How many times does it take for you to hit your head against something to finally say, “enough already! This is not working!”
Honestly, I think most of us just don’t know to stop because we just don’t know that we’re doing it. A well known saying comes to mind: you don’t know what you don’t know.
When I launched Segullah Studios as a business, I knew I had a God-breathed idea and I was really excited! Kinda like that over-eager child given his first “job” from mom. So excited about conquering his new task, he forgets to stick around for the important instructions, and rushes off in the wrong direction.
From the inception I was ambitious about doing “business” differently—doing it Father’s way. I was excited. I was inspired. And I had no clue about what I was stepping into.
With zealous ignorance I ventured forth to build an awesome business. I applied strategies and tactics in ways that made sense—business sense. I checked the boxes, jumped through the hoops, made the “smart” decision. All the while, I was slowly becoming frustrated with the results. Frustration turned to disillusionment. And disillusionment to apathy. And after apathy? Video games!
Sound familiar?
Who Are You Performing For?
One morning during a quiet conversation with Wisdom, she asked me, “Do you think the trees grow fruit for you? Do you think the flowers bloom for you?”
Knowing the self-centered and misguided answer was yes, I immediately answered, “No.”
“That’s correct,” she continued. “The trees grows their fruit for Him. The flowers bloom for Him, and Him alone. Woven into their design are instructions to perform for their Creator. This is their worship. This is rest to them.”
My mind flipped! Then it did a somersault, and stuck the landing!
In that splitting moment, I got it! I apprehended her words, which only seconds prior were hidden to me. And for the next hour, she and Father unpacked the “birds of the air”, the lilies of the valley”, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light”, and numerous other timeless words of wisdom. With each passage, Father graciously directed the way in which He wanted to build Segullah Studios.
This conversation began to unravel years of programming and my belief about how successful businesses are built and operated. It has taken several years of Father’s patiently repeated words of instruction for me to finally get it.
An additional nugget of wisdom for parents: give your children grace when it comes to directing or instructing them. Although the instructions you give them may never vary from the first time to the hundredth time, it may very, very likely take that many times for them to finally get it. It is an unavoidable feature of parenting. More importantly, it’s how our own Heavenly Father works with each of us, and He never grows weary or withholds grace to us. So be the same for your own children. The rewards are immeasurable!
The results of “getting it” means that my creator, my Father, is inviting me to walk as I was designed: to perform for Him and Him alone. In doing so, it enables Him to follow through with His promise to care and provide for all my needs (Matthew 6:33).
Foolishness To The World
All businesses have business models. Some work. Some don’t. All have a varying degree of success. Some might call mine downright insane. Crazytown, USA even! What’s the model that Father has given me? It comes from Isaiah 55:1 “Hey, everyone who thirsts come to the waters, and you who have no money, come buy and eat, and yes, come buy with no money and no price, wine and milk.”
“How’s this a business model?” you ask.
It’s very simple. What I create, I sell to you at no cost—no price. Period.
“Then how the heck does Segullah Studios make money?” you ask again.
My Father funds the venture through His own supply—that supply coming through whatever source He chooses. For now, He has directed me to create a patron-base of supporters. Not a membership with exclusive access or products, but a patronage community of those who have a strong belief in what Segullah Studios is all about and want to support it financially.
Call me foolish, but the bottom line is that you get to benefit directly from what seems like foolishness to the world, and I’m happy to delight my Father in this way. It’s all for Him anyway!
