Wait and Move

"Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him"

"I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands"

          These scriptures about waiting and moving from Psalms 37 and 119 can provide great guidance for us to apply in our finances.

          How does waiting patiently for the Lord align with our finances? When we have a desire to make a sizable purchase, first hit the pause button and ask yourself "do I really need this?" If yes is your answer then consider if you need it at this time or can it wait. Getting quiet and seeking God's face in this matter will help shed light on the truth.

          A good guideline is to wait between two days and two weeks before making a substantial purchase. With this time you can test if your desire continues for the item, or if it drifts away. You may also receive from the Lord a peace about it, a direction to go another way, or He may even be working to provide you a blessing of the item... in His timing. But we'll lose that opportunity if we do not wait upon the Lord.

          Reflect on some of your past purchases, are there some which ended up collecting dust or proved to be a waste of money? Does this new purchase have some of the same characteristics as those fruitless ones? Proverbs 18:9 says "he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide". God desires for us to learn from our past.

          Colossians 3:15 encourages us to "let the peace from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds]" So from being patient and receiving the peace from Christ, we move confidently in that direction and also have no regrets.

          Next, let's look at moving. Normally the biggest hurdle in a household's finances is not moving forward with a plan to reduce debt and eventually become debt-free.
Procrastination is our main obstacle, usually as a result from making too much of the challenges in front of us. 

          Proverbs 26:13 reads "The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way! A lion is in the streets!" We know it (the lion) is simply not true, but the effect is the same on one who does not move forward and we will do likewise and remain in debt if we envision this "lion" in the way.

          What is this lion sometimes? It is our thoughts about "I'll look bad if I don't have ______" or "I won't be happy without ______" Other times it is "There's no way I can pay off these bills" so we don't even attempt to make a dent in them. Be encouraged that God's Word is full of examples where people of faith moved forward in what they had to work with.

• The disciples with the five loaves and two fishes
• David taking no armor, just a sling and five stones
• Joshua and his army by marching and blowing their trumpets
• Abraham and Isaac going forth without a sacrifice

          
          If we don't move forward because of our "lions", we will miss out on what God can do on our behalf.

          The truth is we all can make changes in our excess spending. Unfortunately, some households experience a loss of income or an onslaught of unforeseen bills, which then forces them into making those same spending changes which instead could have prepared them before the hardship. That is why now is the time to move, and begin a new day in your finances.

          Ask yourself, "What will change about tomorrow if I do not move and take any steps today?" God is about bringing positive change to our lives, to conform us into the image of His Son Christ Jesus (Romans 8:29). A debt-free life is one component of that.

Remember to Wait and Move.

          Keep these words with you from Isaiah 43:18-19, "Do not [earnestly] remember the former things, behold, I am doing a new thing!... I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

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

Paul

Every Opportunity

There is a scripture we may be familiar with... "Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). It is speaking to how we live our lives as believers in Christ. Have you considered how you can make the most of every opportunity with your spending and finances?

We will all make a number of repeated, routine purchases, some of them are needs and some wants. But by planning and applying wisdom and technology, we can make our finite amount of dollars go further, which will in turn help us pay down debts and avoid getting into debt as well.

Beginning with grocery shopping, 1) Make a list and stick to it 2) Focus on sale items and stock up 3) Buy generic and store brand items 4) Use coupons, but only for what you need 5) Use what you have before it spoils. Next, check out the following apps: iBotta, Checkout 51, Coupons.com and the Walmart Savings Catcher. Each of these harnesses technology that will provide savings every time you shop.

You can also put the internet to work for you saving money dining out. From fine restaurants to fast food, many offer e-mail clubs or apps that will send you free or reduced meal offers on a regular basis. Here are some we've used: Smashburger, Qdoba, Sweet Tomatoes, HuHot, Mimi's Cafe and Olive Garden. Also check out Groupon and the Entertainment books, which are discounted deeper online after the year begins.

Whether it is clothing or household items, many have a selling season and if you wait towards the end of that cycle you can save big. Some of the best are 1) Holiday cards and decor 2) Outdoor and lawn items 3) Winter/Summer clothing and sports gear. If you save 25-50% on these purchases and store them until next season, that is far more than you can make on any interest or investment gain.

With that in mind, credit card interest rates range from 12-22%. So what is important is to not carry a balance. If you pay off your card each month and utilize the savings methods shown you can cut your expense by nearly half versus paying full price, charging the item and carrying a balance.

And just like retailers which overbought and have to offer deep discounts to unload their excess, households do the same thing. Check out Craigslist to easily view specific items, even free items are offered daily. Stop by garage sales for a quick look, you may find a hidden gem for pennies on the dollar.

These tips are beneficial, but not for the purpose of just accumulating or eating more. Our mindset should to be towards spending less than we make and debt-free living. God's Word states it simply in Proverbs 21:20 - "There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a self-confident and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it."

Lastly, in turning the corner on your finances, know this encouragement from Psalms 118... "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side and takes my part, He is among those who help me..."

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

Paul

Be Encouraged

Whether things are going well in your household with your finances or if you're struggling to make ends meet, we are all in need of encouragement from time to time. It's important to know that our loving God has always delivered encouragement to us through His inspired scriptures for the purpose of seeing us succeed.

As we embark on a new year in 2017, let's purpose to seek encouragement from God's Word on a regular basis. The fact is that as we do we will not only be strengthened to overcome our circumstances, but our relationship with The Lord will be bonded even closer for we will see our faith in Him rewarded, allowing us to trust Him in even greater ways.

Here is a good sampling of scriptures to be encouraged by:

Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you... (Isaiah 41:10)

Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. (Colossians 1:11)

In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength in my inner self. (Psalms 138:3)

And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten... And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. (Joel 2:25-26)

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you with great gladness... (Zephaniah 3:17)

There is no substitute for what God's encouragement can do to us. It urges us to take that step of faith, to carry on in spite of adversity, to trust The One who already has saved us.

That encouragement comes not only from scriptures, but also from the Holy Spirit. "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." (John 14:26)

Lastly, take comfort in the words of Jesus below, knowing that He also is interceding on our our behalf before The Father.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

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

Paul

Looking Forward

In Hebrews 11 it speaks of the faith of Moses and how he preferred the hardships of following God, saying "For he looked forward and away to the reward." In the area of overcoming debt, have you been looking at your bills and figures or looking forward to your reward?

The photo above is muted on purpose, so you can picture yourself there. It is from my wife Karen and I making final payment on our mortgage in 1999. Can you see yourself there? It may seem like quite the leap of faith. Two of the requirements are to first see yourself in that position and second to take the steps paying off your smaller bills which will allow you to be able to retire your mortgage.

Nothing has ever been accomplished great or small, without first birthing the completion of it in one's mind. Every Olympic medal athlete, doctor, published writer or championship team (like the Broncos) had to first see the vision of their goal. Even for simple tasks - you had to first envision in your mind that you see the church website before turning your computer/device on and clicking to arrive here.

The importance of vision is proclaimed in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision the people perish." The root word perish in this verse does not mean dying, it refers to loosen and to go back. You know how true it is that if you do not "keep in mind" to do certain things that you will instead allow it to go undone. It is no different here... first envision yourself becoming a debt-free household.

Determine which of your bills has the smallest total balance. Now focus on paying that smallest bill down to zero while paying only the minimum amount required towards the other bills. Next, go after the smallest bill that remains and pay that down to zero while still paying the minimum towards the others (You're paying the same total amount but towards fewer bills). Continuing in this way you gain additional leverage each time because you've freed up more money as each bill is retired.

You will also experience the strength of knowing you have fewer bills to deal with than before. It's a lot like lifting weights, a person does not immediately go after lifting 500 pounds, instead they train and build up gradually gaining strength towards their goal. Continue working through your bills until only the mortgage remains. Once you've reached that stage you should be able to make double or triple payments and will see it erased in 3-5 years typically.

Lastly, consider the example of Jesus envisioning the future, for which we benefited so greatly and for all eternity. "For the joy that was set before him endured the cross." (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus was not focused on his suffering, he was seeing the joy before him knowing how many of us would be saved and his sitting at the right side of God's throne. I encourage you to focus on the joy set before you... it can be done.

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

Paul

Time For Your Money

          “Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil”, is written in Ephesians 5:16 so that we would regard how valuable time is in our lives – to be used wisely towards His purposes.

          The Bible has over 2,000 references to money and resources in its pages. Combined with knowing that God also sees how we spend our time as important, let’s explore how we can put these together to achieve success in our finances.

          In Proverbs 23 it says “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds; For riches are not forever; does a crown endure to all generations?” Most of us don’t have flocks or herds, however it is speaking to our finances/wealth/possessions.

          If the only serious time you consider your finances is sitting down to pay your bills, you’ve missed the opportunity to plan in a way that will bring benefits far into your future. I’m not speaking towards long-term planning for retirement – that comes later. This is about simple short-term planning that anyone can implement easily.

          If you simply take some time to plan out some purchases or provide for needs which you know of, it can save you money every time. Consider these:

$ - You will minimize eating/drinking out if you bring coffee, lunch or drinks along with you instead of stopping to purchase them from vending machines, convenience stores and restaurants.
$ - You’ll save on groceries by planning ahead with a list (and sticking to it), cutting out coupons, shopping sales and buying in bulk. You can avoid the expensive convenience/drug store trips for small things this way.
$ - You can save automobile expenses, by utilizing an app like GasBuddy that instantly shows you the best prices nearby, and by also handling small things like oil changes and minor repairs yourself (YouTube can help here).
$ - You can avoid credit card interest charges by planning and saving for significant purchases in advance. Check out Craigslist or other sites for bargains on many pre-owned items.

          We can make the most of our time by getting before the Lord about our finances. Be honest and talk with Him about your financial shortcomings – just like any other area. Ask Him for wisdom and for patience in making decisions about spending. He promises to grant wisdom to those who are humble enough to ask for it.

          Another best way to use time is with patience… when confronted with a sizeable purchase take two weeks to mull it over, see what the Lord provides with direction and also to test your heart if you really want that item. There will be times which given that pause you will select to either wait and save up for it or to not buy it at all.

          The verse that preceded our opening scripture in Ephesians gives a clear direction to proceed, “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people).” God’s blessings will follow your finances as you practice His ways in them.

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

Paul

Choose This Day

    Choose This Day

         Soon, most of us will choose and elect leaders in government.  It should be valued - as many have given their lives for us to have this right, and also given importance as believers in Christ should weigh the attributes of godly leaders written in scripture, seek His face for wisdom and choose accordingly. 

      There is a choice we make each day that is written in Joshua 24, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."  This verse is meant to encompass every area of our lives, now consider how it relates to the way you manage your finances.

        Just like the statistics published of your favorite sport, test scores received, or even your device monitoring steps taken each day, your finances are easily measurable and show where your choices are being made and if you are successful reaching your goals.

        Every time you spend money, you are making a choice.  You're choosing what you have "traded" or exchanged for the hours you have worked to earn that money.  You should weigh whether what you're acquiring is worth the ____ hours you've worked to purchase it. Also think about when paying interest that you're trading hours worked just for having something sooner, not for the item itself.

       Each day we can make choices that will allow us spend less than we make (illustrated in Proverbs 21:20), providing the opportunity to reduce our debt load.  We can choose to...

        Reduce or cut out the trips to the expensive coffee shop, even brew some at home

        Spend less going out to lunch by occasionally taking a few minutes to pack a meal

        Seek out a less costly phone/internet/cable plan, capturing the savings every month

        Shop for used cars (research for reliable models) instead of buying new or leasing

        Ask God for wisdom when considering any substantial purchase

        Monitor our credit card spending in real time, not just when the bill arrives

        Give tithes and offerings to the Lord, which blesses us now and in heaven

        These are just a few examples, you can think of more specific one for your household.

      Lastly, in Matthew 6 verse 21 Jesus said "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Christ was illuminating the difference between placing our affection on this world and on God's Kingdom.  The two preceding verses clarify where our aim should be - "Do not gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.  But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven."

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

Paul

He Knows You Can

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Because God knows all things… past, present and future – He knows what exactly wonderful blessings are awaiting you if you are obedient to Him. God will only call you to do what you are capable of, and He knows you are capable of being a good steward of your finances.

That ability to overcome – “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), comes as you abide in Him. Take some time to consider on the awesome power available to you by yielding to the Holy Spirit which God placed inside of you. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). In the area of finances, self-discipline is the key to breaking through.

God says “Yes you can”

Take that step in faith in giving tithes and offerings to the Lord

Cut back on impulse and unnecessary spending, allowing you to pay down your debts

You can be encouraged and inspired that He knows you can succeed because He sees you as a new creation in Him. “You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

And if you have a setback, it is God’s Word there once again ready to restore you - “For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again” (Proverbs 24:16). God knows you are not perfect, what He is saying here is that those who follow after Him rise up each time after they fall, it is He who gives you the power and support to do so.

Finally, be strengthened in thinking on this verse of the rewards that are promised in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him”

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

Paul