2026 - The Strength Of The Ox

 

2026 - The Strength Of The Ox

"Where no oxen are, the crib is empty, but much increase [of crops] comes by the strength of the ox." (Proverbs 14:4)

    As we begin 2026, I want to share my longtime thoughts about an aspect of this verse, and how applying the wisdom from it can help in managing our finances.

    Going way back, many times I sensed a parallel of the benefits of the ox to the use of technology and innovation - especially in the workplace, as I saw how the company I worked for of humble beginnings grew leveraging technology from being literally a garage start-up to having their first million dollar month in a relatively short timeframe.

    So, how and where can we apply technology to our finances? Let's cover some today.

    Start with the area of tracking your spending. You can do this yourself, building a basic digital spreadsheet in Excel, entering the categories you've spent on and then staying with it to see how much you've spent and what needs to be adjusted. You can also purchase software that will create budget spreadsheets and will produce reports and graphics for illumination.

    One budget spreadsheet for purchase to consider is from the site "Mama's On A Budget", which offers biblically-based tools to help set up an easy to use sheet. Here is their website:

https://mamasonabudget.org/

    To apply more effortless and powerful technology in this approach, there are financial tracking tools available for a subscription fee (some have free versions) which are very powerful. A few well-rated apps are shown below, with each having certain strengths.

EveryDollar (from Dave Ramsey)

YNAB (You Need a Budget)

Simplifi by Quicken

Rocket Money

Monarch

    This post is not to endorse certain apps... though I was very impressed with the first two above. Dave Ramsey's site provides action steps and helps to set aside money towards finding margin to pay off debts. View the apps/sites above to point you in the direction of locating one that will work for you personally. The ones which automatically link to your bank accounts will reduce your time and effort to see results. Most will auto-categorize your spending. 

    Most apps will require a subscription fee, and my general advice is to avoid as many subscription fees as possible, but given how implementing these particular apps will in turn show you how to save money each month towards paying down debts (some even provide coaching advice for paying off debts), they will prove to be worth it. Concerning subscriptions, one feature is they will show you what you are spending on them and allow you to unsubscribe with a few clicks.

    How about spending less money when you do spend?

    For groceries and online shopping, investigate apps such as ibotta, Fetch Rewards, Rakuten and Checkout 51. You can locate offers, scan receipts and receive credit towards gift cards or reward payments in return for your loyalty.

    For gas, it could not be any easier to save money than by downloading the GasBuddy app and then being able to quickly locate the best prices for gas in your neighborhood, or somewhere else when you are on the go and otherwise have no knowledge of the area.

    Instead of rummaging through garage sales (which can be fun sometimes), if you have a need for an item and are open to pre-owned, utilize the technology of Craigslist. There, you can quickly search for specific items while placing specific limitations of price range and location.

    For dining out or to-go, leverage the benefits of signing up for the restaurant's dining clubs. Granted, you do have to deal with e-mails arriving almost daily, but they will include timely discounts for dining with them and many will offer free birthday and anniversary meals and desserts. Groupon is another easy tool to locate dining and entertainment discounts for places that do not have their own discount club.

    When you've identified a certain item you want to purchase, a quick check of Google coupon codes can show you if a discount can be applied.

    Please consider the amount of time you already spend using technology in less than productive ways - by gaming, social media scrolling, surfing and such, and instead taking a portion of that time to apply some of the suggestions above and have that technology bring you tangible benefits that can help pay down debts and progress towards debt-freedom in 2026.

    And lastly, be encouraged to lean on Who is greater than technology, for the Lord knows more than all the search engines of the planet put together, can move faster than the greatest supercomputer man can create, has deeper and more specific wisdom for you than the ultimate A.I. to yet be devised. Seek and learn and follow His voice from the Holy Spirit to you, for He will provide specific direction... knowing all that is out there, seen and unseen which affects you personally.

Our Lord is great and powerful. There is no limit to what he knows. 

(Psalms 147:5)

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

    

Virtuous and Noble

 Virtuous and Noble

    In Proverbs 31:10 it is written, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies" (BRG), and stated in another translation is "Who can find a wife of noble character? She is far more precious than jewels" (CSB). Given the quality of praise attached to this woman of great character in Proverbs 31, today we will look at how some of those traits can be applied to any of us... man or woman, in our finances.

    In verse 17 it says, "She gets ready to work hard. Her arms are strong" (NIRV), it is also described as "She is energetic, a hard worker" (TLB). This is how we are instructed to apply ourselves in our occupation - to be ready to work and energetic, and aligns perfectly with Colossians 3:23, where we are to work unto the Lord and not unto men.

    Working unto the Lord provides us with strength beyond what we can muster ourselves, fortitude to keep going, and going with encouragement to other coworkers when challenges arise. If we follow this woman's level of effort in the workplace, it will stand out to management and return to bless us, and will speak as a testimony to those around us... opening the door to speak of eternal things to them.

    Verse 27 reads "She looks well to how things go in her household." We can apply this towards knowing where we are spending our money at all times. If you want to be in a better place reducing debts and eliminating them, the best, immediate action you can take is to record every time you spend for a month or two, and look over the results. You will see the veil removed, exposing larger amounts than you expected in certain areas. 

    If you want to see results, please take five minutes and click on the Archives section and read the October 2023 post titled "The X-Ray", where we focus on using the tool of recording and reflecting on expenses to bring about change.

    A vital piece of instruction comes from verse 16, "She considers a new field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]" (AMPC). This can be applied to a huge number of areas in our lives. With our finances, to sit down soberly and consider our current monthly obligations before we sign ourselves to new ones, to genuinely question if we really need to make a sizeable purchase in light of our overall picture and goals.

    I could write an entire post from this verse 16, and how much of a difference it makes to apply its wisdom - that usually the main hurdles are to be humble enough to do so and to take the time to consider that new field spoken of. But you can also receive volumes of instruction right now, by stepping back and taking a look at past decisions made... when you took the time to consider that new field, and the benefit you received from doing so, and when you did not and later had regret.

    Verse 20 it is written, "Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy" (CSB). This shows how she is in a frame of mind consistently to be aware of those in need around her, which as we should know, is very close to the heart of the Lord. If you choose to give to ministries who serve the needs of the poor, I encourage you to give to those who serve in the name of Jesus Christ... who go beyond fulfilling an immediate physical need, but also minster to the complete person and lead them towards salvation.

    I feel the Denver Rescue Mission is one of several great organizations who does this. They help restore the lives of people experiencing homelessness and addiction through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional programs and community outreach with the goal of returning them to society as productive, self-sufficient citizens. Their website is denverrescuemission.org.

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

    

    

No One

 

No One

    "No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Matthew 6:24)

    These words spoken by Jesus Christ were to make it clear that there is a choice to be made... in our hearts, that there is no middle ground, and that no one is exempt from the principle. Jesus sought to show people who were trusting in their riches that there was someone much greater to trust in.                         

    When situations arise, we will not encounter the scene shown above - with two clear roads and puffy clouds signaling each direction. But it will be evident to those believers who read and retain His Word, listen to His voice and are patient to wait and make the wise decision.

    Jesus used the verb "serve" twice in the verse, its definition includes the meaning of to be a servant and to be of use. As believers in Christ, we want to be a servant unto Him and to be of use in every area... including our finances.

    It may seem outlandish to some that they serve money, but consider those, who when they are paid, their very first thought is to what they can spend it on... right now, first, and they may later drop a token amount in the offering if they attend church. 

    Contrast this with the path in serving God faithfully. The believer first recognizes where his wealth has come from, as it is written in Deuteronomy 8:18 - "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth". In response, he or she then sets aside from their gain to honor the Lord in tithes and offerings, following Proverbs 3:9, "Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency and with the firstfruits of all your income".

    Look at those who plunge themselves into deep debt because they feel they have to have to newest and best things in so many areas. They strain to earn more and more to keep serving this appetite. Then when additional money does come their way, they agree to additional debt for bigger and better things and continue serving. 

    On the other side, the one who is mindful of the Lord, recalls His Word guiding him from Romans 13:8 to "Keep out of debt and owe no many anything, except to love one another." And they lean on 1 Timothy 6:8, "But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content." 

    And as it relates to others in need, God's Word succinctly communicates it to us in one verse... "There are those who generously scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want." (Proverbs 11:24). This defies reason, but it is because God's hand is at work, increasing more to those who give generously (serving God) so they can abound to every good work, while the other person (serving money) finds themselves wanting more and more and still being unsatisfied.

    We also need to regard soberly that Jesus stated no one is exempt from this. The Lord has made it plain from His perspective in knowing all things that every human being as they live will serve one or the other... God or money.

    In closing, if you are unsure and you really want to gauge where you stand in your serving, I bring to you in love the words Christ said in Matthew 6:21:

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

    

    

Cars

 

Cars

"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

                                            (Proverbs 18:15)

    Given that after your home, cars will be the second largest thing that you purchase, speaks to the importance of gaining as much knowledge as we can before we set foot onto the car dealer's lot.

    The first decision to make is to soberly view your finances and arrive at a final price that is reasonable and within your budget. And you know from reading this post over time that I encourage you stay out of debt if at all possible, but if you are stuck, and must take a loan out, do not let it be for more than 36 months. If a car loan is longer, you will owe more than the car is worth until the last few months. 

    I encourage you to purchase and not lease a vehicle, a lease is merely rent and after the period you have to turn in the car with zero to show for it - and possibly have to pay more for high mileage or other stipulations. Purchasing your car, you'll own it outright and can choose to sell it or trade it in towards the cost of your next vehicle.

    The next decision to make is to buy new or used... I encourage you to be open to pre-owned vehicles, a new car loses about half its value in the first few years. You can buy 3-5 year old cars that are in "like new" condition at a huge discount from brand new.

    Thanks to advancements in engineering, manufacturing, better materials and improved lubricants, the average lifespan of cars has increased substantially over time. The current average in the U.S. is over 16 years and 150,000 miles, so you can purchase a 5-year old vehicle (at a large discount) and receive over a decade of service on average.

    Another drawback to a new vehicle is the increased insurance expense (which you also have to make room for in your budget), for the insurance company to cover the replacement cost of a new vehicle, which in June 2025 averaged over $48,000.

    Once you determine your needs for the type of vehicle, do the research extensively and let it lead you to the most reliable models in that class. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that it gets you safely to your destination - don't fall for buying a slick-looking design that does not have reliability... it will not look as good on the side of the road with you waiting for the tow truck to arrive :-).

    With online technology we have an enormous advantage from the past to easily locate many prospective cars in our area. When you're down to zeroing in on what may be "the one" for you, handle it this way:

- When taking the first test drive, obtain a comprehensive vehicle data report and even consider a second report from another provider to confirm the information.

- Wait and take a second test drive the next day, this gives you time to assess the first encounter, sleep on it and allow the Lord to provide direction.

- After the second test drive, have a local mechanic do an inspection of the vehicle. If the seller will not allow it, consider moving on to another seller. An inspection is a reasonable price to pay versus the cost of the car to make sure it does not contain an unknown repair or issue not evident from the test drives.

- Then, if you still feel peace from the Lord, go in confidence.

    Your insurance expense is one of the big chunks to owning a vehicle. To maximize your dollars in this area of necessity, do these things:

Unless you are 100% satisfied with your carrier, shop around and see what your rate can be for the same coverage elsewhere. Continue to do this annually.

Pull out your policy, read it, understand what every piece of coverage represents and determine if you need each of the areas that it covers, such as road service, car rental, medical, etc.

Especially be scrutinizing the deductible amount on the policy. A low deductible means higher rates. Consider raising your deductible to lower your rates and pay for the smaller occurrences yourself.

    

    Then, take good care of your vehicle, mindful of the amount you have invested in it to begin with. Stay on top of oil changes and routine maintenance, and even consider taking classes to learn how to handle the basics on your own and save the money. There are local community education classes (an example of one is in the link below) where you can learn how to repair and maintain your car in less than a day.

https://denvertoollibrary.org/automotive-classes

    You can also view online videos to assist in performing some basic repairs or replacements - specific to your vehicle. This tool has helped me work through some tricky circumstances.

And lastly, when considering everything with the second largest item you will purchase, remember to stick with these words from Proverbs 4:6 :

"Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you. Love wisdom and it will protect you."

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

    

    

    

God Will Provide

 

God Will Provide

And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." So they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)

    Please take a moment and reflect on how powerful three of the words are from this verse that Abraham spoke in faith.

God - Abraham is stating this work will be done by Elohim, the first name for God from the Hebrew Bible as the majestic ruler over all. He's being specific as to who will be doing this.

Will - Abraham is speaking from the witness he's received from time alone with God, knowing in his heart it is God's will to meet this need.

Provide - Abraham is saying the Lord will make adequate preparation for this event.

    It is even more enlightening to view the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), as it declares "God himself is providing the lamb for the sacrifice, my son." I feel the use of the word providing brings the timing and action into context, that God was already working "behind the scenes", causing the ram to move into their area and be later caught in a thicket.

    This brings my thoughts to the worship song "Way Maker" we sing in our church. As it's lyrics include:

Even when I don't see it, You're working, 

Even when I don't feel it, You're working,

You never stop, You never stop working. 

    Reading from Romans 11:36, it is written "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things..." Because all things began with Him, He is the only One who can promise to us that He will provide and be able to fulfill it, as He causes all things to align with His will.

    Later in Genesis 22, when the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham, stopping him from slaying his son... and then the ram appeared - this caused Abraham to name that place Mount Moriah Jehovah Jireh, meaning The Lord Will Provide.

    I will share that after my wife Karen and I began teaching the class "Debt-Free & Prosperous Living", the very first couple who responded back with the victory and testimony that they had paid off their mortgage were members of Jehovah Jireh Church of God in Christ, Deacon William Henry and Sister Bonnae Byrd.

    If you are interested in attending a free 3-hour class in the future, please contact Broomfield Assembly.

    So, before there becomes a necessity, I encourage you to feed your faith with these verses, so you are prepared in your heart as Abraham was, to declare that the Lord will provide for you:

And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)

God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will overflow in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17)

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

    

    

Check-Up

Check-Up

In Proverbs 27:23-24 it is written "Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds; For riches are not forever..."

    In this era, you likely do not own flocks and herds, when these words were written those creatures were a source of provision and even a form of exchange. The word diligent refers to continuous action, being persevering and careful in your work. What God is teaching us today in these words is to be diligent to know the state of our finances. I want to encourage you to perform your own financial "check-up".

    As you know, one of the fundamental elements for your doctor to use in gaging the level and direction of your health is by performing tests to establish your baseline in different areas. Then with future visits, to see how those measurements have changed from the past.

    If you are serious about reducing your debt level and want to move ahead, select a point of time (or two) in the past - one month, six months or a year ago. Pull the past statements from your credit cards and all other debts along with checking/savings accounts and record each of them on a sheet showing the total amounts owed for each and add them together. 

    Now do the same with all your current debts and obligations. Compare the two, with attention especially on the total amount owed of all debts combined. Has the total increased or decreased? Have the number of different debts grown or shrunk? This is a good first test to perform to illuminate the trajectory you currently are on.

    Let's add one other aspect to this, pull all of your monthly subscriptions together and record them the same way, showing each of the past subscriptions along with their amounts and the current ones. An important question is... are you sure you have accounted for all of them? Several services and apps have come on the scene promising to find all subscriptions and even cancel the unwanted ones for you. My take-away from this is if there is a "business" in doing so, there must be plenty of subscriptions out there that are not really being used or worthwhile. Even if you don't employ one of these services, look closely over your credit card and bank statements and make certain you know what the charges are for or why amounts are coming out of your bank account.

    If your doctor has identified areas to improve your health, they may have suggested you remove or reduce things from your diet, exercise more or address some destructive habit. It is quite similar in our finances:

"Remove or reduce things from your diet" - look what categories or types of things you are overspending on, and decide to rein those in. Even just a partial concession in an area can yield great results when repeated each month.

"Exercise more" - stay with this exercise of tracking how much debt exists in your household, gaining the knowledge of what things you are spending money on each month, as opposed to guessing how much, and also staying on top of subscriptions.

"Address some destructive habit" - this could be something large financially, like always having a new car, medium, like becoming a slave to the latest expensive fashions or gadgets, or even small, like buying a prepared coffee or eating out for lunch every day, because when added up day after day it takes a large bite out of your budget.

    Also to be considered in our "personal check-up" is this question... where are we in giving to the Lord and His work? Since we're thinking in a medical-mindset today, let's bring out the "scalpel" here, as the Word of God is described as sharper than any two-edged sword:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21)

    When we perform our check-up and see the results in black-and-white, if we consider this verse, it will speak to us... literally, as to where our heart has been as we have spent our money. If we reflect and ask ourselves if we've put the Lord first in line after we were paid, if we have been a joyful giver, and if we've sought to be generous, it will go a long ways towards aligning things properly to the One who has given us all things, including His Son Jesus Christ.

    Lastly, even if you feel it challenging to make changes with your finances, be encouraged that you can, taking strength from these who stepped out in faith in much greater measure than merely in finances, as recorded in the Word:

"So Peter got out of the boat..." (Matthew 14:29)

"Noah did this, he did all that God commanded him" [building the ark] (Genesis 6:22)

"David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:48)

I encourage you to run quickly toward the battle line in your finances, follow God's direction and He will respond for you.

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

    

 

They Rise Again

 

They Rise Again

In Proverbs 24:16 it is written "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."

    If you've experienced setbacks trying to pay down and eliminate your debts, please open your eyes, ears and heart to absorb these words of truth and encouragement today.

    Know this first and foremost, God wants to see you become free of debts as was stated in Romans 13:8 to "Owe no man anything, but to love one another". But don't let the enemy turn this into a negative if you are not there or your progress is not where you want it to be, instead feel empowered that God is on your side in this. When my wife Karen and I left the class "Debt-Free and Prosperous Living", I knew inside that God was going to bless us in this process - that he would "blow wind into our sails" because this was His will.

    We "fell" during this process, the next year our furnace failed (in Minnesota in the bitter cold of winter), and we hurriedly found a company that could take care of us with a new unit, but at a huge expense and much more than it should have cost. But God encouraged us, and we rose through it. I took a third job to help do my part and both of us had blessings of unexpected raises overtake us that made a huge difference - not just in our progress financially, but inside, as we knew that God was making a way for us.

    But what if that unexpected raise or windfall does not yet materialize? Do one important thing...keep the faith, and "rise again" each day, each paycheck, each month, and do your best to just simply achieve one step towards success... to bring down your debt lower than it was the previous month. Keep moving forward, bringing to remembrance in Matthew 17 where Jesus said "truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you." That mountain of debt can seem enormous, but know you are not alone, for God will respond to your faith in Him. 

    Feed your faith and renew your strength to rise again by bringing to remembrance theses verses:

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)  Reject the thoughts from the enemy of fear or dread about debt, and replace those thoughts with the knowledge it is the loving God who created the universe and all things who goes with you, that He is on your side, leading you towards victory.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31) When temptation comes to overspend or buy something not necessary, cling to these words and wait, wait, wait patiently... for you shall see your strength renewed to continue and to overcome, as the verse continues - they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10) We look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and the continued strength He showed day after day, because He wanted to please His Father. As He resisted the devil's attempts to tempt Him, His disciples lack of faith at many intervals, the religious leaders refusal to see Him and His Father properly, and laying down His life at the cross. As we look, meditate and love Him more and more for all He has done, it will encourage us to move forward and "rise again".     

    And in closing, know that whether you've never perceived the need to get free of debts, or have tried and stumbled backwards and feel disheartened... even multiple times, be personally welcomed to come to God and receive all that He has for you:

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need". (Hebrews 4:16)  

    If you still need encouragement to come to Him, click on the Archives section (on the upper right side of this page) to December 2014 for the post titled "Let Him Know".

God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul