hello

Hi everyone! This is Britt, the other half of the Clay family. I normally don't post on here, but I thought I would for a change and give Lauren a break.

God has been really good to us. He has provided a job for me at the Hobby Lobby Corporate offices doing security, which is not my ideal job by any means. But it is a job and where God has placed me for the time being. For that I am thankful. Basically I walk up and down halls a lot. All day actually, and it ends up being about 10 to 12 miles of walking a day. So my legs get a good workout every day. But since I walk all the time I have plenty of time to think. So I thought I would share some things that I have thought about.

One thing God has pressed on my heart this past summer is that after we get out of debt we need to be generous with our money. We will never be rich. I don't want to be rich, and I don't think Lauren does either. But what God does entrust to us I want to be a good steward of. I listened to some sermons by a man named David Platt from Alabama, and he spoke on this topic. A lot of Americans have the wrong view of money and what truly being rich is. And a lot of Christians have the wrong idea of how to be good stewards of what God has given them. As Christians we are to store up treasure in heaven, but a lot of the time we end up trying to store up treasure here on earth. But too many time we invest in things that we really don't need.

For example (I don't know if these people are Christians, but this bothers me) Lauren cleaned an 18,000 square foot house this past month, and only two people are going to live there. What is wrong with this picture? A lot. Think of how many people that this couple could have helped if they would invest in something that actually has eternal value. There house is going to burn down and rot some day. But investing in people, feeding the poor, and providing clothing or shelter for those who truly need it is far more rewarding if one is a Christian.

Another example that Dr. Platt talked about was how much was spent on church buildings in the US in 2007. It was around 2 billion dollars that churches spent on new buildings. One church spent 25 million on their building, and the organization that they are a part of only raised 25 thousand dollars to send to a 3rd world country in Africa that struggles with starvation, aids, and poverty in general. It's like, can we really be that selfish? But we are! And a lot of people are blind to it.

So, Lauren and I are going to be the stewards God has called us to be and find a way to give to the poor as God has commanded us to do. But first we have to get out of debt ourselves. :)

Another thing God has really been teaching me is not to worry. I worry by nature. It is something pretty much everyone in my family comes by naturally. And everyone worries about different things. But I tend to worry about just about everything possible. But I know I worry about relationships the most. But I also worry about the future, and finances, and I could name about a thousand other things. But since I have the time I am memorzing verses about faith and trusting God with every area of my life. There are two verses that I already knew that came to mind when I decided to battle worry. The first was Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path." The other was Phillipians 4:6-7- "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind." (I think that is a Britt version) These verses made me realize how small a view of God I have. If I had a bigger view of who God is I would trust Him more. I mean, He did create the whole universe, and we don't even know how big it is. But I don't think of that, I am too stuck in my own little world. But when I think of God as the creator of the whole universe, it makes things better. I know that I can trust Him with every area of my life when I think of Him in that way.

Another thing that helps me is having a more eternal mindset. Matthew 6:33-"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Colosians 3:2-"Seek what is above, not what is on earth." Hebrews 10:19-25-"But since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way he has opened for us throught the curtain, that is, through his flesh. And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near." And several other verses from Hebrews have really encouraged me in this matter. Our new church has really helped with this, too. I love my pastor, is has an incredible eternal mindset. And it really challenges me and Lauren. But focusing on what is in store for me in Heaven really does make trusting God easier because I have hope in a better kingdom (Hebrews 11:16).

Well...I think I have posted enough for now. But I hope that even though this feels really long that it was encouraging to you as you read.