Right before all the holiday craze, I was asked by the beautiful Kennesha, over at Restoration House Interiors to share my story. I’ve always gone back and forth with sharing more intimate details here on the blog, wondering how many of you who come to visit for beautiful pictures of interiors and pretty decorated room, really want to read more intimate details on my faith and how I got to where I am today.
But sometimes I think there is freedom that takes place when you know more about someone, other than seeing their highlights online displayed in perfectly staged photos. So while we get ready to launch a new site for my business and a new site for my blog, I thought it would be fitting to share my story here with you, in hopes it gives you courage to take a step of faith in the direction you are feeling called.
Welcome!! I’m so glad you are here. Grab a nice hot beverage and get to know a little bit more about me. I am passionate about interior design, and love all things decor, but I’m even more passionate about others being set free by God’s saving grace. Breathing that freedom in, walking in that freedom, and ultimately serving God in that freedom. Perhaps it’s because I’ve experienced that freedom time and time again in my own life, that I’m so passionately for others to experience it too!
I’ve been in church my whole life, however that doesn’t mean that I’ve had it easy or a perfect life by any means. I first experienced God’s saving freedom when I was 13 and my family was broken apart by divorce. I had every reason in the book to turn my back on God then, but He showed up in such a powerful way and saved me from going down a very destructive path. Fast forward a few years, I started dating my now husband, and we have been happily married with 2 little kids for almost 10 years. I had always dreamed of becoming an interior decorator, it was something I enjoyed doing early on. I think I was the only 12 yr. old who would create vignettes in her room out of all my friends. I would rearrange my displays just for fun, and turn any flat surface into a beautifully decorated canvas. I would cover my walls in giant collages of cut outs from magazines and photos of me and my friends. There wasn’t an ounce of wall left to be seen, and it all inspired me. It wasn’t until we had settled into our first house, and after the birth of our 2nd child that the passion to decorate started bubbling up again. I had always decorated our apartments nicely, and thankfully had the freedom to paint in both of them, but this was different. This time we owned and I was bound to put my mark on it. I started my blog so I could document all the changes along the way.
About 9 months after I started my blog, I began to feel my heart strings tugged again to start exploring becoming an interior decorator. I had my hands full with two babies eighteen months apart, a new home I hadn’t even scratched the surface on all my plans for yet, and still I had this undeniable urge to start my own business. You see though, I had been here before. Everytime I got this close, I came up with an excuse as to why not, and talked myself out of it. I would either tell myself I don’t have the time to take the classes, or “I never went to school for that, so who would want to hire me anyways”? Then I started having kids, and put all my energy and focus into that. My husband was so supportive along the way. Seeing my desire to create and decorate, he always encouraged me, or put up with it when I was trying something new out. This time was different though, this time I had seen others, who maybe hadn’t been to school, and they were doing it. I had done enough decorating for family members and friends and finally been asked one to many times when I was going to finally starting doing this as a business. Something was still holding me back, and it was more than just doubt. I wasn’t afraid of failing, this went much, much deeper than that.
Have you heard of Holley Gerth? She is an amazing christian author, and talk about a women who is obedient to doing what God calls her to do. She has such a gift for expressing God’s heart towards us, and has written many books. She wrote a devotional called “God’s Heart for You” and it was at the end of this devotional that I experienced God’s freedom in my life once again. Of course it was in the very last chapter of this devotional when God’s truth spoke over me, and I realized I had been believing a lie for the past 18 years. I read the verse “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6. I read that scripture and instantly I was taken back. It touched me to my core, but then I smirked. And instantly I asked the God to forgive me for doubting His word, and asked him to show me where that came from.
He took me back to when I was in elementary school, and I over heard a conversation between my 5th grade teacher, my mother and my rivals mother. Now there was no issue, it was friendly conversation. But you all know what I mean. There was that one girl who no matter what you did, she did it better. She was a better student, a better athlete, got voted for all of the superlatives. She was just your all around A+ student, star athlete, the most popular. She was everywhere in all my classes, all the sports I played, she always got the positions I would try out for. I felt like I lived in her shadow. Well one day, in casual conversation, my mother was talking to my teacher about how well of a student I was, boasting, like any mother does. I remember smiling with confidence, and then the other girls mother said “oh that’s nice, but it just comes naturally to Susie(fake name), she’s just better at everything” And looks at our teacher for affirmation. Instant defeat I felt, I wanted to hide behind my mothers legs and cry. I don’t even think they knew I was listening. But it was that very moment that I took on the lie that “I was not good enough”. I carried it with me through the rest of my school years, throughout every sport I played. Anything I put my hands to, I never put forth full effort because deep down inside I always believed I wasn’t “GOOD ENOUGH”?!
I broke when God revealed that to me. That in my heart all these years, despite being saved, and doing many great things He had lead me to, I carried this around everywhere I went. It might as well been tattooed on my forehead. Oh but I hid it well. I concealed it so good I wasn’t even aware it still existed. I asked God instantly to heal that part of me that had been broken so long ago, and allowed Him to speak truth over me. No longer was I believing this lie anymore. No longer was I doubting myself anymore. I used to shrug off compliments or words of affirmation, thinking I was never good enough to amount to what people were seeing. You can imagine the deep sigh of relief I felt after that sob session of realization. But it was truly releasing those lies to God and asking Him to show me how he sees me. The purpose He created me for. My own divine gifts. At the end of each chapter in Holly’s devotional she closes with the most heartfelt of statements. True affirmation for the area that God is speaking to you on in that chapter. I want to share that chapters statement with you today, and allow His truth to wash over you!
I shared this with my husband later that day. He prayed with me, affirmed in me, and encouraged me to stop holding back, and to walk out in all that God had called me to be. I now felt purpose. Like I was seeing things clearly for the first time. No longer did I brush things off as wishful thinking. We came up with a business name, and for the past 3 years I have been “Inspiring others to Love the Space the Live in”. We also build custom furniture, and create custom decor pieces as well. I still write my blog, and share most often on Instagram my interior design. I wear many hats, I am a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend, an interior decorator, But most importantly I am His. And I am walking in His freedom, creating by His grace, and I want you to experience that freedom too!
Very touching story. I believe I was led here today for a specific reason. Thank you for the inspiration as I search for guidance on the path I should take moving forward.
Thanks for “liking or voting” for my board on olioboard today. I never would have found this article otherwise. I really enjoyed reading it. It definitely speaks to me. Being saved by God’s grace is something I’m slowly coming to understand. I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I hope you’ll remember me in your prayers that I will come to full assurance of faith in Christ’s righteousness alone. My faith is shaky. Thanks again.
Morning Bre,
I am so happy I came by this morning and just happened to read in your side
bar about your calling. Read your wonderful testimony here of how God has
worked in your life and the freedom He has brought to you. It was greatly
encouraging to me as I am getting ready to launch and etsy shop for greeting
cards soon. One fear I had to work thru to get here was not fear of failure but
fear of success………you see, my Grandparents and Dad owned a diner and they were always so busy they had no life, and I was more afraid of it taking over my life, cause I love my life………….not that I am afraid of hard
work cause I am a hard worker, but I feared it would just consume everything, and that my priorities would get lost in the shuffle of life,does that make any sense! Anyway, my hubby helped me so much with that as he said with an etsy shop or even a website you can control the flow and explained how I could do that………so that was most helpful. That is why we need to face and talk about our fears, they loom so large when kept in hiding………and they are most always rooted in the past.
Wow, couldn’t believe that Mom………..I bet the teacher was a bit in shock,
I would not know what to say to that at least, in a tactful way if confronted with that all of a sudden. Her poor child must feel a ton of pressure I would
bet……….
Isn’t it just so amazing how one comment like that can just do so much damage……….guess that is why the Bible talks so clearly about the power
of life and death being in the tongue……………well, I can tell you this writing you did here is definitely the power of life………and thanks so much
for sharing and being who you are…………..a daughter of the KING.
Love and Blessings, Nellie
Funny I just shared my testimony over at Junk Chic Cottage today, and
I am from a single parent home since I was 3 yrs. old, and it had a marked
part in my coming to be a believer as well. So we have that in common too.
Although my story is somewhat different, I can relate so much with yours. Thank you for sharing your faith. Without it, I don’t know how people make it in this life. The devil loves for us to believe his lies about what we can and can’t do because he wants to hold us back from God’s plan for our lives. It is great that you have pursued your passion…and for that, God is richly blessing you.
Thank you so much for sharing. I am very encouraged as I read this today. I am at a place in my life where I am pursuing passions that I believe the Lord has placed in me, that I have left buried for some time. He is doing a work of healing in me for things in the past, and your story really ministered to me. I find myself wishing it was some one simple event I could point to…but I feel like it’s not. But your story encourages me to believe Him for healing and for revealing the stories in the past…one by one to bring them to Him and be restored. In my opinion, sharing about yourself along with the ‘pretty pictures’ makes for a more interesting blog, so keep going!
Bre,
Thank you so much for sharing this…I am 57 years old and the single mother of an amazing 21 year old daughter. I have always “dimmed” my creative passions, and my desire to step out and start a business, with the excuse that I need a steady income, etc, etc. But, recently my daughter and I have decided that we MUST step out on faith and start a business doing something we love! Your post has definitely confirmed that the time is right to follow God’s whispers…thanks!! 😉
So Awesome Missy!! Congrats to you and your daughter!! I’m sure it will be something amazing!! XO
Thanks, Bre…the possibilities are endless and the future is bright!
Bre, this brought me to tears. I am almost 56 and have felt I have wandered for so many years, never finding the “place” for me. Four years ago I met the worst any mother should ever face and lost my 57 years old son tragically. I have drifted for four years now, questioning “Who am I now?” Child lose changes you along with a broken heart, I wasn’t sure before of where my place in this world was and now ever more so. If you would be curious as to the details of what happened that horrible day it is on my blog, which sadly I have not kept current due to some issues surrounding my sons death. I KNOW God has a purpose for me, a plan as well, but I am lost. One last note, my husband has M.S and is in a wheelchair and permanently disabled. This past July he suffered two strokes which caused additional health issues, i am now full-time care taking. Bre, though all the tragedies and trials I face I know deep within my soul God is saving me for greater things. I just don’t know what. Such a delightful and inspiring blog i found today on a Monday, a blessing for my week! Love and blessing to you, Lori Kolecki
Thank You so much Lori, I’m so happy to hear how this ministered to you, and I continue to pray for God’s wisdom and direction on your calling 🙂 Lysa Terkhurst said it best when she said “That daily stuff- those responsibilities that seem more like distractions – those things we want to rush and just get through to get on with the better and bigger assignments of life – those things that are unnoticed places of service. They are the VERY experiences from which we unlock the wisdom. Never despise the mundane”. I read that recently in her book “The Best Yes” and it has stuck with me every since 🙂 XO
Thank you Bre, so encouraging and empowering to do many of us who struggle through the same lies! Your testimony is releasing myself and so many others to freedom in Jesus! Bless you!
Hi,
There is only one reasonable explanation as to why, on this specific morning, at this specific time, I arrived at this specific testimony. It is Him! He lead me to you! I have been praying for a loooong time asking Him what it is He wants me to do with the talents he bequethed to me. Feeling often I either misunderstand His direction, because a path I thought I was suppose to take led no where…….. or that I can’t truly measure up to what others think I can do……or that I could compete with what is out there. So I make up excuses or volunteer my self away, because there is no judgement in volunteering.
I am an artist. That I know. Now, after reading your testimony……..I am also worthy enough to believe in what He already placed within me…….I am the only one standing in my way! Thank you.
Ready to begin again at 49!
OHHHH Megan!!! I have tears, and goosebumps! Seriously, I can’t even tell you how much your words mean to me. I struggled so much even hitting publish with this post, but I knew that if it encouraged just one person it was worth it. I’m so glad that you were lead here, and that God spoke to you through this post! I am so excited for the plan God has for you, and how He will begin to take you on the journey to be use the gifts He’s given you in all their glory!! Amen!!
I just live this and so happy I found your blog. I have def. felt the same way. Thanks Bre!
What a beautiful testimony to our Father, and I love to remind myself, as long as I’m breathing, God’s not finished with me YET! You are a beautiful gift from God and I am blessed to know you and our Fathaer as the Maker of our Dreams, we can do ANYTHING through Christ who strengthens us! Congratulations and many blessings for your future!
I stumbled upon your blog this morning and I have to tell you that this post struck me so hard. I am a new home/lifestyle blogger and I am going through this same self-doubt right now. This was just what I needed to hear at this time. Thank you!
Harmony
So glad! Happy you stumbled upon me 🙂
WOW! this had got to be a Godwink!! I was looking for a picture and found one of yours that I liked on Pinterest. I clicked on your blog and consequently read your story. It is amazing the similarities. I too listened to the lie for way too many years and tried to bury those feelings of not being good enough, educated enough, etc. Although, i talked with God about it, I never released it to Him and asked Him to provide the healing and courage to follow the desire He put in my heart. Thank you for being bold enough to share. Blessings <3
Hi ~ I just found your blog through a Thistlewood Farms link and really enjoyed viewing pictures of your lovely home (was inspired to see your silver candlesticks as I was just debating whether its okay to throw them in for shine even though it’s past Christmas!) and was touched by your Story. It continues to amaze me how often we can walk for years with Christ, thinking we’re doing okay, yet one day…when the timing is His perfect…he will open up an area of defeat, of sin, that shakes our world. But then comes the oh-so-gracious healing! I rejoice with you, as one who is still on the journey of walking my calling with confidence, that He is setting you free, too. Many blessings to you and your family~
OHHH Thanks so much Jaimee for your sweet words! You nailed it, and it puts a smile on my face knowing others are experiencing His grace and freedom as well 🙂
Hi Bre,
Reading this post crying my eyes out. As with other readers, your story is like mine. I hope I have the strength to listen to God’s words in my heart and know I can. I thank you and wish you continued success and happiness.
Hi Aimee! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment 🙂 It touches my heart so much to know that others feel this way and can resinate with my experience!!! I hope you continued to be blessed by God’s faithfulness and grace! XO
I came over from Soutern Hospitality also, and now feel like i have met a new friend! Love your home! And your sweet faith! Thank you for sharing! Look forward to hearing more from you!
Bre, our loving God is already using you! I was on Southern Hospitality today and saw the post about you and made my way over here. I felt like I was home! Thanks so much for sharing. Looking forward to many more visits together.
Ohh thanks so much for that Susan! Totally warmed my heart this morning 🙂 XO
Love your story and your blog! But most importantly I admire your faith in our God! So thankful for His saving grace and love.
Your article, so beautifully written, has blessed me beyond measure. His word does not return void, thank you for sharing your testimony.
Beautifully written. Thank you for opening up and sharing your journey. XO
Bre, Thank you! Your story is my story. No coincidence that I was led to you. I believe that God leads you to exactly where you need to be and hear exactly what you need to hear at precisely the right time. I have been making excuses for too many years (30+) about why I’m not nurturing the gifts that God put inside me. I’m not good enough and I don’t matter from similar childhood experiences are words that have crippled me. You have inspired me to turn to God more for healing and to find my way. He is the Way. God Bless You for sharing. xo
First time at your blog today. I believe that God led me to it so that I could read your heartfelt words & to be encouraged in my life. Thank you for sharing testimony with others. I can hear Him now, well done my beloved, well done!
such a beautiful blog. It takes courage to share your testimony, and in doing so you have given confirmation and inspiration to many. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Thanks for sharing your story. I think it will resonate with many people. I bet the teacher was taken aback by the other mother’s comments! I can’t imagine the pressure Rival Girl was under to be perfect to please her mother. Hopefully she has found an inner peace and understanding, too. I am glad that you were able to find peace.
I started following you not too long ago, and I love your story. You are an encourager, and one gifted lady! I often have to tell the enemy to shut up and go home, I love hearing about other women being delivered from the bondage that keeps us from our God designed truth and purpose. You are a blessing!
I started following you not too long ago, and I love your story. You are an encourager, and one gifted lady! I often have to tell the enemy to shut up and go home, I love hearing about other women being delivered from the bondage that keeps us from our God designed truth and purpose. You are a blessing!
Beautiful, beautiful post, Bre. Thank you so much for sharing your heart today. You’ve become a treasure in my life! I pray God continues to bless you, and I know He will. You are beautiful inside and out.
In so many ways I felt I was reading my own words as I read your testimony..from decorating as a child to tracing back the root of your unbelief to a childhood insecurity. Its a blessing to watch vulnerability and transparency blossom and then see what God does! I love your home as well..we have very similar tastes. I’ve always thought I could do interior decorating but homeschooling has been where God has called me first and foremost ..for right now. Thank you for sharing
What a powerful testimony! Continue to allow God to create beautiful homes and spaces through you. What an AWESOME ministry!
Beautiful Bre! That was so incredibly honest & felt connected to your words & story.
So beautiful, Bre. I’m so glad that you shared this with us today. x
Forget that I love your house and decorating, now I love you and am celebrating your freedom! Can’t wait to see all this greatness unfold for you.
Thank you for sharing your testimony, Bre!
I wrote a while long comment and it deleted it 🙁 I have many tears reading this! Its what my heart needed today. Trying to step out into a dream I have and figure out what’s held me back. I too have dealt with those feelings (started later in school because of a boy and an abusive relationship). Gods done many miracles in my life and changed me but we do carry things we don’t Mean to! I love your passion for what you do, and I love that you’re real and open! love you! <3 I think we need to get together soon 🙂
This was absolutely beautiful. Who knew that the brokenness you felt as a child would be used to make you and others STRONGER?! What a God! I’m so blessed to see you walking through life unshackled! Love you, Bre! Xo <3
I so enjoyed reading your post! Thank you for sharing your story and inspiration!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful testimony and how God has restored your identity in him. It’s evident that he has given you an amazing gift and you’re using it all while glorifying him. I’m so glad I recently found you on IG! I love your style!