Remaining Faithful Through Sickness

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Before I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, it was fairly easy for me to view the trials I experienced as temporary. I knew they were seasons that would soon pass. 

I guess that was the writer in me: I tend to view my life through the lens of a story. And in a story, characters have to go through hardships, because without those training periods, the characters would never grow. Without that conflict, there would be no story. 

However, this perspective became harder for me to maintain after I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes about a year and a half ago. 

{Continue reading on page 4 of Broken But Priceless Magazine, and check out the feature of my diagnosis on page 21}

Announcing new magazine for teen girls, PURSUE Magazine! { + Erin Condren LifePlanner Giveaway!}

When I was eleven, my friend and I launched an online website and Christian e-newsletter for pre-teen girls. It was called The Girls of Grace Group. We sent a newsletter every Sunday and reached almost 200 subscribers. It was then that I fell in love with the creative process of writing articles, overseeing an e-zine, and encouraging girls through the written word.


I decided that, along with my dream of becoming an author, I would eventually launch a Christian magazine for teens.


Fast forward a few years. I was fourteen, enrolled in an online school so I could pursue writing--yet I was discouraged, wondering if I was truly doing what God wanted me to do. One day, as I was having my quiet time, I came across the scripture Ecclesiastes 11:9 (MSG translation):

You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.

I could hear God speak to me as I read this verse. Telling me that I was where He wanted me to be. Reassuring me that I was making the most of my youth by pursuing the dreams He had placed on my heart since I was 3--the dream to become an author. 


It was soon after this moment that I knew what I wanted my future teen magazine to be titled: PURSUE. Over the years, the desire to launch this magazine has yet to leave. I've tried to prepare myself for this by gaining experience in other publications: 


I was a teen columnist for Whole Magazine, editor over the faith department for Temperance Magazine, a Teen Advisory Board member for Devozine, and contributing writer for Imagine Mag and MoreToBe.com. My articles have been published in Guide Magazine, Devozine, Refresh Magazine, Broken But Priceless Magazine, Ibegat.com, etc.


A few months ago, God impressed this magazine on my heart again. As I continued to seek His direction, He began to bring into my path others--close friends of mine--who were willing to contribute their own expertise and help me breathe life into this dream. 


So now, the desire that was birthed in my heart as a pre-teen is coming true. PURSUE Magazine is now in the works. 

And you can be apart of it.

March 1st, 2016 will mark the official launch of PURSUE Magazine's website, and we're currently searching for writers -- as well as teens -- to join the team.


Is this a Christian magazine?


While PURSUE is founded on Christian beliefs and will contain a faith department, the articles are directed to teens of all backgrounds and religious beliefs.   

PURSUE is an online magazine that encourages and inspires girls to pursue their youth by discovering their calling, embracing their uniqueness, and learning how to sustain health in body, mind, and spirit. It is a general interest magazine that covers topics in Life, Entertainment, Encouragement & Motivation, Inspiration, Arts & Creativity, and Beauty & Fashion.

Mission Statement:

PURSUE Magazine encourages and inspires girls to pursue their youth by discovering their calling, embracing their uniqueness, and learning how to sustain health in body, mind, and spirit. 

Is PURSUE a print magazine?


While print issues is our long-term goal, as of now we are preparing to build the online magazine through the website. We will then publish our the first online issue in September 2016.  We will, however, publish articles via the website beginning March 1st, 2016.


Here's where you come in the picture.


I don't want PURSUE to be just a magazine.


I want this to be a community. A community where girls can meet and encourage one another along their paths through youth. 

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How to join the team:


{You must be 16+ to apply as a writer.}


Contributing writers will write one post per month in their category of choice. They will also have access to the PURSUE Staff Team's private Facebook group and will be invited to enter future giveaways and contests.    

Guest writers writers will write one article in their category of choice. (This is for those who cannot commit to submitting one post per month.)


Teen Advisory Board members help to influence future themes and articles published in PURSUE. They will also contribute to the magazine's social media, offer ideas and suggestions on designs, offer their input on upcoming issues of PURSUE, and will be featured within the magazine. They will also have access to the PURSUE Teen Advisory Board private Facebook group and will be invited to enter future giveaways and contests. {You must be 13 - 19 to apply.}


Launch team members will help to spread the word of the magazine by telling their friends, posting about the magazine on their blog and social media, interacting within the comments on the website, etc. They will also have access to the PURSUE Launch Team private Facebook group and will be invited to enter future giveaways and contests.   


Want to apply? Email submissions (at) pursuemagazine (dot) net. In your subject line, please mention the position(s) (listed above) that you are interested in applying for. (Feel free to submit for more than one position!)


As soon as we receive your submission, we will send the writer's guidelines, as well as the giveaway entry form to win a $50 Erin Condren LifePlanner. 


We hope to hear from you! =)

Do you have a specific dream that has been on your heart for years? What steps can you take in 2016 to reach (or prepare) for this goal?

Refresh: A New Magazine and an Opportunity for You -- Guest Post by Katy Kauffman

Refresh: A New Magazine and an Opportunity for You -- Guest Post by Katy Kauffman

Do you want to help people to know God better? If you said yes, I’m with you!

Two years ago, my family and I started a Bible study ministry called Lighthouse Bible Studies (a lifelong dream), and this October we started a magazine called Refresh Bible Study Magazine.

Some awesome writers have joined us in writing articles that speak to the heart and refresh the soul. The daily grind of life, the world’s pressures and temptations, the spiritual harassments we experience from Satan—they can all get to us at times, and we need some refreshment!

God’s Word is one of the greatest sources of refreshment for our souls. All of our articles are based on Scripture, and we have a wide range of subjects: who God is, quiet time ideas, stories of encouragement, cultural issues, society’s needs, book reviews, and more!

Check out our first issue now: Refresh Bible Study Magazine, Issue 1

If you would like to receive this free magazine by email, email me at adventurewriter@hotmail.com. Email me, too, if you would like to submit an article or talk about an idea you have for the magazine. Since it is a free magazine, we don’t pay for articles, but you would have the opportunity to bless people’s hearts and to get your writing out into the world in a new way. Our audience is made up of all ages, but I would like to see some teen and young adult writers contribute to the magazine and share it with their friends.

Whatever age you are, please consider subscribing to the magazine and writing for us. And visit our Refresh Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter!

We can band together to have a voice for God in the world and to refresh hearts with His truth and love. An opportunity is waiting. Will you take it?

~ ~ ~ 

Katy Kauffman is an editor for Refresh Bible Study Magazine and its designer. She is an award-winning writer who has taught the Bible to women and teens. She has two published Bible studies for women, and is a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. Connect with her on her blog, Life with God, and on Facebook and Twitter. Katy is also a monthly contributor to two websites that aid and instruct writers. Check out her newest post on The Write Conversation and her column at Almost an Author.