Success? part 2

A few days later, I was contemplating my business venture. God brought back that aha moment, but this time it was pointed at me. It’s funny how easy it is to give advice to someone else and how hard it is to apply it yourself. I had been stressing about all the things I don’t know how to do. What if I fail? What if someone sues me? What if my business crashes in a month? What if I lose everything? 🎶 But what if what if doesn't matter? 🎶

God didn’t ask me to be successful. He asked me to start. I wasn’t asked to launch a multimillion-dollar company. I was asked to use the resources that He has given me. God didn’t promise the business would thrive and grow. But He is pleased with those who are faithful to obey Him. God is using this season for His glory, though it may not line up with my plans. So I’m learning to embrace the process and enjoy the journey, however far this road might lead. 

Success?

I was chatting with a friend the other day...she was being challenged to do something, but was hesitant to jump in, unsure of the best approach to set herself up for success. It's one of those - put yourself out there and hope they pick you - kind of situations. Part way through the discussion, I had a light bulb moment. You know, the ones where a thought pops into your head that's clearly not yours. What if God wasn't asking her to get the spot, rather He was asking her to go through the process. Often I get so focused on the destination that I forget the importance of what God is doing through the journey. By the end of the conversation, I felt good about the insight God had given me to share.  

To be continued:

Washing Dishes

In our house I'm the dishwasher. If there is an art to washing dishes, I have honed that skill. Frequently, I listen to music while I do them. The house has settled down, I put in some headphones and unwind. Recently my outlook on life has been melancholy to say the least. So today I decided to listen to my YouVersion instead. James 1:1-18. I was a little distracted; I get really into the dishes and my mind wanders. So I played it again ...and again ...and again. Talk about alive and active! Each time a new phrase, word, or concept jumped out at me. 

Need wisdom? Ask. And don't doubt. Well, that is straightforward - but how many times have I been stressed or flustered recently because I didn't know what to do? Just ask and trust Him to answer. Trust Him WITH the answer. 

James - a SERVANT of God. I am here to serve not to be served. But oh how my prayers lean towards, "God, please serve(help) me." Or I may even get caught up in the act of serving and I forget about Him. Lost in my own little world, I ignore the One I'm trying to serve - aka missing the point. 

Don't just listen - Do. And you will be blessed in that. Do! I yearn to be spiritually adventurous, to want to be obedient, to earnestly seek Him and my next assignment. Whatever He has going is so much better than my half of a plan. Far too often I make the mental note - Yes, that was really good - but I do nothing. Simply hearing = deceiving myself. Actively doing = blessings from the Lord. 

I still have to wipe down the counters. Anticipating what will jump out next. 😊