A story of tenacity and perseverance

Today as I was driving home I was listening to a random sermon. In it the pastor told this story:

There was once a scronny boy who wanted to wrestle in a school where there was no wrestling team. He talked to one of the teachers and the teacher decided to make the boys dream of wrestling possible. Surprisingly, the boy won every match he ever had. The boy eventually made it to the championships and came up against the 2 time championship winner. The boy was doing so well and then all of a sudden the two time champion had him pinned. Seeing this the coach didn't want to watch any longer and closed his eyes; just then the coach heard the crowd roar. He opened his eyes to see that the tables had turned. The boy had managed to pin the two time champion and he won the match! After the match was over the coach told the boy "I'm so proud of you, but I didn't see what happened; I covered my eyes. What happened?" The boy went on to tell his coach that when the 2 time champion had him pinned he was folded in half like a pretzel he saw a big toe in front of his face. "Now I didn't know if it was breaking the rules or not," said the boy "but I bit into that toe with all that I had. ...It's amazing what you can do when you bite your own big toe."

Down memory lane....

I was going through some of the things I had written years ago. This is one of em'. It may not flow that well, but some of the words still resound with my heart.

I don't know how to explain to you how I feel.

It's like someone dropped a rock on my head.

I know I should, but I can't go to bed.

I can't stop thinking about all the 'what ifs',

the 'maybes' and the 'could happens'.

I don't know what to say,

I just wish it would all go away.

I don't want to have to think about it anymore.

Please Lord, just take it all away!

All of it!

All of the crap in my life and in the lives of the

ones I love.

Why do we constantly have to find ways to

deal with the hard stuff that happens?

I know that life will never be perfect and

crap happens,

But why does it have to happen so often?

Why does it have to happen at all?

Why does it happen to my friends?

I know I'll never know all the answers,

And that life's just not fair.

But I can't help but ask "why?"

When You say that You care.

You said You'd never leave me,

And that You'd never go away,

You promised to take care of us,

No matter where we stay.

There are times I wonder,

Where my Saviour's gone?

You made so many promises,

But have You kept just one?

I know the right answer's "yes."

But when things don't go my way,

I make up stories and ignore the truth

And in my ignorance, find ways to be mad

at You.

I start to act half my age,

Just like a little kid.

Saying "See here!" and "Look what you did!"

I pout and shout, and throw temper tantrums too.

"Anything..." I say, "to get through to You."

I continue this charade, till I think You've

had enough.

I ignore You and push You aside; saying:

"You wouldn't have cared if it were I who would

have died."

But where have You gone?!!

I treat You like a politician

Not trusting what You say

And when You finally speak to me,

I turn my face away.

"Where have You gone?" I ask...

Just where I put You;

Back on my shelf,

'Til I think I have time for You.

How do You put up with me?

I do not know.

But when I feel Your arms around me

You let me know,

That I am Your child

And no matter how bratty I am

And how much I try to ignore You,

You will NEVER leave me.

Thank-You Abba

living in plenty or in want. What does it look like to be a good steward of financial resources?

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Philippians 4:12

It is easy to see why it would be difficult to be content while living "in want". I've been thinking about it for a while now and am wondering what it means to know how to live with everything, or as many of us in North America are so blessed, with more than everything. We have more than what we need and more than what we even know what to do with. Is it easier to be content when you have more than what you need? Often I find myself wanting more or something else, when really, I have more than enough. This is a journey I have been on for quite some time. I'm trying to go through my "stuff" and get rid of or give away what I don't want and don't need. Those things I thought I needed, but really haven't used or worn in years. I've been finding it a lot harder than I had originally thought. While I've managed to get rid of some things, I'm finding it difficult to know where to begin again, or in some cases, where to stop.

When it comes to money and tithing...touchy subject I know. I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be a good steward of the money I have, and the money I don't have. I never wanted to have student loans, but they are something I acquired over my four years as a college student. The question that has been gnawing at me recently is: Is it being a good steward of finances to tithe the money that I don't have? Meaning: Is it ok, now that I have a job and am working towards paying off my student loans, to give some of the money I earn away to those in need? Is it wise to be renting an apartment or putting gas in the car, when the money I earn doesn't belong to me because I have debt to pay off? Maybe I should have asked these questions before I took out student loans.

What do YOU think it means to be content when "living in plenty"? What do you think it looks like to be a good steward?