Well, everyone seems to want to chime in on the music issue, which concerns me as I really think that the earlier post on Randy Alcorn's book is a much more important issue and much more important blog entry.
Is that one just hitting too close to home? I know that it is for me. I have been sooooo convicted lately of all the "stuff" I have when Randy so clearly points out, using scripture, that my use of God's money might be unwise.
So, I post blogs on what MY problems are. I am curious if anyone else struggles with this. Don't you think we ALL have too much stuff? Perhaps we could ALL use a little less and give a lot more?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Money, money, money!!
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4 comments:
Okay, Bill, I'll bite. I have many personal stories on this that I hesitate to post because I didn't want to come off as being holier than thou. I have a fantastic testimony to God's goodness in this area, but posting it here opens me up for judgement from others as being prideful. That is not my intent. It is all God, not me. Trust me on that!
Several years ago, I read Randy Alcorn's book 'The Treasure Principal'. It was life changing for me. Literally. I then read several of Randy's fiction books that touch on Heaven, and of course his 'Heaven' book, all of them built on the principal of storing treasure in Heaven, not earth. They started to shift my focus, and that shifting continues. The first thing I did was take off my beautiful solar nails. I loved those nails, but could no longer spend money on such a temporal thing. That wasn't easy for me, nor is it easy now as I want them back. Once I even set an appointment, only to cancel it. I don't have pretty hands, and I have weak nails that break all the time and constantly cause me trouble if I don't have the strength of solar nails protecting them. If anyone had a "medical" need, so to speak, it would be me. But, I feel convicted about spending $50 a month on something frivolous when there are still kids in the Starfish program that don't have a sponsor. So, for right now, I don't have solar nails. I'm storing treasure in heaven instead of on earth in this area.
On that same line, I wanted a new ring for my 25th anniversary. Dan and I talked about it for the last 5 or so years. (Truthfully, I talked and he just said, "Umm.") Anyway, I really wanted a 1 karat princess cut diamond with begets on the side. I've dreamed of it for at least 5 years. Well, at the beginning of this year, when we went looking and when I saw how much they cost, I said no way. There is no way I can spend 7k or 8K on my finger. My stupid finger! I can wait for my treasure in Heaven. I don't need that here on earth. We could afford the monthly payments, but it was not something my heart felt good about at all. So I praying for contentment with my old fashion ring. Well, long story short, the Lord led us to a 60% off sale and a pretty little ring under 2K that I love and don't feel guilty about. If anything, I love it so much more, because I know it was a gift straight from God to Dan and I. And now get this, oh, how we serve a God who knows how to give good and perfect gifts to His children, my mom called me just yesterday and gave me her 1 karat diamond to put in my ring. Wow!
God is amazing! He rewards our faithfulness and our pure hearts. Not that I have a perfect one. It's hard for me to walk through Costco and not covet. But in the area of my ring, for once I did it right and God rewarded me greatly!
"Give, and it will be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men will give unto your bosom." God never fails to fulfil His promises.
Hear, hear Bill!!
I have learned a huge lesson these two years about living with less. We live in a CRAPPY, let me tell you CRAPPY apartment. 720 square feet. No dishwasher or washer/dryer (I have to truck all of my stuff downstairs). Nasty carpet, smaller than small kitchen and bathroom. We sold about half of our worldly possessions before we left. It was SO HARD to part with all of my nice furniture and stuff.
But, since we've been here, living on half the salary, in half the space...we have been extremely blessed with having less. Don't get me wrong, I hope we move back into something bigger when we're done here, but in general...we have learned truly that less is more. We are happy and fear going back into the real world when we must again "keep up with the Joneses".
We also only have one car now, and bike to as many locations as possible. That has been really annoying at times that I just wished we had 2 cars so I didn't have to drop Jeremy off at church early and come back, or on the days I just wanted to drive to school, rather than ride my bike when Jeremy needs the car. But, it has been a healthy thing for us to experience.
Further, I think about all of the stories I hear about third world countries and how "content" people are. Did you know that America is the most depressed nation in the world, with higher rates of using antidepressants and I believe (not sure, but think I heard this)that a higher drug use/alcoholism percentage. I think materialism has totally corrupted us, honestly.
Less is More. Jen's Thoughts.
Yes, but I don't have an HDTV.
Tammy, your stories are exactly what I was looking for! You are spot on.
Mick: I said I have been CONVICTED a lot LATELY you hoser.
I bought that tv 5 years ago and have resisted updating to the flat panel plasma big screen!!
Jenny, I have been there, and it sucks!
Thanks all for adding so much to this subject, would love to hear more stories of how God has blessed your faithfulness or even when He may not have blessed you NOW but you still did the right thing!
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