#sistersofinfluence: Stasia Skelton
Tell us about yourself. Who are you?
*Saved by Grace
*Wife to Andrew
*Mama to Bailey Drew and Jameson
*Jack of all trades… master of none.
*Writer… mainly over at Our Life on a Budget
*All about being wise with the stuffs God has given us.
How did you come to know the Lord?
Can I just say a little aside here? Telling our testimonies… not only is that a powerful thing, but a great reminder. Take a minute to think of your own testimony. Isn't it incredible how God found you? Whether you were raised in a Christian home and came to know the Lord at three years old, struggled through some crazy trials and came to know the Lord later or anywhere in between
God.Found.You.
Rest in that for a moment.
Back to my story.
I would not say I grew up in a Christian home. My parents would have probably said they were… but we were just Church hoppers… and we ended up in some places that were definitely not Biblical. In the midst of our church hopping, I went through some things and witnessed some things that made me feel completely alone.
One time when I was about ten we ended up at a church that really proclaimed the Gospel. I had never really heard the Gospel and what it could mean to me. One Sunday, a Sunday School teacher shared that Jesus could be our best friend forever and all we had to do was ask and commit to serve Him for the rest of our lives. A best friend, someone that will never leave me. Some of the events of my childhood left me desperate for this! So right then and there I prayed. I asked God to be my best friend. At the time I did not fully understand all the details, but the Lord protected me and grew me in Him over time. In hind sight, I am thankful for the rough experiences, because with out them I would not have been so desperate for the Lord.
Since then God guided me to groups and people and churches that have poured into me. I went on Mission trips to various places and discovered the joy of sharing the Gospel. That has since transferred also to my everyday life. My prayer is that moment by moment I am resting in the Gospel and that will impact the world around me.
What do you think it means to be a person of influence right where you are?
Two things come to mind.
1) Focus on the things that really matter.
2) Intentionally live the Gospel in those things.
So right now whether I am being wife, mom, friend, preschool teacher or some combination of the above, I will strive to do it while resting in grace and sharing grace with those around me!
1) Focus on the things that really matter.
2) Intentionally live the Gospel in those things.
So right now whether I am being wife, mom, friend, preschool teacher or some combination of the above, I will strive to do it while resting in grace and sharing grace with those around me!
What is the best piece of marriage advice you've been given?
Serve together.
I have talked to many wives that say they have nothing to talk about with their husbands… and to be honest we have been there before. But if there is one thing I have noticed it is when we are serving together we have plenty to talk about. We grow in the Lord individually and together.
What does it mean to you to be a mom who encourages her children to love the Lord?
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It is easy to give a list of commands- do this, don't do that- and mommy, daddy and God will be happy with you. It is harder to explain to them that anything we do that is not rooted in the life, death and resurrection of Christ is just moralism. To instead use our lack of want and ability to obey to point us back to the cross. Trust me, when my child is acting up in a restaurant, I want to say, "Just be good." But the thing is we aren't good and with each interaction I strive to convey that and use that to show the need for Christ.
What is your favorite verse or passage of Scripture?
I have been resting in Galatians for the past couple of months and I keep coming back to Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
The amazing Grace God gives us leads us to incredible freedom, and in turn incredible opportunity. My prayer is that we would use that opportunity to point the world to Christ!
What is one truth you want others to remember and cling to?
Serve God where you are right now! It is so easy to get caught up in where you have been or where you are going and miss the opportunity of today!
And last but not least: coffee or tea?
Coffee. I like tea, but our 2 year old daughter already knows how to make coffee (not that I let her do it… yet) and pretends to drink coffee with me in the mornings! So clearly I must drink more coffee :)