Been Quiet..but with good reason ;)

So I've been busy. And by busy, I don't just mean no time for coffee dates with my girlfriends. By busy, I mean, I'm down in my studio at least 6 hours every...single...day! Oh, except Sunday...it's family day ;)

It may look like a mess to you...but it's piles of progress to me :D

It's always a good sign when the piles move enough for me to see a surface!

Starting to look like an end product. But this is only one third of them...*sigh

I've been praying that God would allow me to use my purse business to help support my family. And when God's will lines up with yours....POW!

about 1/8th of the orders I am filling right now!

I pray every night before I fall asleep, reflecting on all He has done for me. I have to pause, take a minute from the craziness of filling orders and realize that God has blessed me RICHLY with the ability to do what I love, and help pay for my two daughters tuition at their AWESOME christian school!

I know I wouldn't be able to keep this pace up if it weren't for the grace of God, so when it gets crazy, I look up and am reminded of how I got here in the first place, and how wonderful it is to be here.

My hardworking. lovely staff...my serger and sewing machine <3

Next post (when I can spare a minute!) I'll show you some finished products. It feels so good to utter those words...finished products!

Thanks for checking in!

Angie

Where does my loyalty lie?

Lately I've had this nagging feeling that I've got it all wrong.  I started my business almost 4 years ago fresh faced. I was ready to serve God and honor Him in all I do. When Kerrie and I started this together, we would  meet together and pray for our business. We would faithfully tithe 10% of our earnings, so that someone else could benefit from the blessings God has given our business.

Then Kerrie moved, and I no longer had that accountability. I was building my business on my own, and watching God at work, from a comfortable distance.

Sure, I still thank Him with each order I see. And  I tell people all the time how much God has blessed Gathered & Sown. But is HE still a part of what I am doing? Not really. I somehow found myself working harder than I used to, getting frustrated more than I had before and not appreciating my business for all that it is. I am in a place where I'm not sure what to do next. I am feeling overwhelmed with my blessings.

And why is that? Because...


I forgot that God is the pilot.  And that I, as an inexperienced pilot, stupidly grabbed the controls from His hands and tried to fly the business by myself. 


Which brings me to now. With His endless patience and mercy, God has shown me where I am falling short. He is showing me that things will be so much easier if I allow HIM to be in control. And I'm in a place where I'm simply asking Him "How do I do it?" It seems I've forgotten how to let God be in control.

Credit:  Jeannewinters

I've decided that I'm going to start this new year intentionally seeking Gods will for my business and my life. I'm not sure what that looks like yet, but I know that " .... God is able to bless me abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in every good work...." ( taken from 2 Corinthians 9:8)

He also promises me that He..." is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me..." 
(adapted from Ephesians 3:20)

I invite you all to join me. If you are feeling like you struggle with allowing God to take control, I'm with you. But I know that with a little faith, and a lot of trust, God will get me to where HE wants me to be, which is far better than where I think I need to go.

Photo Credit: RedLetterWords.com