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.