Last night I had my first ever Stamp Camp scheduled. I had been working on this Stamp Camp (basically a class teaching rubber stamping & scrapbooking techniques) for about 2 months. I had planned on having a Stamp Camp every other month for the duration of 2008 to see how it would work for me. So, last night was my first one ever. I had sent out about 140 invitations (both through email and postal). As of Monday evening I had had only 2 responses. My good friend, Joyce, called to make sure of the times, etc. I told her I was thinking of canceling it from lack of interest. She said she thought I should still do it, ’cause ya never know who might show up at the last minute. I worked all day yesterday preparing for this Stamp Camp (cleaning, cooking, and getting projects ready). It was to start at 6:30. I had everything cleaned up and ready to go. 6:30 came and went and not a single person came or called. I knew that Joyce would be coming later on because had told me she would be here after a dinner she had at her kid’s school. Around 7:45 Joyce got here and we had a wonderful time together. We made quite a few tile coasters for her to give for Teacher Appreciation week next week. We talked a lot, had some cake and coffee, and just had a nice time together.
Rich got home around 7:15, 45 minutes after my Stamp Camp was supposed to start. I told him what was already obvious to him, that no one had come. He said that if I had sent out 140+ invitations and only 1 good friend was coming, then it was probably time I did something else. I had already been thinking the same thing.
I have been praying a lot about this business lately. I want only what the Lord wants for me. After attending the wedding of wonderful young lady in September I had been convicted about my TAC business. I felt I was spending too much time, energy, & money on something that I wanted, not something that the Lord wanted for me. So, I told the Lord on the way home from the wedding (it was in WV, so we had a 5 hour drive home) that I would do whatever He wanted with this business. If He wanted me to continue, I would; if He wanted me to slow it down, I would; if He wanted me to hang it up, I would. Well, at the time I felt that the Lord would have me stop pursuing the business side (which was not being successful anyway) and just let people come to me if He wanted me to continue. At that point a couple of people contacted me and wanted to order some things. I took that as the Lord’s OK to continue letting people come to me.
Around Christmas I organized a Christmas Card making afternoon at my home (me inviting people, not people coming to me). I invited about 60 people to come make cards for Christmas. I told them I would charge $5 for them to use all my supplies and they could come and make their cards. Well, that afternoon came and went with not a single person showing up. I was a little discouraged. But, I was excited because the new catalogue was about to come out. I thought maybe some people would want to order from that, or have a party or something. Well, that didn’t happen either.
I have had a few small orders here and there, from basically just one person. I have been praying quite a lot lately about what the Lord would have me do. I feel that He has given me a talent for creating in this way, so I want to use those talents for Him. I also think of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. She had business ventures. However, after reading through Proverbs 31 again (for the 1000th time; I should really have it memorized by now!) the Lord showed me that this virtuous woman’s business ventures were all to the profit of her husband and her family. My business ventures have always been all about ME, what I want, when I want, where I want, no matter what else may be need to be done (like homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, gardening, etc). This is a sin that I have just confessed to the Lord!
I do want to help my family to prosper, but that will not happen by me having a business of this type. I have been focused (inwardly, not wanting to admit it, but now having to) on fame (in a small-scale sort of way) and making more money, so I can buy more of the things that I want! I am now praying about whether the Lord would have me do craft shows or something like that. My only issue is that I do not want my talent to become an idol! I don’t want to spend more time making things to sell than with my family. If I do end up doing craft shows will my heart still be with the Lord, my husband and my children? Will I be doing school work with the kids while inside I am really wanting to be making something, wanting to be “creative”? So, I am praying about giving up stamping altogether. If the temptation is too great for me then should I just get sell everything I have and be done with it? I was reading this earlier this week: Matthew 18:8-9 “And if your hand causes your foot to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into the fiery hell.” I believe that stamping has become a stumbling block to me in my Christian walk. It has become something that I need to get rid of before it causes problems. It is something that, speaking from me heart, I feel may be taking first place. May that never be!! If I take all the time and energy I put into stamping and use instead for the Lord, my husband, and my children how much better would all our lives be, how much more prosperous for the Lord?!
So, even though it may be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do…I feel that the Lord is leading me to give up stamping altogether. I believe that I will begin selling what I have. I will use the money to pay for the things I got at the Tupperware party I just had (thanks Joyce 
), to buy the homeopathy kit I’ve been wanting (for the health of my family), and to get the things we need for our garden this year.
I would greatly appreciate any comments or further Godly wisdom you all can give me on this issue!
My the LORD be praised!
!
