Open doors

It's been quite awhile since I've blogged about Mike's business.  It's been one year this month since Mike got his business license and started to embark on this small business adventure.  It's been a steady climb with many challenges.  Several times we've been knocked down, but never enough to keep us down.  We seem to dust ourselves off, readjust and keep moving towards where God is taking us, and just to be clear, we have no idea where that is.  Mike and I like to say, "We're just going with it."  And so far, God hasn't lead us astray.  In fact, just the opposite.  Last February Mike helped Ausili pick up a piece of furniture from a gentleman's house who just happened to have experience in designing logos.  Imagine that?  The men got to talking and Mike confessed to the man that he was thinking of starting his own business.  The man told Mike that if he did that, he'd be happy to help him design his logo.  A door was opened.  In April of last year Mike walked through that door and one of God's kingdom workers designed our logo that is the face of Cornerstone Custom Carpentry.  This man asked nothing in return.  About four months ago Mike met with a potential customer for some handyman jobs he needed done.  Mike was supposed to give the customer a estimate but somehow Mike lost his paperwork.  A good month went by and one day the paperwork reappeared but it was damaged because it had gotten wet, but through the damage the customer's phone number was still legible.  Mike called the customer, apologized profusely for not getting back to him timely and explained what had happened, and a friendship was formed.  During the many jobs that Mike worked on for this customer, small talk was made and each of the men appreciated their own unique talents.  Clearly the customer hired Mike because he wasn't as good with home repairs, but Mike was amazed by the customer's knowledge of technology.  His customer designed websites, and was very good at it, a talent that Mike doesn't have.  One day the customer asked Mike why he didn't have a website.  Mike said it was because he wasn't sure at this juncture in his business if he needed one, and even if he did, he wouldn't know where to start in terms of getting it done.  Another door opened, and Mike walked through it, and his web page was designed, another hurdle taken care of by God's hands.  I am continually reminded that God provides openings for us all the time, but often we are too afraid of what's behind them, but I can assure you if you walk through those doors, there is goodness on the other side.