So I feel as though many of you might still be wondering why I am doing this whole world race thing…
…well stay tuned, because that will unfold over the next year 🙂
Today is my last day to work at La Foi Salon. I am filled with bittersweet emotions. It is all becoming so real. I have been waiting for this day that I can say goodbye to the life I have known and gotten comfortable in, and truly begin to prepare myself for the journey I am about to step in to. But I can hardly believe it is here.
(three years ago, after purchasing my first pair of sheers at a hair show!)
More than ever, this week, I have felt so incredibly connected to my clients. I have found myself wanting to go deeper with them, REALLY listen to them, and tune into what God has been telling me to speak to each person that has sat in my chair. I have wanted to make the most of every moment with them!
I was so encouraged by a beautiful young woman when she texted me later in the day after getting her hair done and said…
“Thank you SO much for the new hair and make up tips!
I feel SO pretty for the first time in a LONG time…
So glad you let God use you to make women feel pretty!”
PTL!! (Praise the Lord). God IS using me 🙂
It’s amazing what happens when you just listen and engage in the divine appointments God places in your life. This was not me, God just used me. And it’s been so rewarding.
I feel like each day, with each morning I wake up, God is showing me something new.
Recently He has placed people in my path: the barista at the coffee shop, and old friend, or a nurse at the doctors office. For the first time in a long time, I’ve been open to share, to connect with these people instead of shrinking away and hiding. Instead of the minimum conversation and quick get-a-way, I have found myself engaging and wanting to dive into their hearts….Who am I?!
I have started to realize that the more I seek Him and connect with Him, the more my heart is set on fire.
The more “I” lessen, HE increases and I get to see Him work in other's lives.
I kept hearing Him remind me..
“Stephanie…its not about you.
This race is not about YOU.
I want ALL of you. All of YOU.”
Wanna hear a neat lil story? Well, I think its neat :).
So I started to feel motivated and inspired again over the past week realizing I want to be very intentional about the rest of my time at home. So I decided it was time to start a new journal.
I go grab my moleskin journal and begin to decorate it with cute bubble letters (okay…as cute as I can make them) that say, “21 days till launch”. But as I am doing this, I realize I misspelled launch, I accidentally spelt it “LANCH”. ahhh are you kidding me!? Great, now I can’t even use this journal…(*Insert frustrated Stephanie here*).
I almost laugh at myself when I hear God whisper… “I left “U” out on purpose. Remember Stephanie, it’s not about YOU.” Woah. Suddenly memories begin to come to mind when I have so carelessly made it about me. I have 21 days at home to really invest in those that I love, to stop trying to please everyone and realize its not about me…its about HIM and letting Him use me to love on others.
He is slowly teaching me how to give up rights, adapt to uncomfortable situations, confrontation, and juggling 20 things at once. The cool thing is, that I have found I CAN’T DO IT. But when I give it to Him, it all works out. 🙂
So back to the beginning of my blog.
(I apologize…a lot of emotions=a lot of rambling….so bear with me)
Why the heck am I doing this? Well..to put a very long story short….I’m finally ready.
I refuse to believe I have endured all the things I have in this life as a 23 year old to live a normal life, and I’m ready to stop trying to conform to one.
I'm not sure where this journey will leave me after a year. But I am willing to give it all up to find out! I am ready to be used on a bigger level. To give Him ALL OF ME. To say YES to His Calling.
I finally feel like I have started to grieve over losing the plans I had for myself and just give it up and realize that…
God has SO MUCH MORE for me, and it is NOT about me anymore.
Yes, I do believe He has gifted me, blessed me with talents, and called me to minister to young women and help them see their beauty and worth. And I do not believe that this gift will stop here. I plan on allowing him to use me in new ways, and explore the great adventures he has for me,
and simply put...I just cannot do that here.
I believe that God handpicked my team of young women to start out this race and cannot wait to get to know each of them as we are broken, and rebuilt and each experience our own Kingdom Journey.
I'm ready to abandon it all.
Die to myself….daily.
I started reading Seth Barnes new book tonight called Kingdom Journeys. He defines a journey as “an act of leaving – a process of physical abandon that teaches us how to do the same spiritually. Perhaps, to find your true identity, you need to abandon everything else.”
So I ask you to join me in this journey….
warning: it may get messy at times, but I can promise you it will be real, raw, and holy spirit filled.
click the link on the left to receive an email each time I update my blog! I expect BIG things to happen over the next year and I want each of you to be a part of it and see what God is doing in my life and in the lives of everyone He puts in my path!! I plan on keeping you all very up to date with my team and what we are doing and how we are seeing God move 🙂
Thank you to all who have donated and are continuing to send money in!!
I would not be going on this journey without YOU!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
