Forsaken Life Magazine Winter 2013-14

FORSAKENlife magazine THE IDENTITY issue winter 2013/2014

ORSAKENlife magazine For women who have FORSAKEN LIFE for Christ FORSAKEN LIFE STAFF Founder Megan Studdard Editors Hillary Kelley Namali Premawardhana Jesse Sutton Photographer Jesse Sutton Writers Rebekah Staton Namali Premawardhana Maghan Holmes Hillary Kelley Jesse Sutton Manyi Eno Leah Mooney Bloggers Casey Finley Maghan Holmes Kati Lamar Cyndyl McCutcheon Brittany West Social Media Kati Lamar Leah Mooney Design Assistant Dakotah Lego cover photo by danielle morgan cover illustration by dakotah lego 2

W ho am I? It seems like a simple question, but we spend so much of our lives answering it. Galatians 3:26-27 says, “You are all sons [and daughters] of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Therefore, we are made in the image of God and should identi- fy ourselves through Him. It’s easy to let our earthly activities defne us. For 15 years, I was an athlete. I ate, breathed and slept for softball; it was at the core of my being. Before going to sleep at night, I’d think about MEGAN STUDDARD how to improve my game, obessing over perfec- tion. After two years of playing college softball, I fnally listened to God and quit the game I once FORSAKEN LIFE STAFF loved. It took me awhile to get over not being identifed as a softball player any more, but I fnally realized my true identity - as a follower of Founder Megan Studdard Christ. Editors Hillary Kelley Society tries to identify us as well. Young women Namali Premawardhana are constatnly told what to wear, how to act Jesse Sutton and who to be like. Oftentimes, women defne themselves by what men think of them. My Photographer Jesse Sutton observations of women in the media inspired me to create Forsaken Life, and I hope that this mag- Writers Rebekah Staton azine will serve as an alternative to the media that Namali Premawardhana degrades young women. Maghan Holmes Hillary Kelley Here at Forsaken Life, we believe that, to live for Jesse Sutton Manyi Eno God, we must forsake, or give up, the things of Leah Mooney this world. That includes our identity in earthly things. Bloggers Casey Finley Maghan Holmes This issue features content that shows how God Kati Lamar uses and shapes our personal identity. We know Cyndyl McCutcheon that we are supposed to identify ourselves in Brittany West Christ, but what does that look like? Social Media Kati Lamar I hope you use what you read in this magazine to Leah Mooney strengthen your relationship with the Lord. Design Assistant Dakotah Lego Sincerely, cover photo by danielle morgan cover illustration by dakotah lego 3

26 14 12 7 what’s inside... BODY 7 FIT 20-minute workout Start the season off healthy with this quick but powerful routine! 12 Is your body a temple God created your body in His image. Are you treating it that way? 14 STYLE Jackets We Love! The weather’s getting colder, but that doesn’t mean your style has to. 4

26 14 20 7 18 22 what’s inside... 17 MISSIONS India in Song One missionary shares how she is using song to tell women’s stories. SOUL 18 Twin Identity Being born a twin doesn’t stop Jesse from fnding her own identity. 14 Sex & Rock ’n Roll God’s redemption harmonizes beautifully with our sexuality. 16 Christ in the Classroom Meghan describes God’s call on her career as a music teacher. 25 DEVO Genuine Beauty Society may not call us beautiful, but God does. 26 CULTURE Cultural Christianity Society may not call us beautiful, but God does. 5

BODY > 20-MINUTE WORKOUT > IS YOUR BODY A TEMPLE OR A TRASH CAN? > JACKETS WE LOVE! 6

20 FITNESS Whether you are trying to slim down, stay healthy, or just relieve stress, this is an easy, fast work out that you can ft into any busy schedule. I have a pretty full schedule, so I know how diffcult it is to squeeze in a workout every day, but I promise if you do minute workout you will feel so much better. This workout BY REBEKAH STATON is great to alternate with your regular work out or as a kick start to a healthier you! YOU WILL NEED a set of small hand weight, 5-8 lbs, depending on your strength level. If you don’t have weights, fnd soup cans or a full water bottle. If you don’t have those, just go without, you will still get your heart rate up and burn fat. Do each exercise for 30 seconds with no rests between. If needed, take short 5 second breaks, but try to push through. It’s only 20 min; you can do it! WARM-UP Jumping Jacks Butt Kicks High Knees Squats Arm Circles Stretch! 7

Jumping Jacks Butt Kicks High Knees CIRCUIT 1 Squats Weighted butt kicks Hold the weights in front of you with your elbows at a 90° angle. Keep your arms stable while performing the traditional butt kick. Be sure to keep your arms stable Arm Circles and get as close to kicking yourself as possible! Squat with shoulder press Stretch! Squat down with the weights on your shoulders, making sure your knees do not go past your toes. As you come up, engage your core and press the weights up above your head. Lunge with bicep curl Start with your weights in your hands palms facing out. As you go into your lunge, bring the weights up like a standard bicep curl. Push off your front foot and return to the start position. Rotate your legs so it goes right, left, right, left, and so on. Like the squat, be sure not to let your knee pass your toe. Repeat Circuit 1 8

CIRCUIT 2 Shadow Boxing Dumbbells Get into a squat position and bring your weights up in front of you as if you are going to box. Punch across your body, alternating arms as if hitting a punching bag. Front Kicks Set your weights to the side and stand with your fsts in front of you. Kick your right leg out in front of you, then switch legs. Alternate back and forth as fast as you can. If you want to make it more challenging, try hopping from leg to leg. Spider Push-ups Get into push-up position with feet shoulder-width apart. Bring your right knee up to you right elbow, then back to starting positions. Now bring your left knee to your left elbow, and so on. To add a challenge, perform a full push-up as you bring your knee to your elbow. Superman Lay fat on the ground with your arms in front of you as if you were superman fying in the air. Lift your legs and arms up as far as you can, as if you were folding in half. Hold for a second then release and repeat. Repeat 9

CIRCUIT 3 Mountain Climbers Get into plank position and bring your knee up to your chest. Alternate your legs as fast as you can, just like you are running in place. Get your knees as high up as possible. Plank Twist Stay in plank position and bring your right knee across your body to your left elbow. Return to plank and do the other side. Continue alternating sides. Burpees Stand, reach up then go down into plank position. Come back up, jumping at the top, then go back down to the ground. Do as many as you can in the 30 seconds. Repeat 10

CIRCUIT 4 Glute Bridge Lie on your back with your feet about shoulder-width apart, hands by your side, and knees up. Push off the ground, lifting your hips up to the ceiling. Hold and release, coming back to the ground. As soon as you reach the foor, push back up for anoth- er rep. To add diffculty, place the weights on top of your hips. Leg Lifts Lie fat with your arms straight out above your head, and the weights in your hands. Bring your arms and legs up at the same time, like you’re folding in half. If this is too diffcult, lift your legs only. Scissor Kicks Lie on your back with your hands at your side and lift your legs about 6 inches off the ground. Criss cross your legs back and forth, keeping them lifted off the ground. To add diffculty, lift your head and shoulders off the ground. Hip Twists Get into plank position on your elbows. Twist your hips to the let until your right hip is parallel with the ground, or until it is as far as you can turn. Return to center and go to the other side. Side Plank Roll over to your side, resting on your elbow with your feet stacked on top of each other. Push up, lifting your hip to the sky, hold for one second then bring your hip back down. Do the right side for the frst 30 seconds then the left for the second time through. Repeat 11

Is your body a temple or a trash can? BY REBEKAH STATON God has created our bodies as these intricate and fascinating machines, and like any machine it matters what you put into it. 12