As a business owner, the most stressful times come when I’m tight on cash. Cash flow is oxygen in business. As we inched slowly closer to April [2021], I was sure I would either have an offer on the business, an offer on the commercial property, or I would know it was time to close up shop. I just had to keep moving and working and doing the best I could, while letting God handle the rest - the important stuff.
[Added notes and elaboration are italicized…]
Friday, March 5th, 2021 9:20a NS4L Office
Jesus,
After yesterday’s Greenhouse Business Leaders meeting [This was a church business small group that I loved. We would get together every Thursday morning at Greenhouse Church to discuss business, scripture that applies, and help each other work through our challenges.] and [my friend’s] words, I am approaching your throne this morning and boldly making my requests to you.
New Scooters 4 Less has $69,000 in the PPP account. I would really like to keep this money there to cover payroll expenses. Outside of that we have about $8-9k that is not already allocated to anything. I need money for these specific things:
$7,198.17 in property tax payments [Please don’t get me started on property taxes. This is for ONE quarter of the year. Today, in 2024… it’s even higher.]
$6,750.00 for this month’s mortgage [I was grateful for our mortgage holder that really worked with me during this time. This was an interest-only payment which allowed us to conserve some cash.]
$1,366.35 in bills as of today, but more are coming [Today, when business owners ask me for advice in times of financial crisis, one of the first things I say is to “take over managing cash flow.” Prior to the pandemic, I would forward the bills to my bookkeeper who would then make sure everything got paid. I took this responsibility back during the pandemic so I could personally prioritize which bills got paid and when. Cash flow management was critical. Today, I have maintained this responsibility because I feel a huge piece of my responsibility is being a good steward of the financials for the Lord.]
My request is that you deliver us through this. Bring service revenue necessary, bring scooter sales necessary, bring surprises necessary to deliver us through this. Thank you in advance.
As I’m writing this, thank you for the reminder that my situation is nothing compared to that of others. So thank you for this amazing life I have. Thank you for my beautiful wife and children. Thank you. [Perspective is everything. If you think you have it bad, believe me, someone else has it way worse. The quickest way I reset my perspective is by thinking of children in a hospital room fighting a terminal cancer. They inspire me to reset, be in a state of gratitude and to be better.]
Finally, I ask that you will take care of these people on my heart:
[This was a long list of names and struggles they were dealing with. Out of respect of privacy for these individuals, I will keep these things private.]
My family - continue to bless my wife and these boys. Shannon works so hard and is such a great mom. Let our time together be healthy, intimate, and let us just continue to love on one another. Maddox is growing up so quick. Bless him in his reading and school work. I’m so proud of him. I just found out that Schaefer made his middle school soccer team as a 6th grader! He’s so excited and I’m excited for him. I’m proud of him and how hard he works.
Thank you. Let today’s meetings be meetings that plant seeds of impact. May they see you in me. May your will be done in all of it. Then, allow me time to rest and enjoy time with the family this weekend.
I’m genuinely excited for whatever is next and what you have planned for me. I’m excited to watch it all unfold. Thank you again for this opportunity to be alive, to make a difference, [and] to impact others. May it all be for your glory. I love you.
Collin
2:35p Jesus thank you for the Mio scooter sale today. [I went back to thank Him for already answering prayer from earlier in the day. We tend to forget to say thank you when we get what we pray for. This is why prayer journaling is important to me.] Every little bit helps. [Team member] is preparing a storage newsletter today. I pray that this realization came from you and I pray it will provide significant income. Please help. Thank you.
[My favorite times in life are when I take action because of the Spirit. Even though the business was still listed for sale, the call for offers on the property was out, and we weren’t buying any inventory (because the probability of closing up shop was high), I felt prompted to send out a scooter storage newsletter to our customer base. This would mean we’d either have another huge challenge of figuring out what to do with a bunch of scooters we stored over summer IF we closed OR we would soon find out that the Lord’s will was for us to stay in business.]
Today’s final thoughts
Are you being specific, confident, and BOLD in your prayer requests? When I started this prayer journal, I started by listing specific amounts of debt that were weighing heavily on me.
Ephesians 3:12 NLT Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Are you following the Holy Spirit’s promptings? You know… as believers, it’s those little whispers and taps on your shoulders saying, “I need you to take action on this.”
My prayer this week is that you won’t pray generic prayers, but that you will center your heart on Jesus and then pray for His presence and power over very specific things. Be BOLD and have faith He will answer.
Then, when He asks something of you and you feel Him prompting you to do something, you will do so willingly and in obedience.
Blessings,
Collin
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