stewardship :: they're not really mine

last week's sermon was a great reminder for me as a parent (even though it was primarily addressed to daddies) that children are gifts from God.  within our day to day living, it is easy to forget that God has entrusted our children under our care so that we can train them up to love Jesus and love others.  ultimately, parents are stewards of God's children.  though we call them our own, they belong to the Lord.  

the post below is a re-post from 10.20.2009, but last sunday's sermon made me think of it and thought i'd share it again.  

peace out!

*****

when i've talked about stewardship before, our material possessions have been the key focus.  how can we be good stewards of the money God has entrusted us with?  how can we be good stewards of our home, our food, our car, our clothes?  how can we teach our kids to be good stewards of their things and keep them for developing a consumerist mentality?

but something that has not been overly emphasized in our home is the fact that God has also entrusted us with people.  more specifically, a spouse, children, and even our own bodies.

in all honesty, i don't see my husband or my children as belonging to God.  i see them as mine.  my husband.  my kids.  but in reality, God has graciously provided me with a loving and caring husband.  and it is God who has graciously blessed me with our children.  they belong to Him, and He has entrusted them to me.

i think using that perspective has helped me view my family in a totally different light.  my husband is special because he belongs to the Lord.  my children are special because they too belong to the Lord.  how can i be a good steward of my family?  by treating them with respect, love, and extra-care because they belong to someone else, and someday i have to return them.

this perspective is also especially freeing to me when it comes to raising, training, and teaching our children.  our children are our special treasures, entrusted to us by God.  we as parents have a clear job to do, but there comes a point when we have to let them go.  because they belong to the Lord.  when i had my miscarriage, i remember in the midst of my grieving rejoicing in the fact that our sweet baby was where he (or she) was meant to be...back to where (s)he belonged.  i know what i need to do as a parent, and part of being a parent is learning to let go of our children and handing them over to God (easier said than done!).

because really, they belong to Him, and He has entrusted them to me.

stewardship::beyond money

every 2nd thursday of the month, i (along w/ one or two other folks) prepare a full meal for about 20-30 teen parents (pregnant, teen parents, or those who were teens when their child was born) and their families as part of a community drop-in program offered through the city. then i take the food and my whole family to the drop-in location and we share the wonderful food with some very wonderful people.

when i was first approached about this opportunity, i was intrigued but at the same time a little intimidated. the idea of preparing a full meal for 15 people every month seemed daunting. it seemed like a huge committment, that i didn't think i could faithfully follow through on. what if i don't have time? what if i don't want to give my time? what if we need the money used to make all that food? it's amazing how many negative thoughts and excuses i started thinking up in my head...to find a rational reason for turning down the opportunity.

but i am so thankful that i didn't.

as a family, we find great enjoyment in opening our homes and sharing it with others. we love throwing parties (though we don't do that often enough still), we love having people over for dinner, we love when visitors come and stay with us, and we enjoy being social (most of the time :o) ). participating in the teen parents program would merely be an extension of something we already enjoy doing and a great opportunity for us to nurture and encourage parents who may have began their journey into parenthood in a not so ideal situation.

by God's grace, every month we follow through on our committment. there is no drudgery involved in preparing the meal or even going to the event, because i've found that doing this has brought us tremendous joy. joy in seeing others being helped. joy in knowing that we can provide our food, our time, and our encouragement to others that may need it.

despite our smaller income, we have all that we need. God not only entrusted us with his money, but he also entrusted us with certain gifts that we can share with others. stewardship goes beyond money. how can we be better stewards with our time, our home, and all our possessions that he has so graciously entrusted us with? where are our priorities? do we give not only our money, but also our time sacrificially? i admit, it's easier said than done. but when God blesses us with things, extra time, or money, it's not to be hoarded or stored up for yourself. keep what you need, then use the rest to bless others.

in this we discover just how much God loves us.

in this we discover just how hard it was to make the ultimate sacrifice.

and in this we discover peace.

every time i come home the 2nd thursday of the month, i am left feeling content. seeing my children play and interact with the other kids, watching my husband encourage and support the other young men there, exchanging laughs with some of the young moms who are sometimes struggling to figure out where they "fit"...

...i am content. i am thankful. i am joyful.

top ten tuesday

to re-cap the end of 2009...

top ten fave blog posts of the year (no particular order):

1. to fathers of little girls

2. stewardship::remaining faithful through the tough times

3. wordless wednesday::the best thing on a hot day,

4. you know your pregnant when...

5. gibson...is there a gibson marshall in the house...

6. 16 days

7. BFF

8. a million words or less...

9. stewardship::they're not really mine

10. the dreaded picture day

many thanks to our readers, old and new. thank you for all your comment love through out the years, and for sharing in all of our adventures.

happy new year!

stewardship::they're not really mine

when i've talked about stewardship before, our material possessions have been the key focus.  how can we be good stewards of the money God has entrusted us with?  how can we be good stewards of our home, our food, our car, our clothes?  how can we teach our kids to be good stewards of their things and keep them for developing a consumerist mentality?

but something that has not been overly emphasized in our home is the fact that God has also entrusted us with people.  more specifically, a spouse, children, and even our own bodies.

in all honesty, i don't see my husband or my children as belonging to God.  i see them as mine.  my husband.  my kids.  but in reality, God has graciously provided me with a loving and caring husband.  and it is God who has graciously blessed me with our children.  they belong to Him, and He has entrusted them to me.

i think using that perspective has helped me view my family in a totally different light.  my husband is special because he belongs to the Lord.  my children are special because they too belong to the Lord.  how can i be a good steward of my family?  by treating them with respect, love, and extra-care because they belong to someone else, and someday i have to return them.

this perspective is also especially freeing to me when it comes to raising, training, and teaching our children.  our children are our special treasures, entrusted to us by God.  we as parents have a clear job to do, but there comes a point when we have to let them go.  because they belong to the Lord.  when i had my miscarriage, i remember in the midst of my grieving rejoicing in the fact that our sweet baby was where he (or she) was meant to be...back to where (s)he belonged.  i know what i need to do as a parent, and part of being a parent is learning to let go of our children and handing them over to God (easier said than done!).

because really, they belong to Him, and He has entrusted them to me.

stewardship::remaining faithful through the tough times

i am sure we can all agree that 2009 looks to be a rather glum economic period for those of us residing in the states. i don't think there has been a week this past month where i haven't heard of people losing their jobs. it has been especially prevalent here in the cleveland area (or so it seems to me). and coupled with the high rate of foreclosures in this area, it can seem rather bleak for a lot of clevelanders.

on a personal level, we have also been affected by the recession (yes! i have decided to accept the fact that we are indeed in an economic recession). aaron received a 5% pay cut starting this year, with raises and pensions frozen, and no bonuses until the economy begins to improve. since we are pretty much on a single income, this will of course impact how we spend our money.

though it may seem like a downer to get any form of pay cut, i have realized that it has actually been a blessing. the experience has been personally convicting, forcing me to really examine how we can be better stewards of the money and the things God has provided for us. he has provided for us so many times over, and a lot of the times we end up taking his generosity for granted by wishing and longing for more (or better) stuff! what we have, we have from God. and financially, the way we spend our money (which is really God's money anyway) is a reflection of where our hearts truly are.

so for us personally, how do we continue to be faithful stewards of God's money?

1. remain faithful that God will provide EVERYTHING that we need (he has before).
2. continue to tithe the same amount if not more (decreasing the amount of money we tithe would be a reflection of our faith, or lack thereof).
3. re-examine our needs and wants (what can we live without? is a certain item, subscription, etc. a necessity or a luxury?).
4. being content with his provisions.
   
5. pray.
   
6. live our life simply, humbly and always for God's glory.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (philippians 4:6-7)