what lies ahead

Philippians 3:13 "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." 

Keep your eyes fixed on the vast unending mountains before you, for they are not yours to climb, Jesus will carry you, rest in his presence and let your eyes not be phased by the mist in your face. In our past we see rippled rocks and shifted sand that we had hoped to tip-toe peacefully through, but instead we bulldozed. We are creatures of control, we are hoarders of anxiety, but that simply must go, because we are called to strain towards the goals that we are called to in Jesus Christ. Say this word -> straining.

That means sweat, regret and upset. That means failure, falter, and frump. That means hard. That means everything that you are will steadily slip through the grit of your fighting fist.  

But that also means, redemption, relation, refreshed. That means a fullness that lies in Jesus alone, a tenderness only He can provide. That means vibrance. You will be upheld & carried. You have never & will never been alone. If you missed last weeks blog post take a peak and be -> REFRESHED.  Let go of your burdens and step into the freedom that has been graciously bestowed upon you.

Happy Friday Lovelies! Embrace this weekend to the fullest!

  

REFRESH :

Two weeks into the new year. A list of twenty-six goals is sitting on your desk. One checked off.

Once we've passed through the Christmas coma, we come to the "how many plans can I make in one week" phase. We set unrealistic goals, we make goals of things that really shouldn't count as goals at all, and we make plans to plan (What? Yes, we all do it). Post-checklist week, we role into the new year. A time filled with stress about new semester and excitement over the fact that you've made it through one day of the thirty that you promised you would stay away from Starbucks. Initially, it's the little wins that fuel our drive to continue pursuing goals. And then, life gets hard. Holiday breaks end and those checklists get shoved in drawers. Instead of recreating the impossible goals we set, we throw them aside.

What this whole process lacks is intentionality.

We so desire instant gratification-an end result- in all of our lofty goals that, in our tunnel vision, we forget the power we have to restructure things! These lyrics by Gungor are so full of hope "You make me new, you are making me new". We easily lose site of the fact that being transformed means work is currently taking place. Right now, in these moments, He is purifying and challenging you. You are being made new! We have the hope of a fresh heart and mind every morning. That means our goals can and should shift and grow along with us! We can intentionally recreate our goals as the new year progresses without losing site of our initial intent.

 If you're coming to a frustrating place due to unmet goals and little headway, check your heart, dive into scripture, and breathe. Sometimes we need a refreshed and a renewed heart and checklist.

Although these checklists don't define you, they can be spectacular tools for cultivating a rich life, one that is purposeful and filled with promise. Find those crumpled pieces of paper, pray desperately over them, rewrite or throw some goals out, then work. It's a process, pray, write, work, repeat. Sometimes we need to cull through, trim the excess, and recreate our plans in order to get down to the relevant, refreshing change that needs to take place.

Cheers!
Mackenzie

Saturday Morning Links // 3

Here's a round up of some of our favorite links of the week.

• Balancing your personal and professional online presence
• A 12-month guide to being an intentional leader
• Attracting the right kind of twitter audience for you business
• Why you should have more than one significant other
• Have you set goals for this new year? Here are 5 steps to make following through a reality

What are some of your favorite links that you've discovered this week? Spill them below!

Saturday Morning Links // 2

Happy first Saturday of 2014 y'all! Here's a round up of some of our favorite links of the week.

• Stop chasing the cool kids and be your own cool kid.
• The little joys of life.
• Haven't done any goal setting for 2014 yet? Follow this fabulous 5 part series.
• Check your website & blog for broken links.
• Stop thinking you're naked. You aren't.
• Templates to follow for uncomfortable & hard emails.
• Setting New Year's Resolutions the right way.
• Jesus must increase...

What are some of your favorite links that you've discovered this week? Spill them below!

2013 Review & 2014 Preview

   

Happy New Year lovelies!

We are so grateful for all the support you have given us this past year & we pray you have a blessed 2014! But before we delve into each of our own thoughts, we wanted to show how far we've come in this past year as a magazine. We are officially one year old as of yesterday and have put out four magazines in that year! How crazy is that?!

We've learned a lot of lessons through putting these four labors of love out...some hard, some fun...but all in all it's fulfilling to see our year of work right up there. We've revamped our logo, changed the Table of Contents page a gazillion times, and stayed up many late nights working on design & editing. Yet, we've done some fun stuff including our first official team photo shoot, flying to see each other a fair amount (though not as much as we'd like!), and building relationships with our interviewees, models, and contributors. But we wouldn't have been able to do all this without YOU reading our magazine...so thank you from the bottom of our hearts for doing so!

Now onto each of our own thoughts on 2013 + 2014!

SARAH

Editor-in-Chief's note: I'm so proud of this girl & who she's become in the past year. A world-traveling photographer, relationship-builder, and intentional writer. She's blasted out a bunch of emails securing contributors for our issues and wrote many beautiful words for our blog. So thankful for her!

Favorite article/spread: Amanda Marie Lackey's Interview, love her work, words, and heart! Certainly was a joy having her featured!
Favorite moment of 2013 related to S&S: Our trip to Minneapolis! Having the whole team all together was incredible & oh so fun. Such sweet moments walking downtown, being shot by Gina, having articles flying everywhere & no sleep for the win! Love these girls to the core.
How did 2013 change & teach you? 2013 was a huge year of witnessing God's faithfulness through change. Lots of letting go & trusting, along with a handful of preparation for an upcoming crossroad in 2014. 2013 has taught me to not even begin to try to plan up a future of my own because my thoughts are not His thoughts & His ways are completely worth seeking out, because when we surrender it all He reveals great & unsearchable things.
Favorite book: Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud, Dr. John Townsend. A marvelous book to end the year & begin the next with.
Favorite obsession in 2013: Smart Barre! It is a combination of ballet, yoga, & pilates incorporated into an hour of kick booty class with women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Not only has the exercise been refreshing, but meeting new people throughout my community has been way super fun. I won't lie though, there is a super amazing coffee shop right next door that keeps me motivated thorough out class… guilty as charged!

Some goals for 2014 : Trusting, trusting, trusting my Savior. It's a simple goal, but still holds a lot of weight for 2014 & this next season of life for me personally.
Word for 2014: Fearless.
What are you ready for in 2014? Face plants! No but really, my family and I brought in the New Year in CB, Colorado & during our time here I attempted to take up snowboarding. This consisted of "snow face, face snow" we got real acquainted with each other…it was sweet preparation in the weirdest of ways, 2014 has already presented its fair share of crossroads & I would be lying if I said I didn't feel uneasy about it all. We learn by face planting, we learn my tumbling down hills, sometimes we have to break bones, other times the Lord is gracious enough to let it just be a pulled muscle. Regardless, failure & success shape, significance drives. Lots of change & lots of uncertainty, but my soul is at rest in the arms of my Savior.
What are you excited most about Issue 4? I think I most excited to see this year round out as a whole with each seasonal issue complete. This has been such a fun adventure & I am so grateful to have been apart of it all.

CIERA

Editor-in-Chief's note: This bam-stinkin' girl has grown SO much in this past year. Nikon to Canon. Portraits to weddings. Starbucks to Caribou (just kidding!! Sorta. She did love Caribou when she was in MN). I know that this next year will only be one of more growth for her! Grateful to have her :)

Favorite article/spread: Like New York City in Issue 2

Favorite moment of 2013 related to S&S: Our shoot with Gina Zeidler! So much fun! 

How did 2013 change & teach you? I learned so much from photography to relationships to life. I feel like a completely different person than I was one year ago in a good way. Growing into adulthood has proven to be a time of learning lots of life lessons, sometimes the easy way sometimes the hard way. I'm so grateful for this time because I know it will mold and shape me into the person that I am. 

Favorite obsession in 2013: Listening to the All Sons and Daughters album everyday on the way to work

Some goals for 2014: Creating a better brand, writing more, building intentional relationships, quiet time.

Word for 2014: Intentionality. 

What are you ready for in 2014? Bethany's visit (eeeep!), turning 21, and shooting more weddings. 

What are you excited most about Issue 4? Completing our first four seasonal issues; spring, summer, fall, and winter! Such an accomplishment!

MACKENZIE

Editor-in-Chief's note: She's trusted God through moving to frigid Minnesota & spurs us all on to more Jesus, better style, and clearer words. I'm so excited for where this next year will take her & the character it will etch into her soul... a place where her trust will be without borders. Beyond thankful for her!!

Favorite article/spread: Pages 6-7 in Issue 3 with a quote from Hannah Brencher.

Favorite moment of 2013 related to S&S: Loved, loved our team, shoot in July with Gina Zeidler! 

How did 2013 change & teach you? Between a move half way across the country and flying everywhere imaginable, I can undoubtedly say this year has been filled with adventure. Serving stellar couples, traveling the world, sharing my story at the Making Things Happen conference, and cultivating deep relationships….. 2013 has left it's mark on me and it is a year for the books. My move to Minneapolis was absolutely the hardest change in 2013 but has offered so much growth and independence, and the chance to discover a new city. 

Favorite book: Currently reading and loving The Power of Starting Something Stupid by Richie (and Natalie) Norton
Favorite obsession in 2013: I'm currently loving and diving into product photography.

Some goals for 2014: More time in scripture, less on social media. Consistent blogging. 

Word for 2014: Assurance and Rest. 

What are you ready for in 2014? I'm ready for more big changes, travel & growth. 

What are you excited most about issue 4? I am so, so excited by the core of this next issue!

BETHANY

Favorite article/spread: Regretless by Mackenzie Kern in Issue 3
Favorite moment of 2013 related to S&S: The Minneapolis trip, by far. Staying up late talking, dreaming & planning in Kenzie's apartment is one of the highlights of that week.
How did 2013 change & teach you? 2013 was a bit of a hard year, but filled with God's goodness throughout. It taught me that even in the foggy, doubt-filled place that God is there & He is working in us even when we don't think He is. It was a season of being still, staying home (quite literally), and of my heart being broken for God to rebuild it.
Favorite book: The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin. This book stunned my socks off and it shaped the way I want to do business & life.
Favorite obsession in 2013: Having smoothies every morning!

Some goals for 2014: Write more, which might become a 500 words a day goal. I feel like writing will be the biggest area of emphasis in 2014 for me...not sure exactly why yet! Vlog every week. Launch a new website/brand. Exploring editorial & fashion photography. Finally get a mkiii :)
Word for 2014: Liberation.
What are you ready for in 2014? Change, action, travels, and living in God's freedom.
What are you excited most about Issue 4? The heart of it...when we decided on what it would be about I was fine with it, of course, but just in the past couple of days God has shown me how ____ was & wasn't in my life. And I'm so excited to write about it :)

All in all...it's crazy to see how far we've come in a year in these two pictures alone! And we're excited to see where God takes us, grows us, and leads us in 2014. Thank you again for being apart of Shine & Soar Magazine in 2013, we can't wait to continue to build some loveliness in 2014!

Much love from all of us to you!

What were your favorite spreads & articles from the past year? What do you believe God is leading you towards in 2014? Share in the comments section below!