Every expereience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see. Corrie ten Boom

Walking in God’s Favor: Jesus once again addressed them:  “I am the world’s Light.  No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness.  I provide plenty of light to live in.”  John 8:12 (Message)

We empower others to grow when they can see a living example. Nothing is more discouraging than a person  who gives good advice but sets a poor example.  On the other hand, nothing can be more encouraging or inspiring than a person who lives the life he or she talks about.

Level 4 stewards internally recognize the importance of being who you say you are. Personal integrity has a tremendous impact on our own lives and those around us. In my early 30′s, as a young husband and father,  I made a decision  I would not teach or speak publicly about principles I was not practicing in my own life.

This idea to be transparent in my public life  has help me to set positive examples of faithful stewardship in how I prioritize my time, care for my body-temple, develop my God- given gifts, and invest my financial resources.

Spending quality time with my spouse, attending my children’s and grand-children’s events,  exercising and eating healthy foods, budgeting our personal finances, along with setting business goals has required me to consider who I am and the example I’m leaving others to follow.

Jesus provided his 12 disciples and all of us an example of the kind of life we must live as Christians.  A life of love, integrity and a life of victory. We live as stewards of the life God has given us.  Remember God is the Creator Owner. We are only  stewards of our time, temple (body), talents and treasure (money).

Prayer of Blessings: Creator God, allow our light to shine for others to see our lives reflecting you.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog weekly from their financial workbook ” The Stewardship of Wealth“.