This series usually goes out on Friday, but I really wanted to get this interview out before then, so I am changing up the week a little bit…
my dear friend, immensely talented and kind: Stacie
This week in our Women and Their Gift series we are spending time in the closet with my dear friend Stacie. Stacie looks cute and put together everywhere she goes. She is just flat out good with space and color, on her person and in a room. Her talent for styling clothes and décor has always been around, but her gift continues to grow and flourish. She is kind, fun, funny and a spunky young mama that loves her man. Most of all though, Stacie loves the Lord. She loves his word. She loves to pray. She loves to teach and share the things God shows her. Her heart is big and heavy to share the gospel and equip people with the sword of the spirit. As you see us spend some girl time camped out on her closet floor today I hope you will really get to see how God has tied all her loves and talents together for his glory.
I felt it important to get her story out this week. I am not the only one who thinks she is immensely gifted…her home is one of three being featured this year in the Bryan-College Station Women’s Club 47th Annual Home & Garden Tour. The tour will be held this Wednesday, April 15, 2015 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can read more details about the event here. So, if you really want to peek into this girl’s world Wednesday is your day!
It was so great chatting with my friend. Some of the top tips I embraced from our chat were these:
1. From the beginning – Our gifts usually show up in some form or fashion early on in life. That is because God wired us each a certain way and filled us each with gifts that he chose and placed in us at his discretion. This is a good point to remember when you want to fight who you really are or have guilt over spending time doing the things you love. You certainly must have your priorities in order, but nurturing the gifts God gave you is not a bad thing! It is also critical to remember when you look at others and feel jealous or insecure because of the gifts they have. God is the giver of all gifts. He gifted you as he saw fit.
2. “worldly” gifts – Sometimes the things we are good at and enjoy seem very worldly. It is hard to connect the dots between a gift for styling yourself or your home and doing good for God’s kingdom. The difference between worldly and kingdom building comes when you recognize where your gift comes from, acknowledge your gift, give thanks for it and ask God to guide you in serving with it. Then you will see God unfold a beautiful marriage of your talents and his kingdom, for his glory and joy. It really is an amazing feeling when it happens to you and is sheer pleasure to watch take shape in someone else’s life.
3. No idols please – Our gifts can certainly get the best of us if we don’t stand watch. We can easily put our time and talent before the Lord and get our priorities out of order quickly. This is where pride creeps in, says look at me, look how great I am…instead of look at how awesome God is and all he has done in me and for me. Anything can become an idol. Prayer and God’s word are your best and only defense against your gifts becoming idols in your life.
4. All about relationship – These gifts and talents God filled us with are not to be stingily kept to ourselves. They are to share with others, to serve and to act as a bridge to relationship with each other. We are not supposed to be intimidated by other people’s gifts, but embrace them. Recognize our own strengths and weaknesses and look to others to fill in where we are lacking. That is why we are each created differently, so we need each other, are drawn to one another and have something to offer others. It is a beautiful picture of God’s creation.
5. The enemy will attack – We have talked about this before in other interviews in this series. Because it is a real thing and a real concern. The enemy doesn’t want us to ever think we are good, capable, talented or enough. He wants us to believe the lies he laces through our day, hissing in our ear. Stacie gives us a great example of how to put our armor on every day to thwart the attack of the enemy and walk toward a relationship with Christ and each other. Ephesians 6:13
If you want to steal Stacie’s look here are a few places she likes to shop for inspiration, clothes and home goods.
Here are a few looks in her home:
To both of you, thanks for sharing your gifts with us…..loved it!
So much goodness in the video! Thank you for these! They are so good for my soul (and SO encouraging!).
Kim, I just happened upon your blog & absolutely love it! Great article about Stacie. Proud to call both of you friends!
thank you friend! so glad you found us!
Hey, I loved watching this. I’m thinking it might be great to share with my girls as we are talking about discovering their gifts and appropriate dress.