We hope you’ll see (in)courage as a bit like a beach house. You can put your sandy, dirty feet on the coffee table, laugh late into the night with friends, and hear God’s voice clearer than perhaps anywhere else. Life just feels more vibrant and real, as if you’ve stumbled upon a glimpse of heaven and it’s nothing like you ever imagined but everything you’d always hoped.

When we wrote those words over a year ago, before (in)courage even launched, we knew one part of the beach house would be to always have an open door. Stephanie Bryant, a co-founder of (in)courage, has discovered God is calling her to step through that door in a different way. She’ll still be stopping by often as a contributor but she wanted to let you know what she’ll be up to when she’s not hanging out at the kitchen table with you.

And tomorrow we have some very exciting news about someone who’s stepping into the beach house in a new way!

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There once was a young girl growing tall with the Oklahoma corn. Her veins flowed with God-loving lineage and courage dinner conversation.

She caroused with neighbors coordinating lemonade stands in front yard summer grass, designing and selling handmade stationary out of a Red Flyer wagon, and collecting quarters for costumed dance performances in her living room.

Years went by. She traveled the world, learned wisdom and ‘reality.’

Like a dream, she recently found herself in a jungle, a bamboo forest. With sharp edge in hand, she hacked through. Wondering where she was, she kept praying for direction.

Was this the right way? Was her ‘Compass’ on course?

“Keep going.”

Chop. Chop.

Just as quickly as the trunks and leaves had appeared, the only view surrounding her was a cliff, a view extending further than she could imagine.

Standing. Still. Heart. Pounding.

As if unwrapping a gift, gentle hands pulled the ribbon that was holding them – until ready. The sweet sound of unfurling, like doves taking to the sky, there were wings.

They were there the whole time.
She had forgotten, maybe even ignored them.

She lifted her sun seeking face towards the heavens, wings stretched wide, took her first step. . . off the cliff. She soared, with Him.

That girl is me.

Over the last few months, God has been stirring the pools of my heart. . . preparing me for the next steps of my life-adventure. After much prayer I soon realized that He wanted me to step out in faith. He showed me an image of a heart with wings. It was my heart.

So I’m transitioning to a new role with (in)courage from community manager to contributor. We’ll share more about what that means tomorrow. That transition will let me follow a God-sized dream in my life, to create my own business. To give wings to dreams…not just mine but yours’ too.

I’m so excited about what God and look forward to giving you all the delicious details! I will be sharing about my next steps so I hope you’ll connect with me on Twitter at @inspiredbryant, Facebook at Stephanie Bryant, and my personal e-mail.

I’m thrilled to see where God will take (in)courage and that I have the opportunity to continue to be a part of this community with each of you as a contributor.

When Holley, Lainie, and I first launched (in)courage, we never imagined what it would become in its first year. How God would create such a special place. I am in complete awe of how much God loves His daughters – you and me. It has been a complete honor to be a part of the vision and growth of the beach house we call (in)courage.

Come back for part two and exciting news tomorrow…

necklace in photo by Lisa Leonard

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