May 26, 2010

"Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all..." 1 Chron. 29:12

On Sunday I was struck by something that my pastor said, "[by being believers] We have sacrificed the right to determine what we do with out lives" Now, in all reality, we never truly have the right to determine our life path, it is all in the plan of a sovereign God. "The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9 However, the thing that stuck out to me was that I still live my life as if I have some right to certain things, specifically my finances. God has given me the great HONOR of being a steward of significant finances. And realizing that, even as a poor, jobless, recent college graduate, I still have more money than most people in the world! It is an HONOR that God has given me stewardship of HIS money. And what have I done with it??? I buy new clothes, fancy decorations, cool technology devices, the latest movie for my personal entertainment. DISGUSTING! I'm investing in things that are going to burn! Every single one of those things, one day, will burn. None of them are eternal.
I have been going through things and cleaning out my "closet" (that consist of my literal bedroom closet and 3 boxes tucked away in a friend's attic). I can give SO much to people who need this. I can sell it for a lower price to people who may need it more than I and then give the money I make from it to someone who needs it more than I do, or to someone who can put it to better use than I can at the moment. SOMETHING ETERNAL! God has really been convicting me, over a matter of months now, about this. I don't want to be one who is putting a Christian spin on the American Dream. No, by God's grace alone, that will NOT be me!

"We are not masters of our money, God alone has authority over it" David Platt

May 22, 2010

...be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord

Well...I finally caved and decided to start writing my own blog. I have lots of big decisions coming up soon and perhaps several changes as well. Therefore, instead of sending out newsletter after newsletter, I'm hoping I can send out updates through blog posts :).
For a general update, I have just graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in Elementary Education. I'm living in Birmingham praying and waiting for God to guide me to where he wants me. I have several different opportunities, very exciting and frightening opportunities. I am praying that the Lord will guide me through opening and closing doors, and through giving me overwhelming, unexplainable peace. I have complete confidence that He will do that. So, for now, I am waiting. Patiently and prayerfully waiting.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..." Psalm 37:7