More to Do, More to Come!

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(Note: This shop was closed in 2020).

Sometimes in life we think we’re doing good, going all in even. And then we realize that we’ve really  just done the bare minimum. Fear still has a say in our lives, sometimes it even says a bit too much! We realize that we’ve really just let the fear win, stop us in our tracks and lead us to run in the opposite direction of where God is calling us to go.

But sometimes going where God wants us to go is scary. It requires time, effort, and stepping out of our comfort zones. Doing something that we’re not 100% comfortable with. Following where God leads us requires us to make sacrifices–holding nothing back from God. Giving Him our all.

Recently I’ve realized that although I’ve come a long way in the last 15 months I am not done. I’m not even at a point where I can “step back” if you will. I am just beginning. I’ve realized that there’s more to do. Lot’s more. And if I want to make this work I’ve got to put the work in!

As I was thinking about this last night I began to get very anxious and overwhelmed. As I lay in bed last night praying about this whole thing I realized a couple of things.

1) I am NOT leaving.

This is something that I feel called to do. Sure, I may be able to enjoy another job, but I don’t think that it would make me as happy as I am now. Yes, there are hard days when I want to hang up my hat, curl into a ball and cry (last night was one of those). But I feel that I have grown so much doing this and I don’t intend to stop! I feel that this is where God has called me to be and I plan to stay around!

2) I was reminded that Faith is the Victory

God so graciously reminded me that Faith is key! As I was beginning this journey in 2016 I wrote the following…

“…When I think about all of the techy stuff involved in starting a business it scares me. How do I know that I’m doing this right? Taking all the right steps?…

I’m starting to realize a few things about how God operates.

A: Faith is key. Faith that God’s plan’s will be better than I can even imagine. That His plans are SO much better than mine. Hence Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” And Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

B: God operates with grace: Grace is something that I’m really just cracking the surface of. It seems totally crazy that we don’t have to earn the love or favor of God. That even when we screw up in the BIGGEST way possible, even when we blow it with an attitude that stinks worse than a  barn full of animals in the middle of a 90° summer day He STILL LOVES AND ADORES US.

C: That it’s not me working but God in me: Think about this for a minute. God works in and through you. In ourselves, we are not strong. We are VERY weak creatures that are in desperate need of a loving Savior.  We are not the ones that are responsible for starting a business, a child, family member, or co-worker accepting Christ, a successful day at work, or a day that the house was cleaned, laundry was done, AND you were showered all before your husband walked through the door.  It’s a conscience decision to let Jesus be seen in us EVERY SINGLE MINUTE…”

Last night I was reminded of this and the words to an old hymn titled “Faith is the Victory”. The Chorus went like this: “Faith is the victory!/Faith is the victory!/Oh, glorious victory,/That overcomes the world.”

I needed to be reminded to have faith. To trust that although God is unseen He is here and He is leading me “beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2b). I just have to take a step back, take a deep breath and dive in! There’s more to do and more to come, won’t you join me?

Until next time,

Bailey Sue

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