Anytime I see an ambulance on the road with its siren and lights on, I am reminded how that ambulance was once for me. In the summer of 2018, I attempted suicide. For years after that awful day, I struggled to understand how I didn’t die. It didn’t logically make sense to the doctors who [&helli
Standing strong is a central theme in my story. I was raised in an environment that taught me to be seen, but not heard. My father taught me the working-class standard, “Keep your mouth shut, keep your head down, do what you’re told, and don’t expect any handouts.” Before I knew Jesus, this
Single’ is a word that triggers a variety of reactions. Some will gush about the freedom and independence it brings, while others may feel a pain in their hearts as they are reminded of a longing yet to be fulfilled. It’s probably safe to assume most of us single people live with a combination o
I wake up at 5:45am to exercise before work, but my boss has already emailed me and needs me in the office early. No problem, I’ll skip breakfast to make up for it. Now I’m at work and I’m starving, but it’s not quite lunch. There are donuts in the staff room, I’ll just have […]
Becoming a mother was the most wonderful yet scary experience of my life. How could I be filled with such love, excitement and exhaustion, joy and trepidation, confidence and insecurity, all at the same time? I was a young missionary in Uganda and both my kids’ births were less than typical. When
When I started coming to the Pearl Church, I just wanted to be left alone; to be in and out. If I was going to serve, it would be in a “behind the scenes” capacity. My ultimate goal was to be unseen and incognito. I was talking to a friend I met at the Pearl […]
Mental health. It’s something we all think about and hear about, whether directly or indirectly. Some will talk about it, others shy away from it. God has a lot to say about our minds, so we, as Christians, should definitely talk about it! God created us uniquely, beautifully, and intricately. Psa
How can we walk faithfully in our calling through the shifting seasons of life? It all comes down to this. It must begin and end right here. Complete surrender. With a heart depleted of selfish motives, a life of faithfulness is built on this foundation. “God, I am yours. My life, my finances,
October 20th, 2021. Exactly one month after our first anniversary. My husband Thomas hadn’t been feeling well all day. Body aches. Chills. Fever. Nothing super alarming, but something prompted me to check his temperature regularly, every 30 minutes. At 10:22 pm, I got out of bed to get Thomas a da
The feature article in Beautiful Magazine Vol 2 modeled a conversation to address racial division and reconciliation. We know that in order to achieve true understanding and change, there must be many authentic conversations to address together the layers of racism. In this issue, we have asked Octa
I have a suspicion that we could all use a little soul renovation. Like every reno project ever, you must know up front, it will come with some unexpected costs, a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. But you never know, maybe some unexpected treasures as well! This last season has exposed are
I remember when I was a child, my mom regularly commented on women’s hair. They either had “good hair” or “bad hair.” I wondered, what is “good hair?” Do I have “good hair?” If I don’t, then why not? These simple, yet controversial questions led me on a journey that continued int
Taryn Q. Do you shop on a mission or see what catches your eye? A. I shop second hand for those statement pieces that might not hit the budget anywhere else or might be trendy for only a season. I therefore, find it hard to shop on a mission successfully, but rather shop for pieces […]
1. Pick your flowers – When picking flowers, I always look at having a good balance of scale and texture. You want a couple different kinds of greenery – a few substantial leaves, and something more lightweight and feathered. Then grab a statement flower, which might be larger in size, to be
The very title of this section might evoke a big emotion or reaction in you, be it excitement, panic, agitation, relief, or curiosity. This topic reaches into the most vulnerable places for us emotionally, mentally, physically and relationally; so, yes, it will stir up some strong emotions. Maybe yo
W hat is spiritual growth, and how do I obtain and maintain it? You may be thinking, Not another article about what I’m not doing to grow spiritually! Trust me, the last thing I want to do is bore you with “three steps to becoming spiritually mature.” My prayer is that God would illuminate and
