Day 1- Shopping Fast Has Begun!

Greetings!  Glad you're here... hope while you stay you'll be inspired, challenged, and entertained! 

If you know me at all, you know one thing for sure and that is this: I am honest.  Actually, too honest most of the time.  It can be both offensive and endearing, but it is me.  On one hand, my honesty causes me to say too much about things nobody else would ever say.  On the other hand, I seem to be willing to be extremely open about my own junk.  Which brings me to this blog...

I've decided to do a fast.  Not a food fast (although my butt could really benefit from that!)  Not a media fast (I should definitely do this sometime though- next blog?)  No, I am going radical people... I am fasting shopping!  For 90 days, I have vowed not to spend money on anything I don't truly need.  And, if I think I need something I have decided I will run it by my husband, Kory and get his thoughts and (hopefully) his approval!  *Just fyi- that was totally my idea to exercise true submission to my sweet husband on a topic that is a weakness for me and a strength for him so please don't be hating on him like he's a controlling money hoarder.  K, thanks. 

Where was I... oh yeah, hello, my name is Ashley and I'm a shopaholic.  I actually shop for a living in my career as the director of the incentives program for a team of 180 sales reps (who happen to be all women!)  It's my job to spend money.  It's my responsibility to be familiar with all the latest trends in fashion, beauty, technology, home décor, and accessories.  Needless to say, the temptation to "want" is ever growing.  I come from a long line of shoppers.  All very generous, godly people... that like to shop.  A lot.  But over time, this has become my own bondage, my own addiction, my own issue.

And here's the truth: I am not a vein woman.  I like to be put together, fix my hair cute and do my makeup well.  But, when I walk out the door, I literally never think about how I look again (unless someone happens to take a picture of me and then I have to see it and evaluate, of course!)  I never look at the back of my hair.  I don't care what it looks like because I can't see it.  I forget to reapply my lip gloss most of the time after I eat or drink.  I never check my teeth or my nose for pepper or wispy boogers.  I should, this is not a good trait in me, but this blog is about honesty. 

Fortunately, I don't struggle with comparison either.  I am confident in who I am and I can sincerely say I don't feel threatened by other women's beauty or their material things.  Here's the deal- I love to shop because I have a sincere passion for fashion!  I love to put outfits together and accessorize!  I love to do this just as much for others as myself, in fact there are at least 10 people in my life that ask me to shop with or for them on a regular basis!  I love it, it's like art to me- a hobby if you will!  The problem is it's out of balance and ultimately, not God's best for my life.   

So, I decided to start a blog this week because my hope is that my willingness to be "honest" will 1)keep me accountable to my commitment as I share my journey with you and 2) hopefully inspire other women to take off the mask we so often wear as good, Christian women and get honest with ourselves on this taboo topic of materialism. 

For some reason I think we church girls are terrified to be completely honest with each other (and ourselves) about our struggles with materialism.  For you, it may not be clothes.  It may be stuff for your kids, stuff for your house, crafts, or jewelry!  It's simply an out of balance desire for stuff that ultimately you don't need to be happy but you think you do! 

God is challenging me "for such a time as this" to press in to Him for total and complete fullness of joy.  That I will find freedom in needing nothing but Him and a heart full of gratitude for the blessings He has poured out on my life.  It's a heart check.  It's a gut check.  It's a moment of silence with my credit card.  To literally fast the thing that has slowly crept into my life and built a wall between me and the intimacy that could be with the Lord. 

So, today on February 3rd 2014, I declare that I will gain victory over this stronghold.  I will persevere in the hard moments at Target, when I'm there to buy groceries and I find myself looking at jewelry.  I will press in when I am just doing my job and in doing so, I discover the cutest shoes I've ever seen!  I will keep driving when I see Marshall's, the mall and Nordstrom Rack.  And, wait for it... I will only go to Lonestar Antique Mall to eat lunch!  (In case you don't know... Betty Jane's Boutique is in the back of that antique mall and is literally my most favorite place to shop in all the land and if you don't struggle with shopping and need a new outfit, you should totally go there!  Today.  Right now.  No...  I meant don't go.) 

I'd be honored if you would take this journey with me and hopefully, be challenged at the expense of my crazy honesty.  It's okay to laugh at me as long as you're getting the tiniest revelation for yourself.  I'm willing to air out my dirty laundry (and let me tell you, I have a LOT of laundry!) if it means just one woman will be set free from this silent but scary stronghold so many of us good girls face!

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." 

Matthew 6:20-21 (NLT)

Talk soon,
Ashley