I almost made a huge mistake.

​Do you have a vision/dream/goal you’re working on? Then you know how it feels when God calls you do something – whatever it is you must do it.
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My vision is to create an awesome experience for teen girls with the WORTH MORE THAN DIAMONDS conference next April 2021. God’s put this on my heart for a few years. I’m slowly planning this magnificent event – with the help of some wonderful ladies. 

​Part of this conference experience will have me standing on the stage encouraging and motivating teen girls’ spirits with the truth of God’s love. To perform this daunting task, I felt I needed to get help with my speaking.

Although I took a comprehensive speaking course at a writer’s conference last year, I still didn’t feel confident enough to wow these young ladies. (Can you hear the accuser’s voice in my ear?)  I planned to start speaking to girls’ clubs, student ministries and other events in the upcoming months as well. (Need an inspirational speaker, anyone? I’m serious.)

With the accuser’s voice harping in my ear and social media mavens telling me I need their services to be the best, I questioned my abilities as speaker/author/storyteller/Daughter of the King. (Who was my focus on during this time?)

Urged by the marketing power of persuasion, I signed up for a free conference call from a popular author, speaker and coach. I won’t name drop. She’s a Christian author/coach/ entrepreneur who helps women believe in their selves, find their purpose, grow their business, quadruple their income, build a life, get a strategy and five million other ways to maximize their life.

Intrigued and persuaded by the help I expected to receive, I dialed in on the trip from taking my dog to the vets. I didn’t want to miss this call!!!

This coach/author/speaker/business maven pulled me in with alluring questions. I thought only she had the answer to these questions!

Giving me snippets of advice so I will hang on to her every word. Explaining she can solve my problem of not crafting a story to transform others. You know, she’s using the power of marketing and crafting the right message to draw customers in. I’m questioning my ability of storytelling!

Engrossed by this eloquent conference call, I listened for two hours. I listened while cooking and eating dinner with my daughters. Their eyes rolling at me. I even listened while cleaning out my cat’s litter box – sorry tmi.

Then came the call to action (CTA). I only had 24 hours to join this exclusive coaching event to get the special rate and bonus. For $3,497 I had access to monthly coaching, online classes and other privileged documents and information to be able to speak anywhere I wanted. Universities, corporate events, churches, etc.

Yes!! I needed to get this. My heartbeat fast, anxiety fomo (fear of missing out) inhabited my mind.
I called my husband who was driving home from Army Reserves to tell him about this amazing deal. He listened to my mile a minute explanation of why I need this. He and his sweet self said I can get it if I want it. The Holy Spirit tugged at my heart, but I thought it was excitement – I ignored the Spirit.

I finished cleaning the litter box – yes, I called my husband while cleaning the box. I ran upstairs to get my credit card. I walked to my computer, the conference call still going because I called back in. It was going on the third hour of the call.
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I logged onto the special website to learn more about this coaching country club (my words). Testimonials shout at me from the page. Beautiful pictures of excited women in strategic spots. All the incredible knowledge I will gain. I will have a speaking job within eight hours of joining.
I scroll to the end of the page, press the button to purchase this once in a lifetime deal. I enter my credit card information. 

Denied.
 I had insufficient funds! I forgot I used my credit card to buy $2,000 worth of gift cards for the Christmas blessing of the benevolence ministry I’m the coordinator of. (sorry I couldn’t make that sentence any smoother) I didn’t have enough credit to purchase this wonderful program.

Heart racing, I searched in my wallet for my other credit card. Pulled it out and realized it expired! What?! Where is my new one? I searched and couldn’t find it.

Meanwhile my bank sends me a text asking me if I tried to spend $3,497. My bank knows I don’t usually make large purchases like this. (Am I getting the hint, yet?) I texted back yes. Tried to purchase my speakers dream academy.
Denied, again.

Dejected, I clicked off the website. My hope starts to fall.
To make matters worse I get several emails from this author/speaker/coach/businesswoman asking if I am still going to buy this program before the 24 hours is up. I delete them.

 24 hours later, I’m still getting emails from her telling me the bonus is extended – in other words she didn’t get enough customers, or this is another marketing ploy to pull my emotions. I delete those. I finally unsubscribe from her mailing list.

I almost made a huge mistake by purchasing this coaching / speaker guru’s service. Father God blocked me. He told me no! He had good reason.

Later, that week I met with a group of friends to start planning for the conference. It was awesome! These ladies came together with wonderful ideas and open ears to this vision I have. The WORTH MORE THAN DIAMONDS event planning starts!

The next month, February, I had my first speaking event at a Church program for wise women speaking life into young girls. I created a PowerPoint and a talk the girls loved! When I spoke to them, it was the Holy Spirit power pouring out of me. I was on fire and energized! I am walking in my calling.

Things were going smoothly in my event planning. My focus back to whom it should be – Jesus. Listening to His wise council, I realized I didn’t need to spend huge amounts of money for a coaching/speaking education. Reading books, listening to podcasts and learning from others in my network of friends, coworkers and acquaintances expands my capacity of knowledge. I need to believe what He says about me, too.

In early March I learned about an awesome business coach named Christy Wright. She is also a dynamic speaker for Dave Ramsey. I started to listen to her podcasts and purchased her Business Boutique book. Jesus is her foundation.

Christy Wright’s book is awesome. Helpful for planning my businesses (I have something else in the works besides speaking and writing). She is authentic, down to earth and funny. I’ve been praying for a business coach like Christy.

I went on the Business Boutique website. She has a Business Boutique academy with enrollment twice a year. The membership fee is $244 for six months. A little more reasonable then 3,000 odd dollars for six months. Enrollment wasn’t open until April 6th. I spoke with my husband and he thought it was a good deal.

The pandemic hits and my event planning, among other things screeches to a halt. In March I planned to reach out to ask speakers to talk at my event! I couldn’t do that with the crisis going on. This is a time of active waiting, preparation of our souls and spirits to what God is going to do when this shelter in place is over.

With the crisis in full swing, I forgot about the academy. I even stopped working on the business boutique book for a minute.

Monday April 13, I get an email from Christy Wright saying the Business Boutique is open for enrollment and the cost was $99! I told my husband with excitement and he said get it! I clicked and enrolled. And I didn’t have to use a credit card! (Open enrollment is over until October)

Joining the Business Boutique Academy is part of God’s plan for me. I needed to wait for His answer to my prayer.

 I didn’t put into practice asking Father God if that coaching country club was right for me. I let my emotions rule instead of His truth and guidance. God put a stop to my purchase, quick. Denied!

Although what I am doing is for the Lord, I thought buying the program would help further my speaking for Him. But that wasn’t what God had for me. Don’t get me wrong, that coaching/speaking program may be right for someone else, it wasn’t what God wanted for me.

Our Heavenly Father likes for us to talk to Him. We must go to Him first for all things. I didn’t ask God if this purchase was right for me. I needed to go to Him in prayer first.
““For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
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 I let my guard down.  I allowed the accuser to influence the truth about myself. I thought I needed to buy that coaching country club to excel my speaking business.
 Father God had something better for me!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

​Not my will, but Your pleasing, perfect and good will be done Lord! I surrender myself to you Lord – daily. To Die daily is hard but so good for your soul.

Remember you and I were created for a purpose. Sometimes we are blind to the exact steps, but we are to hold onto Jesus hands, and he will guide us to the next step. He loves you and has your best interest at heart. He wants you to thrive and live His Kingdom here on earth. The Kingdom Jesus died for, so we can live.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
I’m happy God rejected that purchase. The Business Boutique Academy is encouraging, edifying and knowledgeable. Everything I need at an awesome price. There is a Facebook group of godly women with awesome businesses willing to help each other grow. My business plan is being built. Yes Jesus!

 I am not being paid to talk about Business Boutique. It’s part of the plans God has for me. I’m so excited about this answered prayer I must share.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Have you almost made a similar mistake? What are you trusting God for? Leave a comment, I love hearing from you.

Thank you for reading this long post. I had so much to write about, I left some parts out! Please like, share, comment, buy a WORTH MORE THAN DIAMONDS booklet for the teen girl in your life and a tee shirt for you! (Like the long call to action?) Let’s be social, follow me on social media. I’ll follow you back. Love you! Stay safe. Pivot to Jesus!