As I mentioned at the beginning of this year, my blog posts are going to another level. Some posts may touch a nerve, but hopefully in a good and healing way for you as well as for myself. After all, bloggers blog to release what is going on internally, good and bad. We writers could not imagine life without a pen/pencil and paper/Word Program. If you are a die hard fan of anything, if you have a hobby that you couldn't imagine life without, then you know how writers feel. It is something we were born to do. The subject matter of our writing depends on our life experiences and how we deal with, or want to deal with, those experiences.
I am currently working on completing my Master of Science Degree in Management with a concentration in Marketing, three classes to go after this! I am at the point where I am ready to be finished already! But I insist upon doing my very best and turning in every piece of homework, every paper, with a high level of excellence. Why am I saying all of this? Because when working at such a level of excellence, time is of the essence and priority is of the utmost importance. This means that those who refuse to understand my current place in life, will have to go their own way. I cannot promise I will be the same person when it is finished. Nothing personal, but we only have one life. We only have 24 hours in each day. We only get about 70 years give or take a few years.
I have a book in me that is partially written down in a notebook and on a Word document; but mostly it is in my mind, my heart, and my soul. I think about this book every day because I know it will help millions of women, and men, around the world. The main point of this book will be to get the word out that even when life does not happen in the way you and I expected, assumed, or just believed it would; it's not over, don't give up and don't give in. Stay tuned for part two!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
There's no free lunch!
In the financial Services industry, at least here in The United States, there is a saying that 'there is no free lunch!' In other words you cannot get anything for free. Typically, if someone offers or gives you something, they want something in return even if they say they do not. This ingrained thought process, mentality, of 'no free lunch', is not necessarily bad; it is a form of self-protection. Because of this thought process however, many people do not know how to accept a true and pure gift. People have gotten used to 'being had' or 'waiting for the other shoe to drop'. When they have been given a gift in the past, the giver may have mentioned the gift months or even years later. The giver is now wanting to collect on the gift they initially said they did not want anything for in return.
The fact remains however, that there are many people on this earth who love to give out of a pure heart, asking for nothing in return. As a giver, I would like to offer some tips on how to give and how to receive. These tips when practiced, will protect both parties, the giver and the receiver. Please keep in mind that giving does not pertain to just money, it pertains to tangible as well as intangible gifts.
1). Think before you do. If you give whenever people ask, or even if they do not ask, people will perceive that 'your hand is free'. In other words, they will believe that you have a lot (of money) and you will hand out gifts at will. In my opinion, whether or not you are a wealthy individual, it is never a good idea to give at will. If you do, word will get around and you may be approached by absolute strangers. I will discuss this more in the next point.
2). Use common sense in your giving. If you are a Christian, you should pray for, and exercise the spirit of discernment. Deuteronomy 28-29 says 'They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them. If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!' The context of these verses is that God was angry at His people because they had turned their backs on him, and turned to other gods. The people were not discerning or understanding how God felt about this. We cannot turn our back on God and do our own thing, even in something as 'simple' as giving. Discernment is that one extra step you take when deciding whom to give to, when, how, and how much. I will talk more about that later.
3). People who have the gift of giving tend to be soft-hearted. There is nothing wrong with having a soft heart, but it had better be surrounded by a discerning mind and common sense. This does not mean that the giver should become mean-spirited and un-giving. To become such a person is just the opposite of the personality-type of a giver, and it is un-Godly. The fact is, God wants us to exercise common sense. He is not the author of confusion and He does not want us to be confused.
4). The left hand should not know what the right hand is doing. When you give, there is no need to make an announcement. '“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."--Matthew 6:1-4. The bottom line is, not even your close friends and family need to know what you are doing. You would have already spoken with Jesus, your closest friend, and He would have given you the OK to give. In fact, He may have spoken to you to give. If you want your gift to count for charitable giving tax purposes, by all means, write that check. If it is cash, make sure the receiving organization gives you a receipt and is aware you will be claiming the gift on your taxes. In fact, ask for a receipt whether it is cash or check. The key: there is no need to make a big deal.
5). Some people do not know how to accept gifts. If you want to give a small gift you will not claim on your taxes, you just feel lead to give someone a small gift; I suggest you still speak to God about it and ask Him for discernment. This is because some people are dealing with underlying issues such as pride and they do not know how to simply say 'thank you'. I have witnessed this with my own eyes. Do not let this type of experience keep you from giving in the future, learn from your experience and let God direct you. This is why I keep bringing up the importance of discernment. God will tell you to whom to give, and even to whom not to give. If you acted without discernment because you heard someone crying broke or just having a financial difficulty and you attempted to give them a small gift, these same people could still become prideful and may even attempt to embarrass you.
6). Many givers are not wealthy. Most givers are not rich or wealthy people. Givers are people who operate out of a budget just like everyone else. The difference is that givers include giving in their budget. Giving is not an afterthought for people who love to give. Givers are comfortable with not spending the extra money on a toy for themselves, and giving the money to someone, or some organization. The bottom line is this: we are all wired differently. Some people like to give and some have to work on the giving aspect of their personality. Because we all have different gifts and strengths, we must ask God to direct us and grow us in the area of giving.
7). Finally, use common sense. If you see someone on the side of the road with a can asking for money, you will not have time to stop and ask God for discernment. You should have already prayed to God for discernment. You should already know what you will do in that situation. If your pastor is asking for a special offering, you should already know if that is the church for you and that your special offering will be used wisely. Sitting in the pew squirming about what to do, wondering why they're always asking for money, is not the time to try to make a decision. God is not the author of confusion. Ask Him for help and discernment not only in giving, but in every aspect of your life. Amen!
The fact remains however, that there are many people on this earth who love to give out of a pure heart, asking for nothing in return. As a giver, I would like to offer some tips on how to give and how to receive. These tips when practiced, will protect both parties, the giver and the receiver. Please keep in mind that giving does not pertain to just money, it pertains to tangible as well as intangible gifts.
1). Think before you do. If you give whenever people ask, or even if they do not ask, people will perceive that 'your hand is free'. In other words, they will believe that you have a lot (of money) and you will hand out gifts at will. In my opinion, whether or not you are a wealthy individual, it is never a good idea to give at will. If you do, word will get around and you may be approached by absolute strangers. I will discuss this more in the next point.
2). Use common sense in your giving. If you are a Christian, you should pray for, and exercise the spirit of discernment. Deuteronomy 28-29 says 'They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them. If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!' The context of these verses is that God was angry at His people because they had turned their backs on him, and turned to other gods. The people were not discerning or understanding how God felt about this. We cannot turn our back on God and do our own thing, even in something as 'simple' as giving. Discernment is that one extra step you take when deciding whom to give to, when, how, and how much. I will talk more about that later.
3). People who have the gift of giving tend to be soft-hearted. There is nothing wrong with having a soft heart, but it had better be surrounded by a discerning mind and common sense. This does not mean that the giver should become mean-spirited and un-giving. To become such a person is just the opposite of the personality-type of a giver, and it is un-Godly. The fact is, God wants us to exercise common sense. He is not the author of confusion and He does not want us to be confused.
4). The left hand should not know what the right hand is doing. When you give, there is no need to make an announcement. '“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."--Matthew 6:1-4. The bottom line is, not even your close friends and family need to know what you are doing. You would have already spoken with Jesus, your closest friend, and He would have given you the OK to give. In fact, He may have spoken to you to give. If you want your gift to count for charitable giving tax purposes, by all means, write that check. If it is cash, make sure the receiving organization gives you a receipt and is aware you will be claiming the gift on your taxes. In fact, ask for a receipt whether it is cash or check. The key: there is no need to make a big deal.
5). Some people do not know how to accept gifts. If you want to give a small gift you will not claim on your taxes, you just feel lead to give someone a small gift; I suggest you still speak to God about it and ask Him for discernment. This is because some people are dealing with underlying issues such as pride and they do not know how to simply say 'thank you'. I have witnessed this with my own eyes. Do not let this type of experience keep you from giving in the future, learn from your experience and let God direct you. This is why I keep bringing up the importance of discernment. God will tell you to whom to give, and even to whom not to give. If you acted without discernment because you heard someone crying broke or just having a financial difficulty and you attempted to give them a small gift, these same people could still become prideful and may even attempt to embarrass you.
6). Many givers are not wealthy. Most givers are not rich or wealthy people. Givers are people who operate out of a budget just like everyone else. The difference is that givers include giving in their budget. Giving is not an afterthought for people who love to give. Givers are comfortable with not spending the extra money on a toy for themselves, and giving the money to someone, or some organization. The bottom line is this: we are all wired differently. Some people like to give and some have to work on the giving aspect of their personality. Because we all have different gifts and strengths, we must ask God to direct us and grow us in the area of giving.
7). Finally, use common sense. If you see someone on the side of the road with a can asking for money, you will not have time to stop and ask God for discernment. You should have already prayed to God for discernment. You should already know what you will do in that situation. If your pastor is asking for a special offering, you should already know if that is the church for you and that your special offering will be used wisely. Sitting in the pew squirming about what to do, wondering why they're always asking for money, is not the time to try to make a decision. God is not the author of confusion. Ask Him for help and discernment not only in giving, but in every aspect of your life. Amen!
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Betrayal
Betrayal. I don't know about you, but when I hear that word, it sends shivers down my spine. If you have lived long enough you have been betrayed at least once. If it only happens once in your life time it is more than enough. As I observe betrayal whether in my life or someone Else's, one thing seems to ring true in every instance: the betrayer was a coward. Something made him or her afraid and they decided to take the easy way out. In American slang vernacular: you got thrown under the bus. That was the only way for the betrayer to obtain perceived vindication. It was his only way out of a difficult situation. In many cases it was a situation the betrayer created himself. He became jealous, envious, or listened to the wrong people.
Betrayal. I'm not talking about being stood up for a lunch date or a friend changing their mind about plans you both made. I'm talking about the type of betrayal that leaves you reeling for a very long time. I'm talking about the person--friend or family member, in whom you put complete trust. So much trust, they knew enough about you they could kill you and get away with it. Sounds pretty harsh, but I'm talking about real life in my blogs this year. This is the year of the different. It will be different things for different people. But this is going to be a year unlike any other. No time for status quo.
Betrayal. Most of you know about the ultimate betrayal: When Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. 'Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him'. --Matthew 26:14-16. Judas was one of the 12 closest people to Jesus. They traveled together, they ate meals together, they slept under the same roof, under the same stars.
This is why as we grow in Christ and mature in age, we have to learn to watch and listen. We have to ask God for wisdom as we watch people's actions and listen to the words that come out of their mouths. We all miss queues and signs, regardless, it is how we handle the resulting mess that makes the difference. How we handle the betrayers in our lives is very important. How we handle the betrayer shows God that we can handle the blessings He has for us. How do we handle our betrayers? The same way Jesus handled Judas.
'Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” --Matthew 26:48-50. 'Friend, why have you come?' The key to dealing with betrayers is to 'Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.'--Matthew 10:16. Protect your assets, protect your family, protect your heart, and let Jesus deal with the betrayer. It will not always be easy, but it is the best way. You will not be the first and you will not be the last to be betrayed. How you handle it is important for your future.
Betrayal hurts. It's a wound that can take a very long time to heal. The key is to make sure the wound heals and that it does not fester. That it does not become infected with retribution, hatred, or revenge. As the betrayed, you have a choice. If you make the right choice, God will honor you and all of the people that are watching you.
'The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Amen.
All scripture taken from the New King James version of The Holy Bible.
Betrayal. I'm not talking about being stood up for a lunch date or a friend changing their mind about plans you both made. I'm talking about the type of betrayal that leaves you reeling for a very long time. I'm talking about the person--friend or family member, in whom you put complete trust. So much trust, they knew enough about you they could kill you and get away with it. Sounds pretty harsh, but I'm talking about real life in my blogs this year. This is the year of the different. It will be different things for different people. But this is going to be a year unlike any other. No time for status quo.
Betrayal. Most of you know about the ultimate betrayal: When Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. 'Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him'. --Matthew 26:14-16. Judas was one of the 12 closest people to Jesus. They traveled together, they ate meals together, they slept under the same roof, under the same stars.
This is why as we grow in Christ and mature in age, we have to learn to watch and listen. We have to ask God for wisdom as we watch people's actions and listen to the words that come out of their mouths. We all miss queues and signs, regardless, it is how we handle the resulting mess that makes the difference. How we handle the betrayers in our lives is very important. How we handle the betrayer shows God that we can handle the blessings He has for us. How do we handle our betrayers? The same way Jesus handled Judas.
'Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” --Matthew 26:48-50. 'Friend, why have you come?' The key to dealing with betrayers is to 'Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.'--Matthew 10:16. Protect your assets, protect your family, protect your heart, and let Jesus deal with the betrayer. It will not always be easy, but it is the best way. You will not be the first and you will not be the last to be betrayed. How you handle it is important for your future.
Betrayal hurts. It's a wound that can take a very long time to heal. The key is to make sure the wound heals and that it does not fester. That it does not become infected with retribution, hatred, or revenge. As the betrayed, you have a choice. If you make the right choice, God will honor you and all of the people that are watching you.
'The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.'--Psalm 23:1-6
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.'--Psalm 23:1-6
All scripture taken from the New King James version of The Holy Bible.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Dumb stuff!
When I was in my 20's, I did some stupid stuff. Yes, I can hear that collective sigh as most of you think to yourselves, 'that would be most of us'. But one thing stands out as the dumbest thing I did in that decade of my 20's. I bought a manual shift car. What was stupid about that? I did not know how to drive a manual shift. To this day I do not remember how I made it home from the dealership.
I remember thinking to myself though, 'it can't be that difficult can it?' When I asked my Dad to give me a few pointers, he did just that and then I was on my own. I distinctly remember hearing him grumble as he walked away, 'who buys a car without knowing how to drive it?'
Every morning when I went out I looked into the car, expecting it to have changed from a manual shift to an automatic. When I realized it was still a manual shift, my stomach would sink. I conceded that it was a dumb idea, but I had no choice now. I would have to learn. I cannot tell you the amount of times I stalled in traffic, how many times I was cursed for holding up traffic, or how many times I begged God to help me!
Life is like that. We make mistakes: we spend too much money and then have buyers remorse. We get into and stay in a relationship that was not God ordained. We move to another city or job when deep down we know we should have stayed where we were, or at least waited. We buy a car we do not know how to drive. Then we ask God to get us out of the situation! Guess what, He seldom does. He will go through with us. He will protect us through the journey of the mistake, but remove us from it, seldom.
What I love about these learning experiences is that they strengthen us. Some of our mistakes take years to fix, sometimes even a lifetime. But when we trust in God, He will go through the valley with us. "Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"--Psalm 23:4.
A few years after I learned to drive a manual shift, I taught my youngest sister. She did not think she would learn either, but she did indeed learn. In fact, my Dad mentioned once that she drove better that I did! My Dad is a comedian. I decided to take that as a compliment. I learned from my bad decision and was able to teach someone else from that mistake.
Today, all these years later, I recently bought a new vehicle. I needed a change, so it is a manual shift. Yes, I am enjoying the change, and every once in a while I think about the silly decision that brought me to having a choice as to what kind of vehicle I can drive. Should we all go out and do dumb stuff expecting to learn from it? No, I would not take that chance, but I know when we trust and believe in God, He will take us through.
Don't beat yourself up over your mistakes, stupid decisions, dumb stuff; whatever you want to call it. Definitely think first. Pray first. Count to 10. Do whatever you have to do to avoid that wrong decision. But know that God does not abandon His children when we do dumb stuff. I thank Him for that!
I remember thinking to myself though, 'it can't be that difficult can it?' When I asked my Dad to give me a few pointers, he did just that and then I was on my own. I distinctly remember hearing him grumble as he walked away, 'who buys a car without knowing how to drive it?'
Every morning when I went out I looked into the car, expecting it to have changed from a manual shift to an automatic. When I realized it was still a manual shift, my stomach would sink. I conceded that it was a dumb idea, but I had no choice now. I would have to learn. I cannot tell you the amount of times I stalled in traffic, how many times I was cursed for holding up traffic, or how many times I begged God to help me!
Life is like that. We make mistakes: we spend too much money and then have buyers remorse. We get into and stay in a relationship that was not God ordained. We move to another city or job when deep down we know we should have stayed where we were, or at least waited. We buy a car we do not know how to drive. Then we ask God to get us out of the situation! Guess what, He seldom does. He will go through with us. He will protect us through the journey of the mistake, but remove us from it, seldom.
What I love about these learning experiences is that they strengthen us. Some of our mistakes take years to fix, sometimes even a lifetime. But when we trust in God, He will go through the valley with us. "Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"--Psalm 23:4.
A few years after I learned to drive a manual shift, I taught my youngest sister. She did not think she would learn either, but she did indeed learn. In fact, my Dad mentioned once that she drove better that I did! My Dad is a comedian. I decided to take that as a compliment. I learned from my bad decision and was able to teach someone else from that mistake.
Today, all these years later, I recently bought a new vehicle. I needed a change, so it is a manual shift. Yes, I am enjoying the change, and every once in a while I think about the silly decision that brought me to having a choice as to what kind of vehicle I can drive. Should we all go out and do dumb stuff expecting to learn from it? No, I would not take that chance, but I know when we trust and believe in God, He will take us through.
Don't beat yourself up over your mistakes, stupid decisions, dumb stuff; whatever you want to call it. Definitely think first. Pray first. Count to 10. Do whatever you have to do to avoid that wrong decision. But know that God does not abandon His children when we do dumb stuff. I thank Him for that!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Time
With a new year upon us, I got to thinking about time. I heard my dad say once, that 'you start dying the moment you are born'. It sounded depressing, sad, but deep down I knew it was true. When we become old enough to think about it, we start dreaming, making plans, and making bucket lists. We think about the places we would like to visit, the careers we would like to have, the families we would like to start. Some of those dreams happen, some do not, and some are delayed. Life seldom goes as planned, but there is nothing wrong with planning. Whether we plan or not, time happens. Time marches on, it watches us age, and watches us change.
When I was nine years old, I was almost hit by a bus while waiting in a bus depot with my mom. I stepped into the path of the bus and it was moving too fast to have stopped in time. What saved me were the people, bystanders who yelled for me to get out of the way. When I was 14 years old, I almost drowned in the school swimming pool. A teacher pulled me out just in time. When I was in my early 20's, I was driving to work on the interstate when a driver clipped the back fender of my little two-door hatchback. That little clip sent me spinning out of control, three times, even under an underpass. Sometimes I think about those incidents and they don't sadden me, they make me think about how God saved my life in each instance, and how important time is.
I think because of those near death experiences, I view time a little differently than most people. In fact, I believe most people who have had near death experiences view time differently. It's not taken for granted, but instead treated with respect. We try to fit as much as we can into a 24-hour period. Sometimes we over-do this and it drives others crazy. Sometimes we crash from exhaustion.
As we head into this new year, I would like to make a suggestion. Time does not care about that book you want to write, those credits you need to finish your degree, or that trip you would like to take. Time will march on regardless. Time is aware that we will all die. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that we all have an appointment with death. We do not know when our time will be, but in the meantime, we all have the same 24 hours per day to meet those goals and dreams we keep talking about. Most of us have heard the saying that 'talk is cheap'. Well I agree. Stop talking about what you are going to do, and just do it. No one wants to constantly hear about your dreams, we would rather see you working towards and accomplishing them.
The date on our daytimers has changed. It is now 2014, and it will be for the next 12 months. What will you do with your time?
When I was nine years old, I was almost hit by a bus while waiting in a bus depot with my mom. I stepped into the path of the bus and it was moving too fast to have stopped in time. What saved me were the people, bystanders who yelled for me to get out of the way. When I was 14 years old, I almost drowned in the school swimming pool. A teacher pulled me out just in time. When I was in my early 20's, I was driving to work on the interstate when a driver clipped the back fender of my little two-door hatchback. That little clip sent me spinning out of control, three times, even under an underpass. Sometimes I think about those incidents and they don't sadden me, they make me think about how God saved my life in each instance, and how important time is.
I think because of those near death experiences, I view time a little differently than most people. In fact, I believe most people who have had near death experiences view time differently. It's not taken for granted, but instead treated with respect. We try to fit as much as we can into a 24-hour period. Sometimes we over-do this and it drives others crazy. Sometimes we crash from exhaustion.
As we head into this new year, I would like to make a suggestion. Time does not care about that book you want to write, those credits you need to finish your degree, or that trip you would like to take. Time will march on regardless. Time is aware that we will all die. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that we all have an appointment with death. We do not know when our time will be, but in the meantime, we all have the same 24 hours per day to meet those goals and dreams we keep talking about. Most of us have heard the saying that 'talk is cheap'. Well I agree. Stop talking about what you are going to do, and just do it. No one wants to constantly hear about your dreams, we would rather see you working towards and accomplishing them.
The date on our daytimers has changed. It is now 2014, and it will be for the next 12 months. What will you do with your time?
Friday, December 27, 2013
Choose
This time of year many of us begin to think about next year. Right after Christmas gifts are opened, many people start thinking about the debt they have incurred, the jobs they must go back to, and what the future holds for the following year.
For the first two or three months of the new year, people consider making changes in their finances: saving more money, putting more away for retirement, and spending less, etc. But financial matters take work and most people are not willing to stick with it for the long haul. But the long haul is what it will take. Anything worth having, and financial security is worth having, takes work. It's not something you can set up once and never review again until the money is needed. Just like anything else of importance, changes and updates will need to be made from time to time. This is especially true when life events happen--expected or unexpected.
Although anytime is a great time to make changes, the beginning of the year is a great time. Everyone considers the new year as a fresh start for saving money, losing weight, and investing in the relationships of family and friends. The new year is traditionally a time of turning over a new leaf.
The fact is however, we must have a plan. We may have the best ideas and the best intentions, but without a plan, its just self-sabotage. The good thing about plans is that they can be tweaked, changed. Allowing for some change removes the frustration that can sometimes set in, when our plans are not going, well, as planned. How much money would we like to save over the next 12 months? Be realistic. We would all like to save much more than we probably actually can, but we must start somewhere. When planning for saving, we must look at our overall budget: income, bills, emergencies, etc. Regardless, I guarantee that if you stick with your plan, by this time next year, you will be pleasantly surprised, and indeed a little proud of yourself.
When planning, remember to include those who will be involved in your venture. If you are married, that means your spouse. If you have children that means they should be involved in saving as well. Children are never too young to understand the value of money. In fact, if they are not taught the value of money when they are very young, they are being set up for when they are accosted by credit card offers on their college campus, or just whimsical spending. They are being set up for financial failure.
Speaking of financial failure, although I do not suggest you run out and spend like crazy because you can eventually recover from losing everything to bankruptcy, job loss, etc., it is not the end of the world. But it does take time to recover, in some cases a very long time. It is best to do things right the first time. Do not be afraid to sit down with a financial counselor. A third party always has an objective viewpoint that you and your family may not be able to see.
This may not be obvious to everyone, so I will say it. Saving money means you will not be able to buy everything you want, at least not right away. If your plan is to save $50 per paycheck, that means $50 that cannot go towards that new pair of shoes, that nice bag, or that sudden road trip. Stick to your plan no matter what, because something will always come up and you will find that you have saved nothing by this time next year.
Finally, like most things of importance in life, you cannot tell everyone what you are doing, just do it! Some friends and family members cannot handle change. If they see you changing for the better, they may mean well, but be on the look out for sabotage. The bottom line is this: many of you are believers who know that God watches over you, but He wants you to use common sense. He wants us to treat our finances with care. Opposition will come in the guise of emergencies and sabotage, but stick with it, and if you do have a true emergency, you will have the money to handle the situation. Just remember to replenish the account.
I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed, safe, and happy new year. Below is one of my favorite passages of scripture. I hope it gives you the same peace it does me.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26.
finance
For the first two or three months of the new year, people consider making changes in their finances: saving more money, putting more away for retirement, and spending less, etc. But financial matters take work and most people are not willing to stick with it for the long haul. But the long haul is what it will take. Anything worth having, and financial security is worth having, takes work. It's not something you can set up once and never review again until the money is needed. Just like anything else of importance, changes and updates will need to be made from time to time. This is especially true when life events happen--expected or unexpected.
Although anytime is a great time to make changes, the beginning of the year is a great time. Everyone considers the new year as a fresh start for saving money, losing weight, and investing in the relationships of family and friends. The new year is traditionally a time of turning over a new leaf.
The fact is however, we must have a plan. We may have the best ideas and the best intentions, but without a plan, its just self-sabotage. The good thing about plans is that they can be tweaked, changed. Allowing for some change removes the frustration that can sometimes set in, when our plans are not going, well, as planned. How much money would we like to save over the next 12 months? Be realistic. We would all like to save much more than we probably actually can, but we must start somewhere. When planning for saving, we must look at our overall budget: income, bills, emergencies, etc. Regardless, I guarantee that if you stick with your plan, by this time next year, you will be pleasantly surprised, and indeed a little proud of yourself.
When planning, remember to include those who will be involved in your venture. If you are married, that means your spouse. If you have children that means they should be involved in saving as well. Children are never too young to understand the value of money. In fact, if they are not taught the value of money when they are very young, they are being set up for when they are accosted by credit card offers on their college campus, or just whimsical spending. They are being set up for financial failure.
Speaking of financial failure, although I do not suggest you run out and spend like crazy because you can eventually recover from losing everything to bankruptcy, job loss, etc., it is not the end of the world. But it does take time to recover, in some cases a very long time. It is best to do things right the first time. Do not be afraid to sit down with a financial counselor. A third party always has an objective viewpoint that you and your family may not be able to see.
This may not be obvious to everyone, so I will say it. Saving money means you will not be able to buy everything you want, at least not right away. If your plan is to save $50 per paycheck, that means $50 that cannot go towards that new pair of shoes, that nice bag, or that sudden road trip. Stick to your plan no matter what, because something will always come up and you will find that you have saved nothing by this time next year.
Finally, like most things of importance in life, you cannot tell everyone what you are doing, just do it! Some friends and family members cannot handle change. If they see you changing for the better, they may mean well, but be on the look out for sabotage. The bottom line is this: many of you are believers who know that God watches over you, but He wants you to use common sense. He wants us to treat our finances with care. Opposition will come in the guise of emergencies and sabotage, but stick with it, and if you do have a true emergency, you will have the money to handle the situation. Just remember to replenish the account.
I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed, safe, and happy new year. Below is one of my favorite passages of scripture. I hope it gives you the same peace it does me.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26.
finance
Monday, December 2, 2013
Where the heart is
'...He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ Acts 13:22.
This verse has been a source of comfort to me ever since I figured out what it really meant. You see, for a long time I could not understand how God could call David a man after His own heart when David had done so many bad things and made so many wrong decisions. God never changed His mind about what he said in the verse above. After all, David committed adultery, murder, and lust. He even looked the other way when one of his sons raped his own sister. To say that he was the patriarch of a very dysfunctional family is to put it lightly.
What I figured out about David was that he admitted his sins and short comings to God, and asked forgiveness whenever he did wrong.
'Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your loving kindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
This verse has been a source of comfort to me ever since I figured out what it really meant. You see, for a long time I could not understand how God could call David a man after His own heart when David had done so many bad things and made so many wrong decisions. God never changed His mind about what he said in the verse above. After all, David committed adultery, murder, and lust. He even looked the other way when one of his sons raped his own sister. To say that he was the patriarch of a very dysfunctional family is to put it lightly.
What I figured out about David was that he admitted his sins and short comings to God, and asked forgiveness whenever he did wrong.
'Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your loving kindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight— ...' Psalm 51:1-4
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight— ...' Psalm 51:1-4
David's heart was in the right place because he admitted when he was wrong and asked God to forgive him. He was just as human as we are today. He made mistakes, made bad decisions; he went left when he should have gone right. But at the end of the day, He knew that having a right relationship with God was what mattered most.
When we mess up, make a mistake, or make a bad decision, the first step to fixing things is to ask God to forgive us. Once we do that, we are on the way to keeping our heart in the right place.
Beware, when we start down the path of keeping our heart in the right place, we will be misunderstood by many, just like David was. But as we read the Psalms we see that David did not allow naysayers to deter him. Whenever he found himself in trouble with family issues or problems with enemies, he called out to God. Call on God and he will take care of everything. Just make sure your heart is in the right place.
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