Hi, friends!

So as many of you may know if you follow me on Twitter, read one of my 2017 Blogmas posts, or the post where I discussed the upcoming year, that opening up on my faith and using Glitz and Glitter as an outlet for that is something that I have wanted to do since I started Glitz and Glitter last year. The fear of backlash held me back and I started caring about what others would think, how my friends who aren’t Christians would see me, and how it might change potential business deals. I am so ashamed to say that.

Romans 12:2 tells us to not conform to the world but “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” I will be the first to tell you that my faith isn’t a solid one. Every single day, I wake up with doubts and confusion. For the past year, I have had a whole in my heart and soul and deep down I knew what it was but I didn’t want to admit it and go before God and admit that I had lost my faith. I don’t like having to admit that I am wrong and I really hate that God already knew how I truly felt and I kept pushing Him away. Having a group of people around me who would help me grow in my faith, keep me accountable, and be there for me is something that I pray for.

Recently I started listening to a podcast called That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs on Spotify and it truly helped me reconnect with my faith and help me admit that I needed to bring God back into my life again. Today while I was driving into classes, I was listening to the Jesus Calling podcast (also on Spotify, if you are interested!) and one of the guest speakers was Sadie Robertson, a young woman who I wish was my best friend and who I have admired for years. Her testimony made me cry and believe me, trying to drive safely and cry at the same time is not something I recommend! I then found a podcast episode of That Sounds Fun that had Sadie as a guest and I got so excited- two of my favorite people were collaborating on a podcast! Listening to that episode really hit me and I was ready to admit I needed God in my daily life again. That led me onto finding more podcasts (I’m thinking of doing a post on my favorite podcasts! Keep your eyes peeled!) and even more women talking about their faith and how they incorporate reading, devotions, and other things into their daily routines so they are always in a relationship with God and standing firm in their faith. I can’t tell you how much these podcasts have helped me.

Another amazing thing that I am so grateful for is having a friend who is there for me and shares my views on faith. We reconnected recently and I am so glad we did because my eyes are opening again and it is the best feeling to have someone along with you for that journey. Surrounding yourself with a group of people (or even just a few) who are going to be there for you 100% and help you grow in your faith is so essential and I have noticed that I am wanting to have that again. Keeping good influences in your life is so important because they do influence you. There is a verse in 1 Corinthians that says “Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character.” I believe in this entirely. It has such truth in my life but also in others who I know. Meeting new people is incredible and I love talking to people, but I do think that you should keep your friend circle close to you and have only people who are of a good influence to you.

Being afraid of how my faith and beliefs would change potential friendships and business interactions is not something that I am proud of. If a business deal doesn’t work out due to my faith, there will be others that will work out. If there is a friend in my life who doesn’t like the fact that I choose to love, worship, and trust my life to Jesus Christ, that’s sad and unfortunate but there will be other friends who will be beneficial to my journey. With every season there is something new to learn and meditate on. I am coming into a new season of life with a new outlook and attitude. I am open and that makes me happy. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.

I have so many new ideas and topics I am trying to plan to cover in this new area on Glitz and Glitter and I am so excited to share them with you that I am brimming with joy!

I’m going to leave you with one of my favorite verses and I’ll see you all very soon with more!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16