A TOTAL CHANGE salon and boutique opened for business on April 3, 2012. On April 21, 2012, we celebrated with friends, family, and clients, with an Open House. After that time of celebration, I gave a short talk and led in a time of thanksgiving and dedication of the new salon. The business world would call it a mission statement probably...I call it a dedication to the One Who brought us to this time and place. This was the message of that dedication.
Dedication…. Webster says it is to set apart and devote to a specific purpose.
Work…………. Webster says it is to be occupied in performing manual labor., to produce an effect by an action or an influence, to carry on business.
On the date books I give to my clients each year, one year I had this verse printed on the cover: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Pro 31:30
There are a lot of Mother’s Day sermons on that Proverbs 31 woman. That 31st chapter in Proverbs has a lot to say about women. It is interesting that her appearance is never mentioned. She is described in many ways, but all strictly from her character.
She is an excellent wife and mother, her husband has confidence in her. She works with her hands, making things and growing things. She gets up early, manages her household, her lamp stays on all night. She takes measures to prepare for the unexpected, for things that might happen, and she shares all of this with others.
Personally, I don’t think the Proverbs 31 woman is ONE woman. I think it is a composite of what a woman can and should strive to be. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get up early AND stay up late like she did !
This is a workplace. It is where the 5 of us will spend a major part of our time…..inside these walls, and behind these chairs. Our job descriptions are all about making our clients look as good as they can look. Our work has to do with appearances.
But as a child of God, my goal is to go beyond appearances.
I want to look as good as I can look, and you do too. But as scripture says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting….” The Message puts it like this… “Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-GOD.
I want A TOTAL CHANGE to be known as a great salon with a talented staff. I want this salon to have a reputation for excellent services and friendly professional stylists.
But above all that, I want this to be a place where we strive to be women who fear the Lord.
We are NOT perfect. I am not perfect. But, I am being made perfect, the process continues…for all of us. When and how that happens has much to do with my choices. Am I honest with myself and with God? Do I trust that what He says IS always right? Am I willing to choose His way over my own? Do I learn from my failures, or must I be re-taught and re-taught, with do-overs and harder lessons?
Well…. here we are. In 34 days, a decision was made and a salon is established. It is beautiful. And I am in awe of His timing, how He has gone before me, how He has prepared the way and sent the workers. I have been an observer in this. It has just happened in front of me. And I am thankful.
I would have said you were crazy if you had told me I’d be opening a new business at 56 years old. But how exciting it has been, and what renewed strength He has given. Where once I wondered when I could quit, I now wonder how long can I work?
This staff had a close relationship before, but working together on this place, alongside our spouses, friends, and family who came and helped, we have even richer relationships. We have sweated together, laughed together, ate burgers with paint stained hands, some of us even shed some blood !
This salon has my name on the license, my name is on the lease. My name is on the sales tax certificate….
But this is not my salon. This is HIS salon. He has given it to me….to US.
He has provided in especially mighty ways for me in the past 7 years or so. And I know that He will continue to do so.
Let us never EVER forget how He has provided.
Let us never stop seeing His Fingerprints on our lives.
Let us never fail to give Him the honor He is due.
Let us not forget how He has restored broken relationships.
Let us not forget how He has provided a roof over our head.
Let us not forget how He has guided our decisions, and even let us make poor ones.
Let us not forget how His Hand is ALWAYS extended to restore, heal, and redeem.
Let us not forget that He loves us with a love that is beyond human love.
And let us not forget that His love for someone else does not diminish His love for me.
And let us never stop striving toward more and more Christ-like-ness in our own life.
In every service we provide in this place, in every conversation, with every friend and client who come here, let us strive to honor Him with how we do what we do. And when we fail or come short, let us be honest with ourselves and with Him, and let us take even our shortcomings to Him and ask Him to heal and restore, ask Him to grow us up and redeem even our mistakes by teaching us from them, so that we never repeat that thing again.
I pray with the writers of scripture:
“May the God of peace….equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. ” Hebrews 13:20-21
“ May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17)
While this salon is not a temple, this body of flesh I reside in, IS. (1Cor. 3:16)
I won’t perform animal sacrifices in this place, I will offer sacrifices of praise. (Heb.13:15)
This salon is not like Solomon’s temple, built and dedicated to God for the rituals of temple worship, with its burning incense and animal sacrifices.
But today, I dedicate this place to Him.
