Monday, January 31, 2011

What Else do You do?

What else do you do? If you are here visiting my blog, chances are you like to write Christian-themed stuff, such as fiction or just sharing the things the Lord puts on your heart. We all have different styles and even reasons for pursuing Christian writing. But beyond writing, are there things you enjoy, God-given talents or creativity you nurture, and if so, what are they, if you are inclined to share?

I have been making greeting cards for years, and more recently have learned to create my own art for the cards I make, and I’ve found the art developing into more than just cardmaking. Beyond being useful for other paper crafting, such as scrapbooking and what not, I began to see it as a way to hopefully bring in a bit of extra money. After all, many small businesses start out as hobbies. So, in February of 2010, I opened a shop on Etsy.

I would love to be able to say I can’t keep up with sales, but that’s not even close to the truth, sales are few! Still, I am really enjoying the journey. For one thing, I have joined a couple of Christian teams on Etsy. Conversing on the forums and blogging with other Christian artisans is fun and also encouraging, as you might imagine.

That said, I am taking it prayerfully, a day at a time. I find this passage from James to be perfectly fitting for my business venture:

James 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."

14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."

I believe that many of the things the Lord allows are for times and seasons, and I really do not know what tomorrow may bring. This I do know, He is with me, and that does not change. God gives His children good things to enjoy in the here and now, but truly, the here and now is not what lasts. Like you, I am looking forward to what does last, our life in Christ for eternity.

7 comments:

Joanne Sher said...

Hey, Sherri! I love proofreading/editing (truly LOL)--and enjoy doing it--sometimes for pay, sometimes not.

Enjoyed this post - and I may just have to checkout your etsy shop.

Sharlyn Guthrie said...

Congrats on your new business venture! I will have to pay your shop a visit. I have too many interests to keep up with. I love to sing and play the piano, garden (when weather permits), sew, cook, and write, of course. There simply is not enough time to do it all!

Sherri Ward said...

I wish I could say I actually enjoy proof-reading/editing because I have a fair amount of that... and I so agree - there is just not enough time to do everything!

Unknown said...

Sherri what a pretty blog soohing. I have owned my own greeting cad company for years I feel both your joy and pain...I have been writing since I am 9 I love writing and have just published my first Inspirational book and have been very humbled by the response. I received a mustard seed necklace as one of the many gifts my writers have sent me as a thank you. The holy Spirit is Amazing, I converse with Him throughout my day and am so grateful that Jesus shed His blood for us so that we may live for eternity in His beautiful forgiving love. God Bless and may He keep you and your love ones in His loving embrace...Patricia

Anonymous said...

God opens and closes doors often during a life time. God is sovereign in all things. I pray that things go well for you.

Take care and have a great week :-)

~Ron
*******

A Joyful Chaos said...

Hope your Etsy starts doing really well for you.

Blessings~

Art and Sew Forth said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog today! I just visited your etsy shop and tweeted a couple of your cute cards. Your artwork is very cute!