'cause i gotta have faith...

i grew up in a family where we went to church.  anytime the doors were open...we were there.  in sunday school i learned to read my bible, memorize verses, and race my friends to see who could find those verses in our bibles the fastest.  because of this, i think i have a pretty good understanding of the bible.  i don't know everything, by any means, but i have a solid foundation.  so, sometimes it surprises me when i read something and it's as if i'm reading it for the first time.  even though, it could be the hundredth time i've read it.

when we launched the kickstarter program for our clothing line and pledges started coming in...i was humbled.  i remember saying to Leveryll that it made me realize just how small my faith is.  this brought to mind the verse in the bible about having faith the size of a mustard seed.  so, i found it and read it.  it was as if i was reading it...FOR THE FIRST TIME.

in this story the disciples are trying to heal a boy, but aren't able to do it.  they come to Jesus, in private, and ask why.  this is what he says...

he replied, because you have so little faith.  truly i tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move.  nothing will be impossible for you.  matthew 17:20

if Jesus says that having faith as small as a mustard seed would make anything possible...does this mean that the disciples faith was smaller than that?  does this mean that MY faith is smaller than that?  smaller than a mustard seed?

what if i did have faith the size of a mustard seed and lived in such a way that i believed that nothing was impossible?  what if....

my friend Hilary told me that a thousand dollars is easy for God.  she told me that he owns the cattle on a thousand hills and can sell one for me.  a thousand dollars is what we're trying to raise to give our clothing line a solid foundation so that we can move on to the big dreams we have for it.  a thousand dollars.

so, i'm asking God to expand my faith.  to help me to live in such a way that i know that nothing is impossible, because anything is possible through Him.  sometimes having that faith means being obedient and asking for help.  asking for help is not one of my strengths and sometimes i really believe that this is why God makes me ask.

dear friends, family and friends of Zeteo that i've never even met.  i'm asking that you would prayerfully consider partnering with us on this journey of faith.  please pray for us and please pray about supporting us financially.  i know that Hilary is right...a thousand dollars is easy for God.  i'm trusting that he can do it!

risk it to get the biscuit...

i recently celebrated my birthday.  as i was talking with a friend, reflecting over the last year of my life, she said this to me..."Beckie, if i had to sum up your last year, i would say that it was all about taking risks."  she went on to list several examples and i could see that she was right!

this was probably the most encouraging thing anyone could have said to me on that day.  how do i measure a year in the life?  according to my friend...one risk at a time!  it was amazing to have a lesson that i have been learning affirmed through someone who lives life along side of me.  i'm pretty sure i responded with "well, you've got to risk it to get the biscuit," which is a cheesy line from a ridiculous movie.  but, i believe that the sentiment is right on...to get what you don't have, you've got to do something you've never done.

so, maybe i have learned a lot about risk.  but the learning, evolving and growing are never finished.  there are always more opportunities and lessons to be learned.  this past week i was provided with one of those opportunities as our clothing line set out on another journey of faith.  on thursday we launched a kickstarter campaign.  kickstarter is a website that helps people raise funds for creative projects.  our goal with this project is to be able to pay for many of the costs of starting a small business such as promotional materials, a website, advertising, a business license, etc.  we also hope to create an inventory of shirts that will allow us to fill orders quickly and to get the screens made to print those shirts.  this is something that we're not able to do by ourselves and we are asking our friends and family to partner with us through prayer and financial support.

this is a scary thing for me.  i have never been very good at asking for help (that in itself is a lesson i'm learning).  but, ultimately, i believe that this project is a good thing and i am trusting that God is capable.  the most amazing part is seeing how God is using people to prove just that.  in the last five days i have been encouraged, amazed and humbled by the love and support people are showing Zeteo!  this could possibly be the longest 30 days of my life as i doubt, stress and worry that we won't reach our goal.  but, it could also possibly be the most rewarding as i learn, stretch and grow in faith.

so...check out our kickstarter page!  please be praying for our journey and if you feel led...pledge...you could get a pretty cool shirt out of the deal!