How is your personal dream for the rest of your life similar to and different than the American dream?
Honestly, I think so many people want the American dream. I don't want the American dream as in a picture perfect life. I definitely do not want anything to do with perfect. The only thing that is relatable to the American dream is that I strive to do the best and I work really hard for my goals. But, that I think is not necessarily bad. If my goals are going to profit me, then yes that is wrong. My goals need to glorify god and strengthen my relationship with him. Right now, I am working on 2 goals. My first dream or goal is to learn how to sew. My dream has always been to be a fashion designer and what not. Well, my dream has been altered and now I want to sew to make my own clothes. I want to make some of my own clothes or accessories because I hate how much money I spend on clothes and what not and then I can't stop and buy a hamburger for a homeless man or go to Wallmart and get a clean shirt for them. So that goal I think is not bad because I am not being so obsessed with the material type of dream that a lot of people have. I mean yeah I have always wanted a house with a family and perfect blah blah blah. but that's not my dream anymore. I know that as long as I live out my other dream like I said above and I keep my faith, I will be taken care of even if that doesn't mean a picture perfect life. My next dream right now is to go on one of the mission trips for school (Africa, 2020 etc). I have never wanted something so bad in my life. I just have a love for people and caring for them and helping them and I want to go so bad. Even if its not going on a school mission trip, I want so bad to go on a mission trip somewhere different. I have gone on multiple ones in texas, but I want the opportunity to expand. I feel like this dream will change my life forever and I am completely ready for that change 100 million percent. I just pray everyday that I get the opportunity to wherever it may be. So right now those are my dreams. I really think that those 2 dreams are how I look at the rest of my life too and how I will live it out. Of course I want to get married and have children and have a nice big backyard for my kids to play in and I want to be a part of a local mission organization. I guess those are my main dreams. It may sound like too perfect, maybe, but its just the dream that I have and I call it a dream because dreams don't always come true and if it doesnt, I know that something even better is coming my way because God has control over my life.
Until next time,
Alexa(:
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Stewardship: God Gives Day 2
Examination:
1. How is the stewardship of our time, talent, and treasure related to the character and glory of God?
We need to be responsible with the way that we use our time, talents, and treasures. If we are careless during these times, then they are pointless. Our time belongs to God, because everything does, therefore we need to use them to glorify him in all that we do.
2. What is the ultimate purpose of the spiritual gifts and treasure that God has given you?
The ultimate purpose of those gifts are to serve him. If he gives us the gift of teaching, then we need to go out and teach. If he gives us the gift of miracles, we need to continue to pray for them to happen for others and not just ourselves. We need to use our gifts for others and not selfish reasons.
3. What is the difference between the Old Testament tithe and stewardship?
In the old testament, tithe was a law that stated that you had to give 10% of your money away and stewardship is asking yourself how much money do I need to give to God?
Application:
1. How does the way you view and use your money reflect the condition of your heart?
If I use my money in a selfish way, than my heart will be selfish and I will only be thinking about myself. But, if I use my money to give to others, I will find true joy in that and my heart will reflect that.
2. How has your view of money been challenged by this chapter?
I am forced to think about the way that I spend my money and actually, in the past few days I have had MULTIPLE opportunities where I could have gotten a 8 dollar burrito but I instead stopped by a homeless man and gave him some of the money and I had a snack at home. Everyone wins that way!
3. What does stewardship reveal about who or what you worship?
It reveals if you worship money or God. If you're worshiping God, you wouldn't want to spend your money so selfishly. Money is an idol and so if you are worshiping money and using money in the wrong way, you are definitely not worshiping God.
4. How are you using your time, talent, and treasure to glorify God?
I would like to say that I use all of those to glorify God, but in reality, I don't. Its not that I never do it, I think I do, just not as often as I need to. I know for sure I use my money not glorifying God. I do give, but I also selfishly keep. I do the same with my talents and my treasures.
5. In what areas of time, talent, and treasure do you need to repent and grow?
I think that I need to grow in all three. Honestly, I think that everyone does. We are humans and we live in a world of sin, we are not perfect and we slip off the cliff sometimes but we have Jesus to forgive us of our sins and repent to. But out of all, I think I need to devote WAY more of my time to glorifying God.
1. How is the stewardship of our time, talent, and treasure related to the character and glory of God?
We need to be responsible with the way that we use our time, talents, and treasures. If we are careless during these times, then they are pointless. Our time belongs to God, because everything does, therefore we need to use them to glorify him in all that we do.
2. What is the ultimate purpose of the spiritual gifts and treasure that God has given you?
The ultimate purpose of those gifts are to serve him. If he gives us the gift of teaching, then we need to go out and teach. If he gives us the gift of miracles, we need to continue to pray for them to happen for others and not just ourselves. We need to use our gifts for others and not selfish reasons.
3. What is the difference between the Old Testament tithe and stewardship?
In the old testament, tithe was a law that stated that you had to give 10% of your money away and stewardship is asking yourself how much money do I need to give to God?
Application:
1. How does the way you view and use your money reflect the condition of your heart?
If I use my money in a selfish way, than my heart will be selfish and I will only be thinking about myself. But, if I use my money to give to others, I will find true joy in that and my heart will reflect that.
2. How has your view of money been challenged by this chapter?
I am forced to think about the way that I spend my money and actually, in the past few days I have had MULTIPLE opportunities where I could have gotten a 8 dollar burrito but I instead stopped by a homeless man and gave him some of the money and I had a snack at home. Everyone wins that way!
3. What does stewardship reveal about who or what you worship?
It reveals if you worship money or God. If you're worshiping God, you wouldn't want to spend your money so selfishly. Money is an idol and so if you are worshiping money and using money in the wrong way, you are definitely not worshiping God.
4. How are you using your time, talent, and treasure to glorify God?
I would like to say that I use all of those to glorify God, but in reality, I don't. Its not that I never do it, I think I do, just not as often as I need to. I know for sure I use my money not glorifying God. I do give, but I also selfishly keep. I do the same with my talents and my treasures.
5. In what areas of time, talent, and treasure do you need to repent and grow?
I think that I need to grow in all three. Honestly, I think that everyone does. We are humans and we live in a world of sin, we are not perfect and we slip off the cliff sometimes but we have Jesus to forgive us of our sins and repent to. But out of all, I think I need to devote WAY more of my time to glorifying God.
Class Talk
In class today we read an article about money and stewardship. The way we spend our money is definitely not the way that we should and the way that God wants us to. Its okay to have money, but you have to spend it the right way. You can't love God and love money; it just doesn't work. Loving money is considered an idol and God wants nothing to do with that. We can love God and USE money TO love God, thats the best thing we could do along with being stewards of him. A steward is someone who manages something, like land or a house, but does not own it. Thats how we are. We pretty much don't own anything because God blessed us with the ability to get whatever it is, therefore it ultimately belongs to him, we are just taking care of it. The class discussion was good but I feel like we have already talked about money, but it was from a different perspective so I liked it!
Until next time....
Alexa(:
P.S. this video is just adorable! I love it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS93Q4jQAO0&feature=related
Until next time....
Alexa(:
P.S. this video is just adorable! I love it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS93Q4jQAO0&feature=related
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