Walk In Love

But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and given distinction to] him who is godly [the man of loving-kindness]. The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him. (Psalms 4:3)

What quickened me when I recently read this verse in the Amplified Version was the insight, or amplification that described an attribute of being godly as loving-kindness. And I thought, "how does walking in loving-kindness translate to our finances?"

Let's first look at our work, Colossians 3:23 encourages us "Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men." If we strive to do our best, be obedient to those in authority (see Ephesians 6:5) and not seek to just get by, God will be honored in our work and we can expect to be blessed.

Now that we've earned our income, the next step to walking in loving-kindness is to honor the One who first loved us by giving of tithes and offerings. It is written in Proverbs 3:9 "Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income".

Because of our faithfulness in giving tithes, God promises in Malachi 3 to open the windows of heaven for us to such an extent there will not be room enough to receive it, and also to rebuke the devourer for our sakes. That is the loving response from our Father to our faith in Him, for it is written in 1 John 4:8 that "God is love".

Next, our walk in love financially includes being a blessing to others, that we should follow in the way of the Lord - "For God so loved the world the he gave". That can be towards individuals and families your see in need, or ministries. It can also be of your time.

And know in Hebrews 6:10 it says "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."

Walking in love applies to your spending as well. 1 Corinthians 16:14 states "Let everything you do be done in love." You might be thinking "how does that apply to my spending?" It is very important that we carefully consider how much we value something before we buy it. Many people have basements, garages and closets holding numerous items they felt they had to have at the time, but ended up rarely used.

The best test for this is to take our time and wait a couple of days or longer, so we can weigh whether this item really meets our hearts desire, or is something that just grabbed our attention and excitement from the advertisement or seeing it in the store. If you take this step your money will go further, you will have less clutter and you will feel more confident in your purchases.

Lastly, remember this small excerpt from 1 Corinthians 13:8:

Love never fails.

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

Paul

Treasure In Heaven

“But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal.” (Matthew 6:20). In this passage Jesus was describing to us what He had seen to be the truth of what occurs when we give of our finances… our treasures are transferred up to heaven.

He also was accurately illustrating of what happens in that everything we gather on earth is eventually destroyed… and conversely, everything that we gather (give) towards heaven will last eternally.

tithes, offerings or financial blessings to individuals? We are taking what were originally earthly dollars and they are being converted into heavenly dollars, by our loving Father who knows all.

Read in Mark 12 the account of the widow’s mite. There were many rich persons casting large amounts, but it was the widow offering two mites who captured the attention of Jesus. It was because He knew she gave all that she had, which is why He said “she has put in more than all those contributing to the treasury.” That response from Jesus tells us how He looks upon our hearts and not at the surface.

Recently our church completed an annual special offering to help feed the people of Haiti, who are still continuing to recover from a devastating earthquake in 2010. Those funds helped to feed those in great need, and our Father promises to remember it as being unto Him – “Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least of these My brethren, you did it for Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

This scripture also refers to rewards that come from giving outside of finances. It speaks of welcoming and lodging a stranger, visiting and ministering to the sick and coming to see one in prison.

As we consider the unseen penetrations of our giving - financial and otherwise, we will be more eager to help and cheerful in the process, which in 2 Corinthians 9 is shown to be the attitude that God loves… “He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without a cheerful, joyous, “prompt to do it” giver, whose heart is in his giving.”

Lastly, be encouraged to exercise your faith and your “spiritual eyes” to the vastness that is God’s Kingdom, which we can experience from reading His Word and obeying – “Consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.”

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

Paul

Settled In Your Heart

Settled In Your Heart

          Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)

          The most important aspect in our efforts to become free from debt is to settle in our minds and hearts that we are committed to following through.

          Sometime after our household achieved debt-freedom including our mortgage, I heard a voice of encouragement from the Holy Spirit about this chapter of our lives, saying clearly "Because it was settled in your mind, it was done in Heaven."  That short word expanded my perspective on the value of commitment and the spiritual implications.

          Understanding first that what we set our minds and hearts to are to be things based in scripture.  Psalms 37:5 reads "Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him and He will bring it to pass."  The key words in this verse are our commitment and trust in the Lord, and He will bring it to pass.

          We should know that the Lord instructs us to be free of debt, Romans 13:8 says "Owe no man anything, except to love one another."  So we can be confident that our commitment is in something good, which will be blessed.

          The last time we covered procrastinating and overcoming our "lions", we also must be mindful to not put simple excuses in the way - "He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap."   (Ecclesiastes 11:4)

          Your flesh will suggest a thousand excuses to delay this effort, from "just wait until ______ , or you can't start now because ______."  If you put it off, something else will come along to delay you further, getting you deeper in debt. 

          You may think if paying off your debts like trying to build a 100-story building.  But I know from our experience and from others who shared their testimony that all you have to do is to start and commit to it... and it will happen for your household.

          Why am I so sure? Read 1 John 5:4 - "For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith."  You will be victorious in this endeavor, as it is born of God and you will overcome any obstacles, He will see to it because His word has been spoken over it.

          While we were paying down our debts, our furnace went out.  It was February and very cold so we had to move quickly on a replacement and it was very expensive at the time.  God not only saw us through that bump in the road, but He blessed my wife and I with unexpected raises which propelled us towards debt-freedom even faster, to His glory.

          Have you planned a vacation to go someplace nice, and spent the next months and weeks thinking about how great it will be?  Wasn't that pre-vacation experience similar to exercising your faith?  As opposed to a vacation we have little control over, our God promises to bless our efforts aligning with His will, so think on what it will feel like to be rid of those debts and the freedom you'll have.

          Lastly, when settling in your heart about commitment, consider another blessing from the Lord... but it is just for those who are committed - "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those who hearts are fully committed to him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)

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

Paul

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