Don’t Put God in a Box, with Stephanie Parker

Geoff: 00:00:00

Welcome to the faith and family filmmakers podcast.

Geoff: 00:00:02

I'm Geoff,

Geoff: 00:00:04

and we're back for our second week.

Geoff: 00:00:05

Our podcast launch with our first eight episodes was one week ago today.

Geoff: 00:00:10

And we're so excited with the response, Yes.

Geoff: 00:00:18

It's all been very helpful.

Geoff: 00:00:27

And we've even had people contacting us, wanting to know more about our guests

Geoff: 00:00:34

Exactly.

Geoff: 00:00:35

Well, so far we've had directors, producers, writers, and a talent agent on our show.

Geoff: 00:00:40

Today We've got an actor, Stephanie Parker.

Jaclyn Whitt: 00:00:43

Stephanie Parker is a wife and mom of two kids.

Jaclyn Whitt: 00:00:46

She has a passion for learning and teaching the Bible because the Word of God changed her life.

Jaclyn Whitt: 00:00:52

Time and time again, God has used scripture in her life to carry her through some of her hardest moments, like losing a child and losing her father to COVID.

Jaclyn Whitt: 00:01:01

God has taught her that He truly can work all things for good and for His glory, if we let Him.

Jaclyn Whitt: 00:01:08

In addition to being passionate about the word of God, Stephanie also has enjoyed acting in films, running a business based on a product she invented to help her daughter sleep, featured on Shark Tank, and writing children's books and screenplays.

Jaclyn Whitt: 00:01:22

All of these endeavors have been part of many adventures God has taken her on once she began seeking and obeying him.

Geoff: 00:01:30

Welcome Stephanie.

Stephanie Parker: 00:01:31

Thank you.

Stephanie Parker: 00:01:32

Hi.

Geoff: 00:01:33

Good to have you.

Stephanie: 00:01:34

I'm glad to be here.

Jaclyn: 00:01:35

Okay.

Jaclyn: 00:01:35

So we met in 2018 at Content...

Jaclyn: 00:01:41

festival...

Jaclyn: 00:01:42

everybody just knows it as Content, in Texas.

Jaclyn: 00:01:45

Yeah, exactly.

Jaclyn: 00:01:46

And we didn't really get to know each other too well there, but we did meet there.

Jaclyn: 00:01:50

We did exchange emails and we have on occasion, you know, sent stuff back and forth.

Jaclyn: 00:01:54

So that's really cool.

Jaclyn: 00:01:55

And it's it's amazing how many people, we meet at film festivals.

Jaclyn: 00:02:01

So were you already at that time, working as an actress or were you just getting into it?

Jaclyn: 00:02:08

Where were you at in your career in 2018?

Stephanie: 00:02:11

So I, had taken a big break from acting in general to be a mama to my kiddos.

Stephanie: 00:02:17

And so I had just felt kind of called to go back into it for the very first time.

Stephanie: 00:02:23

And really, I think that was, I want to say it was the very first film festival I ever attended.

Stephanie: 00:02:28

And I was, it was such an answer to prayer for me because I live 40 minutes from there.

Stephanie: 00:02:34

And so I was shocked that in the middle of literally Timbuktu, because it is in the middle of nowhere where they hold this film festival.

Stephanie: 00:02:42

And we live in the country, and so I was just shocked that there was something that really was an answer to prayer so close to home.

Stephanie: 00:02:50

That was one of the first.

Stephanie: 00:02:51

I mean, I don't know how many they did before the one we went to, but I want to, it was really small then.

Stephanie: 00:02:56

And, which was nice because we had a chance to know each other.

Stephanie: 00:02:59

And I remember you sending me this awesome, like short film script at the time, back then.

Stephanie: 00:03:05

And so it was, it was kind of a, a walking into this for the first time after a long time of being away.

Jaclyn: 00:03:11

Nice.

Jaclyn: 00:03:12

And so what kind of work did you do earlier?

Jaclyn: 00:03:14

Were you like actor or how did that, did you into acting?

Stephanie: 00:03:19

I know.

Stephanie: 00:03:19

Well, I did more theater acting, growing up really just, you know, community kind of theater and through school.

Stephanie: 00:03:26

But then, when I was...

Stephanie: 00:03:28

I want to say I was 20, um, 22, maybe I happened to have been living on a cruise ship at the time.

Stephanie: 00:03:34

I was an art auctioneer.

Stephanie: 00:03:36

And so I worked for an art gallery and they sent me a different cruise lines to do art auctions and, I just, I was, I know it's kind of random, but, um, I was there and just felt like, you know, what I was really passionate about was acting and I never had a chance to really pursue it.

Stephanie: 00:03:53

So I actually left that position and went and lived in LA, for a while.

Stephanie: 00:03:57

But very shortly after that, I met my husband and we were married and within six months, I was pregnant with our first baby.

Stephanie: 00:04:05

And so, that was when I put things on hold and God opened the door for us to do different things, based on something I created for our little girl to sleep, actually.

Stephanie: 00:04:15

And so that took a lot of our time.

Stephanie: 00:04:18

It was kind of a small business that we had started and God totally ran with it and blessed it more than we could have imagined.

Stephanie: 00:04:24

And so that took me away from it for a while.

Stephanie: 00:04:26

And really what kind of got me back into acting after taking that big sabbatical was...

Stephanie: 00:04:32

our church, it's a bigger church and every two years they will do a full scale Broadway musical for like 10, 000 people.

Stephanie: 00:04:40

Like they don't mess around.

Stephanie: 00:04:41

and it is really high quality and I just got a chance to be part of it.

Stephanie: 00:04:46

And it just, to be able to do what I love in the context of, being Christ centered and glorifying God, it was incredible.

Stephanie: 00:04:55

It just kind of ignited that fire and I started praying, all right, Lord, do you want me to do this again.

Stephanie: 00:05:01

Is this something that would be within your will?

Stephanie: 00:05:03

And do you want to use me in this way?

Stephanie: 00:05:05

And really 2018 was really like the very first thing I did was go to that film festival.

Stephanie: 00:05:10

I was just so shocked that there was anything like that, because when I had done it, I'd say about 12 years prior, there really wasn't anything in the Christian film...

Stephanie: 00:05:21

it was very small.

Stephanie: 00:05:22

It has grown since then, you know, and so I just see God's timing in that too.

Stephanie: 00:05:26

So yeah, that's the story.

Geoff: 00:05:28

It was our first film festival as well.

Stephanie: 00:05:31

Oh

Jaclyn: 00:05:31

Mm hmm.

Geoff: 00:05:31

Not only that, I just want to mention for anybody, that's not familiar with Content, you mentioning it's out in the middle of nowhere, and it's kind of true, but it's at Capernaum Studios, which makes it not in the middle of nowhere anymore because...

Stephanie: 00:05:45

It's true.

Stephanie: 00:05:45

It's a location.

Geoff: 00:05:47

it's a significant location But it's not in a big city.

Geoff: 00:05:50

It's out in the ranches, so they've got lots of space there great filming.

Stephanie: 00:05:53

Hmm.

Jaclyn: 00:05:54

Yeah, no, I love the location.

Jaclyn: 00:05:56

It's pretty cool.

Jaclyn: 00:05:57

Okay.

Jaclyn: 00:05:58

So let's talk about what you've been doing since then.

Jaclyn: 00:06:01

Like how did you get back into acting?

Jaclyn: 00:06:03

Cause you've been in some, some pretty big films over the last couple of years.

Jaclyn: 00:06:08

and so tell us how did that all happen?

Stephanie: 00:06:13

Um, One little audition at a time, and God just opened doors that I could never have opened.

Stephanie: 00:06:19

I firmly believe that, you know, although God has 100 percent blessed me with an amazing agent in Treasure Coast Talent, Jean, and I do have another agent in Oklahoma now, Real Talent, which is amazing.

Stephanie: 00:06:31

But I do believe especially when it comes to the doors, God has opened, that he's the real casting director.

Stephanie: 00:06:37

He's the real agent.

Stephanie: 00:06:38

And, he's been so faithful in just blessing this journey in ways that I could never have asked or imagined.

Stephanie: 00:06:44

And so really he, deserves the glory for it.

Stephanie: 00:06:47

But, it has been an adventure.

Stephanie: 00:06:49

I think...

Stephanie: 00:06:50

so I had started acting, but really the most significant role I'd played, um, kind of getting back into it was the Kendrick Brothers film, Life Mark, and that was another God story, because really it was also one of the very first film festivals I attended was the ICFF, and I was so nervous, I didn't know a single person going into that, um, it was scary, you know?

Stephanie: 00:07:14

And I just said, alright Lord, put me in Um, next to the person you want me to talk to.

Stephanie: 00:07:20

You know, the hearts of the people that are here, so will you please orchestrate that in your will?

Stephanie: 00:07:26

And, there was an opportunity to deliver a monologue, at the film festival.

Stephanie: 00:07:31

And it was this room where only the directors and producers could go and watch these auditions.

Stephanie: 00:07:37

Kind of to, sort of precast or kind of, develop a roster of people they wanted to go back to when they had a project.

Stephanie: 00:07:44

And I had found out about it so late that it was full already.

Stephanie: 00:07:48

And so I'd asked the lady running the room.

Stephanie: 00:07:50

I said, is there any way that I could kind of squeeze in if there's an opening?

Stephanie: 00:07:55

And she said, you know what, why don't you just sit in the room?

Stephanie: 00:07:58

And if something happens and opens up, we'll squeeze you in.

Stephanie: 00:08:03

Well, to kind of back up just a little bit, two days prior to going to this film festival, I had watched Like Arrows in theaters, which is a film that the Kendrick brothers made with Kevin Peoples, for, Family Life Ministries.

Stephanie: 00:08:16

It was a Like a parent course that was supposed to be brought to churches to do with other parents that wanted kind of wisdom on how to parent their kids well.

Stephanie: 00:08:26

And I really had felt from...

Stephanie: 00:08:28

I had heard about this film on the radio and the parents course, and we had already asked our church if we could bring it to our church to lead.

Stephanie: 00:08:36

And I had attended it two days before going to this film festival, because we were going to be bringing that film and that parenting course to our church.

Stephanie: 00:08:45

Okay, fast forward again to this film festival, and I sit down in this room with all these directors and producers, and this guy pops down next to me, and he had a sticker on his little name tag that indicated he had a film in the festival.

Stephanie: 00:08:58

And I looked at him, I said, Oh, you have a film in the festival.

Stephanie: 00:09:00

What is your film?

Stephanie: 00:09:01

And he said, Oh, Like Arrows.

Stephanie: 00:09:04

And I couldn't believe it because I had just seen it two, two days prior.

Stephanie: 00:09:09

It was Kevin Peoples and we were able to, just sit and talk in between people delivering their monologues.

Stephanie: 00:09:15

And there were no other actors allowed in that room at the time.

Stephanie: 00:09:19

She just had to squeeze me in.

Stephanie: 00:09:20

So that was so God's timing.

Stephanie: 00:09:22

And I had made my head shots in my front yard with my cell phone, and printed them at Kinko's.

Stephanie: 00:09:30

To the point where Kevin looks at me and he goes, you may want to consider getting a different headshot.

Stephanie: 00:09:37

He was so sweet.

Stephanie: 00:09:38

Um, but he said, I'm going to wait until you can be fit in, and I want to watch your, audition.

Stephanie: 00:09:44

I had written a monologue actually based on, um, actually the loss of our, a child.

Stephanie: 00:09:51

And, I was able to perform it.

Stephanie: 00:09:53

And afterwards he's like, I'm going to keep your information.

Stephanie: 00:09:56

And if ever, there's a role that you'd be a fit for, I will make sure that you can audition.

Stephanie: 00:10:02

And I just, I knew, I remember calling my husband afterwards, like this was a God thing.

Stephanie: 00:10:07

I don't know when or how this is going to amount to anything, but I know God's hand was in this for sure.

Stephanie: 00:10:14

And not only that, but I met Micah Hansen, who played the lead in that, who's one of my best friends now.

Stephanie: 00:10:19

And...

Stephanie: 00:10:20

yeah, it's just so cool.

Stephanie: 00:10:21

And she and I have walked life together and she is just a sweet sister in Christ.

Stephanie: 00:10:26

But needless to say, three years later, I get a email from Bev Holloway, who's the casting director for Life Mark, and she said, the director is requesting an audition from you.

Stephanie: 00:10:40

And it was Kevin Peoples.

Stephanie: 00:10:42

So I auditioned and booked the role and it was such a gift from the Lord.

Stephanie: 00:10:47

I can't even...

Stephanie: 00:10:48

I can't even tell you.

Stephanie: 00:10:51

It was such a gift from the Lord in ways that have nothing to do with the role.

Stephanie: 00:10:55

You know what I mean?

Stephanie: 00:10:55

Nothing to do with the film, but just, all I can say is God is really the casting director and he utilized, you know, Kevin Peeples in that process and I'm so thankful, and the Kendrick brothers, and It was a dream to be able to work with them, and it was a prayer that I had prayed and written down that prayer.

Stephanie: 00:11:12

And so it was so sweet of the Lord to honor that and answer that prayer so specifically.

Stephanie: 00:11:18

and also it was so sweet to be able to go back to...

Stephanie: 00:11:21

one of the very first things I did was go to that film festival.

Stephanie: 00:11:24

And to say that his hand was on it from the beginning and I'm able to look back on those moments where I have doubts or...

Stephanie: 00:11:31

should I keep going?

Stephanie: 00:11:32

Like, this is hard.

Stephanie: 00:11:34

You know?

Stephanie: 00:11:34

There's a lot, it's hard.

Stephanie: 00:11:36

And, um, and I can keep looking back to that moment of saying, I can't deny the hand of God in that season.

Stephanie: 00:11:43

And so to trust his hand in that and to be able to be patient in the waiting and the hard things that come from being in this industry.

Jaclyn: 00:11:51

Yeah, for sure.

Jaclyn: 00:11:53

You know, one of the things I love about attending film festivals, especially as the years pass and we continue to attend them, is we get to watch each other's careers blossom, you know, like for you and I having met at that festival for both of us, kind of going more in faith saying, okay, God, I believe you're calling me.

Jaclyn: 00:12:13

And so this is part of me stepping out in faith and meeting other people that are called to the same industry.

Jaclyn: 00:12:19

And, as I'm approaching this career, I'm doing it for you, therefore I'm going to surround myself with other brothers and sisters of the faith, um, But what's amazing is, as we continue to see each other in the future, We can actually follow each other's careers, like, when I first went to Content, like, I had completed first drafts of screenplays, but I had never gotten to the point where it was, like, ready to put in festivals or, pitch to producers.

Jaclyn: 00:12:47

I hadn't gotten to that polishing stage yet.

Jaclyn: 00:12:49

I was still learning.

Jaclyn: 00:12:51

But I knew that's where I wanted to go, and so I didn't want to wait until I was already there, like, you know, with my ability.

Jaclyn: 00:13:00

I wanted to just jump in and...

Geoff: 00:13:02

Start getting to know people.

Stephanie: 00:13:04

Yes, 100

Stephanie: 00:13:05

%. Jaclyn: Yeah.

Stephanie: 00:13:06

And it's so cool to see how God has taken your journey and just refined you and perfected the process to where now you're putting out screenplays that, I mean, everyone cried at the table read for your screenplay.

Stephanie: 00:13:19

It was just such a powerful story that has the ability to change perspectives and, your screenplay was so beautiful.

Stephanie: 00:13:27

And I think giving you, a different appreciation for the season that God has placed you in no matter what that season looks like.

Stephanie: 00:13:34

And everyone needs those messages, and God has put that message into your heart because of the life you've lived and he's not wasting it.

Stephanie: 00:13:42

And so it's really neat to see how God has brought you along this journey too.

Jaclyn: 00:13:47

Thank you.

Jaclyn: 00:13:48

And that script is Flashback Jane.

Jaclyn: 00:13:51

Nathan Blair is producing it.

Stephanie: 00:13:52

Mm hmm.

Stephanie: 00:13:53

Woo hoo!

Jaclyn: 00:13:54

Yeah.

Geoff: 00:13:54

You were in one of his movies recently as well, am I correct?

Stephanie: 00:13:57

Uh, yeah, uh, it's actually a series called Fragment.

Geoff: 00:14:00

Oh,

Stephanie: 00:14:01

uh huh, I play Mark Lawrence's, Mark Christopher Lawrence, who's a comedian.

Stephanie: 00:14:06

I played his wife in that.

Jaclyn: 00:14:08

Actually you are very versatile as an actress.

Jaclyn: 00:14:11

Like you can do comedy and like over the top characters.

Jaclyn: 00:14:15

Probably your theater days have really prepared you for that.

Jaclyn: 00:14:18

But you can also do like very dramatic roles.

Jaclyn: 00:14:21

Do you have like a different approach?

Jaclyn: 00:14:22

How did you manage to, to have such a diverse, acting repertoire.

Stephanie: 00:14:27

Yeah.

Stephanie: 00:14:28

again, I see God's hand in that from a really young age.

Stephanie: 00:14:32

When I was little, I don't know...

Stephanie: 00:14:34

it probably annoyed my entire family, I would mimic accents.

Stephanie: 00:14:38

Like if I heard them in a, a video or like we were watching a movie, I would repeat them either audibly or in my head.

Stephanie: 00:14:45

Usually they would tell me to be quiet.

Stephanie: 00:14:47

And so I would do it in my head.

Stephanie: 00:14:49

I feel like accents and, uh, languages have always been a passion of mine.

Stephanie: 00:14:55

And so, I don't know, I love studying nuances of sound and facial expression.

Stephanie: 00:15:02

So for me, it's just a different fun challenge.

Stephanie: 00:15:05

And so I love doing a variety of things.

Stephanie: 00:15:08

Accents are one of my favorite challenges to do, but I also really love like gritty roles, that kind of pull off of what God has carried me through when I can connect with a character, and just the heartache that life can sometimes bring, and then be able to show the redemption that can come through that because of God's grace and because of his mercy in that situation.

Stephanie: 00:15:32

That to me is a beautiful thing.

Stephanie: 00:15:34

So it's different.

Stephanie: 00:15:35

It's like two different...

Stephanie: 00:15:37

I don't know, different boxes in my brain almost, Like, okay, we're gonna go in this door today, and then we're gonna open this door today, and I love both sides of that for different reasons.

Jaclyn: 00:15:49

Mm

Stephanie: 00:15:49

I often in theater I will get cast as the crazy...

Stephanie: 00:15:53

like, the villain, or the person with a really thick accent, or some, you know, interesting character.

Stephanie: 00:16:00

And then in film, I mean, I do that a little bit, but I tend to gravitate more toward the, roles that connect to the heart a little bit.

Stephanie: 00:16:09

So yeah, it's just kind of whatever God opens the door for.

Stephanie: 00:16:12

It's been fun.

Stephanie: 00:16:13

It's been an adventure.

Geoff: 00:16:14

Well, we're going to be talking further with Stephanie, about pursuing acting by faith and, some advice for aspiring actors, uh, when we get into our members portion of the interview.

Geoff: 00:16:25

but for now, Stephanie, can you tell us, about some more of the things you've acted in?

Stephanie: 00:16:30

Yeah, okay, so just recently, a film came out on GAC PureFlix.

Stephanie: 00:16:37

GAC is the company that kind of was formed by this former CEO of Hallmark, um, that came away from that and created a new platform, that's more faith and family oriented.

Stephanie: 00:16:49

It was a film called Divine Influencer, and, uh, Laura Silva from The Chosen is the star of that.

Stephanie: 00:16:56

And I played an abused woman, that comes into this homeless shelter to find refuge and healing and hope for her future.

Stephanie: 00:17:04

It's directed by Sherry Rigby, who's amazing.

Stephanie: 00:17:08

It's a very female driven, production crew and cast and, really just an incredible group of women.

Stephanie: 00:17:15

Sherry has an organization called The Women in My World, where she really finds ways of elevating, and preparing the next generation of filmmakers and actors.

Stephanie: 00:17:25

And so it's just a, it was a sweet, sweet thing to be a part of.

Stephanie: 00:17:28

Um, I'm really thankful to be a part of that.

Stephanie: 00:17:30

Another film that should be coming out this year that I am over the moon excited about is Disciples in the Moonlight, that is directed by Brett Varvel and written by Josh, Strakowski.

Stephanie: 00:17:42

It's an action adventure thing, kind of in a, apocalyptic era, where the Bible is being censored by the government, and so there's these underground churches that are having to smuggle the Bible.

Stephanie: 00:17:56

So it's just an incredible story, really phenomenal actors that are a part of this.

Stephanie: 00:18:02

Just a very timely message, I think as well, especially post COVID and just seeing the way the world is at the moment.

Stephanie: 00:18:09

When they wrote this 10 years ago, so they wrote this 10 years ago and God kind of had them put it on hold.

Stephanie: 00:18:15

Just, God wasn't...

Stephanie: 00:18:17

it wasn't ready to happen yet.

Stephanie: 00:18:18

And I think the way the world has progressed, the timing is God's perfect timing.

Stephanie: 00:18:24

So I'm excited to see what will happen with that.

Stephanie: 00:18:26

It's something I'm praying for as well.

Stephanie: 00:18:28

just that God uses it to reach a lot of people in our world.

Stephanie: 00:18:32

There's another film that I'm a part of, uh, just finished filming called The Wolf.

Stephanie: 00:18:37

I play a counselor.

Stephanie: 00:18:39

And it is kind of a edge of your seat, wilderness sort of thriller.

Stephanie: 00:18:44

I don't know if that makes sense.

Stephanie: 00:18:45

So it's, the thriller is really the wolf that this guy is hunting, but then kind of going into the psychology of the hunter and, and the healing that is needed in his life and the redemption that eventually comes by way of learning and growing through that experience.

Stephanie: 00:19:01

That was fun, cause I've never played a character like that.

Stephanie: 00:19:04

Another film that I just filmed, it's actually a Torch for Angel Studios that is going to be coming out here soon, and it is based on a true story.

Stephanie: 00:19:14

The Torch was written by Trey Reynolds who did, Family Camp And he also was a producer on The Forge, which is coming out, the Kendrick Brothers next film and, um, just incredible guy.

Stephanie: 00:19:24

But the story behind this mission is amazing.

Stephanie: 00:19:27

It's...

Stephanie: 00:19:27

the CUP's mission is what it's based on and it goes and really reaches the, poor and needy in the Dominican Republic.

Stephanie: 00:19:35

Powerful story behind that.

Stephanie: 00:19:37

So I'm excited for that one to come out as well.

Stephanie: 00:19:39

So yeah, those are a few of the things that I'm a part of.

Stephanie: 00:19:42

There's a couple more I'm probably forgetting.

Geoff: 00:19:44

You were in a Christmas movie recently, weren't you?

Stephanie: 00:19:46

Uh, well there was, um, I guess Divine Influencer was one of them.

Geoff: 00:19:52

Were you in Bringing Back Christmas?

Stephanie: 00:19:54

Oh!

Stephanie: 00:19:54

Oh yes, I'm so sorry.

Stephanie: 00:19:55

Oh my goodness, my brain.

Stephanie: 00:19:57

When you film it so long ago, it's like, what did I do yesterday?

Stephanie: 00:20:01

So yes, Bringing Back Christmas.

Stephanie: 00:20:02

Go see that one.

Stephanie: 00:20:03

That one is now available on Amazon Prime and all the places you can stream things.

Stephanie: 00:20:07

Phenomenal.

Stephanie: 00:20:08

Trey and Ariel Fernald and Elisa Arnold directed that.

Stephanie: 00:20:12

And it's just a funny, sweet film as well.

Stephanie: 00:20:15

Um, so yeah, that was a great experience and I love those people.

Geoff: 00:20:19

Awesome.

Geoff: 00:20:19

Well, are there any, um, last words?

Geoff: 00:20:22

Anything you would like to add?

Geoff: 00:20:23

And also, please tell us, where you'd like them to find you, your social media.

Geoff: 00:20:28

What would you like to say as we close?

Stephanie: 00:20:30

Yeah, I would just say, regardless of what facet of the industry...

Stephanie: 00:20:35

or maybe you're not in the industry.

Stephanie: 00:20:36

Maybe it's something else that you're passionate about and love.

Stephanie: 00:20:40

Um, whether it's acting or maybe it's art.

Stephanie: 00:20:43

Whatever, God has called you to...

Stephanie: 00:20:46

one of the things that has been really clear for me is to never underestimate what God can do, in terms of maybe putting Him in a, box.

Stephanie: 00:20:55

One of the things that has been really eyeopening to me is that...

Stephanie: 00:20:59

when the Bible says he can do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine by the power that's at work within us, it oftentimes is never about the task that's in front of us.

Stephanie: 00:21:09

It's about, something so much bigger than that.

Stephanie: 00:21:12

It's maybe connecting a heart with another heart that needs prayer or guidance during a hard season of their life.

Stephanie: 00:21:19

Or maybe it's opening a door for you to maybe serve the Lord in a different way that you never imagined possible.

Stephanie: 00:21:26

And so oftentimes we limit God because we say, these are our dreams.

Stephanie: 00:21:31

These are our goals.

Stephanie: 00:21:32

This is the desire of my heart.

Stephanie: 00:21:35

But then to constantly re surrender that back to the Lord and say, God, I know these are my desires and I'm presenting these to you, but then let your will be done.

Stephanie: 00:21:43

Because I know you have immeasurably more in mind than what I could even ask or imagine.

Stephanie: 00:21:49

So Lord, reframe my thinking, my desires, my will to fit yours.

Stephanie: 00:21:55

And then just to always carry those things with a really open hand.

Stephanie: 00:22:00

Um, because you just never know the adventures...

Stephanie: 00:22:02

the adventures God has taken me on in this life had been truly, immeasurably more, and never anything I would have imagined for myself.

Stephanie: 00:22:10

I never wrote those on a goal board or a dream board for the year.

Stephanie: 00:22:13

I never like planned any of this, but it's better.

Stephanie: 00:22:17

And all I had to do was just abide in him and you will bear much fruit.

Stephanie: 00:22:21

And it's never fruit that we think it's going to be oftentimes.

Stephanie: 00:22:24

It's better.

Jaclyn: 00:22:25

Yes, absolutely.

Jaclyn: 00:22:26

I can definitely testify to that.

Jaclyn: 00:22:31

L

Jaclyn: 00:22:31

Well thank you so much for this portion and I'm looking forward to hearing more of what you have to say in the members portion of this interview.

Jaclyn: 00:22:39

We will have your links and bio and all of that in our show notes for our listeners to learn more about you and the projects that you're in.

Jaclyn: 00:22:48

I know there are so many more that we didn't even get to.

Stephanie: 00:22:51

Yes.

Stephanie: 00:22:52

Oh, there is one more that I'm about to film in Capernaum where we first met, actually, with Nathan Blair.

Stephanie: 00:22:57

Empty Nets.

Stephanie: 00:22:59

So that's coming up soon.

Stephanie: 00:23:00

So like this month, I'm going to film it.

Stephanie: 00:23:02

So that'll be fun.

Stephanie: 00:23:04

But yeah, I forgot to mention, you can find me on Instagram at stephparkeractress and also on, on Facebook...

Stephanie: 00:23:10

same.

Jaclyn: 00:23:11

Perfect.

Jaclyn: 00:23:11

Thank you so much.

Stephanie: 00:23:12

Yeah.

Geoff: 00:23:13

Thanks Stephanie.