Stewardship: Your Time, Talent And Treasure.

The New Testament word for stewardship is oikonomia, from which we
derive the word economy. This word means "management of a household," and it
refers to the responsibility that is entrusted to a manager. A steward acts as an
administrator of the affairs and possessions of another. He is fully accountable to
his master and may act justly as did Joseph who became Potiphar's steward (Gen.
39:4-6), or unjustly as in Christ's parable of the steward who squandered his
master's possessions (Luke 16:1-13). As Christians, we have been entrusted with a
stewardship; the things we call our own are not really ours, but God's. We have no
possessions, and we do not even own ourselves: "Or do you not know that your
body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and
that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify
God in your body"

God is our Master, and we are responsible to manage His affairs and
possessions. Because we are His servants, all that we have is His. This explodes the
popular misconception that we give God His percentage and the rest is ours.
According to Scripture, we are accountable to God for everything. Whether we
have much or little, our key responsibility as His stewards remains the same:
faithfulness. "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards
that one be found trustworthy" (1 Cor. 4:1-2).

In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), the amounts differed, but
each slave was entrusted with something. The rewards were not based on how
much they were given, but on what they did with what they were given.
Significantly, the first two slaves were equally praised, though the first was given
five talents and the second was given two. We must resist the temptation to
compare ourselves with others, because comparison is the basis of all dissatisfaction.
All of us have been given something, and only one thing is important to God--
faithfulness to what He has given us and called us to do (Luke 12:42).

Stewardship is faithfully using whatever God gives us (opportunities, interests,
skills, employment, family, talents, spiritual gifts, land, money, etc.) for His glory.

If biblical stewardship involves every facet of life, it requires a basic
commitment on our part: we must present ourselves to God as His servants, with no
conditions attached. The real issue of stewardship is whether we are administrating
our affairs and possessions as though they are ours or as though they are God's.
The pattern of our lives is shaped by the decisions we make, and the greatest of
these decisions is this: Am I the lord of my life, or is God the Lord of my life? We
will either seek to rule our own lives (the tragedy of the first Adam), or submit to
the rule of God (the triumph of the second Adam). This is the difference between
the great I WILL (Isa. 14:13-14) and the great THY WILL (Matt. 6:10; Mark 14:36).
Whether we realize it or not, we face this decision many times in the course of each
day. Our answer to this question will determine how we manage the time, abilities,
and money God has placed under our care.

All of us have legitimate physical and psychological needs, and God wants
us to trust Him to meet these needs. Satan would deceive us into depending upon
our own abilities and resources to meet our needs, while God tells us to depend
upon Him. While selfless living is the essence of righteousness, selfishness is the
essence of sin. The difference between grabbers who live for themselves and givers
who live for God and others is the difference between saving our lives for our own
sakes and losing our lives for Christ's sake (see Mark 9:34-37). We cannot keep what
we do not give away.

When we trusted Christ, we exchanged the old for the new; we passed
from death into life, from darkness to light, from sight to faith, and from an earthly
to a heavenly citizenship (John 3:36; 2 Cor. 5:17; Phil. 3:21; Col. 1:13). True
stewardship reflects this exchange in a lifestyle ordered by the lordship of Christ
over all things. We are free to give without expecting anything in return because
our needs are fully met in Christ.

Stewardship of Time

Each of us have been given enough time to accomplish God's purpose for
us on this planet. The Scriptures exhort us to invest our time wisely, reminding us
that God determines the length of our stay on earth. "Therefore be careful how you
walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the
days are evil" (Eph. 5:15-16). Toward the end of his life, Moses prayed, "So teach us
to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom" (Ps. 90:12).

Time is our most valuable asset, but without a proper perspective, we will
spend it foolishly. A biblical perspective on time involves several things: (1) Life is
brief, and we cannot be presumptuous about the future (Jas. 4:14). (2) The eternal
gives meaning to the temporal (Rom. 13:11; 2 Cor. 4:18). (3) Like other assets, our
time is owned by God (Ps. 31:15). (4) We must be sensitive to opportunities so that
we can make the most of them (Eccles. 8:5; Col. 4:5). (5) Our use of time will reflect
our priorities (Matt. 6:19-21,34).

Just as it is wise to budget our financial resources, it is also
wise to budget our use of time. Most time is wasted not in hours, but in minutes. If
we do not regularly assess the way we spend our 168 hours per week, our schedules
will get cluttered with activities that may be good, but not the best. How much
quality time do we spend with the Lord, with our spouse, with our children, and
with our non-Christian friends? God wants us to be faithful stewards, not
squanderers, of the time He has given us.

I'm going to seperate this into a few different post as it is very long. So do look forward to it.

Atelier 2

Received an email this morning. Its regarding my Fyp.

I got chosen for Atelier 2, which is my last choice.

My first reaction was: MANNNNNN, WHY DID I GET INTO THIS???

At that point of time, I must admit that I blame God and wonder why God always have to do this to me?

However, I know that this is the time I need to learn to trust in God. He must have know that this is the best for me that's why He had place me in this atelier. Got to face it positively!

As A Designer...

Somehow, as I grew older being a designer, I begin to dislike hearing this comment: As a designer.....

I DUN WANT TO BE A DESIGNER!

Desert Song

Yesterday, during lifegroup Praise and Worship, God lead us into this song by Hillsong- Desert.

It was amazing how God spoke through this song, and how Holy Spirit actually lead us through. As I first get to understand this song, I knew that this is going to be a powerful song. There is so many things installed for us in this song! God is still God. In all circumstance, in every season, He never change. He is still who he say he is. He is still on the throne of heaven, He still rules. Sometimes, we don't understand the reason why he allowed certain things to happen to us, that caused us to be so broken, so lost, so fearful and so alone. However, we know that despite of all this, we still have to worship him. We have to keep singing and praising him. And if we choose to give praise to God despite of all these circumstance, satan has lose what he is trying to achieve. Choose to stand and glorify God in the midst of our tragedy. It's okay that we we don't fully understand about everything that is happening, but sometimes just being able to look at God and sing what is true of him. Being able to declare the word of God and declare the promises of God, which is that, when we are in the fire, in the midst of all the trial and pain, we are actually being refined. Just like how a porcelain jar is being refine under fire. And when we are in the battle, when triumph is not here yet, but we know that it is coming. When we look at God and said " I know this is who you are", he does gets bigger in our life, he will takes over the things in us that feels so shattered, and it makes him the focus, he will begin to put those things back together.

As I was typing this, I was listening to the testimony of Jill McCloghry. Most of the things were mentioned by her. She said all this despite the lost of her very first born baby. All the more I know that God is able to heal all the pain. All the more I know that despite of all the circumstances, God still deserve to be praise.

Isaiah 55:8-9

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

IKEA

A random trip to IKEA.

Simple but sweet.

Love the polaroids we took.

And so, as I was listening to this song, Savior of the Broken Heart.

Three of you guys came to my mind immediately.

I believe there's a word in this song that is for us.

Savior of the broken heart

You bring healing to the torn apart

Teach us how to live your call

That our worship would bring to all

With your word inside our hearts

You're leading us to show your love

King of hope

Sacrificed your own life

Giving all a second chance

Break our hearts

To see the need of this world

King of hope your kingdom come

Freedom comes from knowing you

Our desire is for you to move

Compassion rests within your bride

Who are we to not have shined it's light

So this our worship

To go where you lead

To love without measure

To clothe and to feed

I love and adore you

My heart's beating for you

I take up the cost

To carry the lost.

View Of The High Country

While in Colorado for a week's vacation, our family reamed up with several others and decided to ascend the summit of a fourteen-thousand-foot peak. We would climb it the easy way. Drive above the timberline and tackle the final mile by foot. You hearty hikers would have been bored, but for a family with three small girls, it was about all we could take.

The journey was as tiring as it was beautiful. I was reminded how the air was thin and my waist was not. Our four year old Sara had it doubly difficult. A tumble in the first few minutes left her with a skinned knee and a timid step. She didn't want to walk. Actually, she refused to walk. She wanted to ride. First on my back, then in Mom's arms, then my back, then a friend's back, then my back, then Mom's... well, you get the picture.

In fact, you know how she felt. You, too, have tumbled, and you, too, have asked for help. And you, too, have received it.

All of us need help sometimes. This journey gets steep. So steep that some of us give up.

Some stop climbing. Some just sit down. They are still near the trail, but they aren't on it. They haven't abandoned the trip, but they haven't continued it. They haven't dismounted, but they haven't spurred either. They haven't resigned, and yet they haven't resolved.

They simply stopped walking. Much time is spent sitting around the fire, talking about how things used to be. Some will sit in the same place for years. They will not change. Prayers will not deepen. Devotion will not increase. Passion will not rise.

A few grow cynical. Woe to traveler who challenges them to resume the journey. Woe to prophet who dares them to see the mountain. Woe to the explorer who reminds them of their call... pilgrims are not welcome here.

And so the pilgrim moves on while the settler settles.

Settles for sameness.

Settles for safety.

Settle for snowdrifts.

I hope you don't do that. But if you do, I hope you don't scorn the pilgrim who calls you back to the journey.

As I tried, unsuccessfully, to convince Sara to walk, I tried describing what we were going to see. "It will be so pretty," I told her. "You'll see all the mountains and the sky and the trees." No luck- she wanted to be carried. Still a good idea, however. Even if it didn't wok. Nothing puts power in the journey like a vision of a mountain top.

By the way, a grand scene awaits you as well. The Hebrew writer gives us a National Geographic piece on heaven. Listen to how he describes the mountaintop of Zion. He says when we reach the mountain we will come to "the city of the living God... To thousands of angels gathered together with joy... To the meeting of God's firstborn children whose names are written in heaven... To God, who judge all people,... and to the spirits of good people who have been made perfect... To Jesus, the One who brought the new agreement from God to his people... To the sprinkled blood that has a better message than the blood of Abel" (Hebrew 12: 22-24).

What a mountain! Won't it be great to see the angels? To finally know what they look like and who they are? To hear them tell of the times they were at our side, even in our house?

Imagine the meeting of the firstborn. A gathering of all God's children. No jealousy. No competition. No division. No hurry. We will be perfect... sinless. No more stumbles. No more tripping. Lusting will cease. Gossip will be silenced. Grudges forever removed.

And imagine seeing God. Finally, to gaze in the face of your Father. To feel the Father's gaze upon you. Neither will ever cease.

He will do whatever he promised he would do. I will make all things new, he promised. I will restore what was taken. I will restore your years drooped on crutches and trapped in wheelchairs. I will restore the smiles faded by hurt. I will replay the symphonies unheard by deaf ears and sunsets unseen by blind eyes.

The mute will sing. The poor will feast. The wounds will heal.

I will make all things new. I will restore all things. The child snatched by disease will run to your arms. The freedom lost to oppression will dance in your heart. The peace of a pure heart will be my gift to you.

I will make all things new. New hope. New faith. And most of all new Love. The Love of which all other loves speak. The Love before which other loves pale. The Love you have sought in a thousand ports in a thousand nights... this Love of mine, will be yours.

What a mountain! Jesus will be there. You've longed to see him. You finally will. Interesting what the writer says we will see. He doesn't mention the face of Jesus, though we will see. He doesn't refer to the voice of Jesus, though it will shout. He mentions a part of Jesus that most of us wouldn't think of seeing. He says we will see Jesus' blood. The crimson of the cross. The life liquid that seeped from his forehead, dripped from his hands, and flowed from his side.

The human blood of the divine Christ. Covering our sins.

Proclaiming a message: We have been bought. We cannot be sold. Ever.

My, what a moment. What a mountain.

Believe me when I say it will be worth it. No cost is too high. If you must pay a price, pay it. No sacrifice is too much. If you must leave baggage on the trail, leave it! No loss will compare. Whatever it takes, do it.

For heaven's sake, do it.

It will be worth it. I promise. One view of the peak will justify the pain of the path.

By the way, our group finally made it up the mountain. We spent an hour or so at the top, taking pictures and enjoying the view. Later, on the way down, I heard little Sara exclaim proudly, "I did it!"

I chuckled. No you didn't, I thought. You mom and I did it. Friends and family got you up this mountain. You didn't do it.

But I didn't say anything. I didn't say anything because I'm getting the same treatment. So are you. We may think we are climbing, but we are riding. Riding on the back of the Father who saw us fall. Riding on the back of the Father who wants us to make it home. A Father who doesn't get angry when we are weary.

After all, he knows what it's like to climb a mountain.

He climbed one for us.

-Max Lucado

( When God Whispers Your Name)

Soul Surfer

Ask me my favorite movie?

Not Transformers.

Not 72: Into The Fire.

Not Battle Los Angeles

But Soul Surfer.

CHeers!

Sometimes its really hard for things to make sense when we are looking so closely at it. We may be dealing with many things that are really hard to handle or doesn't seem to make much sense. Get a new perspective!

Jeremiah 29:11

" For I know the plans that I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

Sometimes, terrible things happen to us, and we don't know why. But we have to believe that something good is going to come out of this.

(This passage is extracted from the show. It really encourages me, especially the verse.)

Just something to share with you guys. Do watch this show. You can download it from Funshion!

The God Who Fights For You

What does God do when we are in a bind?

The first interview is between the Holy Land Press (HLP) and Moses.

HLP: Tell us about your conflict with the Egyptians.

MOSES: Oh, the Egyptians- big people. Strong fighters. Mean as snakes.

HLP: But you got away.

MOSES: Not before they got washed away.

HLP: You're talking about the Red Sea conflict.

MOSES: You're right. That was scary.

HLP: Tell us what happened.

MOSES: Well, the Red Sea was on one side, and the Egyptians were on the other.

HLP: So you attacked?

MOSES: Are you kidding? With half-million rock stackers? No, my people were too afraid. They wanted to go back to Egypt.

HLP: So you told everyone to retreat?

MOSES: Where? Into the water? We didn't have a boat. We didn't have anywhere to go.

HLP: Then what did your leaders recommend?

MOSES: I didn't ask them. There wasn't time.

HLP: Then what did you do?

MOSES: I told the people to stand still.

HLP: You mean, with the enemy coming, you told them not to move?

MOSES: Yep. I told the people, "Stand still and you will see the Lord save you."

HLP: Why would you want the people to stand still?

MOSES: To get out of God's way. If you don't know what to do, it's best just to sit tight till he does his thing.

HLP: That's odd strategy, don't you think?

MOSES: It is if you are big enough for the battle. But when the battle is bigger than you are and you want God to take over, it's all you can do.

HLP: Can we talk about something else?

MOSES: It's your paper.

HLP: Soon after your escape...

MOSES: Our deliverance.

HLP: What's the difference?

MOSES: There is a big difference. When you escape, you do it. When you are delivered, someone else does it and you just follow.

HLP: Okay, soon after your deliverance, you battled with the Ammo... Amala... let's see, I have it here...

MOSES: The Amalekites.

HLP: Yeah, the Amalekites.

MOSES: Big people. Strong fighters. Mean as snakes.

HLP: But you won.

MOSES: God won.

HLP: Okay- God won- but you did the work. You fought the battle. You were on the field.

MOSES: Wrong.

HLP: What? You weren't in the battle?

MOSES: Not that one. While the army was fighting, I took my friends Aaron and Hur to the top of the hill and we did our fighting up there.

HLP: With each other?

MOSES: With the darkness.

HLP: With swords?

MOSES: No, in prayer. I just lifted my hands to God, like I did at the Red Sea, only this time I forgot my rod. When i lifted my hands, we would win, but when i lowered my arms, we would lose. So i got my friends to hold up my arms until the Amalekites were history and we won.

HLP: Hold on a second. You think that standing on a hill with your hands in the air made a difference?

MOSES: You don't see any Amalekites around, do you?

HLP: Don't you think it strange that the general of the army stays on the mountain while the soldiers fight in the valley?

MOSES: If the battle had been in the valley, I would have gone, but that's not where the battle was being fought.

HLP: Odd, this strategy of yours.

MOSES: You mean if your father was bigger than the fellow beating you up, you wouldn't call his name?

HLP: What?

MOSES: If some guy has you on the ground pounding on you and your father is within earshot and tells you to call him anytime you need help, what would you do?

HLP: I'd call my father.

MOSES: That's all I do. When the battle is too great, I ask God to take over. I get the Father to fight with me.

HLP: And he comes?

MOSES: Seen any Jews building pyramids lately?

HLP: Let me see if I've got this straight. Once you defeat the enemy by standing still, and another time you win the battle by holding up your hands. Where did you pick all this up?

MOSES: Well, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me.

HLP: Try me.

MOSES: Well, you see, there was this bush on fire, and it spoke to me...

HLP: Maybe you're right. We'll save that one for another day.

***

The second interview moves us ahead in history a couple of centuries. Here is King Jehoshaphat (KJ) in a postwar interview with the Jerusalem Chronicle (JC) on the battlefield of Ziz.

JC: Congratulations, King.

KJ: For what?

JC: You just defeated three armies at one time. You defeated the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites.

KJ: Oh, I didn't do that.

JC: Don't be modest. Tell us what you think of these armies.

KJ: Big people. Strong fighters. Mean as snakes.

JC: How did you feel when you heard they were coming?

KJ: I was scared.

JC: But you handled it pretty calmly. That strategy session with your generals must have paid off.

KJ: We didn't have one.

JC: You didn't have a meeting, or you didn't have a strategy?

KJ: Neither.

JC: What did you do?

KJ: I asked God what to do.

JC: What did he say?

KJ: Nothing at first, so I got some people to talk to him with me.

JC: Your cabinet had a prayer session?

KJ: No, my nation went on a fast.

JC: Your whole nation?

KJ: Everyone but you, apparently.

JC: Uh, well, what did you tell God?

KJ: Well, we told God that he was the king and whatever he wanted was okay with us, but if he wouldn't mind, we'd like his help on a big problem.

JC: Then you had your strategy session.

KJ: No.

JC: What did you do?

KJ: We stood before God.

JC: Who did?

KJ: All of us. The men. The women. The babies. We just stood there and wait.

JC: What was the enemy doing while you were waiting?

KJ: They were getting closer.

JC: Is that when you rallied the people?

KJ: Who told you I rallied the people?

JC: Well, I just assumed...

KJ: I never said anything to the people, I just listened. After a while this young fellow named Jahaziel spoke up and said the Lord said not to be discouraged or afraid because the battle was not ours, it was his.

JC: How did you know he was speaking for God?

KJ: When you spend as much time talking to God as I do, you learn to recognize his voice.

JC: Incredible.

KJ: No, supernatural.

JC: Then you attacked?

KJ: No, Jahaziel said, "Stand still and you will see the Lord save you."

JC: I've heard that somewhere.

KJ: Vintage Moses.

JC: Then you attacked?

KJ: No, then we sang. Well, some sang. I'm not much with a tune, so I fell on my face and prayed. I let others sing. We've got this group- Levites- who really know how to sing.

JC: Wait a minute. With the army getting closer, you sang?

KJ: A few tunes. Then I told the people to be strong and have faith in God, and then we marched out to the battlefield.

JC: And you led the army?

KJ: No, we put the singers out in front. And as we marched, we sang. And as we sang, God set an ambushes. And by the time we got to the battlefield, the enemy was dead. That was three days ago. It took us that long to clean up the area. We are back today to have another worship service. Come over here; I want you to listen to these Levites sing. I bet you ten shekels you can't keep your seat for five minutes.

JC: Wait, I can't write this story. It's too bizarre. Who'll believe it?

KJ: Just write it. Those with man-sized problems will laugh. And those with God-sized problems will pray. Leave it to them to decide. Come on. The band is tuning up. You won't want to miss the first piece.

***

So what do you think? What does God do when we are in a bind? If Moses and Jehoshaphat are any indication, that question can be answered with one word: fight. He fights for us. He steps into the ring and points us to our corner and takes over. "Remain calm; the Lord will fight for you" ( Exodus 14:14).

His job is to fight. Our job is to trust.

Just trust. Not direct. Or question. Or yank the steering wheel out of his hands. Our job is to pray and wait. Nothing more is necessary. Nothing more is needed.

" He is my defender; I will not be defeated" ( Psalm 62:6).

-Max Lucado

( When God Whispers Your Name)

Your Sack Of Stones

YOU HAVE ONE. A sack. A burlap sack. Probably aren't aware of it, may not have been told about it. Could be you don't remember it. But it was given to you. A sack. An itchy, scratchy burlap sack.

You needed the sack so you could carry the stones. Rocks, boulders, pebbles. All sizes. All shapes. All unwanted.

You didn't request them. You didn't seek them. But you were given them.

Don't remember?

Some were rocks of rejection. You were given one the time you didn't pass the tryout. It wasn't for the lack of effort. Heaven only knows how much you practiced. You thought you were good enough for the team. But the coach didn't. The instructor didn't. You thought you were good enough, but they said you weren't.

They and how many others?

You don't have to live long before you get a collection of stones. Make a poor grade. Make a bad choice. Make a mess. Get called a few names. Get mocked. Get abused.

And the stones don't stop with adolescence.

The sack gets heavy. Heavy with stones. Stones of rejection. Stones we don't deserve. Along with a few we do.

Look into the burlap sack and you see that not all the stones are from rejections. There is a second type of stone. The stone of regret.

Regret for the time you lost your temper.

Regret for the day you lost control.

Regret for the moment you lost your pride.

Regret for the years you lost your priorities.

And even regret for the hour you lost your innocence.

One stone after another, one guilty stone after another.

With time the sack gets heavy. We get tired. How can you have dreams for the future when all your energy is required to shoulder the past?

I don't know if you've noticed, but its hard to be thoughtful when you're carrying a burlap sack. It's hard to be affirming when you are affirmation-starved. It's hard to be forgiving when you feel guilty.

Paul had an interesting observation about the way we treat people. He said it about marriage, but the principle applies in any relationship. "The man who loves his wife loves himself" (Ephesian 5:28). There is a correlation between the way you feel about yourself and the way you feel about others. If you are at peace yourself- if you like yourself- you will get along with others.

The converse is also true. If you don't like yourself, if you are ashamed, embarrassed, or angry, other people are going to know it. The tragic part of the burlap-sack story is we tend to throw our stones at those we love.

Unless the cycle is interrupted.

Which takes us to the question, "How does a person get relief?"

Which, in turn, takes us to one of the kindest verses in the Bible, "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The teaching I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light" (Matthew 11:28-29).

Some might say: I've tried that. I've read the Bible, I've sat on the pew- but I've never received relief.

If that is the case, could i ask a delicate but deliberate question?

Could it be you went to religion and didn't go to God?

Could it be that you went to a church but never saw Christ?

"Come to me," the verse reads.

Its easy to go to the wrong place. I did yesterday. I was in Portland, Maine, catching a flight to Boston. Went to the desk, checked my bag, got my ticket, and went to the gate. I went past security, took my seat, and waited for the flight to be called. I waited and waited and waited...

Finally, I went up to the desk to ask the attendant, and she looked at me and said, "You're at the wrong gate."

Now, what if I'd pouted and sighed, "Well, there must not be a flight to Boston. Looks like I'm stuck."

You would have said to me,"You're not stuck. You're just at the wrong gate. Go down to the right gate and try again."

It's not that you haven't tried-you've tried for years to deal with your past.

Jesus says he is the solution for weariness of soul.

Go to him. Be honest with him. Admit you have soul secrets you've never dealt with. He already knows what they are. He's just waiting for you to ask him to help. He's just waiting for you to give him your sack.

Go ahead. You'll be glad you did. (Those near you will be glad as well... it's hard to throw stones when you've left your sack at the cross.)

-Max Lucado

( When God Whispers Your Name)