So Jason and I happened to catch a show on TLC a couple months ago about people who make entering sweepstakes their full time job. Even though I can’t see it as being a God-honoring way to make a living (so many proverbs about the proper way to earn money come to mind), I was curious enough to enter a few contests I could find online that night, for fun. I spent no more than an hour searching and entering (with a new e-mail address set up just for this – not interested in the spam that could result) and thought maybe I’d do more of that every now and then, y’know in my spare time. Turns out I really don’t have spare time (I guess I already knew that) and I don’t think I’ll be bumping contest-entering above what’s currently at the top of the list for each day. However, I discovered just last week that I won the 3rd place prize in the Red Cross Racing sweepstakes (I was going for the car…) and was mailed a T-shirt and hat.

Now it’s no car, but a fun prize that made me wonder if this could work to sporadically get stuff to use and share with others ~ if only I didn’t have to use up time to do it. Stewardship is all-encompassing: finding the balance between taking the best care possible of all the resources God lends us (time, money, energy, etc etc etc) is a task bigger than we are and requires much prayer and wisdom from Him. Not sure where this “hobby” would fit in for me! Thoughts?

“Time is so short, and the work which we have to do in it is so great, that we have none of it to spare. The work which we have to do to prepare for eternity, must be done in time, or it never can be done; and it is found to be a work of great difficulty and labor, and therefore that for which time is the more requisite” (Jonathan Edwards).

Well, here’s a cheater post if I ever wrote one! The above quote is a a snippet of a longer quote from a blogpost referencing another work! So it’s like a third-hand sentiment but I read it on the Cripplegate page last week, and have been thinking about it since.  So if you have 2 minutes, redeem the time and read the original post (Time Management in Light of Eternity). And if you have 30 minutes, consider it a time investment to read the sermon (The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It)!

Last week I had the pleasure of stumbling across a blog called The Cripplegate, whose contributing team includes many guys Jason went to seminary with or whom I otherwise knew through TMS & GCC connections, all of whom were (and apparently still are) critical thinkers and eloquent writers who love the Lord and treasure His Word. Nate Busenitz’ post on the proper understanding of Philippians 4:13 last week was something I wanted to write about at some point, but seeing as there is nothing I could add to it, let me just direct you there. Browse around the site while you’re at it. Good stuff.

This passage came up in my daily Bible reading last week. I am being challenged from many different angles to be more generous, to give more sacrificially, not wait until I can “afford” it. Experiencing the generosity of friends giving me so many baby clothes and gear, for example, when they could be selling it for cash in their pocket is a testimony to me. I’ve felt somewhat obligated to save or sell things, make some money back to help our financial situation, or hang onto it because I might need it again, when I have been missing out on blessing others! In some ways it is smart to set aside things you may very well need in the near future, but I’m convicted more than ever to give away – or at the very least lend out – what I’m not using right this minute. Now I have car seats that have expired and are worthless, clothes that are the wrong season and gender for this baby that is finally on its way, and swings and bouncy seats that have been damaged from move to move and from being stuffed into storage. Thinking about others who might have really benefited from having these items just sitting there taking up space in our overcrowded basement over the years makes me sad. I couldn’t predict how God would’ve met and exceeded all our needs for this baby through the generosity of friends, but I should’ve guessed it. That’s His character, right? Now I need to reflect it too!

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

(2 Corinthians 9:6-15, emphasis mine)

I’m excited to direct you to a new blog started by a friend of mine who knows what she’s blogging about! Sarah writes about why and how their family saves money. She does this in California where it can be particularly challenging, I found, so extra props there. Check it out for some ideas and inspiration:

Living the Life… on a Budget

P.S. I’m not even the Lindsay she mentions as her one fan in yesterday’s post. She has loads of fans and doesn’t even know it!