Stewardship

Along with photos from the recent five months' activities, I wanted to write on some valuable lessons we've learned. One of these is concerning stewardship. Moving out to Arizona meant some significant financial challenges...we lived with Jason's parents for five months until 1) we sold our house in VA & 2) I was able to start working again at Remuda. Living on one income for a few months and being in the desperate position to sell our home in this economy led to some severely stressful moments. We would venture out to the nearby park to clear our head and engage in some deep, gut-wrenching praying. There were days we would sit in the park, numb from all the stress and worry, asking God what on earth He was up to. We began to read and study some verses and books on stewardship, looking back on how we've perceived and used our income over the past four years. The one truth that kept hitting us in the face is that everything is the Lord's. Several months ago, I would have agreed to this concept and rattled off some theological thoughts on the subject, but not sure I lived according to this truth. Actually seeing every possession, every paycheck, every opportunity, every gift as God's - that takes major work! We began to admit that we had viewed all these things as ours, fruits of our labor. Being stripped of financial security eventually led to the scales of our pride dropping from our eyes and seeing the awesome responsibility of using wisely what God has placed in our stewardship. We also ran across some great literature on the stewardship of time & talents, not just money. Now that things have settled down, it is easy to fall back into the same routine of seeing things for temporary, selfish purposes. Remembering those helpless days in the park is a necessity to stay on track. Hopefully, you too have opportunities to remember those helpless 'days in the park' and not retreat to the ease and monotony of life. Here's the verse that helped wake us up to greater stewardship:

"Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength."
1 Chronicles 29:11-12