Choosing joy isn’t always easy. Honestly it’s not always something I want to do. Sometimes it’s easier to just be mad or frustrated. To just give up. Well this weekend I decided to choose joy, because God always provides!
So this past weekend I was supposed to do my first bake sale ever! I have never done one before so I was really excited and nervous about it. I was going to do it at a busy gas station right outside the town I live in. Two weeks before my sale I made sure they knew what days I was going to be there. Then a week before I confirmed. Everything was made and ready to go, yet due to an unforeseen circumstance I wasn’t able to go to it! I was so excited for a chance to raise money towards my trip and I couldn’t even make it to my own bake sale! My sister-in-law and granny said they would still do the sale for me so they set everything up on Saturday and sold goodies for me. Which I really appreciate! But honestly the day of my sale I was not a happy camper. First, was because I couldn’t be there. I was angry and frustrated. My first community fundraiser and I wasn’t even there for it! Second, when my family got to the gas station to set up they were not the only ones there. Girl Scouts had set up next to the door, and there was a guy selling homemade donuts! When I found out they were there I felt defeated. I was so mad I called my mom and started to cry. I felt like the enemy was really attacking my sale and it hadn’t even started. I felt like there was no way they were going to make a profit. After crying and venting on the phone with my mom I realized what I should have been doing was praying. Satan was trying to steal my joy, but I wasn’t going to let him!
So I hung up with her, put some worship music on, and began to pray. I bawled and prayed just thanking God for the opportunity to sell treats and share about the mission trip. I decided that I was going to be joyful. That I was going to rejoice knowing God was going to do his work. I asked that he would provide, and what do you know. God delivered! A little while later that day granny called me from the bake sale to tell me a story about a gentleman she just talked to. He came up and asked what the sale was for so granny explained the mission tip to him. He pulled out his wallet then said hold on. He went to his truck and came back with a $100 bill to donate! With the donut guy there, and girl scouts he chose to give his hundred dollars to my mission trip! When granny told me this I started to cry. God is so faithful. I felt peace knowing that God was blessing my sale. Bring my worries and frustrations to him turned into him bring me joy. (:
When the sale was over we still had lots of treats left so my sister-in-law brought them to her work to sell. Total we made $429.09! I would say that was a success! I am going to have another bake sale at the market in town in May so I look forward to it!
Right now I am at about $3,400 towards my first deadline of $5,000 by May. Please keep me in your prayers that I will make my deadline. I really appreciate all the support from everyone!
