How I got involved with She Speaks...and a little about my past

Tonight I am going to see the new movie that's out called 27 Dresses...I'm going with some of my P31 pals, Lysa, Renee, Marybeth, and LeAnn, so we can laugh and laugh and laugh. We heard it's a great movie so every once in awile we go for a girls night out so tonight's one of those nights. It is so amazing to be connected to these P31 women. Speaking of that leads me to tell you about She Speaks. If you will go to Lysa's blog this morning, she will tell you all about it...but first I want to tell you my story of how I got connected with Proverbs 31. It's a cool one and I hope it encourages you.

God tapped me on my shoulder about 10 years ago to take my knowledge of the fashion and beauty industry to women of the church. I was so uncertain because I thought it wouldn't fly in the Christian community cause we talk about inner beauty and we know that is the most important beauty of all. So I prayed. And planned. And prayed some more. For 7 years. One day a friend in my prayer group invited me to speak to the women in her church at a conference. She really believed in what I was working on (in my own home, during my prayer time) and thought the women in her church might like to hear it. So I went. And God showed up. There was a few women in that audience who was there from another church and got so excited that they invited me to speak at their church. So I did. And when I spoke at their church, there was another group there from another church who invited me to speak at their church. A few weeks later, I was having lunch with my very good friend, Renee Harris, in Greensboro. She had just heard Lysa speak at a conference at her church. She said, "Shari, I think you are supposed to call Lysa and tell her about what you speak about." And I said, "Oh sure, Renee, and what would I say to this well known speaker who has no idea on earth who I am?" She said she didn't know except she really felt God was prompting her to tell me to do it. So I did. I returned home, called the Proverbs 31 office and got Lysa's voicemail. This is what I said (no kidding)..."Hi Lysa, you don't know me, but my friend thinks God wants me to call you." She called me back! I told her what I did, she got very excited about it and told me she had to talk to some people and would call me back. She did. She said she felt her speaking team could use some image advice (that's a whole other story...ask Renee Swope!) So she invited me to the She Speaks Conference to train the speakers how to dress for their speaking engagments and also invited me to give a breakout session to the attendess. And that's how it all began. Seriously. I was obedient to God and heard His prompting. I prayed. I planned. I accepted an invitation to speak. And another. And another. I made a phone call my friend thought I should make because of God's prompting her. Lysa called back. She prayed. She felt God prompted her to invite me to speak. I showed up. And so did God. The rest is history. I joined the Proverbs 31 team in 2005 and have been speaking to women's groups at churches since then. I also now have an event on Modesty for girls called The Modest is Hottest Fashion Show. God is good. I am not. But He can use women just like you and me when we are obedient. You see, it didn't happen overnight. I was in the secular side of my industry for over 20 years. I went thru a couple of bad marriages. I found out I was married to someone involved with some illegal stuff and didn't know it. I was in the middle of a divorce and got pregnant to an ex boyfriend. I was a single mom. I've had lots of money and then had none (single, alone, pregnant). You see, I've had quite a life. I didn't know Christ personally until I was almost 30 years old. Look what God can do with someone who turns it all over to Him. Cause that's what I did. And everyday is a new beginning. But you know what? All I am doing is living out my passion...and God is blessing it.

I pray you will consider coming to She Speaks this year. It is life-changing. Do whatever you can to be there. I promise you, it will change your life. And, thanks so much for reading my blog...love you much, Shari