Encouraging Faith

Encouraging Faith came about because a few years ago I felt like God laid it on my heart to start a Christian online gift boutique. Sort of like the Christian Bookstores that used to be around that I spent so much time in and were now gone, but mine would be virtual or online. I asked Jesus to come into my heart at the age of 12. I've leaned on Him over the years through some of the hardest trials, so when I felt this nudging to start a business, I knew I had to do what was asked of me. I told my husband. He looked at me with a little skepticism, but he didn't say a word. I started researching online and trying to learn what I needed to do, how to get started and where to find merchandise. I researched for quite awhile, probably too long. Then I started ordering a little bit here and a little bit there and stacked it in the corner. My husband started asking me when I was going to get started, then he started encouraging me to just go ahead and start, but I didn't feel quite ready. Then I was told my employer was eliminating my position and after more than 30 years, I was going to be unemployed. About 2 or 3 weeks after my job ended, my granddaughter was born and we very quickly discovered that there were issues. Over the next 3 and a half months, she was in and out of the hospital, in ICU at one point for more than a week, lots of tests, many doctor appointments, and finally she was able to have the surgery to correct the issue. Being available to help with her 2 older sisters, so Mom and Dad could do what they needed to do and be where they needed to be, seemed like a God-thing and I was thankful I was free to help when needed. But that night after her surgery, my husband asked how our little one did and I told him that everything went well. He was so relieved. And then he said, "I think you need to take me to the hospital". I did and a little less than a month later, he was called to his eternal home. I was devastated. We were married more than 41 years and I was lost. Being at loose ends, I decided that it was finally time to start my business. There's still been so many challenges, but through it all, God has been faithful. That's all I wanted my business to be was an opportunity for people to find encouragement in their walk with God, to know that they can lean on Him for everything and a place to find gifts encouraging others to not lose hope. So take a look around my little booth and I hope you find something that blesses your heart.