In case you haven’t figured it out from reading my other posts, I hate debt.
The average American household with at least one credit card has more than $9,000 in credit card debt. -crown.org
My wife and I yes, at one time had debt. We had just married, she had just purchased a car, and stuff needed to be bought. By stuff I mean nothing important. The bills started racking up, and we started wondering where our hard-earned cash went. We never got too far into debt, we were always able to make the payments and avoid the interest.
But, we were still “technically” in debt. Lauren, my wife, and I started talking about one day sponsoring a child through World Vision. We kept telling ourselves once we were in a place financially we were going to sponsor a child. We both grew up in a household that had sponsored a child through World Vision, and knew the rewards we would have, and the blessing we would be to a child thousands of miles away from us.
Then, it happened… Conviction, God’s cattle prod er.
The borrower is slave to the lender. -Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)
Hear me say this, being in debt is not a sin. But, is being in debt what God intended us to do with the finances He entrusted us with?
After Lauren and I read Proverbs 22:7 we took it to heart, and got intense about getting out of debt. We cut up all of our credit cards, except for one, and drastically reduced money that was being spent on the frills of our life. Now, we don’t and didn’t have that many frills, so we had to find other means of becoming debt free.
Like I said, we got intense:
- We went around our apartment and began to find items that we could sell on eBay.
- We didn’t eat out as much as we use to.
- We reduced our entertainment budget, by not going to so many movies and finding ways to go on cheaper dates.
So, in November we finally became debt free. Then the coolest things started to happen. We volunteered to work for World Vision at a Casting Crowns concert, later in November. We were in charge of helping people fill out the sponsorship forms, and then turn in the paperwork for them.
Here is why I believe Proverbs 22:7 is so convicting. I believe that we think about compassion, more than we act out compassion, because we are to busy paying off Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
I know that money is not the only way that we can show compassion, but still, being in debt does not free you up to be or do all that God wants done with the resources He’s given you.
It was during on of Casting Crowns songs that both Lauren and I had the same flashback. Once the intermission began people started to come to the booth that we were working at, but the flashback we had been that we had told each other that when we can financially we would sponsor a child. So, we did. We sponsor a very determined little girl.
Every time I look at her face I smile, because of the look she is giving. Also, because she is being helped since we are debt free. And we are debt free because God convicted us. I don’t know how your finances are. You might be drowning in credit card debt, student loans, and car loans, but there is hope and a way out.
Start by writing down your debts smallest to largest, and begin with the smallest debt first. If you want to get real intense then cut up your credit cards, or get rid of the thing that is hindering the process, unless it’s a spouse you have to keep them. Sell some stuff, eBay released a statistic that says that the average American has about $3,000 worth of STUFF you don’t use or need lying around your house.
SELL IT!!!
Get on a budget. I will expand on this in a later post, but you need to be on a monthly budget. You need to tell your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went. Finally, pray. Pray that God would give the strength to make it through the time that it will take to get out of debt, and the strength to make the sacrifices that are needed to get out of debt.
So, let’s stop thinking about compassion, get debt free, and start acting on compassion.
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I was listening to the Dave Ramsey Show today, and there was a unique caller that was asking Dave for help. She was a 70-year-old woman being sued by Capital One. Before you begin to boo and hiss Capital One, listen to her story.
She told Dave that she had signed up for one of their cards that came in the mail and started using it. She racked up some charges on it for a while and then stopped using it.
Then she said, “Three years later I get a warrant on my door”.
Three years had gone by, and she had not paid the amount that she had charged on her Capital One credit card. They wanted to know what was in her wallet. She is being sued for $2,500.00.
Why doesn’t she just pay them? She can’t, because she doesn’t not make or have enough. She is on social security, and still receives some alimony.
You might ask, are there any family members? “None that I trust.” Her words, not mine.
Are there any friends that could help her out? “None that I trust.” Her words, not mine.
Does she owe Capital One the money? She sure does.
You could ask, “What will happen next?”
Or, you could ask my question, “How does a 70-year-old get herself in this situation?”
Maybe she had no clue how to handle money, because that is what her husband did? She did admit that she ran a business, but one of her kids did all the accounting. Or maybe she was never exposed to some pretty basic personal finance steps.
I subscribe to a blended method of two sets of steps.
Dave Ramsey Baby Steps
Crown Financial Ministries Money Map Principles
Maybe you have never heard anyone talk to you about personal finances, budgeting, no debt, savings, etc.
Step one: Put $1,000.00 in an emergency fund. This money goes into an account that is not easily accessible. It truly is money for a rainy day.
Step two: Clean up, and get rid of your debt. EVERYTHING! My wife and I used the Debt Snow Ball, we listed our debts smallest to largest and paid them off, one at a time. Once we finished the current smallest debt, we added that amount to what we were paying on the second debt.
These two steps, even though they are just the beginning, can save a lot of headache, heart ache, and money. If you want to know what the rest of the steps are I would recommend reading, “The Total Money Makeover” and “Financial Peace” by Dave Ramsey and/or “Your Money Map” and “Your Money Counts” by Howard Dayton.
Either way, my hope is that you won’t be 70 years old, and making financial mistakes that should have never been made. Start today, so you can change your tomorrow.
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Today my wife and I went into our local AT&T store to see if we could cut her phone plan, to save a couple of extra dollars. What ended up happening was not what we expected.
The AT&T employee was very helpful, in trying to help us figure out what would be the best plan for us, to still have enough minutes but not pay so much. We talked about cell phone plans, she mentioned their bundle plan, with DirecTV and DSL. We informed her that we couldn’t do the DirecTV, because we live in an apartment.
That’s why we are trying to save money. Saving up for a down payment on a house.
So, I asked her if there was a deal to combine their DSL (Internet) and our existing cell phone plan. She said that they were actually offering a deal to basically buy your business.
If you didn’t know AT&T will pay you $200, in VISA gift card, to switch from Comcast high-speed internet and go with AT&T DSL for 12 months.
Wait, there’s more…
We now have Comcast as a cable TV and Internet provider. So, I thought that I would give them a call and ask them what they thought about AT&T’s deal. I called and spoke with the billing department, and told them what we had been offered and that I didn’t want Comcast to lose my business. The billing department transferred me to the “Retention” department.
Don’t quite know why they call it the “Retention” department. When the operator answered the phone, their tone made it sound like it was the “Detention” department.
Anyways…
I had to re-tell my story to the Retention person, and without hesitation they said, “We can knock $20 off of your monthly bill for 12 months.”
For you non-mathematicians, that’s $240/year, and better than the AT&T deal.
I know it’s only $40 more, but that’s $240 extra that I didn’t know I could get, until I asked.
Just ask.
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“Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. I am only a few chapters in, and it is blowing my mind. I actually fit into one of the studies that Gladwell uses. I’M A STATISTIC!!!
Have you read it? Leave me a comment, and let me know what you think.
Check out some other books I have read.
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Right now you are breathing in oxygen, and exhaling out carbon dioxide.
Give this little exercise a try:
1) Exhale every last bit of carbon dioxide in your lungs. Almost to the point of passing out, but don’t pass out.
2) Now, inhale as much oxygen that you possibly can. Fill your lungs to their maximum capacity.
Why is there always a sense of calmness that comes over you when you take a deep breath? Breathing is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Our breath influences important bodily functions. The health of our physical, mental and emotional states is affected by this subconscious act. By paying attention to our breathing patterns, we can tune in to our internal condition and harness the core of our being.
What is at your core? What are you harnessing? What are you tuning in to?
Are we choosing to lead our lives’, and do the things that we want to do? Making decisions that give us fame and fortune? Or, maybe we are holding on to past hurts, or habits. We might have forgiven as a formality, but deep down in our core we are still holding onto that thing that wronged us. What are our hearts tuned to? Are our hearts and minds being pulled in the direction of what the world is broadcasting?
What is at your core?
The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. –Genesis 2:7
Just inhale, and let what is controlling you go, and then let the breath of life take control. I don’t know what you might be going through?
But…
Rest comes when our troubles and uncertainties are given over to Him. He is always and forever, so we can be confident in placing our concerns in His hand. He watches over us and protects us. He provides might and stability. He offers wisdom, insight and solutions for us to take. He guides our steps along the right path. As we trust Him, anxiety melts away. His peace allows us to enjoy true rest.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. -Psalm 4:8
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Everything above nothing is a gift from God. Just let that sink in before you keep reading.
If that is true, which it is, then what are they and what do we do with them. The gifts we receive from God can fall into three different categories: time, talents, and money.
What do we do with those gifts? We manage them, we are stewards of what God has given us.
Time is not spent doing what we want to do. It is spent pursuing the things that give God worth, that proclaim Him worthy. Our talents are not used for personal gain, or personal pleasure. We didn’t give ourselves the abilities and talents that we posses, they are a gift from God. They are to be used for His purpose. So, when we are asked why we are so gifted or talented, it’s a one word answer.
God.
Now, the hardest of all to manage, and not lay claim to. Money. We are to tithe back to Him 10% of our income. That’s it, that’s all we have to give Him, 10%. But, what if our minds always remembered that the 100% is a gift from Him. Then, how would our purchases, savings, and budgeting be different?
So, however you spend your time, talents, and money, do it for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31.
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A couple a days ago I heard someone explain why they have moving lights, multiple projectors, and big screens in their worship center. The answer was, “The best message, the Gospel, requires the best presentation”.
I normally know what is going to happen in a Chets Creek service, before it happens, because of my place of service. But, these past two weeks I have been speaking to the college life group about personal finances, and have been able to attend service as someone NOT in the know. These past two weeks have been a refueling of my soul, especially yesterday. Yesterday Chets’ worship/media team introduced some new elements to the worship experience. Yes, they cost money, but yes they made the presentation of the best message, better.
I never want to be happy and satisfied with how the best message is being presented. Whether it is corporately or personally, I always want to present it in such a way that it deserves.
So, how is the best message, the Gospel, being presented by you?
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I grew up playing the game of baseball. My parents got me involved with the sport when I was very young, and I enjoyed, and excelled at it all through high school. Many of life’s lessons came from the teams that I played on. I learned what it takes to get something done, not by you alone, but with a team of people that have different skills and abilities. But one of the most important things I learned was to never give up. You might have heard of people like Daniel Ruettiger (Rudy), or teams like the 1980 U.S.A. ice hockey team. I’m sure there have been many more stories of teams or individuals that have displayed the character of never giving up.
As much as I enjoyed playing baseball, and being on an all-star team every summer, there was a season that the concept of “Don’t give up” didn’t matter. It was the summer of 2001, and I was on the last all-star team I could play on because of my age. My sister had just returned from a mission trip to New Orleans, and wasn’t feeling well. When I say not feeling well, that’s definitely an understatement. She was in the ICU with a deadly low blood pressure and symptoms that the doctors could not figure out. This was definitely the first time that I made a decision to give up on playing the game I loved.
I spent many hours riding back and forth from my house to the hospital she was at. I also spent many nights not knowing what would happen to her, and praying for God’s will. I wrestled with playing or not playing that summer because, what was happening in my family’s life was far more important.
So, I gave up. But, I didn’t stop giving up.
I gave up my selfish desires of wanting to have a good season and play my best. I gave up the longing to keep winning games all summer so that we would miss the first part of school in the fall. I gave up wanting to please my coaches and my family with how I played.
There is a story in the bible that is the definition, in my opinion, of courage. It’s the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer, and it is found in 1 Samuel 14:1-23. My favorite verse out of the whole story is v.6
Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the
outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.
Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
There isn’t much pre-story about this in 1 Samuel, but I can just imagine Jonathan, a prince, had a lot of things bearing down on him. His priorities were probably decided for him, what he ate, what he wore, what he said. It was all laid out for him. Since Jonathan was a prince he was surely being groomed to one day be king. But, as you know, God’s plan was for David not Jonathan to become King. It amazes me that even though he knew, as did his father King Saul, that he would never become king he didn’t change his attitude toward God. So before Jonathan had the courage to leave an army that would protect him no matter what, and go and fight an army of thousands, he decided to give up. He gave up the priorities that he was told to have, he gave up the disappointment of not becoming king, and he gave up his selfish desires.
He gave up. But, he didn’t stop giving up.
Jonathan re focused his sights. Instead of focusing on what he wanted to have happen, he started focusing on what God was doing. The ending of this story is great, 1 Samuel 14:13-16.
I daily choose to die to my selfish needs, and give God my all. It’s not easy, but the rewards are worth it. That summer, after I gave up my personal wants and desires, God’s way was made known and His reward was great. I did end up playing on my last all-star team, and in our second game I hit my one, and only, home run. Sadly, none of my family ever saw it, because they were with my sister. After that game, I went to visit my sister in the hospital and gave her my home run ball, to let her know that I was playing for her and for God’s mighty hand to heal her. The reward was miraculous. Because still to this day, none of the doctors can explain what my sister had, or why she completely healed. But I can.
So, as this New Year is still in its beginning stages, I challenge us all to daily give up our selfish desires and always give in to God’s will.
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I have read, been read to, seen on video, and seen on flannel board the story of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 2:1-3:24)
You know the one where Eve is tempted by the serpent, and gets Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This fruit, I imagine, had the best looking skin, the sweetest aroma, and when it was eaten tasted better than a moon pie, or whatever you consider to be the best tasting thing on earth. They were probably a lot like the things that are our greatest temptations.
Nowhere in scripture does it say that being tempted is a sin. Now, giving into that temptation, that is the sin. I have been tempted many times in my life, as I am sure you have as well. Yes, I have even given in to some of those temptations. Shocker, I know. The thing about temptation is that it comes and goes, yet it requires a decision. Just a simple yes or no.
But wait, weren’t there two?
Did you forget it too? There were two trees mentioned in the story (Genesis 2:9). There was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and a less mentioned one, the tree of life.
How would history have been different?
Unfortunately, the bible doesn’t talk about what would have happened to them if they ate from the tree of life. A wild guess of mine is that they would have life, eternal life. Since God did an amazing job at naming the trees, seeing that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil gave Adam and Eve just that, I imagine that if they had eaten from the tree of life the bible might have been reduced a couple of books.
Reflect back to the flannel board pictures, after God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He left the tree of life still standing (Genesis 3:24).
I don’t know what happened to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Maybe, it was like most temptations, when after the choice is made, it’s forgotten and replaced by a new one. What I do know is that the tree of life still stands, which means that Christ, the giver of life, still stands for you and me. The new tree of life, God’s redemption at Christ’s expense, still stands for us. So that we can come home running, no matter where we have been, what we have done, or what we have seen.
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