{"id":243,"date":"2017-02-06T14:35:21","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T14:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.glitterandgraceteens.com\/?p=243"},"modified":"2017-02-06T14:35:21","modified_gmt":"2017-02-06T14:35:21","slug":"serve-with-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/?p=243","title":{"rendered":"Serve with Style"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good Morning Ladies!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For those of you that missed the Newsletter, here is a special article in it from an awesome lady! I pray that her story will touch you as it did me!<\/p>\n

As a special surprise, one of the Fitness instructors from The Fit\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Factory in Pickens, decided to share her story with us about how \u201cempowering\u201d the Holy Spirit truly is! When Nicole told me her story, I honestly got Holy Ghost Goosebumps! ; ) Such an awesome lady with a heart for the Lord!<\/p>\n

Thank you Nicole and the ladies at the Fit Factory for sharing your stories with us and empowering ladies to be Spiritually and Physically Fit for the Lord! Here is Nicole\u2019s Story about how she learned to serve the Lord through dance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nicole\u2019s Story of Empowerment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hey Girls! My name is Nicole Davis and I am 31 years old.\u00a0 I am married to my best friend, Adam (11 YEARS this March!\u00a0 We live in Easley, SC and have 2 crazy, beautiful children named Colt (7yr boy) and Avery (3yr girl).\u00a0 Our family attends New Image Church in Easley, SC, where we love, labor, and serve in ministry.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I am a working mom of a full time job at Baptist Easley Hospital where I work in the Business\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Office.\u00a0 But after the 9-5 life, I\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 instruct Dance STEP at a fitness\u00a0\u00a0 studio in Pickens, SC called The FIT\u00a0\u00a0 Factory: This is my MISSION FIELD.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I have been a long time client of The FIT Factory, and became an official instructor in September 2016.\u00a0 Since joining the FIT\u00a0\u00a0 Factory in 2010, I\u2019ve had the honor of meeting some pretty amazing people who I proudly call my friends and my FIT family.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Included in that amazing group of friends is studio owner and\u00a0\u00a0 fitness instructor, Fallon Brucke.<\/p>\n

Fallon has proved to be nothing less than a phenomenal business owner who is compassionate and cares very deeply for her clients and staff.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While I was still contemplating obtaining my fitness certifications, I went to Fallon with all this doubt that came from low self esteem issues.\u00a0\u00a0 Fallon not only encouraged me, but relentlessly cheered me on.<\/p>\n

Several months into teaching and instructing Dance STEP, the\u00a0 Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart and asked me to change my playlist from secular to Christian music.\u00a0 At first, I was kind of confused\u2026 the music is used in classes was not bad; the lyrics were the same as you would hear on the radio, there was no\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 cursing\u2026 but still, something within my spirit was unsettled.\u00a0 After weeks of, let\u2019s be honest, ignoring this plea from God, I started adding a Christian song here and there\u2026 thinking I was being\u00a0\u00a0 obedient to God\u2026\u00a0 until something happened during the holidays.<\/p>\n

In December, Fallon and I gathered some fun, upbeat Christmas songs and put together a \u201cChristmas Dance Party\u201d which consisted of half dance fitness, and the other half dance step.\u00a0 Y\u2019all!\u00a0 It was SO much fun!\u00a0 The Christmas Dance Party was going to close out my brand new year as an instructor in 2016!\u00a0 Until\u2026<\/p>\n

That next week, the Holy Spirit undeniably spoke to me and told me as of 2016, my current playlist was no more.\u00a0 He said, \u201cYour gift of instructing is something I gave to you.\u00a0 I told you to change your music, but you did it half heartily.\u00a0 Either you submit to this request or you don\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 He basically said this is my will: either you\u2019re in it\u2026 or you\u2019re not.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not going to lie, I was kind of bummed.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t get to have this big close out\u2026 I didn\u2019t get to \u201csay goodbye\u201d to my current playlist, if you will.\u00a0 The very first song I ever choreographed was to Meghan Trainor, Dance Like Yo\u2019 Daddy!\u00a0 Even my husband asked me how I was ever going to instruct without Meghan Trainor!\u00a0 I said\u2026 I DON\u2019T KNOW!?!\u00a0 Y\u2019all\u2026 Justin Timberlake, Flo Rida, Pittbull\u2026 all of these amazing artist with all of these amazing songs\u2026 and I don\u2019t get to use any of them?!\u00a0 C\u2019mon God!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Do you want to know what is so awesome about our heavenly Father… he knows our hearts better than we do, regardless if you say what\u2019s on your mind or not.\u00a0 Later that week, Fallon came down with a horrible stomach bug (thank you tiny toddler that\u2019s in daycare!\u00a0 #momlife).\u00a0 I asked her if she wanted me to take over her dance fitness class that night and she said yes.\u00a0 In short, I HATE that she was sick, but I GOT TO DO MY PLAYLIST ONE. MORE. TIME!\u00a0 The class consisted of some very close friends who I had shared my recent conviction.\u00a0 Not only did they give me an awesome class, but one of my friends told me to take a picture with the steps\u2026 in the shape of a cross.\u00a0 THAT\u2019S the kind of people God orchestrated to do this thing called \u201clife\u201d with ME!\u00a0 They didn\u2019t judge me, they didn\u2019t think I had lost my mind; they celebrated with me!\u00a0 They got to witness this journey and see God close the door in one area of my life and open another!<\/p>\n

As of 2017, I have kept my promise to God and remained obedient by only playing positive, uplifting music.\u00a0 God was also very clear and told me not to \u201cadvertise\u201d this change in music.\u00a0 Honestly, that would be like us walking up to people and verbally telling them \u201cI am a Christian\u201d.<\/p>\n

Even Christ kept his identity a secret and let people discover Him for themselves.\u00a0 People should know by speaking with you or spending time with you that you are a follower of Christ, not because you TELL them.<\/p>\n

Do people know you are a follower of Christ?<\/p>\n

Can they see the \u201cLight\u201d in you?<\/p>\n

Why not?<\/p>\n

Nicole\u2019s Story Continued\u2026<\/p>\n

During this 4 week journey the music I have discovered \u2026 is\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 phenomenal!\u00a0 The artists and the lyrics\u2026 y\u2019all, I had NO IDEA!\u00a0 Most people that come to my class have no idea that some of it\u00a0\u00a0 isn\u2019t \u201csecular\u201d because the beats and the bass are just as hot as\u00a0 anything you\u2019ll hear on your average Hip\/Hop Pandora station.\u00a0 Just to name a few:\u00a0 Lecrae, Andy Mineo, KB, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Family Force 5, Flame, Capitol Kings\u2026 PLEASE go check out these artists!\u00a0 What\u2019s even better?\u00a0 The Holy Spirit has given me better, stronger, and more intense choreography since I changed my playlist than I, myself, could ever do alone.\u00a0 Why did I just give the Holy Spirit credit for my choreography?\u00a0 I\u2019m SO glad you asked.<\/p>\n

I not only acknowledge this is a passion and gift from God, I give it back to Him!\u00a0 There\u2019s a saying: \u201cYour talent is a gift from God.\u00a0 What you do WITH that talent, is your gift back to Him.\u201d\u00a0 There isn\u2019t a day I put my foot on that STEP before thanking God for this gift and ability for Dance STEP.\u00a0 I ask him what songs to include on my playlist.\u00a0 I ask him to provide the moves and choreography.\u00a0 I do NOT take credit for the work he has done in this area of my life.\u00a0 I surrendered it to him, and he has RAN with it to use it for His glory.<\/p>\n

That brings me to now.\u00a0 Fallon asked me to attend a Christian\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Conference with her where she would instruct a few dances for a fitness segment. She said she knew I would enjoy it, seeing as how I just made the music transformation a few weeks back.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t even blink!\u00a0 I didn\u2019t just say yes\u2026 I said YESSSSSS!!!\u00a0 (with all these super hyped emojis LOL) Well, as I mentioned before, it took a while before I obtained my certification because I had self\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 esteem issues.\u00a0 This proved to be the same scenario.\u00a0 Doubt set in.\u00a0 Lies from the enemy came knocking on the brand new door God had just opened.\u00a0 I went to a trusted prayer partner and told her my fears of leading dance in front of ALL of these teen girls\u2026 long story short, she won and I went to the conference in Seneca.<\/p>\n

I decided if I was going to a Christian conference, I was going\u00a0\u00a0 EXPECTING God to move and for him to speak into my life.\u00a0 I grabbed my notebook and my Bible and met Fallon in Liberty that rainy Saturday morning.\u00a0 As we walked into the church I saw A LOT of PINK!\u00a0\u00a0 I also noticed the name of the conference was\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 EMPOWERED Jesus Girls.\u00a0 This made me smile because a few months ago I led a class at my home church called Made to Crave by Lysa Turkerst where she referred to all of us as \u201cJesus girls\u201d.\u00a0 Little did I know that conference was made JUST FOR ME!\u00a0 I took notes like a crazy person!\u00a0 Every word that was uttered seemed to be speaking directly into my spirit.\u00a0 It was an awesome conference and I pray that it changed your life like it did mine!<\/p>\n

What an amazing time in the Lord\u2019s house!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

When it was time for Kayla to speak, I saw the title of her sermon come up on the screen with the 3 words, \u201cWho Am I?\u201d\u00a0 She went on about knowing your identify in Christ, being strong in faith, and how we are called to be a light unto the world.\u00a0 I sat there as she described a childhood similar to mine and used an illustration of candles being lit by Godly things, and how the world seems to \u201cblow out\u201d those flames so easily. \u00a0Kayla closed with the words, \u201cIt\u2019s not about you- it\u2019s about what Christ wants to do with your life and through you.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0 Amen!\u00a0 Preach it sista!\u00a0 I felt so EMPOWERED.<\/p>\n

That following Monday, I woke up early in the morning to read my Bible and to spend time with God before the chaotic day started.\u00a0 I happen to grab a notebook I hadn\u2019t used in a while. (Confession: I am a notebook hoarder!)\u00a0 But as a believer in Christ, I do not believe in coincidence.\u00a0 Out of this notebook fell a piece of paper that read:<\/p>\n

Nicole- Remember who you are!\u00a0 You are a Jesus girl!<\/p>\n

You are not a failure.<\/p>\n

You are not incapable.<\/p>\n

You are not a loser.<\/p>\n

You are none of these things.<\/p>\n

You are a Jesus girl!\u00a0 Capable of victory!<\/p>\n

You are absolutely capable of being EMPOWERED.<\/p>\n

God loves you- HEAD TO TOE!<\/p>\n

Remember who you are!\"\"<\/p>\n

This is a note that came from my Made to Crave lesson I\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 mentioned earlier.\u00a0 Can I tell you, that after sitting in a conference name EMPOWERED Jesus Girl, and listening to Kayla ask the words \u201cWho Am I?\u201d and then having this piece of\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 paper just FALL out of a notebook I haven\u2019t used in months, but for SOME reason, I used that notebook THAT morning\u2026 I was a little unsettled, in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY!<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.\u201d\u00a0 Colossians 3:17<\/p>\n

God, you DO hear me!\u00a0 You DO see me!\u00a0 You DO care for me!\u00a0 I KNOW WHO I AM!\u00a0 I AM YOURS!!<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t remember\u00a0 anything\u2026 remember this\u2026 the HIGHEST form of praise\u2026 is obedience.\u00a0 Partial obedience is STILL disobedience.<\/p>\n

God will NOT ask you to give up something without giving you something bigger and better than you could EVER imagine!<\/p>\n

Nicole took her talents and gave them to the Lord! Now she\u00a0\u00a0 teaches fitness classes, has a great time, and helps others grow Spiritually and Physically Healthier!<\/p>\n

When you give your talents to the Lord, you are bound for a\u00a0\u00a0 blessing greater than you can imagine!<\/p>\n

What talent are you keeping from the Lord? How can you serve Him better?<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t wait to hear your stories and how God is using you to\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 EMPOWER those around you!<\/p>\n

Make sure you LIKE the FIT FACTORY on Facebook and drop by for your FREE FIRST CLASS!<\/p>\n

Visit: www.theFitFactoryPickens.com for more information and a class schedule!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Good Morning Ladies! For those of you that missed the Newsletter, here is a special article in it from an awesome lady! I pray that her story will touch you as it did me! As a special surprise, one of the Fitness instructors from The Fit\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Factory in Pickens, decided to share her story with … Continue reading Serve with Style<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[11,14],"class_list":["post-243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weekly-devotions","tag-empowered-jesus-girl","tag-fit-factory"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/gift.jpeg?fit=369%2C136&ssl=1","post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=243"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":251,"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243\/revisions\/251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.empoweredjesusgirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}