Do you have a creative side? Our next Spotlight Blog Series guest certainly does!
Artist Ruth Chou Simons uses her creative gifts to share the Gospel with paint and brush. She is the founder of GraceLaced Co., an art and lifestyle brand that exists to tell the good news through collective, meaningful, and truth-filled products! You can scroll through her collections here.
Her artwork is also found on the cover of the Artist Series Collection, “Be Transformed” ESV Journaling Bible, and her very first Bible study, TruthFilled, is available now! It’s a 7-session study of the Book of Colossians and the practice of preaching gospel truth.
There is a lot to learn from Ruth. She is a multi-faceted wife and mother of six man-cubs! Though she juggles a lot, she lives her life believing that His grace is sufficient in her weakness and that He can use any skill, gift, or ability to bring Him honor. I hope as you learn more about her today, you will be encouraged to live your life the same way!
Before you go, please leave her a word of encouragement in the comment section below!
May God use you for His glory!
Priscilla
- If you could describe this season of your life in one word, what word would it be? Why?
Stewardship. After many years of praying, dreaming, hoping, and working towards creative and ministry goals, this current season finds me flourishing. In some ways, I’m experiencing some fruit of a decade in a half of the unseen investment in motherhood, the obscurity of practicing my craft in both writing and painting away from the spotlight, and discipling other women at my kitchen table long before social media brought so many to my “virtual living room.” So, now —as God’s timing and blessings in opportunity reveal themselves, I’m deeply rooted in the call to stewardship. I’ve been given more than I deserve or even asked for. Now I work to use every bit of it for the glory of God. Saying yes, saying no, managing time, setting priorities, learning to rest, choosing how to engage with a hustling world — these are all ways I’m learning to steward this season well.
- In terms of your career, before you knew you would be _______________, you almost . . .
Before I knew I would be an artist, author and entrepreneur, I almost studied to become a doctor.
- Fill in the blank. I am not a very _____________ person.
I am not a very chatty person.
I love people, and love to connect at a deeper level, but small talk and shallow conversations wear me out. I’ve had to learn — at women’s conferences, baby showers, and social gatherings, and even at church — that it is loving to get over my lack of skill and enjoyment of chit chat and make avenues for the conversations I’m actually interested in having. Sometimes small talk opens doors, especially if you learn to enjoy listening rather than talking.
- Name your biggest strength and your biggest weakness? How has each served you as you’ve fulfilled your purpose?
Biggest strength is that I’m intuitive about people, which allows me to get to the heart of the issue when ministering or marketing effectively (in business). But my biggest weakness may be somewhat the flip side to that same trait. I tend to be sensitive and overthink relationships, which is a weakness if I become self-conscious and overly concerned with what people think of me. All that can lead to being critical, controlling, and competitive — attitudes that can fester and derail me from using my strengths generously to wielding them selfishly.
- In what ways do you ensure that your career path serves the purposes of God and encourages His people?
Related to the previous question — I have to realign my heart, my objective, and my thoughts to God’s Word day by day, moment by moment. “Preaching to my own heart” as I regularly talk about is the practice of applying God’s Word to my natural bent toward guarding, protecting, and seeking my own good. So as a creative entrepreneur and author, I am continually aware that my hidden, personal life in Christ, and how I think about other people and circumstances, will ultimately influence my public ministry life and the work I produce.
- What has been the most difficult season in your life? How did you get through it?
Many years ago, my husband and I experienced the loss of a ministry/work we’d invested almost a decade of our lives into. We were founders and leaders of an organization that we loved and believed in wholeheartedly. Because of unexpected conflict within the organization, slander, and deep hurts within certain relationships, we walked away so as to not increase division. Though reconciliation occurred where possible, that season was the most painful in my adult life. Everything in me wanted to exact justice and to prove my side of the story, but instead found comfort and assurance in God’s unchanging character. The first season — the Winter season — of my first book, GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart, was borne out of this painful time in my life.
- If this were your last year on earth, what would you want to spend your time doing?
Honestly, I think I’d want to do exactly what I’m currently doing: raising up my boys, loving my husband, writing my new book, investing in my team of women who create and run GraceLaced.com with me, speaking and teaching the Word to women coast to coast. However, I’d add that if it was my very last year on earth — I’d probably also plan a trip that would allow me to eat my way through some Asian countries as well.
- If you could make three wishes and there were no limitations on what you could request, what would you wish for?
Oh man, that’s hard. Okay, here’s a pretty accurate start: 1) That all six of my boys would truly know Christ and live for Him in unique and impacting ways in their generation. 2) an all-expense unlimited time of travel around the world with my family! 3) a legacy that outlasts my lifetime.
- When is the last time you laughed so hard that it hurt?
Just the other night around the dinner table, listening to my oldest son impersonate me. My boys have become some of my very best friends, and we spend so much time laughing together.
- If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?
The very best way to be prepared for what God may call you to in the future, is to be faithful right now with where He has you today, even if the circumstances don’t feel ideal.
*These blog interviews are designed only to be fun, informative and introductory. GB Ministries has varying levels of familiarity with each participant so their presence here does not equal our endorsement of or full alignment with theological doctrine or political perspective.
