When I started my home staging business, many years ago, it was just me, my son Levi (who was a student) and the Lord. I know some people may think it is cheesy to say the Lord is my partner, but I can’t describe it any better way. I began my business because the Lord encouraged me—hey, you should start a home staging company (I didn’t even know what home staging was!). At my very first house, I walked in and froze with a feeling of dread. What had I gotten myself into and what was I supposed to do with this house? I heard a gentle voice say, “Just one thing at a time.” It has been a learning, growing, fun, and intense at times partnership with the Lord ever since.
All these years later, I still count on the Lord to help me when I’m making a plan, when I’m shopping for pieces and when I am putting on the finishing touches. There is always provision from the Lord to help me find what I need and what I don’t know I need. Even at a store like Walmart with a limited home decor section, I am often walking the aisles, asking the Lord to help me find the perfect pieces. For example, recently I needed some bedside tables and some end tables for a small, starter house I was working on. While picking up lightbulbs and extension cords, I found some wooden, foldable tv trays for $10 each and they were perfect! I didn’t go to Walmart looking for tables, because they don’t generally stock the furniture I need, but on this day, the Lord helped me find just the right thing.
When you are fulfilling your purpose by doing what God has called you to do, let me encourage you to invite the Lord into every aspect. Have open conversations with Him and you’ll be surprised at the transformations you witness. Very often I come up against a dilemma of some kind, but when I stop to acknowledge the Lord, pretty soon the Holy Spirit has given me the perfect solution. So, I may sound cheesy, but I love having the Lord as my partner and I love how I feel when I have finished a project beautifully.
Partnering with the Lord,
Karen Conrad Metcalfe
PS. For staging tips and tricks illustrated in full, before/after color, order my home staging book, 7 Seconds: How To Leverage The Seven Second Rule In Your Home Designs and Real Estate Investments Second Edition.