EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE

Book Giveaway &

Sanctuary Contest
Prize Details!

The Single Journey

a new column

Interview with...
Naomi Carroll
living lives that glorify a new column

Counter Cultural:
Teaching our
Children to Pursue
Holiness

How To...Fight Fair

a new column

© Exemplify 2009

August 3, 2009
“As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's
life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
Pilates works my abs.
I should know the drill by now. Last
week I was sore from my
powerhouse workout for about
five days! This morning as I was
getting ready to put my muscles
to the test, my abs were begging
me to put them into early
retirement.
Every single Pilates movement and
exercise targets the abs – your
"core" or "powerhouse".
The whole workout I listened to the
instructor say, "Keep breathing.
Focus on your core. Focus on your
powerhouse. Focus, focus, focus!"
from the desk of Kristen Schiffman
Today I found myself mumbling
back, much like the people of
Israel as they wandered through
the wilderness.
"You are doing this ab-focus-thing
to kill me aren't you?"
"I'm going to die here- sure, my
"core" will be hard as rock, but my
blood will no longer be pumping
through my veins!"
"I see a bright light…I think Jesus is
here for me. Jesus, is that you?"
All of this was said as I engaged
my powerhouse during The
Hundred, The Single Leg Stretch,
© Exemplify 2009
Editor’s Letter
The Plank, The Saw, The Spine
Stretch…and the list goes on.
I must have engaged my core for
seven solid hours.
Ok, in reality it was exactly one
hour.
I did have on my cute sweatpants
-- which in my opinion makes a
workout a real workout and worth
it. You can ask anyone, I consider
90% of the fun of staying in shape,
to be the workout gear. I have
warm, feather vests for outdoor
winter walks, Pilates pants for
Spring, cute sneakers that make
stretching to your toes worth the
three foot trip.
 EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

If I am going to have to exercise I am pleased to feature articles

my powerhouse, I might as well written by Mary Pielenz
look good doing it. Hampton of Refresh Founder/Editor in Chief
Moments, Elaine Olsen of Kristen Schiffman
All of this core-strength talk has Peace for the Journey and
me thinking. paula whitehouse of Paula’s
sharing spot, as well as Assistant Editor/Family Columnist
introduce you to Exemplify’s Andrea Mitchell
In our spiritual walks, abs are not
our powerhouse. newest columnists:
In 10 Minutes or Less
The Holy Spirit is. • Wendy Miller
• Judith Roberts Carol Moxley
• Christy McGraw
I think so often we look at our • Victoria Jenkins
biblical calling to be a holy Advice Column
people and feel discouraged. I am also happy to announce Christine Johnston
We forget we’ve been given “Lorem Ipsum Dolor Set Ahmet In
our new editor’s letter! If you are
everything we need to live thisinterested, you can read the Condinmentum. Nullam Wisi Acru
life for the glory of Christ. Singles Columnist
Suscpit Consectetuer viviamus Lorem
details on the front page of our
Christy
Ipsum Dolor Set Ahmet.McGraw
Lorem Ipsum
website and sign up for a weekly
We forget we’ve been given The Devotional Letter straight from Dolor Set Ahmet In Wisi Acru Suscpit
Spirit, named HOLY. my desk to yours. Consectetuer viviamus.”
Sanctuary Columnist
Leo Praesen Christy Klein
Are we engaging Him Okay, I need to go ice my entire
constantly? Are we working Him body. And eat a cookie. All of
into our every movement? Are this Pilates talk has made me Marriage Columnist
we led by His direction and hungry! Jenifer Jernigan
shaped by His knowledge?
Enjoy this month’s offering,
Rock hard abs would be nice but Kristen Schiffman Fashion Columnist
it is a strengthened faith I desire. Jennifer Norra

Let us be filled continually with

the life-giving energy of the Holy Interview Columnist
Judith Roberts
Spirit. I hope we will begin to
work our Christ-given
EXEMPLIFY ONLINE
Powerhouse!
Ministry: Online! Columnist
Online & Blog Team
Amy Bayliss
This issue is dedicated to our
pursuit of holiness and what it
Kristen Schiffman
means to respond to that call. Devotion Columnist
Andrea Mitchell Kara Cox
Christy McGraw

Victoria Jenkins Book Review Columnist

Katrina
Patty Wysong
Joanne Sher
Fiction Columnist
*Editor’s Wendy Miller Tara Rachel
letter
adapted Sonia Chacon
from a Shane Schwichtenberg
previously Health Columnist
Published Kelli Reagan Shannon
devotional
Christa Allan
written by
Kristen Bible Study Columnist
Daisy Olsen
Schiffman Victoria Jenkins

How-To Columnist
Wendy Miller
© Exemplify 2009
 contents
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

14
6 features

5 Sanctuary Book Giveaway

14 Be The Blessing: Interview with Naomi Carroll
16 Living Holy
28 Walking my Holy
34 What Do I Know of Holy?
41 The Call of Zulina

columns

6 Sizzling Sanctuary Contest

7 Developing Holiness
9 The Single Journey: Beginnings
11 Counter-Cultural
19 The Book Nook
20 How-to Fight Fair
22 Holiness before Marriage
24 In the word: bible study
31 Ministry: Online!
38 In 10 Minutes or Less: Love Thy Neighbor
39 Surviving The Fiery Furnace
43
Fiction: Damaris

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
Sanctuary Book Giveaway!

It doesn't matter whether you Create a home that reflects

own or rent; whether you live in a your unique interests and values
mansion or a trailer. We each have Develop a personalized
the ability to create a beautiful, "Power Cleaning" routine that
peaceful environment of our own---a makes housekeeping easy and fun
more spiritual space to enjoy. Set aside time for rest and
doing the things you love to do---and
Is the place you live truly your reap their God-given benefits to the
home? Is it where you can take fullest.
refuge from the world and emerge
refreshed...a place to nourish your
family's dreams and draw strength
from what you believe in? Now,
inspired by a personal moment of
revelation and insight, environment
specialist Pamela J. Bailey shows you
how to apply biblical principles and
prayer to make your house a restful,
vital place that fulfills your soul
and heart. Learn how to:

Find innovative, inexpensive

ways to make the most of---and enjoy---
wherever you are living

Using Scripture, an expert on

home design reveals the
secrets to creating Interested in this giveaway?

beautiful and peaceful Simply leave a comment on

our website, under the post
entitled “Sanctuary
living spaces no matter the Contest”!

budget. A winner will be announced

this weekend.

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

Sizzling
Sanctuary
Summer Contest
Prizes
Written by Christy Klein of
christyklein.wordpress.com
The time has come for me to set the cruelty
aside and give you the skinny on the awesome
prizes that await the 3 lucky winners of the The 3rd Place Winner/Most
Sizzling Sanctuary Summer Contest announced Interesting Reinvented/
in our June issue.
Refurbished Item will receive
When I set out on my journey to find sponsors $55.00 in virtual gift cards to be
for this contest, I anticipated much travail and used in the 4 sponsored Etsy
vexation of spirit... I’m just being honest with shops.
you. However, to my absolute delight,
Exemplify’s call for sponsors was greetd with
open arms by many lovely Esty shop owners. So The 2nd Place Winner/Best Use
much so, that we’ve had to begin lining them of Color, Texture, Shapes, and
up for additional giveaways this fall! So keep Patterns will receive $95.00 in
your eyes open for those fun giveaway
opportunities in coming issues.
virtual gift cards to be used in
the 4 sponsored Etsy shops.
Please note the following change:
The finalists will be announced on The 1st Place Winner/Most
the Exemplify Blog by September Dramatic Overall Change will
5th. After which, the finalists will receive $135.00 in virtual gift
endure a week of public opinion cards to be used in the 4
voting to determine the 3 winners
of the contest. The winners will be sponsored Etsy shops.
announced and featured in the
October issue.

Throughout this issue, look for

the FEATURED SPONSOR graphic
to see what awesome prizes are featured sponsor
up for grabs.

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 In high school I was kind of a
loner. I wanted to fit in, to be
popular, but I never felt like I
could measure up. I spent many
a lunch hour walking around
campus by myself, talking with
the only friend I felt I had, Jesus. It
began as a bit of a pity party. I
felt like a loner because of my
faith. Looking back now I realize
there were more Christians in my
school than I realized, but some
things are only seen in hindsight.
God was merciful to me back
then. Because what started out a
bit pathetic and whiney (oh His
sweet mercies toward me!) grew
into a friendship that will continue
for eternity.
It was during that time that I
really began to know what it
meant for Jesus to be the friend
that sticks closer than a brother. I
would talk about all sorts of
things, wonder about my future
and the destiny He had for me,
share my hurts and loneliness with
Him. Over time I began to pray for
others, or talk about scriptures I
was reading, listen for what he
was saying to me, or simply praise
Him. I never once considered that
he didn’t hear me. It was a
beautiful thing. Since then I’ve
never had a problem with that
aspect of my relationship with
God. I always know that I can run
to Him, just to talk, cry, or sit in His
presence and not feel alone.
What was born out of a difficult
time in my life has blossomed into
something sweeter. It was the
beginning of my being set apart
for Him, of His developing holiness
in me. I wouldn’t have traded
those years for anything in the
world. And I’m confident that
God would not either.
Back in High School being set
apart felt like a terminal diagnosis.
Who doesn’t want to fit in when
they are fifteen years old? Even a
girl like me who is no fan of the
spotlight wouldn’t have minded a
group of friends with which to
spend my lunch hour. I'm not
saying that a popular girl with
legions of friends can't have a
strong relationship with God. It just
didn't work out that way for me.
God had different plans. He was
setting me apart. Developing
holiness in me. He knew what
those lonely lunch hours would do
to strengthen my relationship with
Him. It was only a year or so after
that I felt God calling me into
ministry. Would I have heard His
voice if I hadn’t been listening for
Him while walking around my high
school campus for all those years?
Perhaps not. All I know now is how
thankful I am for those times.
I’ve always been one who
struggled with the idea of
perfection. Everything the world
seemed to tell me about myself
was that if it wasn’t perfect, I
didn’t count. Somehow I foolishly
let myself believe the same was
true of God. If I didn’t measure up
perfectly I didn’t please God. It
was during those walks and talks
that God began to show me that
perfection didn’t equal holiness.
As I searched scriptures I was
relieved to discover that all my
good was filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)
and it was Christ who made me
righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21) and
holy. Perfection or the lack of it
wouldn’t keep me from being
holy before God. Jesus had made
a way. I learned that perfection in
the world’s eyes has everything to
do with the outside. God’s
© Exemplify 2009
Developing
Holiness
By Kara Cox of
karacwak.blogspot.com
“God’s
holiness is
about what He
works on the
inside.”
holiness is about what He works on
the inside.
So from those lonely high school
days and all the way up to my
single thirties He’s been working
on the inside of me, developing
holiness, fine tuning His set apart
daughter.
Daily He challenges me with
scriptures like Colossians 3:12-13
“Therefore, as God's chosen
people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. Bear
with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may
have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
So different from what the world
concerns themselves with, isn’t it?
I’m no longer an awkward
teenager longing for a place to fit
in, but life can still seem lonely. I
can still struggle with the
temptation to be a perfectionist.
When it is difficult I am reminded
that He is the one who works in
me. I’ll never have to aim for
perfection, but I always need to
aim for Him.

EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
The French Rose Pillow In White and
Robins Egg Blue Linen
This lovely pillow is 100% linen!
The 1st Sizzling Sanctuary Summer Sponsor I’d like to
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DEDEETSYSHOP
Meet Deanna Janssen, owner of dedeetsyshop.
Deanna’s love for sewing began with spending
many hours at her grandma’s house, where she
would watch her grandma work at the sewing
machine crafting a wide variety of things, as only
grandmas can do. So it should come as no surprise
to hear that Deanna, herself, was already sewing as
a little girl. She remembers taking old clothes and
© Exemplify 2009
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home with her son while contributing to the family’s
income with her creations. One day, she came
across a magazine article about Etsy and thought,
"Why not!"  Deanna opened her Etsy shop in
December of 2008 and hasn’t looked back since!  
She loves every second of it - even the midnight
sewing sessions on busy days. Deanna finds
fulfillment in knowing the fruit of her toils are being
used to create inviting atmospheres in homes
everywhere. She is so thankful for the many
wonderful customers that she has already had the
opportunity to serve.
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
The Single Journey
Beginnings by Christy McGraw
I am sitting alone in my favorite restaurant as I write
this. There is a couple in front of me and a family
beside me. The little ones are enjoying a sip of their
dad’s milkshake and giggling. The couple is quiet
but comfortable with one another.
Part of me is looking at the two families and longing
and another part of me sits at this table alone and
content.
A few months ago I would have never came into a
restaurant with the purpose of sitting alone and
enjoying a simple meal. One day God asked me to
© Exemplify 2009
I am delighted to introduce you to Christy,
the new author of our Singles column.
In the coming months you can expect to
join her on the single journey as she writes
from the heart on her adventures & ponderings
as a single woman.
I am joyed to present her column to you
this month & honored to call her friend.
--kjs
of crittyjoy.typepad.com
go into my favorite restaurant and sit by myself for a
meal. Just me. Just Him. I put it off for a while until
one day I knew I had to do it. So I ordered and
picked a quite table in the corner. As I sat there in
silence imagining Him in the chair across from me a
deep peace settled within me. A comfortable
silence with my Savior. Just sitting in the wonder of
Him. It was just a beginning.
It is all a part of the journey the Lord and I are taking.
Dearest Single Sisters this article is for you written by
one of you.
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
“My Beloved is mine, and I am his.”
Song of Solomon 2:16
I wanted to first let you know that this is a struggle for who saved me, redeemed me, and the one I will
me and yet a triumph for me. spend eternity with.
I never imagined myself a 30 year old single girl. At
this point in my life I was suppose to be married, have More importantly He is the one writing my story. My
at least one child and be deliriously happy. This is love story. My life story. He has long asked for the
not the case and yet on most days I can say I am pen I was using to write my story. And sometimes I
happy. While not deliriously so, I am journeying to would give Him the pen, but only for a moment and
that point. then I would grab it back. A game of tug-of war
often ensued as I would do this, repeatedly.
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the Seriously, there are times I am amazed by His
desires of your heart. Psam 37:4 (NIV) relentless pursuit of us. Because I would have
already given up on myself. And yet He continues to
For a long time I used this verse my way not as the ask for the very depths of my heart, my soul. And I
way the Lord intended it. I thought as long as I would continually give it and take it away.
delighted in Him He would give me all the things I
I finally gave Him my pen this year. To be honest,
wanted, no “needed”. Over the past year He has
there are times I would love to snatch it back, and at
shown me in many ways that while that may be true I
times I think, I really could be doing a better job. I
must truly delight in Him for this to happen. The funny
am sure when I say this He just smiles at me, patiently.
thing is when you start delighting in the Lord, your
desires, they start to change too. And slowly but
I have also learned to look at my life as a single gal
surely I have laid down some things before the Cross
humorously. Because let’s be honest only some
that I have never been willing to. Including my
things happen to us single gals. This has also
desire for a family. Now does this mean that I don’t
changed my perspective on things. What at one
dream of a family? A loving husband and sweet
time I would cry over I laugh at now because in my
kids? No, but the dream is different. I only want
heart, I know His plan is perfect and sometimes how
those things if He desires them for me. Now this is not
He achieves that plan is unique and even *gasp*
to say I do not struggle with this at times but I have
fun!
learned to make Him my first desire. My Beloved.

This journey is still in the beginning stages. I know I still

My Beloved is mine, and I am his. Song of Solomon
have so much to learn. And at times I am not
2:16 (NKJ)
interested in journeying any farther because my
wants get in the way. Yet the relentless pursuit of a
For a long time I thought of this verse in context of
Groom for His bride continues.....
marriage. And what a beautiful sentiment, right?
But the Lord gave me this verse this year, just for the
And now I am sharing this journey with you, the high
two of us. He is my first Beloved. The NIV uses the
mountain roads and the low valley roads. My hope is
term Lover. The Lover of my soul. And I am His
that you will see parts of your journey in mine and
Beloved, His Lover. He will always want and seek to
that you will be encouraged by what He is teaching
be our first Beloved, the first Lover of our souls. This
me. And I would love for you to email me at
verse changed the way I thought of my Jesus. I
thesinglejourney@gmail.com so we can share this
began to see Him so intimately that it changed the
journey together, as Sisters.
very core of my soul. He is my first Beloved. The one

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when
they are older, they will not leave it.”
Proverbs 22:6
I take a lot of comfort in that particular verse.
Parenting is hard! There are days where things run
smoothly, the kids behave respectfully towards me
and their siblings, and we’re all smiling and happy at
the end of the day.
And then there are those other days. The ones where
you wonder if your children will ever learn the lessons
you are teaching them, or if they’re going to grow up
to be hooligans instead. Those are the days where the
idea of “being holy because I am holy” seems like a
distant dream, or at least a reality for someone other
than my household!
Holiness can seem like the impossible dream, can’t it?
As parents we strive to raise our children in His ways
© Exemplify 2009
Counter-Cultural:
Teaching Our
Children To
Pursue Holiness
By Andrea of
undergraceovercoffee.com
with the hope that one day they will grow up to be
madly in love with their Savior, and live their lives as a
reflection of that, set apart from the world. But if
you’re like me, you may wonder some days how on
earth to do that.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 gives us a blueprint for raising our
children in holiness:
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
And you must love the Lord your God with all your
heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must
commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these
commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them
again and again to your children. Talk about them
when you are at home and when you are
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
We need to teach our children to be
counter-cultural.
on the road, when you are going to bed and when value. And in the process, I can guide them toward
you are getting up.” things that do honor God.

First off, we parents need to make sure we are loving But above all else, I want to encourage my children
God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, to not just honor Him with things, but with their very
with every single ounce within us. Because let’s lives. I want my children to allow God to transform
face it. If we aren’t living our lives in the fullness of their hearts and minds so they can live lives of
God, serving Him out of the depths of our own love holiness.
for our Father, our children likely won’t either.
So they can be holy.
Then we need to teach our children. Not just once.
But again and again. Have you ever noticed how Because He is holy.
kids seem to need to have certain things repeated
to them several times before it sinks in (or is that just Love God, your God, with your
my kids!)?
whole heart: love him with
Most kids are so busy being kids, distracted by the all that's in you, love him
potential to experience life around them, that they
fail to always pay attention to what we are saying. with all you've got!
Our loving Father obviously knows this, because He
tells us to repeat the things of God to our children
again and again. And we can do that anywhere -
at home, in the car, at the park, at the grocery Write these
store, in the morning, at bedtime, even while picking commandments that I've
dandelions in the front yard. Every moment we have
is an opportunity to be teaching our children about given you today on your
the goodness of God.
hearts. Get them inside of
I believe there is another key aspect to leading our
children into holiness. In Romans 12, verse 2, Paul you and then get them
tells us to not “copy the behavior and customs of inside your children. Talk
this world, but let God transform you into a new
person by changing the way you think. Then you will about them wherever you
learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and
pleasing and perfect.” are, sitting at home or

walking in the street; talk

Right now my kids are at the point in their lives
where they are beginning to be influenced by their about them from the time
friends more and more. Their friends influence what
they want to watch on TV, what kind of music they you get up in the morning to
want to listen to, even what kind of clothes they
wear. when you fall into bed at

night. Tie them on your

We need to teach our children to be counter-
cultural. Instead of following the ways of the world, hands and foreheads as
we need to encourage them to follow the ways of
God. Not in a legalistic manner, but in a way that is a reminder; inscribe
a genuine expression of their own faith in God.
them on the doorposts of
I’m not saying all TV shows, music and clothing
your homes and on your
trends are bad. But let’s face it – a lot of it is. As a
parent, it is my responsibility to hold those things up city gates.
to the Word of God to show my children their true
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (The Message)

© Exemplify 2009
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EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
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an Etsy shop owner since May of 2006. Since that Joom had been trying to get her work out with little
time this shop has completed nearly 4,000 sales with success when she discovered Etsy by accident. She
a 100% positive feedback rating! The items from this liked what she saw on Etsy and decided to give it a
shop have been featured on dozens of blogs and in try. Joom has never thought of herself as a seller,
several magazines. You can visit this Etsy shop at more like a shopper, and she believes that actually
joom.etsy.com helps her to understand what the customers like and
see things from their point of view. Joom’s shop is
JOOM filled with a variety of products that people use in
everyday life. She enjoys using different kinds of
Meet Joom Klangsin, owner of Joom. Joom is an artist materials for her work. Joom gets most of her
and designer who lives in Oakland, California with inspiration from nature, music, and her surroundings.
her husband and dog, Seven. She was born and She tries to make her products look clean, simple in
grew up in Bangkok, Thailand. Joom received her design, and full of color with unique shapes. Above
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Silpakorn University. are 3 beautiful examples of the items you will find in
After graduating in 1995, she became a graphic Joom’s shop.
designer for the company 711 in Bangkok. Then in
1996, Joom came to the U.S. to study graphic design
at the Academy of Arts College, San Francisco.
© Exemplify 2009
 BE THE BLESSING:
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

INTERVIEW WITH NAOMI CARROLL

By Judith of
Naomi Carroll Pictured www.thirstysouthernsoul.blogspot.com

Jesus said, “Go into all the world.” He also said to love
your neighbor. Let’s take the time to look around
ourselves. People are dying for a Savior.
I sat with Naomi Carroll, singer, jumped down from my lap and as possible. When I hear stories
songwriter, wife, mother of pup rushed over to her “dad” and that move me, the melody comes,
Sadie, in her home in Monroe, La., Naomi’s husband of seven years, and the words flow.”
as I petted little Sadie Bug on the Marty. “Women are hungry and
belly. “I think I’ve made a friend,” I thirsty for outside contact. Some of And the words have been flowing
joked as Sadie lay there, content. those women were wishing for with her soulful, powerful voice for
Naomi smiled. She has a soft spot their freedom, from behind bars 20 years.
for animals; Sadie herself came and from their own (mental)
from the Humane Society. prison.” So much pain, so many scars.
She’s been singing since she was Those who need His hope are right
Her tenderness stretches beyond three years old and writing songs near where we are.
animals. Naomi -- whose first CD, since she was 11, using personal
“Becoming,” dropped nationwide experience, other people’s stories, Naomi’s struggle to this point in her
in July – just finished up a prison and God’s word to inspire her. musical career has not come
ministry tour in Oklahoma. easy. She has battled issues with
“I am moved by people’s pain, self-esteem and was diagnosed
“It’s probably the most amazing tragedy and celebration,” Naomi with depression in 2003, but she
experience I’ve had in a long said. “I’m inspired by the has never given up on her dream
time,” Naomi said as Sadie messages I hear. I try to be as real to sing.

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 Now is the time to look around and really listen.
Now is the time to believe. Now is the time for us to
be the blessing.
“My ideas (for songs) come from
everywhere,” she said. “It used to
start from my own emotional
place. Now it still comes from that
place, but it’s a more determined
place. I hear that I’m not pretty
enough or skinny enough, but no
matter how fat or skinny I am, my
music is not going to change. It
evolves with me, but I never
forget who I sing for and why I
sing.”
This north Louisiana singer
auditioned for American Idol in
2004 but did not make it to the
show, though she’s not
disappointed. After winning the
Central Louisiana audition, her
way was paved to Chicago for
the next round and, despite not
making to the following round,
said she and Marty had a fun time
touring Chicago.
“I had 15 seconds to audition,
and then I was out the door,” she
said, laughing. “When people
didn’t get to go to the next round,
some people would throw
themselves on the ground, crying
and screaming. There were
cameras shoved into our faces,
and they were asking, ‘Did this
ruin your life?’ I was like, ‘I think I’m
going to be okay.’”
We are to love, we are to love
and give hope. We are not to be
comfortable. We are to love and
give hope. And the time is now to
live our purpose.
Naomi felt God’s call to ministry at
the age of 14, even though at the
time she was not sure which
ministry to follow.
“The No. 1 priority for my goals is
to grow with the Lord,” she said. “I
hope to grow closer and closer.
Through marriage, I continue to
learn what selfless, unconditional
love is. Love isn’t a feeling; it’s a
choice, and I choose daily to fall
in love with Jesus. I struggle every
single day, and I know when I
have kids, it’s going to be harder,
but I want to know what it means
to be His daughter, to live out my
faith. I have to remember what
we’re here for.”
As I sat and talked with her, I
realized even more so how down
to earth Naomi is. Her laugh is
infectious, and her joy is Now is the time to
unmistakable. But she doesn’t
skate around the hard issues. look around and
She’s not perfect – but none of us really listen. Now is
are. the time to believe.
Now is the time for us
She glanced over to Marty, who
was still petting Sadie. “He’s so to be the blessing.
involved with this,” she said. “I
would have given up a long time -- “Be the Blessing,”
ago, but he’s always my support.” written by Naomi
He’s part of her inspiration as well, Carroll
as one of the songs on her album,
“Making Me,” discusses selfless
love.
“I want my songs to be
companions; I want them to draw
people closer to the Lord,” she
said. “To overcome the past, you
must move forward and not stay
stuck. We all have different
struggles. We all struggle, but we
need to reach for the hope that’s
available. Life is not meant to be
lived in misery.”
© Exemplify 2009
 FEATURE:LIVING HOLY
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
Written by Paula
Whitehouse
Holiness is what God is.
Holiness – living a holy life - is
something that has not, and still
does not, happen easily for me. I
set out to do what is right to honor
God, but the habits of old creep
in. It’s not through lack of wanting
to please God, but more through
a lack of reminding myself to live
how God intended. For me it also
goes a bit deeper than that. The
knowledge of having lived a life
less holy can make me feel that
I’m not deserving of God’s
presence in my life.
So, what is holiness?
Basically, holiness is what God is.
In Leviticus 19:2 He tells us to “Be
holy because I, the Lord your God,
am holy.” Holiness is about how I
should live; my thoughts, words
and actions. It’s living a life filled
with love for God and for others.
God is love, and thus holiness is
love. It encompasses right living
based on who God is and how He
tells us to live. It’s what Jesus
displayed and how the Spirit
guides us now. Whether we do
this or not shows how we feel
about His love and His
requirements of us.
Holiness is recorded in the Strong’s
Concordance as both a noun
and a verb. It describes what
God is while also tells how we
© Exemplify 2009
should be – holy, one and the
same. What is so brilliant about
this word is that both the noun
and the verb say exactly the
same thing; set apart,
consecrated, sacred, separate,
sanctified, dedicated, devoted.
To be set apart, implies the action
of set-apartness, i.e. living in the
world but not of it; to be
consecrated, we are to live a life
of consecration, i.e. giving all we
have to God for His purpose; and
so on.
Being holy entails sharing God’s
heart with others and living out
who He is and what He stands for;
being dedicated and devoted.
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 By being holy we are not only
honoring God but also outwardly
acknowledging His selection of us.
2 Timothy 1:9 tells us about God
“...who has saved us and called us
to a holy life—not because of
anything we have done but
because of his own purpose and
grace. This grace was given us in
Christ Jesus before the beginning
of time.” We are called to have a
fearful and grateful respect for our
Holy Creator and “Rejoice in the
Lord, you who are righteous and
praise his holy name.” - Psalm
97:12.
How do we live a life of holiness?
As holiness cannot be achieved
without Him or by our own works,
we must ask Him for help in this
area. We must invite Him in and
make room for Him in our hearts,
minds, and lives. We have to let
Him in and be a willing student. 1
Chronicles 16:29 tells us to
“...ascribe to the LORD the glory
due his name. Bring an offering
and come before him; worship the
LORD in the splendour of his
holiness.” We do this by offering
ourselves, kneeling before Him and
giving everything we have to Him.
We have been born again and
made new through the blood of
Jesus Christ, so we can fully cast off
our old selves. This can be a
difficult thing to do depending on
life’s circumstances. I have
struggled with this for many years
and am only now starting to
overcome and release my past.
Ephesians 4:24 tells us that we are
“...to put on the new self, created
to be like God in true righteousness
and holiness.” The first step to
achieving this is to pray Psalm
51:10 and ask God to “Create in
me a pure heart...and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.”
An important thing to do is learn
more about God and His holiness
through reading His Word, and also
sharing it. He has given us His
Word, written down by his servants
and messengers to guide us today
and into the future. Every word is
relevant in one circumstance or
another. We must learn it and
meditate on it daily. “All Scripture
is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that
the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every
good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
It’s not only our lives that must be
holy; our homes should be too.
Deuteronomy 23:14 tells us that
“...the LORD your God moves
about in your camp to protect you
and to deliver your enemies to
you. Your camp must be holy, so
that he will not see among you
anything indecent and turn away
from you.” Holy living flows from
home to work to church to family
to friends. It is not just one part of
our lives; it is all of our lives. It’s said
that home is where the heart is,
and that is certainly true of
holiness. We are our natural selves
at home. If holiness is there, then
holiness can be carried into the
outside world as it is in our heart.
The result of following these
principles will be living a life that is
holy; being a living example of
God’s love. As He is holy, so we will
be, but only when we stay close to
Him. He is the root and we are the
branches. “If the part of the
dough offered as first fruits is holy,
then the whole batch is holy; if the
root is holy, so are the branches.”
Romans 11:16. This verse reminds
me that, as a parent, as I display
holy living my daughter will see
God’s love and holiness showing
through me.
see us. He knows our potential. It’s
an exciting prospect to think that
within us is an incredibly amazing
person just waiting to be released!
1 Peter 1:14-16 provides apt advice
in regard to holy living -
“As obedient children, do not
conform to the evil desires you had
when you lived in ignorance. But
just as he who called you is holy, so
be holy in all you do; for it is written:
"Be holy, because I am holy."
Let’s live it; let’s do it! It IS possible
in Him, through Him and for Him.
His holiness, and His love for us, is
more than enough reason to
honour Him by living holy lives.
Let’s live out HOLINESS.
Honest
Open
Living ... in that I’m free to
live as God intended
Invigorating
Newness ... in that I have
been born again through the
blood of Jesus
Eternally
Satisfying
Service ... delivered daily in
honor of my Father
(All scripture has been taken from
the New International Version.)
___________

God wants us to live with a clean
heart and new spirit, and it is He
alone who can help us to achieve
this.
All these things will help us to grow
into the person God has planned
for us to be. We were made in His
image. He sees us differently, and
knows us to be different, from how
we see ourselves and how others

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

Be sure to visit Paula online at

paulassharingspot.blogspot.com

Meet the Author

Paula is a 39 year old full-time administration
worker and solo parent of 5 year old Jasmine.
She has been God’s Girl for over 25 years and
has walked on and off the narrow path during
that time.
She lives her life to honor God and share His love
through her life experiences, both past and
present. She stands firm in the knowledge that
God carries her through the good and bad times
in life, she has been blessed to be made new
through Jesus, and that she is exactly where
she is supposed to be today!

You can find her online at http://paulassharingspot.blogspot.com

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
The Book Nook
By Katrina of
callapidderdays.com
The title of Susanna Foth
Aughtmon’s book, All I Need Is
Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans,
intrigued me. It sounded light-
hearted, even a little silly. The sub-
title though, pulled me in deeper:
“the tired supergirl’s search for
grace.”
Tired? Check.
In need of grace? Oh, yeah, that’s
me.
I wasn’t sure what I expected when
I started this book. Humor,
encouragement, a nice woman-to-
woman talk about our need for
God? I certainly got that, but I also
got so much more.
In All I Need Is Jesus and a Good
Pair of Jeans, Aughtmon makes
some confessions. Twenty-three of
them, in fact – every chapter title
introduces the reader to a new
one.
I worry about things
I am undisciplined
I am lonely
I am selfish
I covet things…lots of them
I don’t feel lovable
A great source for those who
love to read and review books is
goodreads.com. Check it out
today!
From fears to insecurities to outright,
no-sugar-coating-this sins,
Aughtmon shares honestly, from
the heart, about the struggles
every woman deals with.
And her honesty is refreshing! I
don’t know about you, but I get
weary of circles where everyone
attempts to maintain an image of
perfection. Sins are never
confessed to each other;
shortcomings are rarely
acknowledged. And as a result, we
all feel – very acutely – that we
don’t measure up. We don’t even
come close.
Well, Aughtmon’s book is an
antidote to all of that! In it, she
admits, with incredible
transparency and a healthy dose
of humor, that the “Christian walk”
can be downright hard. Our
weaknesses and sin nature get in
the way on a daily (hourly?) basis.
The examples she shares of her
personal battles had me laughing
out loud one minute, and then
nodding my head the next with a
quiet, “Oh yes, me too. All the
time.”
© Exemplify 2009
“From fears to
insecurities to
outright, no-sugar-
coating-this sins,
Aughtmon shares
honestly, from the
heart, about the
struggles every
woman deals with.”
But she doesn’t stop with the
confessions. In each chapter,
Aughtmon shines the light of God’s
word on whatever issue she’s
dealing with. She then encourages
readers to keep going, to hang in
there, to depend on God for
strength, wisdom, and help.
I came away from each chapter
appreciating Aughtmon’s
vulnerability and thinking, “Hey –
this girl is battling the same thing I
am. But she’s right: God sees and
knows my struggle, and He wants
to walk through this difficulty right
beside me.”
All I Need Is Jesus and a Good Pair
of Jeans would be the perfect
book to go through with a good
friend. A discussion guide is
included, but the chapters are rich
enough on their own to give two
friends enough to talk about for
hours.
The relatively short chapters also
make this a great book for busy
moms – you can fit in a chapter
here and there while the baby’s
napping or while you escape to
the bathroom for five minutes of
peace and quiet. In the process,
you’ll get a laugh, Biblical insight,
 HOW-TO FIGHT FAIR
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
“Couples report that the number-one problem they
face in marriage is a ‘breakdown in
If you are in relationship with
others (that includes oh, just about
everybody alive) it’s inevitable
you are going to encounter times
of tension and conflict. Even in
these moments of friction it’s
important to glorify God and
communicate by expressing
yourself in respectful and effective
ways. Here are some guidelines to
go by the next time you find
yourself getting ready to pull out
the gloves.
“Couples report that the
number-one problem they face
in marriage is a ‘breakdown in
communication.’” ~ Saving Your
Marriage Before It Starts
of thoughtsthatmove.blogspot.com
communication.’”
• Don’t Run From Fight
It might be tempting to avoid
conflict, thinking you’d rather not
deal with such and such topic or
you are too tired to get into “that”
conversation, but really you aren’t
doing yourself any favors by
avoiding the conversation or
conflict. In fact, you are letting
unresolved feelings and issues
build up, which potentially will
erupt in a volcanic spewing of
unrelated issues at a later date.
• Choose Your Battles Carefully
Here’s where you really have to
decide if the socks on the floor are
© Exemplify 2009
Written by Wendy Miller
that big of a deal. You need to
calculate and do a self-check to
see why the issue is niggling at
you. Could it be something you
need to work on, or is the topic a
legitimate concern that needs to
be addressed? This reflection
period is vital before entering into
a heated talk. It’s like doing your
homework before going to school.
It shows you care about the
relationship, are willing to take
responsibility and have assessed
that the issue truly needs to be
discussed.
• Define Issue Clearly/Know
What You are Fighting About
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
Be Open to Put Forth Effort in the Future
“Money outranks all other topics as the number-
one area of conflict among married couples.” ~
Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts
Defining the issue connects directly to choosing your
battles. Once you’ve decided, Okay, I just can’t take
(fill in the blank) action anymore. We need to talk, you
are wise to know how you will broach the topic and at
least a general idea of what you want to say.
• Express Feelings Honestly and Directly
Now you are in the midst of a fight. You didn’t expect to
be. You were hoping it wouldn’t get to this place, but
for some reason or another you are here. You are the
big red dot on the map and you are fuming. You can
feel your pulse quicken at the same time as seeing that
bulging vein protruding from your husband’s forehead.
You Are Here. Now what? It’s time to be honest and
direct, sticking to the point while be mindful of how you
are coming across. Examples of this include, but aren’t
limited to, tone of voice, interrupting, mocking, body
language like turning away, rolling eyes and crossing
arms.
Did you know that studies have shown that nonverbal
communication accounts for 58 percent of the total
message? Tone of voice makes up 35 percent of the
message. The actual words you say account for only 7
percent.
Use “I” statements. You might have learned about
these in seventh grade homeroom class. It’s important
when you are in an argument to take responsibility for
your own feelings and not to blame and point fingers.
The best way you can do this is to say something along
the lines of, “I was hurt when you weren’t able to make
it home by 7:00pm.” See how that compares with, “You
are so insensitive. Why couldn’t you think enough to
make it home in time for dinner?”
• Keep Feelings In Check
Whenever I reach this point of an argument I have a
little sensor in my body that tells me to whip out the
sword of insults or to press that painful button. It’s in our
nature to protect, to defend and even to hurt back
when we’ve been hurt. Knowing this can help us fight
against it by saying a quick prayer, taking a walk or
simply keeping our mouths shut. It’s imperative that we
resist the hurtful digs or pushing certain buttons.
“But for couples who know how to work it out, conflict
can actually lead to a deepening sense of intimacy.
The trick is knowing how to argue.” ~ Saving Your
Marriage Before It Starts
© Exemplify 2009
At this stage of a fight I’m also tempted to unravel my
red carpet length scroll of all the things my husband (or
fighting party) has ever done to hurt me. I have to work
against rehashing how many times he interrupted me
already or whipping out the endless List of Wrongs I
keep so conveniently tucked away in my brain.
• Practice Reflective Listening
If you are like me, you may think this one sounds a little
hokey. But try it. It works. When the person you are
fighting with is voicing a concern or a heartfelt feeling,
reflect back what you’ve heard. It’s an extremely
validating way to respond and may elicit some
gratitude and heightened respect.
• Give Room to Breathe/Space
I had to learn this one early on in our marriage. Some
people are “solve it now” kind of people and some
people like to “cool their jets”. Be mindful which type of
person you are fighting with and allow room when it’s
needed.
• Be Willing to Apologize
I’m not even sure this one needs explanation. I have a
loved one who admits she didn’t learn to say sorry until
she was forty. When we offer genuine apologies we are
demonstrating humility and empathy. These are the
qualities God is hoping to bring out in us.
• Be Open to Put Forth Effort in the Future – Showing
You Listened and Learned
Now that you haven’t run from a fight, you’ve chosen
your battle, defined your issue, expressed your feelings
with integrity while keeping them in check, practiced
reflective listening, gave space as appropriate and
have apologized, you have shown that you can fight
fair. The last step in knowing how to fight fair is
imperative to demonstrating whether or not you are
willing to grow and create a greater sense of security
and intimacy. In order to prove this, you need to show
you’ve listened and learned and are open to changing
and working hard at the relationship. This is one of the
things I love most about my husband, the way he’s
consistent to put forth effort.
“Authentic communication is much more than just
talking. It is understanding and being understood;
identifying a tone of voice; detecting nonverbal
cues; responding appropriately to offense;
resolving conflicts; knowing what to say, when to
say it and how to say it; experiencing the risks and
rewards of knowing and being known; and much
more.” ~ Dennis Rainey
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled,
for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
Hebrews 13:4, ESV
In a 2008 article published by Focus on the Family
(http://focusonthefamily.com) they reported, “by
the age of 24, 89 percent of males and 92 percent
of females have had intercourse.”  The article goes
on to say that “in the U.S. alone, there are 19 million
new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
reported each year, with half of these cases
occurring among 15-24-year-olds.”
I can’t say that I am totally surprised by these
numbers. What does take me aback though is the
high percentage of young women who are sexually
active by the time they turn 24. An alarming majority
of brides lay beside their husbands on their wedding
night having not saved the gift of sexual purity for
this special time.
© Exemplify 2009
Holiness
before
Marriage
By Jenifer J. of
www.byhisgraceministry.com
Why? Why is there such a high percentage of young
women giving themselves over to men who are not
their spouses? What can we as mothers, leaders,
and mentors do to encourage the young women
around us to keep themselves pure until their
wedding days?
Unfortunately, I would be counted as one of the 92
percent of women who are sexually active before
marriage. Pulling from personal experience, I want
to share with you what I was in search of as I sought
out these very unhealthy relationships.
No home is immune to the evilness of the world. I
grew up in a very loving, caring, compassionate,
God centered home. I was saved at the age of
seven and felt called by God to a life of full-time
ministry when I was thirteen.
 I wasn’t bombarded with “worldly”
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
stuff that could have influenced
me to travel down the wrong path;
what came into our home, where I
went, and with whom I went was
filtered by my parents.
My pursuit in being accepted by
others led to bad decision after
bad decision. I developed very
early on and was constantly
teased by classmates. The boys
liked me only because I had “big
boobs” and the girls allowed me to
tag along because I was the
“tough one”. I over compensated
in many areas to win their approval
and make them happy. What
started out as “helping” them with
their homework, turned into actions
that would carry lifelong
consequences.
With each day that passed and
with each wrong decision that was
made, my self-worth became less
and less. My identity was found in
the number of people who
allowed me to befriend them. I was
what others wanted me to be; the
real me had been lost. I was empty
and my heart was broken. I desired
to be loved, accepted, and filled if
only but for a moment. My
acceptance was found in
unhealthy relationships with guys
who didn’t love me in any sense of
the word, but who were willing to
have me in their lives because I
was willing to meet their needs.
Walking down the aisle on my
wedding day, looking into the eyes
of the man who stood before me
was not a joyous occasion for me. I
had nothing to offer him, but a
battered, bruised, used up shell of
a person. My past relationships had
a huge effect on our marriage. I
couldn’t love him the way he
needed me to love him because I
didn’t even love myself. There was
no trust between us, no security,
and definitely no passion in the
bedroom.
Years into our marriage, due in
large part to a very Godly woman,
I began to realize who exactly I
was. Yes, I was a woman who had
made many bad decisions, but
“Helping our
young girls find
their self-worth in
Christ is vital for
their future as a
wife, mother,
friend, and
daughter of the
King.”
those bad decisions were covered broken shell of a person that
by the blood of Jesus. Because of once held you captive has been
Christ’s redemptive work on the replaced with a brand new life in
cross, I was unconditionally loved, Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).
accepted, and filled with the
• In Christ, you are complete,
power of His Holy Spirit. When I
lacking nothing and needing
came to understand that in my
nothing from anyone (Colossians
heart of hearts, there was a
2:10).
passion and love like never before
found in the arms of my husband. • In Christ, you have been forgiven
of ALL your sins (Ephesians 1:7).
Helping our young girls find their
self-worth in Christ is vital for their • In Christ, you are healed
future as a wife, mother, friend, because of the wounds that
and daughter of the King. As older, were inflicted upon His body (1
seasoned women we must pour Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5).
our lives into them, sharing our
• In Christ, you are HOLY and
experiences, both good and bad, without blame (1 Peter 1:16;
and point them to Jesus, the Lover Ephesians 1:4).
and Redeemer of their soul.
For those of you who could count
yourselves in the 92 percent of
young women who are involved in
sexually activity outside marriage,
please understand, there is NO
condemnation here. Precious one,
you have been forgiven. The blood
of Jesus Christ covers every
unhealthy relationship you have
been a part of.
• In Christ, you are free from the
bondage of sin (John 8:36).
• In Christ, you are a made new.
The old, battered, bruised,
© Exemplify 2009
 EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

IN THE WORD: BIBLE STUDY COLUMN

It is my pleasure to introduce
Exemplify’s new Bible study
columnist to you.

Victoria teaches through her

writing with authority, anointing
and authenticity.

It is my prayer & hers that this

column will encourage you to
open your bible with us & Meet
Christ within His word.

--kjs

Written by Victoria Jenkins of

www.letthesonshine.org

Before we dive into the riches of Scripture, let’s join together in

prayer. It is so important to seek Godly wisdom before venturing
into His Word. Let us not lean on our own understanding, but on
that of our Lord.
Father,
Sometimes I am positively crippled by the fact that, as a child
as we study from Your Word today, of God, I am called to be holy and set apart from the rest of the world.
we ask that you would fill us with I get this picture of purity in my head, this notion of near perfection that
Your supernatural wisdom so that stops me dead in my tracks, even if the very hand of the Lord built
we might understand the lessons those tracks. The word “holiness” seems too lovely a term to apply to
you have for us. this ever fallible, living example of Romans 3:23. When faced with the
concept of holiness, it is as if the verse reads, “For all have sinned and
Lord, please give us ears to listen fall short of the glory of God, especially that chick”, with an arrow
and hearts to obey as we seek to pointing to my driver’s license photo…you know, just to really illustrate
apply Your Truth to our lives, daily. the fact that I am utterly flawed. Thankfully, just as this verse is
surrounded by God’s Words of encouragement, we as Christian
Thank you for this time in fellowship women are surrounded by His redeeming grace.
with those who walked the streets
with Christ Jesus. We cannot lose sight of how it is we came to belong to the King of
Kings. The gift of salvation, the gift of redemption, the gift of
Your Word amazes and we’re so righteousness is not increased by our efforts. These gifts are in perfect
grateful to be able to nourish our completion before we’ve even accepted them. Our sanctification
souls with these precious rests in His capable hands, and it is our God-given royal status as
Scriptures. It is in the name of Jesus daughters to the King that brings us into our holiness—His holiness
that we pray. shining through us.

Amen.
© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 why do you think God chose to repeatedly
instruct us to be holy?
Knowing that our salvation is a gift that we cannot
earn, why do you think God chose to repeatedly
instruct us to be holy?
In Leviticus 11:44 and 45, we are told to be holy
because our Father is holy. We’re reminded again
of this call in 1 Peter 1:13-21 as Peter wrote to the
exiles of the Dispersion as well as to you and me.
The Message translation lights a fire under the
lukewarm believer that lurks within us all.
“So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be
totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when
Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old
grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing.
You didn't know any better then; you do now. As
obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a
way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and
blazing with holiness. God said, ‘I am holy; you be
holy.’
You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a
good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a
responsible Father, and won't let you get by with
sloppy living.
Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep
consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you
out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew
up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know.
He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And
this was no afterthought. Even though it has only
lately—at the end of the ages—become public
knowledge, God always knew he was going to do
this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah,
whom God then raised from the dead and glorified,
that you trust God, that you know you have a future
in God.”
Now that we’re all good and fired up, let’s get to
the work of mining the treasures of Scripture! Why
should we be holy? Being created in the image of
God means we’re wired much the same. We
should be holy, because He is holy, and Abba
knows best. Our perfect and all knowing Father,
who wants only good for His children, has told us to
be holy. That must mean that something good will
come from our holiness. In order for us to discover
some of that goodness, we’re going to have to do a
little digging.
Please take a moment to define holiness, as you
understand it. No dictionaries, thesauruses, or
© Exemplify 2009
googling—just your own idea of what it means to be
holy.
Where do you land in the light of your description?
Does anyone in your life measure up to your image
of what holiness looks like?
I’d be embarrassed to share my answers if I weren’t
learning so much in the process. In comparison to
my preconceived notions of holiness, I don’t even
register on the scale. As for holy people in my life…
does the Pope count? “Holy” holds a lofty
connotation when we rely on our own
understanding. It seems to dangle far from our
reach up there on that pedestal, but holiness is a
goal we can all attain.
First, we must redefine our goal as God defined it.
The Hebrew word used to instruct us to “be holy” in
Leviticus 11:44, is the verb “qadash”. An action
word, qadash reveals that holy isn’t
something we are, it is something active in
us. Our holiness is God’s activity in, on, and through
us by means of the Holy Spirit. God works best when
we give Him something to work with. So how can
we be more open to the Holy Spirit’s movement?
When we acknowledge the Lord, detach from the
profane, dedicate ourselves to Him, and allow God
to cleanse our souls with the blood of Christ, we are
opening ourselves to God’s movement, thereby
answering His call to be holy. We need that like we
need air. Don’t you feel it? A deep-seated desire
to be more like Christ is growing inside each of us as
God’s children. He has planted eternity in the
human heart, and that seed yearns to grow to
fruition. How can we help it to flourish?
We can start by removing the weeds that stifle the
longing of the spirit. List some of the thoughts,
influences, or issues you are facing that might be
choking the Life out of you.
Christ tells us, in Matthew 26:41,
that “the spirit is willing but the
flesh is weak.”
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
...and our desires began to change into
His desires for us...
“But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My
assumption is that you have paid careful attention
to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as
we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the
excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean
everything—connected with that old way of life has
to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it!
And then take on an entirely new way of life—a
God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside
and working itself into your conduct as God
accurately reproduces his character in
you” (Ephesians 4:20-24, MSG).
When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we opened
the doors of our hearts to invite Him in, and our
desires began to change into His desires for us. In
her devotional, “Living a Holy Life”, June Hunt said,
“With Christ in you, you will grow to be like Him…You
will not become instantly sinless, but you will sin less
and less and less.” This is the very meat of holiness.
Allowing Jesus to change you from the inside out
has so many internal benefits, and external ones as
well; maybe even some soul winning! When others
can see Christ in us, they will want to get a closer
look.
Let’s do some radical spiritual gardening today,
ladies! I want you to take your list of holiness
deterrents and give it to the Lord as an offering. We
don’t want those entanglements, but God does. He
implores us to cast our burdens unto Him, sisters! So,
today we will do just that. Please take some time in
deep prayer as you call each of these “weeds” by
name before our King.
Continue the prayer below by writing your own
prayer out so that you can revisit this moment of
submission and be restored to the holiness that Christ
is working out in you.
Father, you know my needs, my weaknesses, and
my strengths. Today, I give them all to you. I thank
you for being faithful to meet my every need. Lord,
please use my strengths to fulfill Your purpose for me.
And Father, please take from me the burdens that
stifle my growth in you.
© Exemplify 2009
Lord, I need you…
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Amen.
“But now a righteousness from God, apart
from law, has been made known, to which
the Law and the Prophets testify. This
righteousness from God comes through
faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
There is no difference, for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, and are
justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus”
Romans 3:21-24, NIV
“Be holy because I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:44, 45
1 Peter 1:16
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© Exemplify 2009
 FEATURE:WALKING MY HOLY
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

Written by F. Elaine
Olsen

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on
the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the
seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work
of creating that he had done.”
(Genesis 2:2-3)

I have one, you know. So do you.
As the blood-bought children of
God, we’ve been labeled as such
(1 Peter 2:9). Not only labeled, but
commissioned with its journey (1
Peter 1:15).
Holiness.
It’s a big word. An ever bigger
understanding. Probably best left
to the experts—those
theologically trained with
strengthened understanding,
don’t you think? I’m not so sure,
and here’s why.
As a people duly noted by God as
holy—a people consecrated unto
him and entrusted with some
secret things accordingly—we’ve
been given everything we need
to live a godly and holy life. His
Word tells us so; thus, I think,
perhaps, some understanding is
afforded to those of us less
schooled in academia,
nevertheless equally endowed
because of our membership within
God’s royal kingdom.
To get there—to accurately
comprehend the breadth of
God’s intention as it pertains to
holiness so as to begin in the
personal journey of its cloaking—
we must dig at its roots.
Theological academia is helpful in
this regard; it instructs us as to how
best get at those roots. It leads us
to rewind the biblical clock back
©the
to Exemplify
point of a “first2009
mention.”
Holiness receives its “first mention”
in Genesis 2:3. It anchors itself
within the soil of a first week’s
conclusion when Creator God sat
with his created and called it
completed. Finished. Holy and
worthy of a restful pause.
In that moment, there was finality
in God’s rest (see Hebrews 4:3).
When he arrived on the backside
of his six-day, creative
extravaganza, there was no
looking in reverse with regret; no
do-overs. No wishing he’d done
things differently. He simply and
profoundly called it done and
good and just as he intended.
What remained for him was a time
of consecrated reflection—a day
he set apart as “holy.”
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 Holy. Qadas in the Hebrew
language. A word meaning “to
be set apart, to be holy, to show
oneself holy, to be treated as
holy, to consecrate, to dedicate,
to pronounce as holy.”
It is, perhaps, an easier reach for
us to reason that seventh-day as
holier than the millions of others
that have followed since. After all,
sin had yet to take the stage and
exact its carnage upon the hearts
of subsequent generations. For a
few moments in time (and there is
ample debate toward quantifying
that measure), the earth
breathed pure and full of a
perfection no longer available, or
so we reason.
But our reasoning and God’s
reasoning exist on two different
levels. And while our
understanding is content to keep
Eden and its holiness breathing in
isolation, God is content to weave
its consecration into our way of
“doing life” now—not just then.
Thus, we must ask ourselves a
question or two as it pertains to
this first mention of the word
“holy” as contained in Genesis
2:3.
How does this initial utterance
from God add to our
understanding of holiness? What
can be gleaned from this moment
of recorded history that furthers
our comprehension about how to
live a life of consecrated and “set
apart” obedience? If this one
reference to “holy” was the only
word given on the matter (and it
seems there to be a few thousand
books written on the topic), what
is its take-away value? Does it
apply to us? Is it ample enough to
satiate a heart that is driven to dig
deeper in order to live holier?
Perhaps, but to get there, we
must be willing to think beyond
what we’ve always thought. We
must place ourselves in that
seventh-day pause with God and
begin to consider holiness from his
perspective rather than with a
mind that is content to keep Engaging with the living witness of
parameters on understanding. humanity—creatures both great
and small breathing with the
Thus, a few thoughts that surface breath of Almighty God, calling
for me today, as I take some rest for our notice (day six).
with God in his Garden and his first
mention of holiness (Genesis There is a seventh day rest that
2:2-3): awaits us; a day when we will sit
with our Father on the backside of
God is the Author of holiness. our life, see the plan laid out
What he makes holy, is holy. What before us from beginning to end
he sets apart, consecrates, and and, with him, call it done,
pronounces as “holy” is completed, holy, and just as he
permanent and cannot be intended.
manipulated by man’s attempts
to alter its worth or to change the Holiness. A big word. An even
requirements to get there. The bigger understanding, yet one
proclamation of “holiness” that is ours to reason, to accept,
belongs solely to the One from and to walk as a chosen people
whom it roots. The good news is endowed with the ample wisdom
that each of us who know Jesus to move our need for facts into
as our Savior warrants such a the realm of a sacred faith.
labeling (1 Peter 2:9-10).
God has authored our lives for
Holiness is a completed work—a holy living. He is working toward
through and through, six days our completed end by allowing us
worth of intentional work a six day season called “life”; it is
accomplished through the hands achieving for us an eternal glory
of God, not ours. We may think that far outweighs the journey to
that our holiness is dependent get there. And once the
upon our efforts, but in the end, it punctuation of the seventh day
is God’s efforts in us, through the arrives, we will rest with our
power of his Holy Spirit, that Creator. Understanding will be
warrants the applause and “well final and holiness will claim its
done” of heaven. concluding perfection within our
hearts and because of his will.
Our personal holiness punctuates
after a six-day creation process A final “good” as the final word
called “our life” that includes from the final One who is the
seasons of: concluding Word. This is the day I
am longing for, and until it arrives,
Days and nights and nights and I’m walking my “holy.” I welcome
days (day one). your companionship on the road
Wild exploration of a sky’s as we head toward home in
expanse between two waters; expectation of God’s
one harboring the dew of consecrated rest.
heaven, one harboring the wet of
earth (day two). Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Walking some dry ground
beneath our feet, including the Baker & Carpenter, entry for
sowing and harvesting of an “qadas”, The Complete Word
intentional fruit (day three). Study Dictionary Old Testament
Illumination via a guiding light—a (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers,
sun’s heat, a moon’s respite, and 2003), 950-951.
some twinkling stars of brilliance
(day four).
Abundant provision that hem us in
—waters and skies teaming with
energy and life (day five).
© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
Elaine is the wife of Preacher Billy
and has the delightful privilege of
mothering four dynamic children who
have been with her for nearly half of her
almost forty-three years. She grew up
amongst the rolling hills of the
Bluegrass which boasts the presence of
exquisite thoroughbreds and die-hard
Wildcat basketball fans. Her growing up
years were spent running the hallways of
Asbury Theological Seminary where her
father was a professor of preaching and
her mother was the Registrar. From the
cradle to her current, Elaine has been a
church girl. The spiritual shaping she
received from her parents quickly
secured for her a belief in a great big God
who loves her far beyond reasonable
bounds. Elaine was born on Easter
© Exemplify 2009
Be sure to visit Elaine at her blog,
Peace for the Journey:
peaceforthejourney.blogspot.com
Sunday. The significance of its shadow has
followed her all the days of her life. God
began the sacred conversation with
Elaine’s soul from the earliest of ages,
and she has spent the past four decades
walking the path of such a gracious
grace. He has marked her forever for
kingdom living and kingdom loving. Her
overriding hope and desire for her life is
to live as authentic before her God and
his created people.
Be sure to visit Elaine at her blog,
Peace for the Journey:
peaceforthejourney.blogspot.com
 MINISTRY: Online!
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

Written by Amy Bayliss

of AmyBayliss.com

Blog Design The eye naturally travels from the

center of an object, up and
A split decision, that’s how long it

Like !":
clockwise.
takes for a person to decide
whether or not they will stop and
read your blog. As humans we are
drawn to things that are visually
appealing and easy to use. Too
often readers are turned off from
blogs that are too generic or hard
on the eyes. If your blog’s overall
appearance is appealing but the
blog isn’t functional or is too
cluttered, then that can also
cause them to leave in a click.

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 For this reason it is best to place
an eye catching color or graphic
in the first part of that area. It is
also important to keep sidebars
free of clutter. Only keep what is
necessary. Blog rolls don’t
increase your search ranking so
only keep the blog rolls you use
to build community. Awards can
be put on a separate post and
linked to from the navigation and
lots of buttons and blinkies are
distracting and may cost you
readers. You should also keep in
mind that you want to set your
blog apart from other blogs out
there so choose a theme or
layout that is not widely used.
You want to be unique – stray
away from copying another
design. Your blog as a whole,
including your content, should
reflect your personality.
ANOTHER TIP:
Background images should
complement the rest of your blog
and not take away from it and if
you don’t want you background
to move when someone scrolls
over it, simply add this code right
after the code for the
background graphic URL:
background-attachment: fixed;
Header
Your header is easily the most
important design element on your
blog. It should contain your blog
title, your catchphrase or sub-
header and a visually appealing
design.
. look. Don’t be afraid to
Before choosing your
catchphrase or sub-header
(or title for that matter) be
sure to google it so that you
can see if anyone else has
already taken ownership of
it. You do not want to
duplicate someone else’s
catchphrase. Keep in mind
“You want to be
unique – stray away
from copying another
design. Your blog as a
whole, including your
content, should reflect
your personality.”
too that you can always use Do something unexpected
a scripture verse. within your design to
create interest.
A free graphics program that you
can download is getpaint.net. It is Draw colors from a
simple to use and though it lacks graphic or use a color
the features a professional palette. Here are some
designer would utilize, it has plenty sites to use:
enough for an amateur. www.colourlovers.com ,
www.colorotate.org
When designing your header
keep these things in mind: and kuler.adobe.com.
Centering and balancing
the elements of the
Keep the size of the
header create an
header on the smaller
unnatural, unappealing
side. You want to be sure
that your readers can see
overlap elements and
your content at first glance
drag them away from the
without scrolling down.
center.
Make sure you check the
Give your design depth.
size of your templates
Use shadowing and
header area prior to
highlighting.
designing the header.
© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
Content & Navigation
Content Area
Don’t choose a background color that makes
it difficult for the readers to see the text.
Chances are if I have to squint or strain to read
your blog then I won’t be coming back. Black
on white is safe and in my opinion, best. Black
on other light colors also works well as long as
the font is crisp and clear.
If you design a signature be sure to design in
proportion to your post width.
Don’t change your font to one that is not
universal. This means that if you choose a font
that is not typically installed on the majority of
computers then what you see on your screen
will not be what is seen on the screens of
others. The best fonts to use are: Trebuchet MS,
Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, Tahoma and Sans-
serif
Blog dividers are a great way to divide
content. Just make sure they are not big and
bulky and that they coordinate with the rest of
your theme. A good way to discern is that if
your eye is immediately drawn to the divider
then it must be toned down, either in size,
color, or prominence.
Try to use photos with your posts. You can do
this even if you don’t like to post pictures of
your family or friends for privacy reasons. One
way is to do it in a fun creative way.
Remember Tim the “Toolman” from Home
Improvement? He had a neighbor named Mr.
Wilson. We never saw his face but we still got a
glimpse of who he was. You could do
something similar. You can also use stock
photos.
© Exemplify 2009
Navigation
If I get to your personal blog, like what I see
appearance wise but still can’t get around where I
need to be then I probably won’t be coming
back. Navigation can be built into templates;
added to sidebars; or even done in widgets.
Navigation also includes the ease of going from
one post to the next in chronological order. For
ministry or business blogs it would be the ease of
going from one post to the next in subject order. If
your personal blog is your ministry blog then you
would do yourself a favor by doing both.
Then there are the labels. Be careful when labeling
things, “Uncle Henry’s Hog”, or “Miscellaneous.” A
person is not likely to click on those labels because
they don’t know Uncle Henry and Misc. is just too
broad a subject. You really shouldn’t need any
more than 25-30 different labels. Ease of
navigation is key. Take a look at my personal blog:
http://www.amybayliss.com . My categories/labels
are clean and precise and I also have a
navigation bar on the top to take you to specific
places. You can also read my posts in
chronological order.
When in doubt about your blog’s appearance
and function, ask for help. Ask for other’s opinions.
If you would like for me to take a look then just
email me.
In future issues, we will discuss, in detail, the
applications we can use to minister to others
via the World Wide Web. If you have any
specific questions about blogging (design and
writing), twittering, or anything else
pertaining to online ministry please send them
to: inquiry@amybayliss.com. I will try to
answer as many questions as possible in each
issue.
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
1 Peter 1:15-16
In the list of God’s attributes--love, justice,
omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, holiness,
sovereignty, etc--holiness often gets overlooked. We
are all looking for some version of a superhero, right?
Most of these traits are so clearly about God and His
way of acting on our behalf. But Holiness is the one
trait of God that motivates us to change rather than
to seek his complete acceptance of us, sin and all.
There are two aspects of holiness--the holiness of
God, who is, was, and always will be holy, and our
holiness, which is more of a quest than something
we've attained.
We have an almost innate awareness of God’s
holiness. He’s higher, better, purer than we can
© Exemplify 2009
What Do I
Know of Holy?
Written by Mary Pielenz Hampton
imagine. As A.W. Tozer said, “We know nothing like
the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique,
unapproachable, incomprehensible and
unattainable.” And yet, we are called to be holy.
The holiness we are called to is much less easy to
grasp. (It’s also been more difficult to write about.)
Looking at holiness from the human side is, as my
husband says in various situations, like trying to nail
jello to a tree.
What is holiness?
One dictionary definition of holiness says, “perfect
moral integrity or purity; freedom from sin; sanctity;
innocence.” Easier said than done though, isn’t it?
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

Holiness is not a matter of degrees.

Maybe we can better understand what holiness is, if
we first look at what it isn't:
Holiness is not a matter of degrees. Any spot or
blemish renders us 'unholy.' A little white lie, an
impure thought, bitterness, envy, greed...in their
smallest components, they don't seem important,
but when compared to pure, white, gleaming
perfection, each shows up like bird poop on a
bride's dress. (Shocking analogy? Is any spot of sin
any less shocking in comparison with God’s purity?)
Holiness is 'not a competition.' My boys will often say
"I win" as one reaches the car before the other. The
problem is, there wasn't an even start; no "ready,
set, go." It's simply one brother completing the
journey before the other.
And I think holiness works the same way. It's not a
competition. We can't look at our neighbor and say
"I win." We are on a journey. We've each had a
different start; we each face our own obstacles.
And at some point, only God himself will be able to
tell us the journey is complete and we've arrived.
Holiness is without judgment of others. Holiness can
only be evaluated in contrast to God's state of
perfection; it has nothing to do with anyone else's
achievement. Jerry Bridges explains it this way, "…
God has not called us to be like those around us. He
has called us to be like Him.”
In some senses, holiness gets a bad rap in our culture
because the term is seldom used outside the
context of "Holier than thou." And that simply means
that when I look at myself, and then I look at you, I
actually look pretty good. But anyone who is
actually for striving holiness would never compare
have the time/energy to talk, do you have someone
in the house make up an excuse? Do you fudge
your experience on your resume? Lest you think I’m
pointing fingers, I’ll admit that these are all examples
that come to mind from my own experience—
situations where there was at least the temptation to
make an ‘unholy’ choice. You probably have your
own list of potential (or actual) 'unholinesses.'
We speak often of "loving the sinner and hating the
sin." But do we really hate the sin? Our own
especially? Do we make excuses for attitudes,
actions and motives that blur the line between
freedom in Christ and actually taking liberties? Do
we presume upon His grace and forgiveness,
implicitly (or explicitly) saying "God will forgive me,"
when we know we are walking headlong into a
situation that will grieve His heart? Do we even
remember that that's what sin does? Perhaps that’s
why we don’t dwell on the concept much.
I believe we do want to be the best version of
ourselves that we can be. No matter what a
person's faith-perspective, there's a really good
chance that they spend much of their time and
energy working toward/thinking about how to be
the best they can be (have you watched Oprah
lately?). But when we get a sense that holiness is
'without spot or blemish or wrinkle' we get just a small
glimpse of the truth that we cannot be holy on our
own efforts.

So, the
themselves to someone else, because we are not
the object of comparison--only God is worthy to
evaluate ourselves against.

question
According to the Greek Dictionary of the New
Testament, to be holy means to "be morally
blameless." That's a daunting concept. We tell our
kids "Be good," but are we good? Do we choose the

is...
'best thing?'

When given too much change, do you return it?

When you get to the car at Target and realize your
tiny kleptomaniac has gotten hold of an item that
didn't get rung up, do you take it back and/or pay
for it? When the chatty neighbor calls and you don't

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
What difference does holiness make?
• Keeps us humble before God as it's a reminder
that there is nothing we can do of our own
strength to be worthy of His presence.
• Keeps us from judging our neighbor as we realize
that no matter how far we feel we've come in
overcoming various and sundry vices and
shortcomings, we still do not measure up to any
standard of "sinless perfection."
• Helps us make better choices when tempted to
let our standards slide closer to those of the
culture around us. Entertainment choices, moral
dilemmas, judgments of others.... If we evaluate
our options from the perspective "will this cause
'spot or wrinkle?'" I think we might make different
decisions fairly often.
© Exemplify 2009
How do I get to holy?
"How can a young (man) keep his way pure? By
living according to your word." Psalm 119:9
As we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we
become familiar with His standards. We also find
the strength to live out what we know to be best,
even though our human spirit so often wants to
yield to weakness. But, according to Jerry Bridges,
author of The Pursuit of Holiness, "Holiness is not only
expected; it is the promised birthright of every
Christian." It takes awareness and intentionality, but,
like Ernest in the legend of Old Stone Face, if we
focus on God and desire to be like Him, one day
the resemblance will be remarkable.
Mary Pielenz Hampton writes from
California where she lives with her husband
of 15 years and her two boys, ages 6 and
3. Mary's heart is to take note of God's
presence in the most ordinary moments of
the day and find ways to bring an element of
worship into simple tasks. Mary blogs at
http://refreshmoments.com/ where her theme
is "Turning the Daily into Devotion."

EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
FLOAT necklace.
A single drop of turquoise
perfection.
PAMPERING BEKI
The 4th and final Sizzling Sanctuary Summer Sponsor
has been open for business since February of 2007.
During this time, the shop has seen over 350 sales
with a 100% positive feedback rating. This shop has
had items featured in several magazines as well as
in Pediped shoe advertisements. You can visit this
Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?
user_id=5067587
PAMPERING BEKI
Meet Beki, owner of PamperingBeki. Beki has always
been a creative person.  About 6 years ago she
decided to try her hand at jewelry making and
instantly fell in love with it. It wasn’t long before the
day came when Beki realized she had made more
jewelry than one person could ever wear. So, she
© Exemplify 2009
featured sponsor
JE T'AIME necklace
That’s “I love you” in French.
FAITH necklace
Modern yet elegant.
listed a few pieces online and, to her surprise, they
sold! Beki’s little business has continued to grow
slowly and steadily since then, and has allowed her
to stay home and care for her 3 children full-time.
 
Beki’s creations combine modern designs with a
touch of class resulting in jewelry that can be worn
for nearly any occasion and are perfect for
everyday wear. When crafting her jewelry, Beki uses
only the finest materials available to her such as,
sterling silver, natural gemstones, and Swarovski
crystals. Her pieces can now be found in shops
locally, internationally, and in a few boutiques
across the USA. She is so grateful to be able to touch
other people's lives through a moment captured or
through meaningful and beautiful jewelry! Above
are a few of Beki’s beautiful items...
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 Love, they say, is a verb. Here are
a few simple ways to obey the
second greatest commandment.
★Try your hand at the ancient art
of letter writing! (The snail mail
variety.) Or at least drop a little
note. A simple note saying
“Thinking about you today,” or
“Thankful that you are in my life,”
is a small gesture that really packs
a lot of love-punch!
★Include a photo. Why hoard
those treasured memories with
your friend’s smiling face in it?
Make an extra print and tuck it
into the envelope.
★Offer your place in line at the
store to a senior citizen or a mom
with little ones. So what if you
leave the store 10 minutes (or less)
later than you would have!
★Did the strong winds blow your
neighbor’s empty trash can down
the street? How easy to just fetch
it and tuck it close to their house
for them!
★Pray for them. Life’s trials touch
us all. Take a few minutes to pray
for someone whether you know
they are hurting or not. Those that
appear to have it all together
usually don’t.

★When all else fails, you can still
send an e-card.
★Double a recipe and share for
no reason whatsoever. Why wait
until someone is ill or grieving to
offer a homemade treat?
★Better yet, pray with them. Even
over the phone, share the power
of prayer!
Written by Carol Moxley of
she-lives.typepad.com

★It’s about time to thin out those

perennials. Rather than throwing
them all out, pot one and take it
LOVE THY
NEIGHBOR
to a neighbor so they can add it
to their garden. Tie a bit of ribbon
or raffia around the pot for an
easy, added touch.

★Or stop by with fresh cut flowers

or home grown veggies from your
garden!

★Read any good books lately?

in 10 Minutes
Pass along your finished copy to a
shut-in or someone who simply
likes to read.
or Less
★Mix tapes are a hip way to say
“I’m thinking about you!” Burn a
‘Love the Lord your God with all your
CD with some songs you think your
friend might enjoy and leave it on
heart and with all your soul and with
their porch with a note. all your mind and with all your
strength.’ The second is this: 'Love
★In heavy traffic, allow someone your neighbor as yourself. There is no
merge in front of you. It’ll only cost commandment greater than these."
you a few seconds’ time.
Mark 12: 30, 31

© Exemplify 2009
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009

SURVIVING THE FIERY FURNACE

Written By Shannon of
asetapartgirl.blogspot.com

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we

serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue
us from your hand, O king.”
Summer is supposed to be a season
filled with free time and fun in the sun,
right? I don't know about you, but
here in the Midwest US, we're entering
the hottest month of the year. And
with temperatures rising to the high
90's and into the 100's, it is hard to be
anything but miserable out in the sun.
But if Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego could survive a furnace
heated seven times hotter than usual,
I bet there are a few things we can
do to survive heat of the August sun.
Air Conditioning
It might seem like a no-brainer, but
the best way to keep cool in the hot
weather is to get away from the hot
weather. If you are somewhere
Daniel 3:17
without air conditioning, try taking a
cool shower or bath. Applying cool,
moist towels to pulse points such as
the neck and wrists can also be very
effective. But if possible, get to a
library or another public place with
air-conditioning.
Water
Staying properly hydrated is key to
beating the heat. Drink plenty of
water even before you're thirsty, and
don't substitue carbonated,
caffeinated, or sugar-filled liquids for
water. Instead, try electrolyte-
enriched beverages. I like Propel
Fitness Water drinks, which contain a
relatively small amount of sugar
© Exemplify 2009
compared to other sports drinks.
Limit Outdoor Activity
Try to get any outdoor work done in
the morning or evening, when the sun
is less harsh. Especially avoid being
outdoors between 10 a.m. and 3
p.m., which is considered the hottest
period of the day. If you must be
outside, use the following precautions:
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting,
light-weight clothing
• Have a bottle of water
available at all times
• Take regular breaks indoors or
in the shade
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat
• Wear sunscreen of at least SPF
15, and reapply often if you are
sweating
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 be safe with your family and
friends while enjoying the summer
weather
Watch for Signs of Heat Illness
Even if all of this advice is followed carefully,
there is still a risk of heat-induced illness
occurring from extreme temperatures. Infants,
children, people over the age of 65, people
who are physically ill, and people with heart
disease or high blood pressure need to
monitored especially closely during episodes of
high temperatures. Dehydration is the most
common heat-induced illness.
Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration:
dry mouth, decreased sweating and urine
output, sleepiness, dizziness, headache, fever,
rapid heartbeat, and loss of
elasticity of skin (if you can pinch the skin on
your hand and it doesn't "bounce back")
Another heat-induced illness to be aware of is
heat stroke. While less common, it is still a threat,
especially in those groups of people mentioned,
who are at a higher risk.
© Exemplify 2009
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke:
body temperature of 104 degrees or higher,
hyperventilation, cessation of sweating,
hallucinations, confusion, or loss of
consciousness, and muscle weakness or cramps
If you notice any of the signs of dehydration or
heat stroke, take immediate action. Call an
ambulance or take the person to the
emergency room.
While these tips might seem like common sense,
it is always good to be reminded of ways to
prevent such serious illnesses such as
dehydration and heat stroke. I encourage you
to be safe with your family and friends while
enjoying the summer weather, and to check on
and pray for the safety of neighbors and elderly
friends.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov; Mayo Clinic,
http://www.mayoclinic.com
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 I was recently given the
opportunity to read advance
copies of several books published
this summer by Abingdon Press, a
Christian publishing company that
has been around since the 1920’s.
One of these books was The Call
of Zulina,the first book of the
“Grace in Africa” trilogy by Kay
Marshall Strom, author of Once
Blind: The Life of John Newton and
more than thirty other books. It is
also her first foray into fiction, and
after reading it, I have to admit
that I am impatient for the next
book in the series to be released.
The Call of Zulinais set in West
Africa in 1787 and centers around
Grace Winslow, the daughter of
an unlikely marriage of an English
slave trader and an African
princess. Her father, a drunkard
and gambler, dreamed of raising
his daughter as a proper English
gentlewoman, despite living
thousands of miles from his mother
country. Grace’s mother, the
cruel and terrifying Lingongo,
despises the English and, because
her marriage was arranged for
political alliances, resents her
husband. Because of her mixed
heritage and her parents’
incompatible expectations of her,
Grace is destined to continually
disappoint both of her parents.
When she impulsively decides to
run away from home to escape a
political marriage to an unsavory
suitor, Grace finds herself involved
in an uprising of prisoner slaves.
At the beginning of her
journey, Grace is quite naïve: She
knows her father is a sea captain
but does not realize that he is also
a slave trader. In fact, he runs the
huge fortress of Zulina, a sort of
prison for slaves waiting to be sent
to the New World. As she learns
about the cruelty and horror of
slavery, and as the rebellion
intensifies, Grace is forced to
choose between what is familiar
and what is right.
As I was reading, several major
themes emerged. Perhaps most
obvious was the consequences of
loving money. The slave traders
were so intent on making a good
profit that they were selling their
fellow man, other human beings,
as though they were property.
They were so greedy that they
convinced themselves that slavery
was the proper, Christian thing to
do.
For instance, when one
character, a ship’s captain,
expresses his uneasiness with the
practice of slavery and the selling
of slaves, he is reprimanded for
being weak and un-Christian. That
brought to mind 1 Timothy 6:10-
“For the love of money is a root of
all kinds of evil. Some people,
eager for money, have wandered
from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs.”
Pride also was the cause of
much evil. Lingongo, Grace’s
mother and the headstrong
daughter of a great African king,
allowed her pride to drive her to
© Exemplify 2009
Review of
The Call
of Zulina
Written By Kate of
www.proverbs14.com
unspeakable acts of violence and
revenge. Cunning and
manipulative, she would not allow
any offense to be forgiven and
seemed incapable of showing
mercy. Several times in the book,
she was referred to as or was
compared to the devil. Indeed,
pride was the reason Lucifer was
cast down from heaven. In her
unending quest for power and
vengeance, she was like the
foolish woman of Proverbs 14:1,
who tore down her house with her
own hands.
In stark contrast to Lingongo was
Mama Muco, a house slave who
helped raise Grace from a baby
and one of the few who cared for
Grace’s well being. Mama Muco
was saved by Christ as a child,
when a missionary came to her
village. Her passionate prayers on
Grace’s behalf beautifully illustrate
that no matter what one’s status in
life, anyone can call on the power
and saving grace of God.
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
Her passion comes through in her
writing

“I tend to read much more non-

I tend to read much more non-fiction
than fiction, but The Call of Zulina reminded
me how satisfying a good novel can be.
The characters were well developed,
especially Grace, with her desire for
freedom and belonging. Oftentimes,
female heroines in novels are rather self-
centered, but Grace does not suffer from
this character flaw. Despite her
dysfunctional upbringing, she still realizes
that compared to that of the slaves she
meets, her life has been easy and
privileged.
fiction than fiction, but The
Call of Zulina reminded me how
satisfying a good novel can
be.”
descriptive detail and emotional depth.
Ms. Strom has written an exciting and
compelling addition to an established
genre. The Call of Zulina,which releases this
month, is well worth the read.

Also, I had never read a book set in

18th century Africa, and was fascinated by
the bits of information about various African
cultures. There is even a lexicon at the
back of the book that defines the African
terms used in the story.

The back cover states that the author

travels around the world, “speaking out
against social injustice, especially that of
modern-day slavery.” Her passion comes
through in her writing, which is rich in

© Exemplify 2009
 FICTION COLUMN
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
She sat in the shade provided by the
small market stall...
She sat in the shade provided by the
small market stall, carefully sipping
her mulled wine from the clay cup.
All around her the citizens of Athens
hustled and bustled. Merchants
moved in and out of stalls, hoisting
crates of wares onto tables, wiping
perspiration from their brows.
Nearby a group of young men sat
around a table, pouring over several
scrolls. Damaris studied them
carefully, noting that they couldn’t
have been older than twenty.
Students, she thought, smiling mildly.
Her heart ached, and she
swallowed thickly and looked away.
Oh, Demas. Her thoughts wandered
to her zealous lover. She knew he
was preparing for his great meeting
with the Christian Paul. He’d told her
Written by Tara Rachel of
www.afuturepastorswife.blogspot.com
Dama#s
about it the last time they’d been
together.
“He’s weak, a simpleton,”
Demas had said, lounging on the
couch in the peristyle of her father’s
home.
She had shaken her head. “I’ve
heard he was high ranking within the
synagogues of Israel. Surely a
simpleton couldn’t get that far.”
“Damaris, my dear, sweet,
naive Damaris. You are missing the
whole point! The mere fact that he
is involved in religion proves that he
is a simpleton. I’m sure the man
knows a great deal about the
Judaic scriptures, but the sheer fact
that he needs a god as a crutch
proves his intellectual immaturity.”
Demas had taken a swallow of wine
from his goblet and shook his head.
© Exemplify 2009
“Man is the crown of the world, and
therefore man’s sole goal should be
the pursuit and attainment of
pleasure. Religion, especially
Judaism and this ridiculous new sect
Paul is babbling about, tells its
followers to deny themselves
pleasure. Religion cripples people
and prevents enlightenment.”
She hadn’t spoken out at the time,
but his words stung. She bowed
before her gods every night, praying
and beseeching them to turn in her
favor and open Demas’s eyes to see
how wonderful she was. She stole
away in the darkness of night to
make offerings at the various
temples, away from prying eyes of
Demas’s fellow students in the
School.
 Gathering her tunic and palus, she
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
lowered herself carefully to the stone
ground...
After Demas had left that evening, she went upstairs
and picked up the carved gods off her prayer table.
She fingered the rough ridges and crevices,
pondering his words. Did believing in the gods make
you weak? Did worshiping gods make you simple?
She counted herself lucky that a man of
Demas’s intellect and stature would even
acknowledge her, much less agree to enter into a
relationship with her. She tried to force out the
thoughts that he was only interested in her for her
inheritance.
Demas was brilliant, of that there was no
question. But there was a hardness, a callousness, to
him that disturbed her slightly. He was so assured of
what he believed and no one could reason with him
about an alternative belief. He loved to learn, but
only to gain knowledge to destroy his intellectual
enemies and puff up his own theories and beliefs. He
quoted Seneca as though Seneca’s words were
divinely inspired.
She chuckled. Perhaps she should suggest
that Demas worshipped Seneca. She somehow
figured he wouldn’t find the comment as humorous
as she did.
Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she
realized it was time to head over to the Hill of Ares.
She had promised Demas she would come to hear
him speak, and she wanted to be as supportive of
him as possible.
As she moved through the streets, she saw
how opposite Athens was to the new teachings
circulating throughout the great schools. For all of
Demas’s claims of “the god within” and “man’s
superiority”, the city of Athens testified something
different. Athenians were not only religious, but
boastfully proud of their religions. Shops selling small,
handcrafted idols of the different gods and
goddesses littered every street of the city, and
Athenians openly mocked the Romans and their
“copycat deities”. Damaris found it interesting that
the city most known for its intellect also did a
flourishing trade in idol production.
As she passed by, she looked over a table of
one such shop, staring at the small figures perfectly
lined up on the bright blue cloth. Different material
for a different price. Wood, stone, bronze, silver, or
golden gods, depending on your wealth.
Something stirred within her, an uneasiness curling in
the pit of her stomach. As much as she relied on her
gods and desired their favor, she could see how
Demas (and others in his study programs) could see
why bowing down to the gods was seen as weak.
© Exemplify 2009
Why would you worship, prostrate, and
beseech an inanimate object?
She knew devout believers all over Athens,
her mother included, who truly believed that the
spirits of the gods were manifested in those small
figures. She supposed it could be possible. But a
part of her wanted something more, something...
supernatural.
She laughed aloud, startling an old woman
walking beside her. Demas would cry out in protest if
he could hear the tone of her thoughts!
The truth was she didn’t believe the gods
were manifested in any way in the small, crafted
figures. But she played it safe. If beseeching the
gods, however inanimate and crafted, was what it
took to get what she wanted in life, then beseech
the gods is what she would do.
The pathway grew more crowded as she
approached the Hill of Ares. She panted slightly as
she climbed the rough rocks to the open area at the
top. Demas had promised her a seat close to the
front, a difficult task no doubt owing to the fact that
she was a woman, but Demas had strong
connections with the Council of the Areopagus. As
she made her way into the clearing, he saw her and
waved to her from the plinth. He motioned her
forward, pointing to a seat close to the front.
She pushed her way through the crowd,
mostly men, until she reached Demas. He took her
hand and kissed it, his brown curls falling across his
forehead and his eyes dancing. “I am so glad you
could make it!” He grinned widely, showing all of his
perfectly white teeth. “I can’t wait for you to hear
this fool. He’s passionate, no doubt, but a fool
nonetheless.”
She smiled coyly. “Perhaps you should let me
hear him out first, then I will tell you if he is a fool or
not,” she taunted.
Demas laughed aloud and patted her
shoulder. “If you see him as anything but, then it will
be you, my dear, who are the fool.” An Areopagun
guard came over and tapped Demas’s arm,
motioning for him to come back to the plinth.
Demas pecked her cheek affectionately and trotted
away after the guard.
Gathering her tunic and palus, she lowered
herself carefully to the stone ground and observed
the plinth. She saw a few more of Demas’s
classmates, as well as Dionysus, a prominent Council
member. Then her eyes fell on who was
unmistakably Paul, the Christian.
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
His skin was darker than the skins of
his Athenian companions. His long
brown tunic was clean and neat
with the exception of one tear at
the hem. His sandals, however,
looked the worst: the leather
thongs were frayed in many areas
and looked as though they were
barely strapped onto his feet. She
moved her eyes up and studied his
face. He smiled politely at a few
men who came to speak to him,
but the smile never moved past his
lips. It was obvious, even from her
distance, that this Judean rebel
was distressed by something.
Demas moved forward
onto the plinth, motioning for the
crowd to settle and quiet down.
“Athenians and scholars, welcome
this day to the Hill of Ares. We are
in for a treat today. Paul of Tarsus,
the famed Christian, has agreed to
come and talk with us today.
Many of you have heard some of
his more fancied claims of a man-
god and resurrection from the
dead. Today you will hear his,”
Demas paused for effect, “stories
about his religion and what it
teaches.”
Damaris frowned and did not
applaud with the others as Demas
sat down and Paul of Tarsus came
forward. Demas had been
deliberately condescending, and
she didn’t think that was right. If
Demas was truly open to hearing
new ideas (as he claimed to be),
then he wouldn’t need to result to
condescension of those he
disagreed with.
Paul cleared his throat and
looked over the crowd. Damaris
felt a rush in her blood. Whatever
was thought of Paul and his
religious theories, he had become
something of a celebrity in the
Roman Empire. Most of the
political leaders and all of the
religious leaders disliked Paul, and
she felt somewhat naughty to be
sitting there listening to him, as
though she were disobeying some
unspoken but assumed rule.
“Men of Athens!” he
began, his voice booming over the
crowd. “I have been in your town
for several days, taking in your
culture and learning about you,
much as you like to learn of other
philosophies and religions
yourselves.” He inclined his head
towards the panel on the plinth. “I
see that in every way you are very
religious. I must say I have been
greatly distressed. Distressed over
the magnitude of idols and false
gods I see in this great city. In fact,
I was so distressed I went and met
in the synagogues, with the very
leaders of the traditions I used to
practice before finding liberty in
Christ, simply because they
comprehend the concept of
holiness, and a holy God.”
He started to pace before the
crowd. “I would go to your
markets, day after day, preaching
the good news of the gospel of
Jesus Christ - a gospel that sets
men free from the bondage of
death and of sin through belief in
Jesus as Lord and life in the Spirit.
As what has become customary, I
was persecuted and ridiculed, but
only with words and insults. The
Epicurians and the Stoics came to
me, debating me and accusing
me of having no sense. It was only
after realizing I am preaching a
‘foreign god’ that I was allowed to
come here and speak.”
Damaris sighed inwardly.
Here we go, she thought. Another
god to beseech. She debated
rising to leave but she knew Demas
© Exemplify 2009
Paul spoke again. “As I
walked around your
markets and looked
carefully at your
objects of worship, I
even found an altar with
this inscription: TO AN
UNKNOWN GOD.
Now what you worship
as something unknown, I
am going to proclaim
to you.”
would be disappointed in her if she
left, so she remained seated.
Paul spoke again. “As I
walked around your markets and
looked carefully at your objects of
worship, I even found an altar with
this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN
GOD. Now what you worship as
something unknown, I am going to
proclaim to you.”
Damaris snapped to
attention. Paul had not shouted,
yet there was something forceful in
his words. He was making a
declaration, a strong
proclamation, the truth of which he
was most assured. She felt
goosebumps on her arms and
wondered if she was that
convinced of anything in her life.
And an unknown god? She
had seen those altars, and thought
them curious. It was as though this
unknown god transcended the
twelve of Mount Olympus, and
certainly any demi-god below
them. She knew the reasoning
behind the unknowable part:
Athenians in their religious
superstition wanted to make sure
no gods were left out of their
worship and thus offended by such
an omission. If there was a higher
power, even a higher power than
Olympus, is it possible that this Paul
could tell them who it was?
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009 Paul continued. "The God who
made the world and everything in
it is the Lord of heaven and earth
and does not live in temples built
by hands.” Behind him Demas
snorted with laughter, but Damaris
had never found anything less
funny. This lined up with the
questions that ran through her
head each night as she pondered
the mysteries of life. If there is a
god who created the world and all
the creatures within it, how is it this
god can be contained within a
temple built by men? And why
would such a god stoop to living in
a temple built by men? Suddenly
Damaris felt very small, as her mind
tried to comprehend the scope of
the earth and the magnitude of a
god who could create it.
“And He is not served by
human hands, as if He needed
anything, because He himself gives
all men life and breath and
everything else.” The crowd
shifted uncomfortably, some
scoffing like Demas, others
scribbling Paul’s every word on
scrolls spread out over their knees.
“From one man he made
every nation of men, that they
should inhabit the whole earth;
and he determined the times set
for them and the exact places
where they should live. God did
this so that men would seek Him
and perhaps reach out for him
and find Him, though He is not far
from each one of us. 'For in Him
we live and move and have our
being.' As some of your own poets
have said, 'We are His offspring.'”
Paul inclined his head again to the
panel on the plinth, many of whom
were no longer smiling.
Damaris’s mind raced.
God did this so that men would
seek Him... in Him we live and
move and have our being... we
are His offspring... Suddenly her
skin became very real to her, as
though she was noticing it and
how it encompassed her and kept
her from flying everywhere for the
first time. She felt the coolness of
the air being pulled into her nose
and pulling into her chest. She
marveled at the majesty that was
the composition of her body. I
move... because of Him.
But who? Who is “Him”?
Paul was once again
speaking, and she pulled herself
out of her ethereal experience so
as not to miss one of his words.
“Therefore since we are God's
offspring, we should not think that
the divine being is like gold or silver
or stone—an image made by
man's design and skill.” Offspring...
child. I am a child of God?
Her mind worked faster
than it had during any extensive
study session while in school. On
the surface, Paul’s words sounded
like lunacy. But while her mind
spun to new proportions, her heart
began to beat faster, heavier. A
child of God... Was this not
something she had always
wanted? A connection to
whatever placed her here in this
place and in this time? A
connection to whoever held the
reins of her life in their hands? A
child...
Paul’s countenance, so far
having been subdued but firm,
had changed. A new sense of
severity came over his face. “In
the past God overlooked such
ignorance, but now He commands
all people everywhere to repent.
For He has set a day when He will
judge the world with justice by the
man He has appointed. He has
given proof of this to all men by
raising Him from the dead."
Damaris’s mouth had gone
dry. Repent. She had heard the
word in the different philosophy
classes, usually when discussing the
tenets of this new Christian sect.
She had assumed that it only
meant to grieve the wrongs you
had done, but upon doing some
research she realized it meant so
much more.
It wasn’t enough to just regret
what you had done. It was a mind
change, and decision to move
forward in a new way, leaving the
old behind.
Her heart jumped in her
throat, and she saw her life as
though looking in from the outside.
She had been so engrossed in
© Exemplify 2009
studies, in learning, in desiring to
know as much as possible. She
had pursued men of strong minds,
men with no need of God, with no
need for a divine connection,
even though deep within her soul
she felt lost and alone.
And now as she listened to
this Paul, the bane of the
intellectual and political world, she
realized she needed to change
her mind.
It was time to repent.
Men were sneering at Paul,
throwing verbal jabs his way. Still
others sat as she did, mesmerized
in their thoughts and
comprehending his words.
Paul spoke out again over
the din. “Tell me, men of Athens,
do your gods answer you? Can
you hear them? Are you sure that
they even hear you? Believe me
when I say that there is a God who
answers you, and His name is Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, who was
nailed to the cross for your sins and
resurrected to overcome the curse
of death!”
A silence fell over the
crowd. Damaris’s heart pounded.
Out of everything Paul had said,
one thing stood out: God will
answer me?
Yes, beloved, if you come
to Me and serve Me only.
Damaris shivered and stared
around for the source of the voice,
but she knew it was in vain. She
knew she had just heard the
Unknown God. The One True God.
Oh God, forgive my
unbelief. How can I be a child to
You?
As though invisible hands
were turning his head, Paul looked
straight at her as he gave his next
discourse. “If you confess with your
mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved.”
“I believe...” Damaris
breathed out. Then, from a holy
courage that spread fire into the
very tips of her bones, she cried
out, “I believe!” She felt light as a
feather, joy coursing through her.
She felt free!
EXEMPLIFY MAGAZINE August 3, 2009
My sheep know My voice and they come
when I call them.
Damaris shivered and stared around for the source
of the voice, but she knew it was in vain. She knew
she had just heard the Unknown God. The One True
God.
Oh God, forgive my unbelief. How can I be
a child to You?
As though invisible hands were turning his
head, Paul looked straight at her as he gave his next
discourse. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus
is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him
from the dead, you will be saved.”
“I believe...” Damaris breathed out. Then,
from a holy courage that spread fire into the very
tips of her bones, she cried out, “I believe!” She felt
light as a feather, joy coursing through her. She felt
free!
Demas came forward and snatched her
raised arms out of the sky. “What is the matter with
you?” he hissed. “Have you had too much wine?”
She shook her head, unable to keep from
smiling. “No, Demas. I’ve just had too much life.”
He glared at her. “I’m surprised at you,
Damaris. You know what religion does to people.
You know only fools believe in a supremely divine
being.”
She shrugged. “I know what I have heard
you say. And I know that I have wasted years of my
life bowing before stone figures hoping and praying
for an answer, an interaction. Just now I asked of
God, the only True God, and He answered me.” Her
eyes filled with tears. “He answered the prayer I
have been praying to worthless elements my entire
life.” She swallowed hard, her throat closing up from
emotion. “It’s time to put the pieces of my soul
back together. I’ve left pieces of myself at every
altar in this city. I’m done with that. I’m taking all of
me. All of me to Him.”
Demas sputtered in indignation. “You can’t
be serious! Do you know anything about this
religion? Do you realize that this man-god Jesus is
supposedly your high God come down in the form
of a man to take away the sins of the world? Do
you realize that under His rule you can experience
no pleasure?”
His words were meant to cut, but they only
encouraged. “Demas,” she said softly, placing a
hand on his arm, “I know this sounds crazy to you.
You are entrenched in your studies and
philosophies. But as much as you may deny it, there
is a God above and it warms my soul to know He
would come down to reconcile with His creation,
rather than stay cold and aloof on a mountaintop.
And as to the pleasure, well... I can’t remember the
© Exemplify 2009
last time I’ve felt this joyful, this free. To be
completely honest pursuing worldly pleasures only
left me feeling more empty in the end.” She raised
her eyes to meet his, hoping he wasn’t too deeply
offended by her description of their experiences. “I
need to be full. I need to be alive.”
Demas shook his head. “We’re done,
Damaris. I thought you had potential. I thought you
were brilliant. You are nothing more than a sheep,
following whatever voice you hear.” He turned his
back on her and strode away.
Damaris stopped. Is this true?
Of course it’s true, a calculated voice cut
into her thoughts. You cannot think for yourself. You
are ruled by your heart and a titillating speech.
Damaris drew in a deep breath. She was
going to step out again, to trust. To believe.
God, if You are real and You are truly the
One, I need to know: am I just a sheep following
whatever whim that comes along?
Silence. And then...
My dear, do not worry. My sheep know My
voice and they come when I call them. I have
called you, My lamb. I will take care of you and
lead you. I am all that you need.
Damaris felt the tears falling fast and hot
down her cheeks. The men of Athens were ushering
Paul out of the Areopagus. A small band stood
around him, exiting with him. Gathering up the
length of her tunic, Damaris ran after them. She
wanted to hear more, to sit at Paul’s feet, to learn all
she could of the God of creation, who was above
all and is all, and yet still saw fit to speak to her and
meet her where she was.
She thought of her idol table at home, the
crafted trinkets of empty promise. She would
dispose of them, if she even went back. She sought
a new truth, a new glory. The glory of Jesus Christ,
the risen Son of God.
Oh God, oh Jesus, she prayed as she
followed the group out of the Areopagus and down
the hill, may my heart always be steadfast and
never turn away from You!
Adapted from Acts 17:16-34
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