Fashion. Meets. Faith

“…For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11

The definition of contentment from a biblical perspective is: “An internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances”—Holman Bible Dictionary.

Fashion. Meets.  Faith.

Have you ever stood outside and felt nature take a quiet breath and all seemed good in the world?  Where things were just as it should be?  It is not an exciting moment or an exuberant one, but it describes how I felt last weekend.  I was able to FEEL contentment in a small church in Indiana.

Let me paint you a picture.

My Friday morning started in the car around 6:00 am. I drove through Detroit, Toledo, lots of Ohio and into Indiana.  Major freeways turned to small highways and when the GPS told me I found the small white church I stepped out of the car and looked around me.  I saw 5 church parking spots, a house roughly the same size as the church and I began to wonder what I would find inside. 

Inside I found a church that had been transformed into café style seating.  There were shoes accenting the window sills, wire mannequins with scarves for décor and goodie bags at every seat.  The women inside were warm, genuine and excited to meet a new face. 

When guests started arriving each woman was given a personalized Fashion Meets Faith style sheet complete with Dominant Color Characteristics, Body Shape, and a Glamour Girl, Movie Star or Rock Star title that was meant just for her. 

Shari introduced the Fashion Meets Faith team, Donna Roland (http://www.faithfullyfashionable.com/), Kathy Friend (http://www.kathyfriend.com/) and me, Laura Gutknecht (goot nick)   (fashionmeetsfaith.com)!

Then the weekend began with purposeful motion.  Shari brought “Good Girls Don’t have to Dress Bad” and the FashionMeetsFaith.com blog to life!  Her energy, passion and ability to explain details were phenomenal!  She not only explained simple concepts, she gave the 28 women permission to feel beautiful. 

She showed them that Natural is a style, petite is a size, Cool is a type, and beauty is in our differences. 

Women. NEED. To. Hear. This. Message!

Beauty is real.  It is found in real women who are real sizes, real shapes and have real lives.  Beauty lives in each of us.

My physical appearance is unique and so is yours.  We each can appear polished, put together and confident.

Shari taught body shape, color, fashion personalities, makeup, hair styles, and accessory size.  Donna taught a “how to” workshop with women’s closets and Kathy taught a “how to” shop Goodwill. 

This was a weekend where different was celebrated, fluffy was made agreeable and beauty was found in women who were content with what they look like today. 

There was strength in knowing that what we look like is on purpose.  Strength is knowing that I am exquisite just the way I am and Calm is knowing that unique is good.

“…For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11

The definition of contentment from a biblical perspective is: “An internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances”—Holman Bible Dictionary.

My eyes, my shape, my size are all external circumstances that I will not demand to change.  I am satisfied with who I am and I find contentment in knowing how to highlight with style and class.

If you have ever considered an event like this, it was well worth the time and effort.  

While at this church, with a total of 15 parking spaces, I thought that this is the perfect event for small groups and churches of any size.  This post only scratched the surface of how amazing it was to see women come to life.

This Fashion Meets Faith event was like “Beauty Bootcamp” without the personalized shopping or hair stylist evaluations.  The event was $149 per person and the cost to fly and accommodate Shari and one other team member to Indy.

If you want the women at your church to experience this amazing event contact Shari at Shari@FashionMeetsFaith.com She will help you bring a personalized event to your church family.

I leave you with this charge.  Find contentment today in yourself not matter how small.  Find that the Spirit lives in you.

I have a blessed weekend!

~ Laura