Last night we finished up our class on Stewardship at Life University. It's been a great 6 weeks as Joel has really stirred us all up to think about the hard issues we face with when it comes to being faithful with what God has given us. That encompasses so many areas, and touches all our lives. I was reading this morning in Proverbs 8, the wisdom chapter. That is where I found our verse for today.

Proverbs 8:17-18 " I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me. With me are riches, and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity." I find myself wanting to be sure I am being a faithful steward of what God has given me. Here are some areas I have resolved to be a better steward of:

1. My time! Time is our most precious commodity and we really should be sure we are concious of how we spend it. For me that means, getting more accomplished so I can enjoy family, friends and have more time to dedicate myself to whatever it is that God has for the day. For me that means getting to bed at a reasonable time so I can function the next day! Yikes, that is a really hard one for us.

2. My talents! God has given each and everyone of us talents and giftings. But most of us struggle to ever really determine what those giftings are. Find out what motivates you. You may have to go back to your childhood and look at what you loved as a child. For me it was pen, paper, crayons and drawing-for hours on end. I soon discovered that my talents are artistic and just wanting to be used. Art is a passion for me and I love the creative process. It is up to me how far I advance in using my gifts, but I will be held accountable for them. Remember the unfaithful servant in the parable of the talents?

3. My treasure! God gives each of us a certain amount of "treasure", income that we gain through working. I really want to be able to do whatever God asks me to do, so I have to be faithful to administer my finances well. I can do this by several ways, but for me the biggest way to avoid overspending is to practice delayed gratification. That simply means to wait! If I find something I like, but don't need (or am not shopping for) I try hard to make myself wait. I tell myself, if I come back tomorrow and it is still here, then I'll consider making that purchase. But you know what? Most of the time when tomorrow arrives I am not the least bit tempted to go back and make that purchase-because I truly didn't want or need the item I was considering. I have even gone so far as to ask God, if you want me to have this, then it will be here for me tomorrow. Many times, it wasn't there. But just as many times, if I wait, when I go back it will be marked down considerably. I think God appreciates our willingness to deny our flesh and will bless us for it.