though i am currently pursuing photography, i don't like to box myself in to a single creative service. i dream of opening a local coffee-shop and/or ice cream shop, publishing my own magazine (like these lovely girls - clearly my inspiration), and living in a creative studio loft at some point in my life. at the moment, however, i am learning to be bold and to live fearlessly through God. me in a nutshell? tall and adventurous. xoxo

Now you haven't seen our third model yet since we had some scheduling conflicts and didn't have much time to shoot her, but she is an inspiring woman nonetheless!

Hey there, My name is Jaana Singh. I'm 18 years old and am from Corcoran, MN. A few things about me; I strive to show the essence of God as I grow in my relationship with Him every day. Because of His love, I've grown very passionate about quite a few things in life such as dance. Recently the Lord has directed and led me to start my own business in Wayzata called "The Awakening." There I enjoy spending my days teaching dance and gymnastics to many highly competitive athletes. I have a wonderful family and great friends who support me in all I do and feel very blessed to have them by my side.

Thank you ladies SO much for coming out + modeling for us! We're so excited to witness where God takes you next! 

xoxo, The S&S Team

Summer Edition : Issue 2 // Launched

Shine & Soar Magazine Summer Edition : Issue 2 is launched! We are so thrilled to be releasing this second issue and pray that it inspires, encourages, and strengthens your heart! We are growing and learning so much as a team, and we are so thankful for your encouragement and inspiration behind the pages of each article. We are sojourners, walking in step with the spirit, as quests in the heavenly courts, living as a bright city on a hill. Join us, be emboldened, and find hope in this Summer Edition : Issue 2! We would love your help in spreading the word by either sharing the link to the issue, our Facebook page or blog.

Blog : www.shineandsoar.com

Facebook : www.facebook.com/shineandsoar

Issue 2 | The Summer Edition

xoxo,
The Team

Vlog Introduction | Behind the Scenes

Photo by Gina Zeidler

http://ginazeidler.com/

http://ginazeidler.com/blog

     We are so excited to be launching our new bi-weekly vlog this week to you all! After a quite a few google chat meetings, which lead up to our Minneapolis, Minnesota meet up we all decided to jump into vloging to put a voice with a face. Our hearts heaviest desire through this magazine journey is to be real & honest with you guys. We want to grow with you & share the "ups & downs" of our entrepreneurial journey together. Honesty is just to beautiful to put into words, but we are going to try out best! Take a look at our first vlog introduction!

Summer Edition | Issue 2 : Behind the Scenes

Summer Edition | Issue 2

Behind The Scenes Video

Videography : Sarah Delanie 

WATCH ON YOUTUBE | http://youtu.be/qu7qAVd3yDo 

July 2013 // Behind the Scenes

 “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
- John Lennon

Many exciting adventures are in the works behind the scenes with the Shine & Soar team this week! Here is a little update with what we are up to!

The cover shoot for the Summer Issue is underway and we have decided to fly Sarah up this Saturday & Ciera up this Sunday to Minneapolis! Ciera will be brainstorming to no end and helping Bethany with layout and design, while Sarah will put her video skills to the test once again during the cover shoot, which will be shot by Bethany and assisted by Mackenzie! Needless to say, we are all beyond excited to all be together as a team, in person, face to face, really, we can't wait!

Our next exciting announcement is that we will be starting a biweekly vlog! Ah!! Our team video introduction will be shot while we are all together, giving you the in's and out's of what that means for the future. Not only will we be shooting video together, but we may have some kind of a photo shoot in store, with some one awesome. But, you will just have to wait to hear and see more of that!

We are wrapping things up with our outstanding contributors and are beyond excited to be launching Issue 2 in the near future! We are ready to pray & dream as a team & are oh so grateful for your prayers as well!

xoxo,
The Shine & Soar Magazine Team

Recipe // Fruit Infused Water by Dejah Lynn

Instructions:

1. Put cold water in a cup and then stir in honey if desired.

2. Cut up your fruit then add it to the water. If you want a stronger fruity taste, squeeze the juice out of the fruit. 

2. Put in refrigerator for 1 hour.

3. Add ice and enjoy!

Favorite Combinations

Do you have a favorite mouth watering combination? Let us know in the comment section below!

Recipe + Images by Dejah Lynn

Transcending Culture // Relentlessly Pursuing

Sometimes you just have to step away.

Step away from the chitter-chatter that can slowly creep into your life filling your mind with meaninglessness.

Sometimes you have to stop & reencounter the greatness that is our God.

Sometimes you have to stop typing & starting writing. 

Sometimes you have to stop assuming & start listening. 

Sometimes you have to stop talking & start reading.

It's a process. A process of learning how to be "in the world, but not of it." In an ever changing culture, it's easy to lose sight of Jesus Christ's authority in our lives. He is our reality & we are propelled forward by the living & active word of God. 

You see.

Jesus Transcends Culture.

Gaining credibility in this world must never become more important that our obedience to God.

1 John 2: 15-17 >>> "Do not love the world or the things in it. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." <<<

      Jesus has been opening my eyes to the truth that He is my PERFECT teacher. His wisdom & knowledge is far greater than the deepest, selfish desire embedded into my bones. 

Greater. Better. Best. 

It's pure perfection.

It's Jesus.

Keep relentlessly pursuing Him. Know Him, let Him seek your heart. 

xoxo,

Sarah Delanie 

Equipped

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." 

- James 1:2-4 (ESV)

     This past week has been a real eye opener for me, as I watched my town lose a young man who just graduated from high school. He was a friend, brother, son, grandson, nephew, and much more. I watched as we all grieved his loss. As I was studying my bible this week and continuing a study in James I came across this verse that touched my heart and it was no coincidence, Gods timing is always perfect!  It's easy to count our blessings as joy, but to go through trials and count those as joy?! I was sitting there in awe thinking how crazy is that? Then I realized I want this steadfast faith and without the testing of my faith I would never grow my steadfast faith.

      As I prayed that day, I prayed as I went through trials I'd be equipped with steadfastness. My reminder to all of you this week, whatever you're going through and whatever various trials you're dealing with, count it joy. Grow in steadfastness, strengthen your faith, read his word to propel you forward, and simply ask Him to grow you through your trials.

In His love, 

Elleigh Ann

LAUNCHING | The Summer Edition

We are unbelievably excited to share with you all the we will be releasing issue two later this month! The summer edition is shaping up to be even better than the last. We feel so blessed to be working with so many incredible writers and contributors, and the core of this issue, we think, is right on par with what so many of us need to hear and reflect on in life. An official date will be coming your way very soon!

Road Trip Ramblings

Road Trips.

     It's been a few years since I hopped in a car for a 14 hour road trip. Don't get me wrong, the smell, atmosphere & adrenaline of an air port fires me up like no other, but there is something so simple & raw about a long drive. It's like going on a journey through different worlds. Each state, city, & town all exuding different lifestyles. Different stories.

     Each car passing by, driven by someone with utter purpose, accomplishing a divine task assigned to them from the Almighty. Life moves quickly & it is easy to forget to just BE. I myself find it simple to check out of a conversation even while seemingly present. My mind goes & my heart follows suit.

     It's finding that fine line of discernment between just being a "doer" vs. being a "doer, driven by faith." There is a difference. It calls for discernment & a perfect teacher.

 >>> Jesus <<<

xoxo,

sarah delanie