When I started prayer journaling, it was something I started to be closer to my Lord and Savior. I was seeking a closer relationship. I set out to make prayer a priority. Little did I know the impact it would have on me. The fact that I started prayer journaling in January 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, was no accident. I believe it was God’s plan.
Today, I’ll admit that I’ve struggled to sit down and journal as often as I used to. I need to be careful to not let “life” get too busy. There’s this image that crosses my Instagram feed from time to time... It’s a great reminder…
Here’s the ending of my prayer journal entry from Saturday, January 20th, 2021 10:08a.
[Re-typed and elaborated for clarity and context…]
…Thank you for the spontaneous date night with Shannon. Going to Cintron and Piesanos for drinks and appetizer and bringing a pizza home… so fun. I love her so much! Thank you for her!
Finally, thank you for this prayer time, and this journal. A year ago I started writing. I had no idea what I was doing, but it’s been an incredible blessing. Rereading those prayers is great. Not everything is what I would have thought, but you’ve been faithful through it all. We paid 100% of that personal debt listed on page 1 of this journal. The business debt is still there but reduced, and I know you are working. I know you have a plan. All the struggles with cash flow all year, you showed up. You delivered. You kept us going… even through a pandemic.
I was praying for specific Vespas and Piaggios to sell… ultimately they were all picked up by Piaggio USA (we are still waiting for final removal from our credit line though, so please see that through).
[Sometimes in business, you have to simplify. You have to get back to your core business. One of the major decisions that was made during this time was to voluntarily terminate my license with Piaggio USA, the distributor of Piaggio and Vespa Scooters. I knew that I needed to reduce our debt (these scooters were soaking up a lot of our inventory credit line) and we were struggling to sell 300cc Vespas that I felt were being ‘pushed’ on us by the distributor. These are larger scooters that don’t appeal to our particular clientele… Students. Plus, I knew we were running out of money and we’d likely be closing the doors to the business anyway. So, it made sense to me to go ahead and remove this heavy burden from our balance sheet. See more below.]
Thank you. Thank you for ALL of this. I’m beyond excited for what’s ahead. Please make sure my finances and family are stable as we move through these next few months. Bring more clarity. Certify these partnerships in new business ideas. Let us be ultimate stewards for you Jesus. Let everything I do glorify you.
I love you so much, Jesus.
Collin
Today’s final thoughts…
Make time to pray, journal, and be in the Word when things are good, just as much as when things are bad. This is something I am personally working on, too.
Date your spouse. It’s easy to let life get in the way. Your work, his/her work, your kids’ demands… school, soccer practice, etc. I love going on dates with my wife, even if they are quick outings to sit, talk, and laugh with one another. They are so important and those small investments really do a lot for the health of a marriage. This is one of my favorite recent photos I snapped when laughing with Shannon at a recent mini-date. (You’re beautiful, Shannon!)
My fellow entrepreneurs… reflect and remember WHY you started your business. When I signed up to be a Vespa dealer years ago, it was because I thought the “Vespa” name would add a level of legitimacy to our shop. It was a name that I knew customers would recognize. I was right. With that said, however, it would ultimately take time away from what we did best… Provide STUDENT transportation (I’m grateful for my time as a Vespa dealer and I learned a lot, but Vespas attracts a different demographic of customers for the most part). I started the business as a college student who struggled to get to class. As we faced this trying time in 2021, I had to get back to those roots of who we were and who we were serving as a business. We had to simplify and simplification is ok.
Have a great week!
Collin
A good reminder for your week…
1 Timothy 6:6-10 NIV 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
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