“Bent But Not Broken”

My husband and I opened a small, retail store selling ethnic cosmetics, cards, hosiery, figurines and a number of other items.  There was no other place in town that sold these particular types of items.  We drew up a dynamic business proposal and submitted it to the Small Business Association, after which we received a considerable loan to start the business.  We found a place downtown (the location wasn’t great, but we could not afford anything better (location is everything).  We remodeled the place, which we didn’t own but rented (mistake!).  We bought fixtures with a business credit card, and we purchased products to sell.  We had done a survey to find out if there was a demand for our products in our area, but you know how often people say one thing and then do another?  Our survey showed a good demand for our idea and our products.  We thought we had a sure thing.  We had prayed, trusted God, and basically, we had done our homework.  Some people say to give a business at least five years to become a success.  I say examine the facts.  Why endure a lot of hardship and expense?  When the cards are dealt after the shuffle, and, after you have drawn more cards, and you can’t make a good hand, then fold and fold gracefully.

I kept a diary of what went on in my life and how God saw my family and me through those hard times.  If you read my first book, remember I said that you should, “Never let them (people) see you sweat?” (Remember the Right Guard™ commercial)?  Well, now I will allow you to see a little of my perspiration.

Don’t stay away from a church, congregation or God because of previous hurts or misunderstandings.  God loves you.  Let her prove it.

To read more – get the book: “Bent But Not Broken” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

NEW!  Top 5 Google Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for June 12, 2014 – July 1, 2014 are:

   • Lakeside, FL

   • Miami, FL

   • Jeffersonville, IN

   • Jacksonville, FL

   • Southfield, MI

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new cities & states to her site.   ***Please Check The “Reaction” Box at the bottom & let us know what you think***

“There Was Bending, Yet Never Breakage” Pt. II

Ever hear the expression, “It takes money to make money”?  Here are a few more tips on starting your own business:

1.      Don’t be afraid to step out of the boat.  Take a chance, but don’t put you and your family at risk.  Make sure that you can afford to do without some things, but don’t sacrifice the necessities of life – food, a roof over your head, health, family time (sure a new business takes time to develop, but it shouldn’t be at your family’s expense), and time with the things of God.

2.      Advertise, advertise, and advertise some more.  People have to know the who, what, when, where, why, and the how of your business.  Advertise first and then allow word of mouth to help push the advertisement.  If someone sees your ‘ad’ then they may pass the word on to someone else.  Keep your company’s name out there.  Remember, there is always someone out there who hasn’t heard about you.

3.      Save some funds to offset the lean times.  Be able to pay your bills, even if there’s no income for a while.

4.      Be in agreement with your spouse about all business decisions.  If you can’t come to a mutual agreement, then come to a compromise.

5.      Above all else, make sure that you pay off your debts to others and know when it may be time to seek something else.  To quote a song sung by Kenny Rogers, “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run…”^[1]

To read more – get the book: “Bent But Not Broken” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

NEW!  Top 5 Google Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for February 18, 2014 – March 3, 2014 are:

   • Lakeside, FL

   • Miami, FL

   • Jeffersonville, IN

   • Baltimore, MD

   • Southfield, MI

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new states to her site.  Give us a reaction to this site as you check a box below.  ***Please Check the “Reaction” box at the bottom***

  

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[1] Daley, Dan. “The Gambler” Published by Hal Leonard. 

“Mr. And Mrs. Fix It”

The transmission was going out on our Volvo, which God blessed us with in 1991.  It was our very first brand new car (you know how even a used car is new to you, well this was brand spanking new!), yet God kept it running.  He corrected what was wrong.  Yep, it still needed a ‘check-up’, but God maintained the car until the time came when we could have it fixed.  During this time I also remembered:  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).

What has been a "Spiritual Band Aid" for you?

I was upset with God, just as children sometimes get annoyed with their earthly parents.  No disrespect, but yes, I was ‘perturbed'.  I continued to go to church, but no, I didn’t feel like praising God.  I felt that He had let me down, yet, in spite of my feelings, I knew that there was victory and comfort in praising God.  Worship was hard too nevertheless; I still loved God as children still love their parents when things don’t go their way.  Even if there was a lesson to be learned, I continued to love and respect God.  Later, I realized that it wasn’t God I was upset with, as much as it was myself, for having allowed the stress of the situation to get to me.

Well, the transmission in the car received a band aid from the Lord (a spiritual band aid).  It still needed to be fixed, but He put a little salve on the hurt because He knew that we couldn’t afford to fix it.  I thank God that my husband was blessed with the ability to tinker with machinery.  God has given us a self-help attitude, and we utilize that manpower when necessary…

What has been a “Spiritual Band Aids” in your life?

To read the rest of this story – get the book: “Bent But Not Broken” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

The Top 5 Viewer Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for June 25, 2013 – July 8, 2013 are:

   Florida

   California

   New York

   Texas

   North Carolina

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new states to her site.  Give us a reaction to this site as you check a box below.  Don’t forget to answer the new question in my “Guest Book”! 

   

***Please Check the “Reaction” box at the bottom***   

I Acknowledge You

Proverbs 3: 5-

Do you know how sometimes you feel that God is not listening?  Or you’ve checked everything that you know according to the ordinances of God’s will, and it seems that your prayers are not reaching Gods’ ear?  It happens to the best of us.  Yet, rest assured that God hears, He understands, and He is working on your situation.

He lets us know that He hears us.  He tells us, in a subtle small way, that only God could make happen, that all is well and for us to hold out until later…(see Where Did That Come From)

You may not think that was something special, but I believe it to be God letting me know that He heard everything.  Some things may happen right away, as that incident did, and other expectations may take longer.

When things take longer than we anticipate, it’s usually because what we request from God is not His best for us at that time.  It may not be arriving on our so-called timetable, but, if we wait and allow God to be God, then we will receive the abundant, bountiful blessings of The Most High.  “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).

Consider the story of Joseph.^[1]  Here was a man favored by his daddy.  Jealous brothers sold him (instead of killing him), into slavery in a foreign country, because he was “All that and a bag of chips.”  The Brother had game. (a gift).

Although a slave in his new place, Joseph was shown favor in the household of his new master.  Sometimes we too are blessed, and we think it’s the greatest blessing that God would have for us—but it’s not God’s best…(see Where Did That Come From)

Hands of God and Adam

The man was so good at what he did that the Pharaoh of Egypt called for him.  How about that?  Joseph went “From the Pit to the Palace.”  In the end, Joseph’s brothers had to become submissive to Joseph because God had blessed Joseph with much more than he could ever have imagined.

Joseph had been lied about and mistreated numerous times, yet he held onto his faith in his one true God: Jehovah.  He didn’t allow circumstances to cause him to take his eyes off of God, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

Sometimes, I too feel trapped and hopeless as Joseph must have; yet every time I see a butterfly, it reminds me that God loves me, and that He’s sending me something beautiful to fly across my path and brighten my day.  It’s as if God were presenting me with a present. He bestows so many little blessings on us that sometimes we don’t even notice them.

So, if you’re feeling as if God just doesn’t hear you through all of the tears you’ve shed, trust me, He hears, and, if you hold onto His promises, your reward is on its way; “…but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth” (Ps. 37: 9).

"Now Faith..."

When God tells you that you can, don’t allow anyone to tell you that you can’t.  God will never leave us or forsake us.  He’s right there saying, “I acknowledge you and better things are coming.” ― “I recently had to reread this for myself and grab hold to the promises of God”- Ms. “V”

To read more - get the book: “Where Did That Come From?” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)
 

The Top 5 Viewer Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for October 9, 2012 – October 15, 2012 are:

• Cabot, Arkansas

• Minneapolis, Minnesota

• New York, New York

• Redmond, Washington

• Beijing, China

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new cities and countries to her site.

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Thank You! "TBR" (Trust - Believe - Receive)

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[1] Old Testament, Genesis: 35-47

Hearing God

I enjoy hearing a word from God through others who hear His voice when our Father speaks. Other people’s messages frequently assure me that I’m following the straight and narrow path of righteousness. It is wonderful to receive a confirmation from God through others. “Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mat. 7:14).


We Have To Realize God

Once we learn what God has for us and what his purpose is in our lives, then we will be prosperous, victorious, and walk in a renewed lifestyle.

To read more - get the book: “Where Did That Come From?” by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)


The Bottom 5 Viewer Areas to Ms. "V"s Website for Sept. 11, 2012 – Sept. 17, 2012 are:
• Valley Stream, New York
• Stockholm, Sweden
• London, Canada
• San Pedro, California
• Helsinke, Findland

Ms. “V” WELCOMES ALL the new cities and countries to the site.

If you sign in as “Anonymous”, your comment will not be posted.

Thank You! "TBR" (Trust - Believe - Receive)