Stewardship

2011 is on it's way out!    God taught me a lot, challenged me a lot, restored much and set a thought on my heart that He is working in me.

Be a good Steward of that which you have been given

God loves to delight in His children.  He gives us much.  His gifts are innumerable, and with those gifts, (whether physical, spiritual, emotional, etc) He asks us to be a good steward of them.  

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, 

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

~ 1 Peter 4:10 

"And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whose master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?"

~ Luke 12:42

All that we have, He has given.  All He has given, He entrusts to us to manage it well.  And since we belong to Him, all that I have, that He gave me, belongs to Him.   What belongs to Him, He will ask an account of.

"So He called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you?  

Give an account of your stewardship....'"

~ Luke 16:2a

Reading this verse, I must ask myself:

"Secora, what are doing with that which God has given you?!  

What are you going to do about that?"

So 2012, I will be meditating on Stewardship. I will meditate and pray on how I(we) can be, or rather how God would like me(us) to be, a good steward of what He has given me(us).  I pray that God will chisel me and build in me His will for what He has given us.

Reflecting on some gifts I have received:

~ The Mister - my Hubby

~ Our friends and family (and our 'church' family)

~ My Lil' Miss Marianne

~ Our country and the freedom to openly worship Jesus

~ Our home

~ Our Health
~ Our ministries 

     : the Hubs, I believe, is High School Football officiating

     : William's Gift
~ Our vehicles and jobs

~ Our bible studies

~ and sooo much more


Do you have any goals for 2012?  I would love to hear some!

Boxes for Faith and William's Gift

We have had quite the weekend of work around here.  Friday night, I got together with some ladies and we put together Boxes for Faith to take to the local hospitals.

Boxes for Faith is a recently formed idea that a friend started; in October, she gave birth to Faith Ann, who was 'born sleeping'.  These are 'memory' boxes filled with items given to moms whose babies are "still"born (or sleeping as we like to call it).

She asked myself and another gal to be apart of this.  (And any and all family and friends who want to participate).   I quickly jumped at the opportunity since I was already in the works of starting an organization for my own son, William Ryan, (who was born sleeping six years ago) called William's Gift and asked her if I could include Boxes for Faith in the William's Gift umbrella.  I had been praying for God to direct the path He wanted me to take, and boy did He!  I love His faithfulness!!!

So, Friday night, a group of us put together 40 boxes of items and prayed that these boxes would last Anchorage a VERY LONG TIME as we do not hope that any should go through this, but we DO want whoever does to know that there is a support group of women who have been through it.

(L-R) Kim, myself, and Brittany behind most of the boxes that were completed

Me filling boxes 

With us, a wonderful group of women who came to help and have shown unending love and support through the hard times and grieving

In the boxes, we added:

• foot & hand print kits
• disposable cameras
• a precious little photo album
• a candle (to burn for one hour on the second Sunday in Dec)
• baby booties
• a gauze drawstring bag 
• little beanies/hats
• and a sympathy card 

One of our main goals, is to bring awareness to the reality of 'still'borns.  So many women and marriages go through this alone in fear of talking about it and thinking they truly are alone in this experience.   We want to build a support group for these women and marriages and families.  

We refer to our babies as "born sleeping" because we know they will be in Heaven when we get there. We also call it "still"born instead of stillborn because we did go through labor and give birth, so our babies were stillborn, they were just born sleeping.

These are the scriptures we find comfort in:

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young - Isaiah 40:11(NIV)

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I also find great comfort in the verse from Job 14:5 that refers to man's days being determined and numbered.  God IS the giver of life.  He knows the numbers our days for us.  He had a purpose for my son, and He knew the number of days his heart would beat.

My son fulfilled his purpose. 

Also this song by Natalie Grant.  I listen to it over and over and over when I'm in my moments of not understanding.

I actually have a whole playlist (of course I do) that I listen to over and over and over again in my sad moments:

Quiet My Heart - Brooke Barrettsmith

Give Me Jesus - Jeremy Camp

Held - Natalie Grant

Never Let Go - David Crowder Band

You're Not Alone - Meredith Andrews

God Moves In A Mysterious Way - Jeremy Riddle

This Little Light of Mine - Addison Road

O Praise Him (All This for a King) - David Crowder Band

Walk by Faith - Jeremy Camp

In Christ Alone - Natalie Grant

What verses do you find comfort in/meditate on?  Do you have a 'comfort' song, or playlist?  Please share what quiets your heart and soul.