1 Timothy 1:18-19:
“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”
Notes from the Life Application Study Bible:
“How can you hold on to a good conscience? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart. Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish. As you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner tugs so that you do what is right—then your conscience will remain clear.”
I was a hairstylist and hair color specialist for 45 years. I am so grateful for such a wonderful career and stand in awe of all the amazing experiences given to me as a gift, to mature, strengthen, and grow me into the woman I am today.
When I think back at my work experience from the ages of 17 – 64, faces and events pop into my mind. Some are painful and some are hilarious. Some are tragic and some are inspiring. I worked at the salon for 2 years, bought the salon with a coworker, and sold it in 7 years. The new owner moved us to the current location of the salon, and sold it to Sue Barton a year later. I was hired on by Redken to teach classes and work weekends while maintaining a 60 hour work week at the salon for 2 years before becoming a Christ follower. When I stepped into my new life as a Jesus Freak, I felt like I had found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
I traveled and taught classes, I was given an international award for sales and performance, I was able to be in charge of the “model room” for an International Seminar. In that capacity, I organized a team of stylists and models, making sure that all services were complete, formulas and techniques logged in for presenters to instruct the audience, apparel and makeup complete, lining up all who would go on stage in the correct order for the 3 days of instruction. I would make bunches of peanut butter sandwiches to eat as 20 hour days progressed, and I had ‘Post It’ notes pasted all over my uniform cover-up, which people would read back to me to keep me going.
I met beautiful people from every country and lifestyle. Becoming a Christian, I asked God for the ability to have the mind of Christ. From that moment, I only saw the beauty in everyone I met, and still do. To be in that many people’s personal space was eye opening. When I didn’t understand what others would do and say, I asked God, what can I do? What should I say? In my heart God spoke: “Love them.” The message was always the same. My ‘job’ was to love each and every one that crossed my path. This was such a departure for me, as I remember beating my fists on the shampoo bowl in anger before coming to Christ.
I was so lonely before I became a Christ follower. My family of origin was a mess, my father had died, my mother had the ‘gift of criticism’ and constantly berated and put me down because I just wasn’t good enough ever. I felt I didn’t belong anywhere. When I started reading the bible, I found this:
Psalm 68: 4- 6: “Sing to God, sing in praise of His Name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him—His name is the Lord. A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”
I begin to understand that I had a new family, the Family of God. Whenever I met Christ Followers, our hearts would immediately agree. We were on the same page. How delightful this all was. From loneliness to fullness because I said yes to Christ.
I was so sad that I had never had children. I started to pray and pray. I needed and wanted an answer. Then my eyes fell on this:
“Isaiah 54
1“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
Burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;
Because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.
2“Enlarge the place of your tent,
Stretch your tent curtains wide,
Do not hold back;
Lengthen your cords,
Strengthen your stakes.
3For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
Your descendants will dispossess nations
And settle in their desolate cities.
4“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
And remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5For your Maker is your husband—
The LORD Almighty is his name—
The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
He is called the God of all the earth.”
This prophecy about me has come to pass. Many have come to an understanding that Jesus is Lord and accepted Him as Savior in my styling chair and shampoo bowl. Thousands have been silently prayed for as they rested during their hair shampoo massage. I am so grateful. In dark times, I hold on to the promises of my Master. He will never let me down or leave me. He is always on time. And, to quote a song by Jesus Culture: “You reign forever and hold me together and come whatever You love me, You reign forever and hold me together and come whatever I love You!”
I started writing this a few days ago, and do not understand exactly where I was going. I do know that in the middle of change, where my mom has died suddenly, and my friend Gloria fell and broke her hip and is now living with us, and attempting to downsize our lives to live in a 1 bedroom condo, God has never left me. His presence has guided me. And I continue to pray and seek His face as my number one goal in my life.
Won’t you join me in a prayer?
“Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You sent Jesus to open the gates of Paradise for us so that I may come to you any time in His Name. I thank You that You will never be too busy or distracted or angry. I am so grateful for Your love and mercy and grace. Help me each day walk with You, not behind or ahead, WITH You. Help me see the beauty You have placed in every person I see and meet. Help me only speak what I hear from You and Your Word. I love You so much. Thank You for who You are to me. Amen.
“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”
Notes from the Life Application Study Bible:
“How can you hold on to a good conscience? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart. Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish. As you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner tugs so that you do what is right—then your conscience will remain clear.”
I was a hairstylist and hair color specialist for 45 years. I am so grateful for such a wonderful career and stand in awe of all the amazing experiences given to me as a gift, to mature, strengthen, and grow me into the woman I am today.
When I think back at my work experience from the ages of 17 – 64, faces and events pop into my mind. Some are painful and some are hilarious. Some are tragic and some are inspiring. I worked at the salon for 2 years, bought the salon with a coworker, and sold it in 7 years. The new owner moved us to the current location of the salon, and sold it to Sue Barton a year later. I was hired on by Redken to teach classes and work weekends while maintaining a 60 hour work week at the salon for 2 years before becoming a Christ follower. When I stepped into my new life as a Jesus Freak, I felt like I had found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
I traveled and taught classes, I was given an international award for sales and performance, I was able to be in charge of the “model room” for an International Seminar. In that capacity, I organized a team of stylists and models, making sure that all services were complete, formulas and techniques logged in for presenters to instruct the audience, apparel and makeup complete, lining up all who would go on stage in the correct order for the 3 days of instruction. I would make bunches of peanut butter sandwiches to eat as 20 hour days progressed, and I had ‘Post It’ notes pasted all over my uniform cover-up, which people would read back to me to keep me going.
I met beautiful people from every country and lifestyle. Becoming a Christian, I asked God for the ability to have the mind of Christ. From that moment, I only saw the beauty in everyone I met, and still do. To be in that many people’s personal space was eye opening. When I didn’t understand what others would do and say, I asked God, what can I do? What should I say? In my heart God spoke: “Love them.” The message was always the same. My ‘job’ was to love each and every one that crossed my path. This was such a departure for me, as I remember beating my fists on the shampoo bowl in anger before coming to Christ.
I was so lonely before I became a Christ follower. My family of origin was a mess, my father had died, my mother had the ‘gift of criticism’ and constantly berated and put me down because I just wasn’t good enough ever. I felt I didn’t belong anywhere. When I started reading the bible, I found this:
Psalm 68: 4- 6: “Sing to God, sing in praise of His Name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him—His name is the Lord. A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”
I begin to understand that I had a new family, the Family of God. Whenever I met Christ Followers, our hearts would immediately agree. We were on the same page. How delightful this all was. From loneliness to fullness because I said yes to Christ.
I was so sad that I had never had children. I started to pray and pray. I needed and wanted an answer. Then my eyes fell on this:
“Isaiah 54
1“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
Burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;
Because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.
2“Enlarge the place of your tent,
Stretch your tent curtains wide,
Do not hold back;
Lengthen your cords,
Strengthen your stakes.
3For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
Your descendants will dispossess nations
And settle in their desolate cities.
4“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
And remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5For your Maker is your husband—
The LORD Almighty is his name—
The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
He is called the God of all the earth.”
This prophecy about me has come to pass. Many have come to an understanding that Jesus is Lord and accepted Him as Savior in my styling chair and shampoo bowl. Thousands have been silently prayed for as they rested during their hair shampoo massage. I am so grateful. In dark times, I hold on to the promises of my Master. He will never let me down or leave me. He is always on time. And, to quote a song by Jesus Culture: “You reign forever and hold me together and come whatever You love me, You reign forever and hold me together and come whatever I love You!”
I started writing this a few days ago, and do not understand exactly where I was going. I do know that in the middle of change, where my mom has died suddenly, and my friend Gloria fell and broke her hip and is now living with us, and attempting to downsize our lives to live in a 1 bedroom condo, God has never left me. His presence has guided me. And I continue to pray and seek His face as my number one goal in my life.
Won’t you join me in a prayer?
“Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You sent Jesus to open the gates of Paradise for us so that I may come to you any time in His Name. I thank You that You will never be too busy or distracted or angry. I am so grateful for Your love and mercy and grace. Help me each day walk with You, not behind or ahead, WITH You. Help me see the beauty You have placed in every person I see and meet. Help me only speak what I hear from You and Your Word. I love You so much. Thank You for who You are to me. Amen.
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