Crafted
to Shine
Every piece of art is uniquely crafted, and so are our lives.
Crafted to Shine is where we share the stories of women whose chapters reveal God’s glory: stories of hope, redemption, and faith that show how His light shines through the pages of their journey.
Each month you’ll meet a woman whose story reflects God’s hand at work, crafting her life with His purpose so that His glory is made visible through her.
Our prayer is that these stories will encourage you to recognize God’s
glory in your own chapters and inspire you to live with faith, courage, and joy.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."
Psalm 60:1
The Butterfly: A Story of Transformation
Learning to Let Go and See Beauty in the Becoming
By Kelly Woods
The scripture and theme at the Crafted with Purpose Women’s Retreat was Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”
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The medium used for one of the crafting sessions was chalk. It’s messy and offers little ability to control it. We were to create a butterfly representing how God transforms us.
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For those that do not know me very well, I am somewhat of a perfectionist. Certain times this trait can be very helpful. Other times it becomes a hindrance and can cause me frustration.
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You can guess how it worked in this scenario... I struggled. Struggled with even knowing how to create the butterfly. I’m very visual, so I tried to find a butterfly picture on my phone that I liked that could give me a butterfly to use as a guide. I looked around at what others were creating (mistake to look away from God and look at others). I wanted my butterfly to be beautiful like those I could see around me. I just seemed to be struggling.
I was trying too hard in my perfectionism. I wanted my butterfly to be beautiful. Not messy, not smudged, not flawed. This caused me to feel so much pressure to hurry up and get it done, all the while very aware that the allotted time was quickly passing. I was not liking the butterfly in front of me.
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Why was this so hard for me?! I was not throwing off the things that hinder and the sins or lies that so easily entangle.
Past Shine Stories
When Love Sat Beside Me
A Journey of Healing, Community, and God’s Unfailing Grace
By Kayla Kuipers
I never thought that a simple morning at a coffee shop would become such a turning point in my life. I was just there to grab a cup of coffee and squeeze in some editing before photographing a wedding later that day. That’s when I saw Donna. She stepped out of her Lexus with her nice purse and sunglasses, and immediately, I thought, “She’s not the type who would ever want to sit with someone like me.” For so long, I carried this fear of being judged, for how I looked, for my tattoos, or simply for who I was. But when she smiled at me as she walked in, even though I braced myself for rejection, I felt nudged to offer her a seat at my table. Looking back now, I know it wasn’t just me extending that invitation, it was God opening a door I didn’t even know I needed.
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Through Donna, I was introduced to Crafted with Purpose. At first, I was nervous all over again. I half expected to feel the same way I had so many times before around groups of Christian women: judged, out of place, not good enough. My past had left deep wounds. I was bullied in school, often left feeling unprotected and unseen. At home, harsh words and strict rules convinced me that nothing I did would ever measure up. People I looked up to, who I admired and trusted, even made me feel small. Over time, I began to believe that my voice didn’t matter. Those experiences shaped me into someone defensive, apologetic, and terrified that people would leave if I wasn’t perfect.
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Because of that pain, I searched for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. I stayed in unhealthy relationships just to avoid abandonment. I acted out in anger, not because I wanted to hurt anyone, but because I didn’t know how else to release the ache, pain and grief that was inside me. There were days when depression and loneliness pressed so heavy that I questioned if I was even worth being here. And yet, through it all, I carried a deep longing, to just be LOVED.
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Do you have a story you would like to share?
Please reach out I would love to meet with you.
