This program will help you undo financial bondage.
The bible teaches us to plan activities and processes that we will engage in, so that we are aimed at a future blessed by God and worth living. We should not plan based on fear or greed. Rather, we should plan based on faith in the Lord that commits you to do what the bible directs you to do.
Such faith incorporates evangelism and discipleship in every sphere of life by communicating the gospel. It also includes living as an example to others by serving as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ on earth in a continual maturation process whereby you allow the Holy Spirit to change you from glory to glory to reflect the image of Christ more and more. Such a life will positively and profoundly affect others around you. No matter what it seems like now, you will find crevices, cracks, and wide-open pathways into peoples’ lives that can lead them to Jesus.
On many occasions, God told people to use seemingly futile methods to accomplish goals. He then responded to their obedience by providing miraculous conquests and great reward for them. Moses at the Red Sea, Joshua at the Jordan River, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Paul and Silas released from jail due to worship, and Jesus death and resurrection are only a few examples of obedience that turned what the devil meant for bad into good for you and I.
Likewise, start using debt-free stewardship principles contained in the bible by utilizing a written plan to detail how you’ll earn, tithe, spend, save, and invest your income throughout the year and into the future. God will speak to your inner man and use others to provide insight that will help you tweak your plan to show you how to get the most out of your life and the money which has been entrusted to you. People who take action to become good stewards in this manner generally find that their financial condition greatly improves overtime because God rewards obedience in various ways.
He may help create godly relationships with people who provide things that you need or desire. He may increase your ability to cut expenses and be more skillful in meeting your needs and desires at a lower cost. He may increase your income thus allowing you to afford to give and spend far more that you otherwise could. He will likely help you increase in each of these areas and in so many more while helping you maintain a heart of humility and sacrifice for His kingdom and the sake of other people. This will allow you to be a much greater blessing to your local church, your community, and in missions work around the world.
We are living witnesses of the effects of engaging good stewardship as instructed in scripture. God is compounding our life and finances to be much more useful in ways that did not seem possible years ago. Though at times we’ve had to say no to ourselves and other people’s requests, we haven't lost any godly friends by believing in the Word, listening for His instructions, praying, and planning by setting reasonable Kingdom based goals (including financial). Neither will you!
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 12:33-36, Daniel 1:8-16, Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 14:28-30, Acts 9:4-7
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
MoneyWalk 79: What Should I Do About This Christmas?
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
You should identify a Christmas spending strategy so the failure to plan won’t load you with more debt. Don't let the emotions of the holiday season bamboozle you into a spending spree that you'll regret later. Yet, most people go into the season without planning how much they’re going to spend or how they're going to divvy it up among their family and friends. Decide in your heart and mind that the thought is what counts and spend only what you have available in cash after you’ve given tithes and offerings to your local church and other ministries, after you’ve set aside reasonable savings, and after all other bills are paid.
Make a Christmas budget that identifies available cash and identify how much you’ll spend on each person. When necessary to stay within the budget, shop at stores like half-off card shops and discount stores that sell nice cards and gifts that allow you to stay within your budget. If you’re not be able to give everyone or anyone a gift because you don’t have the money to do so, then give them a card that expresses the feelings you have concerning your relationship. When necessary, it can be homemade.
True friends and family that really love you understand that friendship is not all about gifts. They don't get mad because you didn’t give them a present or a card, nor do they accept or reject you based on how much you paid for something you give them. They will definitely understand when you take the time to let them know you’re working to get your finances into good shape and be a good steward of the money God has entrusted to you. Those who don’t understand are really not your true friends anyway or it will simply take you some time being a good steward and reaching out in friendship in other ways for them to understand what friendship really is about.
In the future, use the same type of budgeting process / spending plan for other special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc. As you focus on being a good steward of the manifold blessings the Lord has entrusted to you, you will begin to learn more of what He desires in this area and over time you will become a much better steward. You will also endear yourself to people that will be true friends who have their eyes on the things in life that really matter. Remember, poverty and disgrace are the reward of the person who does not follow God’s instruction but the person who heeds His instruction will be honored.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 16:9, Luke 14:28-30, Romans 13:8
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
You should identify a Christmas spending strategy so the failure to plan won’t load you with more debt. Don't let the emotions of the holiday season bamboozle you into a spending spree that you'll regret later. Yet, most people go into the season without planning how much they’re going to spend or how they're going to divvy it up among their family and friends. Decide in your heart and mind that the thought is what counts and spend only what you have available in cash after you’ve given tithes and offerings to your local church and other ministries, after you’ve set aside reasonable savings, and after all other bills are paid.
Make a Christmas budget that identifies available cash and identify how much you’ll spend on each person. When necessary to stay within the budget, shop at stores like half-off card shops and discount stores that sell nice cards and gifts that allow you to stay within your budget. If you’re not be able to give everyone or anyone a gift because you don’t have the money to do so, then give them a card that expresses the feelings you have concerning your relationship. When necessary, it can be homemade.
True friends and family that really love you understand that friendship is not all about gifts. They don't get mad because you didn’t give them a present or a card, nor do they accept or reject you based on how much you paid for something you give them. They will definitely understand when you take the time to let them know you’re working to get your finances into good shape and be a good steward of the money God has entrusted to you. Those who don’t understand are really not your true friends anyway or it will simply take you some time being a good steward and reaching out in friendship in other ways for them to understand what friendship really is about.
In the future, use the same type of budgeting process / spending plan for other special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc. As you focus on being a good steward of the manifold blessings the Lord has entrusted to you, you will begin to learn more of what He desires in this area and over time you will become a much better steward. You will also endear yourself to people that will be true friends who have their eyes on the things in life that really matter. Remember, poverty and disgrace are the reward of the person who does not follow God’s instruction but the person who heeds His instruction will be honored.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 16:9, Luke 14:28-30, Romans 13:8
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
MoneyWalk 78: Did I Miss Thanksgiving?
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
It does not need to be a holiday called “Thanksgiving” in order for you to give thanks for the many blessings you receive in this life. You should thank God everyday because He's the almighty LORD who brings out of the darkness of sin into His marvelous light all those who claim Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He has also provided for all their need according to His riches in glory and He has provided an eternally good hope and future.
Thank Him for the past, present, and future because He gives them a growing testimony throughout life that will heal the sick, deliver the imprisoned, and win many unbelievers to Christ through their words, deeds, and lifestyle. Continually thank Him for giving believers His name and a godly purpose that brings meaning to life as they deal with family, church, employers, schools, and recreational activities.
You can be a part of they and their spoken about above by recognizing the love of God and accepting it by declaring Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. No longer do you have to feel left out and unloved. When you let the Holy Spirit guide you, no area of your life is exempt from being used successfully by Christ to fulfill His purpose for mankind. This service also brings blessing upon you.
Thanksgiving takes many forms and includes thanking God with our money and resources. You thank Him with money each time you pay tithes and give offerings to your local church and other worthwhile ministries. You mature in thanking Him when you manage money according to biblical principles because it allows you to use it for purposes for which He intended (caring for family, spreading the gospel, and helping others as the Holy Spirit leads you). Such thanksgiving is a sweet smell in God’s nostrils and causes Him to elevate in His presence the person who continually offers it.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Daniel 6:10, Matthew 26:27, John 6:9-13, Ephesians 1:16-23
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
It does not need to be a holiday called “Thanksgiving” in order for you to give thanks for the many blessings you receive in this life. You should thank God everyday because He's the almighty LORD who brings out of the darkness of sin into His marvelous light all those who claim Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He has also provided for all their need according to His riches in glory and He has provided an eternally good hope and future.
Thank Him for the past, present, and future because He gives them a growing testimony throughout life that will heal the sick, deliver the imprisoned, and win many unbelievers to Christ through their words, deeds, and lifestyle. Continually thank Him for giving believers His name and a godly purpose that brings meaning to life as they deal with family, church, employers, schools, and recreational activities.
You can be a part of they and their spoken about above by recognizing the love of God and accepting it by declaring Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. No longer do you have to feel left out and unloved. When you let the Holy Spirit guide you, no area of your life is exempt from being used successfully by Christ to fulfill His purpose for mankind. This service also brings blessing upon you.
Thanksgiving takes many forms and includes thanking God with our money and resources. You thank Him with money each time you pay tithes and give offerings to your local church and other worthwhile ministries. You mature in thanking Him when you manage money according to biblical principles because it allows you to use it for purposes for which He intended (caring for family, spreading the gospel, and helping others as the Holy Spirit leads you). Such thanksgiving is a sweet smell in God’s nostrils and causes Him to elevate in His presence the person who continually offers it.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Daniel 6:10, Matthew 26:27, John 6:9-13, Ephesians 1:16-23
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
MoneyWalk 77: Yes, You Must Pay Taxes
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
God desires that you walk in accordance with His principles. He does not want your actions to be a deterrent to properly caring for yourself, your family, your local church, and other people He assigned to you. By following His principles you’ll be able to fulfill your purpose in the earth. One of the principles is to give to Caesar (the government) that which is Caesar’s while also giving to God that which is God’s. He wants you to understand that as you follow Him and apply His principles in your life He will make a way for you to pay your taxes as well as take care of every responsibility assigned to you.
You may claim you should only show allegiance to God and therefore should not pay tax to Caesar, however this is a faulty mindset that will keep you in bondage to satan and captive to his will. There will be people and rogue organizations who try to make you rebellious and keep you ignorant of biblical instruction and the blessings attached to it. They don’t want you to trust that God will provide all you need if you pay tax or tithe, or follow any biblical guidance on good stewardship. They would have you believe that taxes are an unlawful confiscation of money. However, if believed, the underlying problem is that you will idolize the money God provided and consider it more important than obeying Him. It is God who said that He set life up to be run by government, that those who resist governmental authorities resist Him and will incur judgment, and that we should pay taxes to whom taxes are due.
When you refuse to trust God by honoring His financial principles, including paying taxes that you rightfully owe, you negate His power that would help you fulfill your purpose and show others how men’s worst decisions (sometimes taxation levels, etc.) cannot overcome the blessing of God in a life that is obedient to His commands. The best answer to over-taxation by a government entity is praying for God to give legislators wisdom to enact the best laws and correct or eliminate current laws that are harmful to citizens. You should also periodically mail letters to legislators and sign petitions designed by reputable organizations that agree with biblical teaching about how legislators should govern.
Last but not least, remember that it is not ungodly to use all legally acceptable methods necessary to lower the amount of taxes you owe to the government. However, you should pay what is required in a timely manner just like Jesus had Peter obtain the money and pay the tax the ruling government determined that He owed.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Matthew 17:24-27, Luke 20:21-25, Romans 13:1-7, Philippians 4:15-19, 1Peter 2:13-20
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
God desires that you walk in accordance with His principles. He does not want your actions to be a deterrent to properly caring for yourself, your family, your local church, and other people He assigned to you. By following His principles you’ll be able to fulfill your purpose in the earth. One of the principles is to give to Caesar (the government) that which is Caesar’s while also giving to God that which is God’s. He wants you to understand that as you follow Him and apply His principles in your life He will make a way for you to pay your taxes as well as take care of every responsibility assigned to you.
You may claim you should only show allegiance to God and therefore should not pay tax to Caesar, however this is a faulty mindset that will keep you in bondage to satan and captive to his will. There will be people and rogue organizations who try to make you rebellious and keep you ignorant of biblical instruction and the blessings attached to it. They don’t want you to trust that God will provide all you need if you pay tax or tithe, or follow any biblical guidance on good stewardship. They would have you believe that taxes are an unlawful confiscation of money. However, if believed, the underlying problem is that you will idolize the money God provided and consider it more important than obeying Him. It is God who said that He set life up to be run by government, that those who resist governmental authorities resist Him and will incur judgment, and that we should pay taxes to whom taxes are due.
When you refuse to trust God by honoring His financial principles, including paying taxes that you rightfully owe, you negate His power that would help you fulfill your purpose and show others how men’s worst decisions (sometimes taxation levels, etc.) cannot overcome the blessing of God in a life that is obedient to His commands. The best answer to over-taxation by a government entity is praying for God to give legislators wisdom to enact the best laws and correct or eliminate current laws that are harmful to citizens. You should also periodically mail letters to legislators and sign petitions designed by reputable organizations that agree with biblical teaching about how legislators should govern.
Last but not least, remember that it is not ungodly to use all legally acceptable methods necessary to lower the amount of taxes you owe to the government. However, you should pay what is required in a timely manner just like Jesus had Peter obtain the money and pay the tax the ruling government determined that He owed.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Matthew 17:24-27, Luke 20:21-25, Romans 13:1-7, Philippians 4:15-19, 1Peter 2:13-20
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
MoneyWalk 76: Is retirement an acceptable lifestyle?
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Work is much more tedious to our decaying bodies because Adam forsook the abundance of God's favor and everlasting life in his physical body by eating of the forbidden fruit. Yet, God still looks upon work as an integral part man fulfilling the purpose for which he is created and designed to have dominion in the earth.
Work should be engaged to please Father God, to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and train us to use our gifts and build skill in our endeavors, and to be Jesus’ hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the earth. Through this attitude, we build treasures in heaven and when work flows from our faith in God, we'll find pleasure even in the toil and the things it allows us to obtain will be a blessing to us and others.
Solomon and the Apostle Paul confirmed the natural and spiritual repercussions of laziness and irresponsibility toward work. They identified that the diligent person shall live in a wealthy place and that a person who doesn't work will not have enough food and sustenance to properly care for his or her responsibilities. Proverbs 31 shows that a spiritual woman is one that works whether at home or outside the home doing things that are godly and which benefit her husband and children. Men should also be engaged in worthwhile, godly endeavors in and outside the home. In fact, they should set the example for others in the home to follow.
Abstaining from all forms of work is not healthy for your body or good in God's sight, yet that does not mean you cannot move to different stages of work life where you flow from working a great number of hours in one career field to reducing work hours and spreading your time in other fields such as ministry, consulting, entrepreneurial, and charitable non-profit efforts.
You are free to retire from your present line of work granted you understand that the Holy Spirit has already called you to another field of work where you will overtly and covertly build God’s kingdom through your communication, interaction, and resources. That’s right, when you retire from your present line of work; you still have much work to do as a member of and co-laborer in the body of Christ.
Even after retiring from your career path, God’s love in you and your love for Him should motivate you to work as unto the Lord inside and outside your local church to evangelize unbelievers and make disciples of men.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Genesis 1:28, 2:1-3, Proverbs 10:4, Romans 12:11-13, 2Thessalonians 3:10-13
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Work is much more tedious to our decaying bodies because Adam forsook the abundance of God's favor and everlasting life in his physical body by eating of the forbidden fruit. Yet, God still looks upon work as an integral part man fulfilling the purpose for which he is created and designed to have dominion in the earth.
Work should be engaged to please Father God, to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and train us to use our gifts and build skill in our endeavors, and to be Jesus’ hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the earth. Through this attitude, we build treasures in heaven and when work flows from our faith in God, we'll find pleasure even in the toil and the things it allows us to obtain will be a blessing to us and others.
Solomon and the Apostle Paul confirmed the natural and spiritual repercussions of laziness and irresponsibility toward work. They identified that the diligent person shall live in a wealthy place and that a person who doesn't work will not have enough food and sustenance to properly care for his or her responsibilities. Proverbs 31 shows that a spiritual woman is one that works whether at home or outside the home doing things that are godly and which benefit her husband and children. Men should also be engaged in worthwhile, godly endeavors in and outside the home. In fact, they should set the example for others in the home to follow.
Abstaining from all forms of work is not healthy for your body or good in God's sight, yet that does not mean you cannot move to different stages of work life where you flow from working a great number of hours in one career field to reducing work hours and spreading your time in other fields such as ministry, consulting, entrepreneurial, and charitable non-profit efforts.
You are free to retire from your present line of work granted you understand that the Holy Spirit has already called you to another field of work where you will overtly and covertly build God’s kingdom through your communication, interaction, and resources. That’s right, when you retire from your present line of work; you still have much work to do as a member of and co-laborer in the body of Christ.
Even after retiring from your career path, God’s love in you and your love for Him should motivate you to work as unto the Lord inside and outside your local church to evangelize unbelievers and make disciples of men.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Genesis 1:28, 2:1-3, Proverbs 10:4, Romans 12:11-13, 2Thessalonians 3:10-13
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
MoneyWalk 462: Seasons will change – No need to worry!
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Do not be afraid of seasons and circumstances changing around you. Politicians come into office in a blaze and then are swept out just as quick. Laws get passed that change what we must comply with and sometimes laws get overturned or changed that we thought were best for our nation. Some business people operate in change mode out of godly vision and love for the people they serve while other business people bring about change based on immoral, oppressive, prideful, or greedy objectives. Not to mention that impure motivations we have had from time to time caused someone else to deal with change that wasn’t pleasing to them.
Because of the choices that God allows men to make and the interaction of them all, we cannot stop all change from occurring. What we can and must do are pray that activities that would cause negative change be stopped in their tracks and that activities that we, our leaders and others engage in would be pure as directed by the heart of God for the betterment of His kingdom and the people we are to affect in this world. You will free yourself from bondage to negativity that would otherwise immobilize you to many great opportunities that God wants to bless you with when you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ in this way to stop worrying about the ultimate outcome of the political race, economic situation, job market, or other change that may or does take place.
God is more than able to take care of your need according to His riches in glory and will do so when you delight yourself in Him more than anything else. This must be in everlasting covenant with and commitment to God instead of a short-term activity meant to get the goods from God then return to self-centered ways. Remember, God knows every heart and is the Judge of the motives and intent of every action. Unbelief will be found out and will ultimately destroy you if not repented of.
The key to peace and joy, financially and in other areas of life, is to recognize that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us power, love, and a sound mind - The mind of Christ that, when listened to and obeyed, will lead us to follow scriptural principle in every area and every circumstance. He will also, by the Holy Spirit, teach us to avoid worldliness in our activities so that we may be fruitful in every good work.
Many are the methods that could be given to follow the few principles contained in the bible that describe how we should live and manage our money in order to be most fruitful. Yet, the most important thing for you is to seek the Lord with all your heart, asking Him what He specifically wants you to do to serve His kingdom and other people, then start doing it step by step while you also engage the main lifestyle principles He instructed every believer to be engaged in: daily prayer, daily bible reading, weekly fellowship with a family of believers (a local church), serving in the local church and workplace.
Now, mix these elements of a godly life with telling family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and others what Christ means to you and how He changed your life. As you draw closer to Christ doors of opportunity will begin to open for you for evangelism, making disciples of others, and engaging in the ministry for which you are gifted.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Psalm 145:14-15, Proverbs 3:5-12, Philippians 4:16-19, 2Timothy 1:7
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Do not be afraid of seasons and circumstances changing around you. Politicians come into office in a blaze and then are swept out just as quick. Laws get passed that change what we must comply with and sometimes laws get overturned or changed that we thought were best for our nation. Some business people operate in change mode out of godly vision and love for the people they serve while other business people bring about change based on immoral, oppressive, prideful, or greedy objectives. Not to mention that impure motivations we have had from time to time caused someone else to deal with change that wasn’t pleasing to them.
Because of the choices that God allows men to make and the interaction of them all, we cannot stop all change from occurring. What we can and must do are pray that activities that would cause negative change be stopped in their tracks and that activities that we, our leaders and others engage in would be pure as directed by the heart of God for the betterment of His kingdom and the people we are to affect in this world. You will free yourself from bondage to negativity that would otherwise immobilize you to many great opportunities that God wants to bless you with when you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ in this way to stop worrying about the ultimate outcome of the political race, economic situation, job market, or other change that may or does take place.
God is more than able to take care of your need according to His riches in glory and will do so when you delight yourself in Him more than anything else. This must be in everlasting covenant with and commitment to God instead of a short-term activity meant to get the goods from God then return to self-centered ways. Remember, God knows every heart and is the Judge of the motives and intent of every action. Unbelief will be found out and will ultimately destroy you if not repented of.
The key to peace and joy, financially and in other areas of life, is to recognize that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us power, love, and a sound mind - The mind of Christ that, when listened to and obeyed, will lead us to follow scriptural principle in every area and every circumstance. He will also, by the Holy Spirit, teach us to avoid worldliness in our activities so that we may be fruitful in every good work.
Many are the methods that could be given to follow the few principles contained in the bible that describe how we should live and manage our money in order to be most fruitful. Yet, the most important thing for you is to seek the Lord with all your heart, asking Him what He specifically wants you to do to serve His kingdom and other people, then start doing it step by step while you also engage the main lifestyle principles He instructed every believer to be engaged in: daily prayer, daily bible reading, weekly fellowship with a family of believers (a local church), serving in the local church and workplace.
Now, mix these elements of a godly life with telling family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and others what Christ means to you and how He changed your life. As you draw closer to Christ doors of opportunity will begin to open for you for evangelism, making disciples of others, and engaging in the ministry for which you are gifted.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Psalm 145:14-15, Proverbs 3:5-12, Philippians 4:16-19, 2Timothy 1:7
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
MoneyWalk 75: You need Jesus!
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Eternal life and true righteousness, peace, and joy can come only from Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life and no man can really give his life to God and have a future home in heaven unless they accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!
God showed his great love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much more than that, we've been saved from eternal wrath by His blood shed at Calvary. No matter where you are, salvation by faith in Christ alone brings new life that can begin for you right now. The blood of Jesus will cleanse you upon asking Jesus with all your heart to be your Savior and Lord.
Jesus wants the best for you throughout eternity. However, you must start by putting your trust in Him and what He already accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection. He’s the one who made you with a godly purpose that' cannot be fully used without His guidance. He's calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Make a confession of faith wherever you are in acceptance of His calling and please let me know about your decision.
God will be pleased and the church of God will rejoice with the angels in heaven on your behalf because those who are saved are led by the Holy Spirit and empowered to take action that brings forth good fruit. They do so by learning biblical principles to govern their lives and financial affairs. The sooner you come to Christ, the sooner you can reap the benefit of this eternal and earthly inheritance.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Acts 4:10-12, 2Peter 3:9-13, John 14:5-15
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Eternal life and true righteousness, peace, and joy can come only from Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life and no man can really give his life to God and have a future home in heaven unless they accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!
God showed his great love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much more than that, we've been saved from eternal wrath by His blood shed at Calvary. No matter where you are, salvation by faith in Christ alone brings new life that can begin for you right now. The blood of Jesus will cleanse you upon asking Jesus with all your heart to be your Savior and Lord.
Jesus wants the best for you throughout eternity. However, you must start by putting your trust in Him and what He already accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection. He’s the one who made you with a godly purpose that' cannot be fully used without His guidance. He's calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Make a confession of faith wherever you are in acceptance of His calling and please let me know about your decision.
God will be pleased and the church of God will rejoice with the angels in heaven on your behalf because those who are saved are led by the Holy Spirit and empowered to take action that brings forth good fruit. They do so by learning biblical principles to govern their lives and financial affairs. The sooner you come to Christ, the sooner you can reap the benefit of this eternal and earthly inheritance.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Acts 4:10-12, 2Peter 3:9-13, John 14:5-15
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
MoneyWalk 74: Riches Can Be Deceitful
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
When obtaining money is their highest aim, people do many foolish things. Some commit murder while robbing people or to obtain life insurance payouts, some prostitute their bodies and some engage in drug deals. Others forsake their wives and children hoping to obtain prestige among movers and shakers in the corporate and political arenas. Still others spend more time pursuing higher incomes and accumulating wealth rather than establishing and developing a relationship with God in Christ.
When getting rich becomes the most important thing in your heart and mind, there’s usually a temptation to become haughty toward other people, considering them less because you think their level of income or wealth shows they aren’t ambitious. Some people pursue titles, positions, and material things in order to showcase their riches or fool people into thinking they are rich. When people honor them, some don't immediately give glory to God recognizing that God's favor and His use of many other people played the major role in the riches bestowed upon them whereas their work effort played a minor role.
Don't get caught in such arrogant attitude traps from hell because the end never justifies immoral means. When your methods are immoral and go against biblical instruction on how to honor God and treat your fellow man, the big payday and extravagant lifestyle you seek may turn into devastating problems on earth and bring eternal damnation if not repented of before you leave this earth.
Stay humble and utilize biblical principles and your financial wherewithal and ability to minister to others will definitely greatly increase as you diligently employ the methods of a good steward of the manifold blessings God bestows upon you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Ecclesiastes 10:19, Luke 12:13-21, 1Timothy 6:6-12, Revelation 3:16-18
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
When obtaining money is their highest aim, people do many foolish things. Some commit murder while robbing people or to obtain life insurance payouts, some prostitute their bodies and some engage in drug deals. Others forsake their wives and children hoping to obtain prestige among movers and shakers in the corporate and political arenas. Still others spend more time pursuing higher incomes and accumulating wealth rather than establishing and developing a relationship with God in Christ.
When getting rich becomes the most important thing in your heart and mind, there’s usually a temptation to become haughty toward other people, considering them less because you think their level of income or wealth shows they aren’t ambitious. Some people pursue titles, positions, and material things in order to showcase their riches or fool people into thinking they are rich. When people honor them, some don't immediately give glory to God recognizing that God's favor and His use of many other people played the major role in the riches bestowed upon them whereas their work effort played a minor role.
Don't get caught in such arrogant attitude traps from hell because the end never justifies immoral means. When your methods are immoral and go against biblical instruction on how to honor God and treat your fellow man, the big payday and extravagant lifestyle you seek may turn into devastating problems on earth and bring eternal damnation if not repented of before you leave this earth.
Stay humble and utilize biblical principles and your financial wherewithal and ability to minister to others will definitely greatly increase as you diligently employ the methods of a good steward of the manifold blessings God bestows upon you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Ecclesiastes 10:19, Luke 12:13-21, 1Timothy 6:6-12, Revelation 3:16-18
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
MoneyWalk 73: Diversification Is Good
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
The bible says there is safety in the multitude of counselors and that you should give a portion to seven or eight. This is sound instructions from the mind of God because He knows that the future on occasion will include economic downturns. He loves us so much that He guides us to live by the right principles that help us avoid upheaval or overcome it.
When you own stocks, bonds, and company issued investments, you risk the possible loss of the entire investment or having to wait behind other classes of investors in order to receive a small amount on the dollars you invested if a company behind the investment that you own goes bankrupt. This is not a usual happenstance and this happening to one investment doesn't mean that all investment vehicles of the same type are bad. However, the risk of this being extremely devastating for your life is multiplied immensely when all your savings and investments are in one account. Thus, no one should put all the money entrusted to him or her in one investment, one financial institution, or with one advisor.
You should diversify your assets among various investment vehicles based on your personal risk tolerance, the future date you intend to use the money, and positive long, medium, and short-term history of returns of different stock, bond, and fixed-income investment vehicles. Do not put money into any instrument that doesn't have a good long-term history of profits. Savings should generally be put in vehicles where the principle is safest and the account earns a competitive amount of periodic interest. Investments may be put into vehicles that carry some amount of risk of loss of principle that is offset by the possibility of earning higher long-term returns.
Your allocation of investment money should place more of it in vehicles that provide better protection for more of your principle as you get older because as you get older you cannot usually afford to lose great amounts of your money and you may not have time to let the markets work in order to re-grow your assets to adequate levels after a market decline.
One of your major investments should be to tithe and give an abundant offering to your local church and other ministries from the income God provides for the purpose of spreading the gospel in expectation of Jesus return for His saints. This is your greatest investment while on earth, which has an eternally positive effect for you and many others who come into the kingdom as a result of your giving. After all, any mental or physical ability that allows you to earn or receive income of any kind indeed originates from God and could not be obtained without Him endowing you with such intellect, skill, etc.
In your faith walk, you should take prudent risk which requires godly vision to help carry out your earthly purpose and diversification in the area of saving and investing. I recommend managing your lifestyle and money in a manner that allows you to save and invest a portion of your income equal to a tithe and offering. Such an amount when consistently invested over several decades in a diversified manner with the discipline to forego pulling it out except in extreme emergencies has been shown to provide the kind of wealth that people need to help weather economic storms and provide for them in their latter years.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 11:14, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Luke 19:13, Acts 6:2-3
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
The bible says there is safety in the multitude of counselors and that you should give a portion to seven or eight. This is sound instructions from the mind of God because He knows that the future on occasion will include economic downturns. He loves us so much that He guides us to live by the right principles that help us avoid upheaval or overcome it.
When you own stocks, bonds, and company issued investments, you risk the possible loss of the entire investment or having to wait behind other classes of investors in order to receive a small amount on the dollars you invested if a company behind the investment that you own goes bankrupt. This is not a usual happenstance and this happening to one investment doesn't mean that all investment vehicles of the same type are bad. However, the risk of this being extremely devastating for your life is multiplied immensely when all your savings and investments are in one account. Thus, no one should put all the money entrusted to him or her in one investment, one financial institution, or with one advisor.
You should diversify your assets among various investment vehicles based on your personal risk tolerance, the future date you intend to use the money, and positive long, medium, and short-term history of returns of different stock, bond, and fixed-income investment vehicles. Do not put money into any instrument that doesn't have a good long-term history of profits. Savings should generally be put in vehicles where the principle is safest and the account earns a competitive amount of periodic interest. Investments may be put into vehicles that carry some amount of risk of loss of principle that is offset by the possibility of earning higher long-term returns.
Your allocation of investment money should place more of it in vehicles that provide better protection for more of your principle as you get older because as you get older you cannot usually afford to lose great amounts of your money and you may not have time to let the markets work in order to re-grow your assets to adequate levels after a market decline.
One of your major investments should be to tithe and give an abundant offering to your local church and other ministries from the income God provides for the purpose of spreading the gospel in expectation of Jesus return for His saints. This is your greatest investment while on earth, which has an eternally positive effect for you and many others who come into the kingdom as a result of your giving. After all, any mental or physical ability that allows you to earn or receive income of any kind indeed originates from God and could not be obtained without Him endowing you with such intellect, skill, etc.
In your faith walk, you should take prudent risk which requires godly vision to help carry out your earthly purpose and diversification in the area of saving and investing. I recommend managing your lifestyle and money in a manner that allows you to save and invest a portion of your income equal to a tithe and offering. Such an amount when consistently invested over several decades in a diversified manner with the discipline to forego pulling it out except in extreme emergencies has been shown to provide the kind of wealth that people need to help weather economic storms and provide for them in their latter years.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 11:14, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Luke 19:13, Acts 6:2-3
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, October 18, 2010
MoneyWalk 72: The LORD Promotes
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
A great promotion may be something other than a higher-level position with an employer. For example, knowing the state of your income versus expenses, refusing to enslave yourself in debt, living beneath your income, and faithfully saving money promote you in life far ahead of your peers regardless of whether you receive an employment promotion because most refuse to adhere to such principles and thus bring themselves and their families much heartache and financial strain in life no matter what employment promotions they attain.
When promotion seeking comes from the desire to meet man’s requirements, which are outside of what God wants for your life, discontent will usually appear. This pursuit of promotion encourages you to think negatively about your current position, income, and resources instead of continually thanking God for allowing you to be in the place that you are. Even though your position may be great among men you’ll develop an attitude where the current situation is never enough.
This brings about negative comments about your employer, supervisor, and position, which usually follow an initial bout of pride, haughtiness, and disregard for living Christ-like. Failing to realize that there is a character building reason why God has allowed you to be in your current position and thanking Him for the maturity He’s allowing you to develop as a result, leads to blessings in your life turning out to be curses to you because you will fail to manage in a godly manner your tongue, lifestyle, ministry to others, income, and material resources. You may continue to get promoted on earth but you will experience an empty void in your soul and relationships with God and man.
On the other hand, Godly promotions come through humility and meekness in fellowship with and allegiance to Christ. His elevation of your earthly status will usually grant you the things that matter most: eternal life, better relationships with family, strong and enduring friendships with reliable people, a worthy career, job, and ministry role with more than enough resources to fulfill your purpose, and respect in the eyes of your peers and superiors who have spiritual eyesight.
God guaranteed that using biblical principles will bring fruitfulness and promotion in your life regardless of whether man ever promotes you or not. When you’re humble before Him, He will raise you up in due time and will make room among influential men for the gift He’s given you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Psalms 75:6-10, Proverbs 3:35, Daniel 4:30-35, 1Peter 5:6-11
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
A great promotion may be something other than a higher-level position with an employer. For example, knowing the state of your income versus expenses, refusing to enslave yourself in debt, living beneath your income, and faithfully saving money promote you in life far ahead of your peers regardless of whether you receive an employment promotion because most refuse to adhere to such principles and thus bring themselves and their families much heartache and financial strain in life no matter what employment promotions they attain.
When promotion seeking comes from the desire to meet man’s requirements, which are outside of what God wants for your life, discontent will usually appear. This pursuit of promotion encourages you to think negatively about your current position, income, and resources instead of continually thanking God for allowing you to be in the place that you are. Even though your position may be great among men you’ll develop an attitude where the current situation is never enough.
This brings about negative comments about your employer, supervisor, and position, which usually follow an initial bout of pride, haughtiness, and disregard for living Christ-like. Failing to realize that there is a character building reason why God has allowed you to be in your current position and thanking Him for the maturity He’s allowing you to develop as a result, leads to blessings in your life turning out to be curses to you because you will fail to manage in a godly manner your tongue, lifestyle, ministry to others, income, and material resources. You may continue to get promoted on earth but you will experience an empty void in your soul and relationships with God and man.
On the other hand, Godly promotions come through humility and meekness in fellowship with and allegiance to Christ. His elevation of your earthly status will usually grant you the things that matter most: eternal life, better relationships with family, strong and enduring friendships with reliable people, a worthy career, job, and ministry role with more than enough resources to fulfill your purpose, and respect in the eyes of your peers and superiors who have spiritual eyesight.
God guaranteed that using biblical principles will bring fruitfulness and promotion in your life regardless of whether man ever promotes you or not. When you’re humble before Him, He will raise you up in due time and will make room among influential men for the gift He’s given you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Psalms 75:6-10, Proverbs 3:35, Daniel 4:30-35, 1Peter 5:6-11
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
MoneyWalk 70: Choose Your Reward
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Anything worth having will cost you directly or indirectly. For example, being saved requires that you die to your selfish, pride-filled heart and mind-set in order to accept in you the life of Jesus Christ. It also requires that you take up your cross and follow Him by desiring and seeking to do His will in every area of life.
Likewise, heavenly rewards and God’s blessing upon your life, money, and resources managed on earth require allegiance to Christ, obedience to His commands, and adherence to scriptural principles by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Proclaiming Jesus as Savior and seeking His kingdom and righteousness is the only doorway through which worthwhile rewards can be obtained.
When you’re truly intent on loving and following Christ, the scriptures come alive to tell you how to honor Him in general and to give you specific methods for doing so. For instance, faithfully paying tithes and giving offerings to your local church cause the Father to pour blessings upon you that you'll not have room enough to receive. Also, giving to people truly in need directly or through various ministries moves Him to inspire men to give to you full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over for the purposes of allowing you to be a continuous and greater blessing to His kingdom, other people, and your family.
People who have the mind of Christ recognize that money and material items aren't the principle things to be obtained by following these principles. Rather, pleasing God is the ultimate desire with a mind toward creating a place where the peace of God and joy in the Holy Ghost permeate your life in the natural and eternal realms.
Using biblical money management principles gives worthwhile purpose and meaning to your life and moves God to bless and navigate you to be a blessing. Failing to utilize His principles generally perpetuates earthly problems, physical or spiritual poverty, and eternal suffering no matter the level of money and resources you have on earth. The bottom line is: you choose your reward by the principles you follow.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 3:9, Malachi 3:8-12, Matthew 6:31, Luke 6:38
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Anything worth having will cost you directly or indirectly. For example, being saved requires that you die to your selfish, pride-filled heart and mind-set in order to accept in you the life of Jesus Christ. It also requires that you take up your cross and follow Him by desiring and seeking to do His will in every area of life.
Likewise, heavenly rewards and God’s blessing upon your life, money, and resources managed on earth require allegiance to Christ, obedience to His commands, and adherence to scriptural principles by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Proclaiming Jesus as Savior and seeking His kingdom and righteousness is the only doorway through which worthwhile rewards can be obtained.
When you’re truly intent on loving and following Christ, the scriptures come alive to tell you how to honor Him in general and to give you specific methods for doing so. For instance, faithfully paying tithes and giving offerings to your local church cause the Father to pour blessings upon you that you'll not have room enough to receive. Also, giving to people truly in need directly or through various ministries moves Him to inspire men to give to you full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over for the purposes of allowing you to be a continuous and greater blessing to His kingdom, other people, and your family.
People who have the mind of Christ recognize that money and material items aren't the principle things to be obtained by following these principles. Rather, pleasing God is the ultimate desire with a mind toward creating a place where the peace of God and joy in the Holy Ghost permeate your life in the natural and eternal realms.
Using biblical money management principles gives worthwhile purpose and meaning to your life and moves God to bless and navigate you to be a blessing. Failing to utilize His principles generally perpetuates earthly problems, physical or spiritual poverty, and eternal suffering no matter the level of money and resources you have on earth. The bottom line is: you choose your reward by the principles you follow.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 3:9, Malachi 3:8-12, Matthew 6:31, Luke 6:38
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
MoneyWalk 69: Start Budgeting
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Godly stewardship requires that you consistently spend no more than 70% of your net monthly income. Net income is the income that you are left with and get to decide how to spend and save after federal, state, city, and payroll taxes are taken out of your gross income.
The 70% is less than the amount that most people regularly spend as noted by the anemic savings rate in the United States and the ever increasing amounts of debt being taken on via mortgages, home equity loans, car loans, student loans, and credit cards.
Making 70% of your net pay the maximum amount that you will spend level allows you to consistently tithe based on your gross income, give an offering each pay period, and save and invest a reasonable percentage of your net income to cover emergencies and retirement from your current profession as you move into re-fire-ment for the marketplace ministry that God desires you to use your gifts, talents, and skills to greatly impact.
When you plan to live like this and work your plan, you’ll have more peace and joy in your life and focus more on positively building the relationships need to have you’re your spouse, children, and friends. Limiting yourself to this spending pattern will help you stop the assault that debt brings into your life. It also helps you save and invest more and helps you avoid the negative consequences of bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, and low credit scores.
Write down your monthly after-tax income from all sources. As part of this process, talk with a friend, who understands budgeting, tax rates / returns, and biblical money management principles. This person can help you identify the correct amount of income to identify. He can help you understand the budgeting process. Also, if you allow him, he can keep you accountable to following biblical money management principles in the stewardship of your money.
Now, subtract your tithe and offering (ten plus % of your gross income). Offerings are free-will in nature and thus you get to choose the amount that you will give. Therefore, the plus % could be any amount more than 0% of your net monthly income. I’m confident that, as you consistently give to your local church that spreads the gospel through planting and watering the Word in people’s lives, your offerings will increase steadily because you will see and hear of the great returns of people at home and abroad having their lives positively changed from hopeless to hope-filled. All of this will be a result of your having stored your treasures in Heaven via your regularly planned tithe and offering.
Now subtract 10% for emergency savings. Put this amount in a high-yield savings, checking, or money-market account that does not charge monthly fees. You may need to establish an account with a credit union or internet bank covered by the FDIC or NCUA in order to get the best possible return on your money. This money should only be spent for emergencies and expenses planned well in advance with an eye toward making sure you build an amount equal to six months of your net monthly income and maintain at least that amount at all times thereafter.
Now subtract 10% for investment in your 401k or similar retirement or brokerage account, so that you will be able to build up a nest egg over the years that can help you be in a position to retire and re-fire at a reasonable time down the road without having money woes. If you have a load of debt with interest rates that are keeping you in hock, then you should take the next step before this one and use this 10% to pay off your debts and commit in your heart to stop taking on debt. Determine to start living debt-free.
Subtract the minimum monthly payment for each bill (home, car, student loan, visa, utilities, etc.). This leaves your disposable income, which is the amount that you should use to pay more money each month on the lowest balance debt with the highest interest rate and on personal expenses (groceries, gas, entertainment, personal grooming, clothing, etc.). After you have paid off the first account, then move to the next lowest account with the next highest interest rate. This is called using the debt snowball to more quickly reduce and eliminate your debts.
Repeat this process for each of the next six months and make sure your non-emergency spending stays within the allotted amount each month. An initial budget takes 4 - 5 hours to complete. Afterward, it takes about an hour every month to review your progress, revise bill payments / totals that differ from your estimates, and create a new budget for the 7th month and on into the future.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 27:23-27, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Luke 14:28-32, Philippians 4:11-13
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Godly stewardship requires that you consistently spend no more than 70% of your net monthly income. Net income is the income that you are left with and get to decide how to spend and save after federal, state, city, and payroll taxes are taken out of your gross income.
The 70% is less than the amount that most people regularly spend as noted by the anemic savings rate in the United States and the ever increasing amounts of debt being taken on via mortgages, home equity loans, car loans, student loans, and credit cards.
Making 70% of your net pay the maximum amount that you will spend level allows you to consistently tithe based on your gross income, give an offering each pay period, and save and invest a reasonable percentage of your net income to cover emergencies and retirement from your current profession as you move into re-fire-ment for the marketplace ministry that God desires you to use your gifts, talents, and skills to greatly impact.
When you plan to live like this and work your plan, you’ll have more peace and joy in your life and focus more on positively building the relationships need to have you’re your spouse, children, and friends. Limiting yourself to this spending pattern will help you stop the assault that debt brings into your life. It also helps you save and invest more and helps you avoid the negative consequences of bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, and low credit scores.
Write down your monthly after-tax income from all sources. As part of this process, talk with a friend, who understands budgeting, tax rates / returns, and biblical money management principles. This person can help you identify the correct amount of income to identify. He can help you understand the budgeting process. Also, if you allow him, he can keep you accountable to following biblical money management principles in the stewardship of your money.
Now, subtract your tithe and offering (ten plus % of your gross income). Offerings are free-will in nature and thus you get to choose the amount that you will give. Therefore, the plus % could be any amount more than 0% of your net monthly income. I’m confident that, as you consistently give to your local church that spreads the gospel through planting and watering the Word in people’s lives, your offerings will increase steadily because you will see and hear of the great returns of people at home and abroad having their lives positively changed from hopeless to hope-filled. All of this will be a result of your having stored your treasures in Heaven via your regularly planned tithe and offering.
Now subtract 10% for emergency savings. Put this amount in a high-yield savings, checking, or money-market account that does not charge monthly fees. You may need to establish an account with a credit union or internet bank covered by the FDIC or NCUA in order to get the best possible return on your money. This money should only be spent for emergencies and expenses planned well in advance with an eye toward making sure you build an amount equal to six months of your net monthly income and maintain at least that amount at all times thereafter.
Now subtract 10% for investment in your 401k or similar retirement or brokerage account, so that you will be able to build up a nest egg over the years that can help you be in a position to retire and re-fire at a reasonable time down the road without having money woes. If you have a load of debt with interest rates that are keeping you in hock, then you should take the next step before this one and use this 10% to pay off your debts and commit in your heart to stop taking on debt. Determine to start living debt-free.
Subtract the minimum monthly payment for each bill (home, car, student loan, visa, utilities, etc.). This leaves your disposable income, which is the amount that you should use to pay more money each month on the lowest balance debt with the highest interest rate and on personal expenses (groceries, gas, entertainment, personal grooming, clothing, etc.). After you have paid off the first account, then move to the next lowest account with the next highest interest rate. This is called using the debt snowball to more quickly reduce and eliminate your debts.
Repeat this process for each of the next six months and make sure your non-emergency spending stays within the allotted amount each month. An initial budget takes 4 - 5 hours to complete. Afterward, it takes about an hour every month to review your progress, revise bill payments / totals that differ from your estimates, and create a new budget for the 7th month and on into the future.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 27:23-27, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Luke 14:28-32, Philippians 4:11-13
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
MoneyWalk 68: Hope springs financial
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
God desires that you live abundantly on earth, so that you are able to take care of all your god-given responsibilities. The reality that you can, after death, live with Jesus Christ in Heaven should move you to love Him and keep His commandments in order to live the abundant life He desires for you.
Your financial mindset must not come from the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life where you assume that God’s priority is to give you wealth so you can live in greater comfort and splendor. Rather, your mindset should be founded in the hope of everlasting life in Christ so that you use wealth to enormously support the Great Commission while also appropriately caring for your family and yourself. Any other mindset will lead you to a place that is eternally hot and filled with the horror of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Honoring God by tithing and offering is a primary way that we show whether or not we really believe in the blessed hope of eternal life that comes only through Jesus Christ. Many worldly people (even some that identify themselves as Christians) will advise you in a manner that makes your desires your highest priority. This is incompatible with the mind of Christ, biblical instruction, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and spiritual maturity because the will of almighty God is the highest priority for every true believer.
It requires that we preach, teach, and live the gospel to reconcile other people to the hope of salvation that we hold so dear. From such hope all other worthwhile dreams, aspirations, and endeavors spring forth into a life that is well-pleasing to God.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Psalm 71:5, Romans 5:2-5, Colossians 1:5, Hebrews 11:1, 1John 3:3
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
God desires that you live abundantly on earth, so that you are able to take care of all your god-given responsibilities. The reality that you can, after death, live with Jesus Christ in Heaven should move you to love Him and keep His commandments in order to live the abundant life He desires for you.
Your financial mindset must not come from the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life where you assume that God’s priority is to give you wealth so you can live in greater comfort and splendor. Rather, your mindset should be founded in the hope of everlasting life in Christ so that you use wealth to enormously support the Great Commission while also appropriately caring for your family and yourself. Any other mindset will lead you to a place that is eternally hot and filled with the horror of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Honoring God by tithing and offering is a primary way that we show whether or not we really believe in the blessed hope of eternal life that comes only through Jesus Christ. Many worldly people (even some that identify themselves as Christians) will advise you in a manner that makes your desires your highest priority. This is incompatible with the mind of Christ, biblical instruction, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and spiritual maturity because the will of almighty God is the highest priority for every true believer.
It requires that we preach, teach, and live the gospel to reconcile other people to the hope of salvation that we hold so dear. From such hope all other worthwhile dreams, aspirations, and endeavors spring forth into a life that is well-pleasing to God.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Psalm 71:5, Romans 5:2-5, Colossians 1:5, Hebrews 11:1, 1John 3:3
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
MoneyWalk 67: Your checkbook needs balancing every month
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
It is vital to your financial health, at the specific moment of each transaction, to subtract from your checkbook balance all ATM withdrawals, EFT withdrawals, debit card withdrawals, and checks written. Never ever throw away withdrawal, deposit, and check slips / receipts until you've balanced your checkbook for the month in which they occurred.
Every banking institution has an easy to use balancing method that it can provide you. If you feel you cannot understand the directions, make an appointment so a bank / credit union representative can show you how to use its suggested balancing method. Alternately, you could sit down with a friend who is used to balancing his / her checkbook so he / she can show you how it’s done.
Always balance the last month for each checking account at the beginning of the new month immediately after you receive your monthly statement from the financial institution or go on-line to obtain it. This process takes less than an hour each month and gets much easier as you build and maintain the checkbook balancing habit.
Carry your checkbook only when you're purchasing products and services planned in advance and agreed on by both husband and wife, otherwise wasteful spending will occur. Singles also should not get used to carrying their checkbook with them all the time. In addition, everyone should stay away from the use of debit cards for unplanned purchases. If you need help developing good financial and planned purchasing habits you can select a trustworthy accountability partner who is a good steward of the money that God has entrusted to him / her.
You can help yourself become a good money manager by watching this person’s example, understanding what he / she does that is founded upon biblical instruction, following examples in those areas, refusing to follow any example that is not in line with biblical instruction, asking your accountability partner a variety of questions over time that will help you manage better, and asking him / her to help by pointing out when he / she sees you engaging money management habits that are not fruitful and that are destructive.
Balancing your checkbook is a great way to know the true state of your finances so you can make sure that your monthly expenses do not exceed your monthly income. It is very difficult to accumulate wealth to support the proclamation of the gospel and ministry to which you are called when you don't know and keep track of the state of your flocks and herds.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 27:23-24, Isaiah 55:10-11, Luke 14:28-32, 2Corinthians 9:10
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
It is vital to your financial health, at the specific moment of each transaction, to subtract from your checkbook balance all ATM withdrawals, EFT withdrawals, debit card withdrawals, and checks written. Never ever throw away withdrawal, deposit, and check slips / receipts until you've balanced your checkbook for the month in which they occurred.
Every banking institution has an easy to use balancing method that it can provide you. If you feel you cannot understand the directions, make an appointment so a bank / credit union representative can show you how to use its suggested balancing method. Alternately, you could sit down with a friend who is used to balancing his / her checkbook so he / she can show you how it’s done.
Always balance the last month for each checking account at the beginning of the new month immediately after you receive your monthly statement from the financial institution or go on-line to obtain it. This process takes less than an hour each month and gets much easier as you build and maintain the checkbook balancing habit.
Carry your checkbook only when you're purchasing products and services planned in advance and agreed on by both husband and wife, otherwise wasteful spending will occur. Singles also should not get used to carrying their checkbook with them all the time. In addition, everyone should stay away from the use of debit cards for unplanned purchases. If you need help developing good financial and planned purchasing habits you can select a trustworthy accountability partner who is a good steward of the money that God has entrusted to him / her.
You can help yourself become a good money manager by watching this person’s example, understanding what he / she does that is founded upon biblical instruction, following examples in those areas, refusing to follow any example that is not in line with biblical instruction, asking your accountability partner a variety of questions over time that will help you manage better, and asking him / her to help by pointing out when he / she sees you engaging money management habits that are not fruitful and that are destructive.
Balancing your checkbook is a great way to know the true state of your finances so you can make sure that your monthly expenses do not exceed your monthly income. It is very difficult to accumulate wealth to support the proclamation of the gospel and ministry to which you are called when you don't know and keep track of the state of your flocks and herds.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 27:23-24, Isaiah 55:10-11, Luke 14:28-32, 2Corinthians 9:10
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
MoneyWalk 66: Managing With Love
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Loving God requires that you talk with Him daily and read the scriptures to find out what He wants you to do while on earth. Do you know He desires for you to be a lender instead of a borrower? Do you know that true faith in His ability to provide your every need should be reflected in the tithe and free-will offering you give to spread the gospel throughout the earth and help church leaders equip believers for ministry service?
Do you know He requires you to pay taxes to your government without excuse when it is within your power to do so? Do you know He said you are an infidel if you do not take care of your family?
God’s love is so great that He doesn't want you and your family to suffer through life reaping the negative consequences that come from refusing to follow His principles. You cannot exhibit well-rounded love without continually learning and following His stewardship instructions for life and finances!
You should love God and other people so much that it motivates you to do what the bible instructs because this best serves all of your family, friends, co-workers, employees, etc. and allows you to provide necessary help to others without neglecting any of your godly responsibilities.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Deuteronomy 7:13, Proverbs 8:19-21, John 14:21, Romans 13:8
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Loving God requires that you talk with Him daily and read the scriptures to find out what He wants you to do while on earth. Do you know He desires for you to be a lender instead of a borrower? Do you know that true faith in His ability to provide your every need should be reflected in the tithe and free-will offering you give to spread the gospel throughout the earth and help church leaders equip believers for ministry service?
Do you know He requires you to pay taxes to your government without excuse when it is within your power to do so? Do you know He said you are an infidel if you do not take care of your family?
God’s love is so great that He doesn't want you and your family to suffer through life reaping the negative consequences that come from refusing to follow His principles. You cannot exhibit well-rounded love without continually learning and following His stewardship instructions for life and finances!
You should love God and other people so much that it motivates you to do what the bible instructs because this best serves all of your family, friends, co-workers, employees, etc. and allows you to provide necessary help to others without neglecting any of your godly responsibilities.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Deuteronomy 7:13, Proverbs 8:19-21, John 14:21, Romans 13:8
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
MoneyWalk 65: What Is Your Net Worth
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
On a sheet of paper, describe each individual asset you own (property, stocks, bonds, savings, etc.) and list its dollar value next to it under Asset column.
Then describe each debt that you owe (mortgages, car notes, credit cards, loans, etc.) and list the full amount owed next to it under Debt column.
Total the amount of all assets, and then total the amount of all debts.
Now subtract total debt from total assets.
The result is your net worth.
If your net worth is negative or low in comparison with income that has come your way over the years, you're not in a hopeless situation. I had a negative net worth and owed more than ten creditors when I first learned of God's money management plan. Now is the time to start managing your life and money differently in order to accumulate resources for rainy days, future expenses, and giving.
God’s money management instructions are designed for people of all ages, backgrounds, income levels, and occupations to help them prosper, take care of their families, and fund ministry at home and around the world.
Your true worth is not dependent on how much money you’ve accumulated at any one time, rather it's determined by your relationship to Jesus Christ. However, calculating your net worth annually can be an indication of how well you are following God’s principles for managing the earthly estate He entrusted to you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Genesis 13:2, Job 42:12, Proverbs 27:23-27, Luke 19:2-10, James 5:1-5
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
On a sheet of paper, describe each individual asset you own (property, stocks, bonds, savings, etc.) and list its dollar value next to it under Asset column.
Then describe each debt that you owe (mortgages, car notes, credit cards, loans, etc.) and list the full amount owed next to it under Debt column.
Total the amount of all assets, and then total the amount of all debts.
Now subtract total debt from total assets.
The result is your net worth.
If your net worth is negative or low in comparison with income that has come your way over the years, you're not in a hopeless situation. I had a negative net worth and owed more than ten creditors when I first learned of God's money management plan. Now is the time to start managing your life and money differently in order to accumulate resources for rainy days, future expenses, and giving.
God’s money management instructions are designed for people of all ages, backgrounds, income levels, and occupations to help them prosper, take care of their families, and fund ministry at home and around the world.
Your true worth is not dependent on how much money you’ve accumulated at any one time, rather it's determined by your relationship to Jesus Christ. However, calculating your net worth annually can be an indication of how well you are following God’s principles for managing the earthly estate He entrusted to you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Genesis 13:2, Job 42:12, Proverbs 27:23-27, Luke 19:2-10, James 5:1-5
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, August 23, 2010
MoneyWalk 64: Obedience Is Essential
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
God will guide you when you’re consistent in reading the bible, praying, fellowshipping with believers, and staying away from complainers and scorners. You’ll know it’s Him because what He communicates to you will never conflict with commands and principles in the bible.
Scripture gives parameters within which you can make decisions about managing money and your lifestyle and remain safe and secure in His arms while doing so. In some situations, the Holy Spirit tells you specifically what to do. It is always best to do what He directs even though your immediate reaction may be fear of unknown results or loss of comfort. What you feel you cannot do because of the weakness of your flesh, God gives you the power to do by the indwelling of His Spirit when it is in accordance with His will.
Rebellion against the LORD's biblical financial principles in an attempt to prosper by following the ways of the world and using its advice causes you to dwell in a dry land where you find pressure to perform, stress, distress, unhappiness, and eternal failure in God's eyes.
Obedience to His commands and principles concerning money management brings about manifold blessings in your life including peace, joy, an ability to overcome problems, natural comfort, and righteousness in the eyes of God through Jesus Christ. The love, hope, and faith God imparts as you walk in His ways allow you to obtain victory over every temptation and attack of the enemy.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 1Samuel 15:22, Matthew 28: 20, Acts 5:29
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
God will guide you when you’re consistent in reading the bible, praying, fellowshipping with believers, and staying away from complainers and scorners. You’ll know it’s Him because what He communicates to you will never conflict with commands and principles in the bible.
Scripture gives parameters within which you can make decisions about managing money and your lifestyle and remain safe and secure in His arms while doing so. In some situations, the Holy Spirit tells you specifically what to do. It is always best to do what He directs even though your immediate reaction may be fear of unknown results or loss of comfort. What you feel you cannot do because of the weakness of your flesh, God gives you the power to do by the indwelling of His Spirit when it is in accordance with His will.
Rebellion against the LORD's biblical financial principles in an attempt to prosper by following the ways of the world and using its advice causes you to dwell in a dry land where you find pressure to perform, stress, distress, unhappiness, and eternal failure in God's eyes.
Obedience to His commands and principles concerning money management brings about manifold blessings in your life including peace, joy, an ability to overcome problems, natural comfort, and righteousness in the eyes of God through Jesus Christ. The love, hope, and faith God imparts as you walk in His ways allow you to obtain victory over every temptation and attack of the enemy.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 1Samuel 15:22, Matthew 28: 20, Acts 5:29
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, August 16, 2010
MoneyWalk 461: Budgeting by giving first, then saving and spending
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Some people teach that you should not budget any other way than to set aside the level of savings each pay period that you can afford and then be free to spend all the rest of the money that is at your disposal. They say that you can start with 2 to 3% of your pay and later save more when you can afford to. They believe that other types of budgeting do not work and are unnecessary even if they did work.
The problem with this view is that it puts a person’s focus on the importance of making sure you always have enough money available to spend to get more things that you want. This is not the proper priority of heart and mind that you should have. You should think and act upon GIVING first, SAVING next, and then upon SPENDING to care for responsibilities. Fulfilling the bulk of your desires through spending should come well after you are adhering to the first two principles of giving and saving that God wants you to be focused on.
The improper spending-based view of managing money makes it easy to condone taking on debt to keep up the lifestyle you want instead of shedding debt in order to be in good financial condition. In the spending-based form of budgeting (which people try to identify as saving based budgeting) the debt monster will eat you up and bring turmoil into your life. Because the focus is much too much on the spending side of the equation, you will have set aside only a little savings and later on have to deplete those savings to pay on debts you should not have incurred in the first place. Finally, not knowing what to do, you will inevitably stop saving altogether and continue to take on more debt to do your own thing until you are stressed and pressed with monthly debt payments and high interest charges as your payment history and FICO scores get worse and worse.
Satan always attacks us with thoughts to fulfill the lust of the flesh and eyes and to operate in the pride of life. He wants us to have our priorities in the wrong order and to keep them there. He knows that when he can keep you focused upon your material desires your ability to serve and be an example of Christ-likeness will remain hidden from view and may be entirely non-existent.
How you manage money that comes into your life is a very telling barometer of your spiritual condition because if you love Jesus Christ you will keep His commandments and where your treasure is there will your heart be also. The Word has given us specific instructions as to how true faith motivates us to good works through the acquiring of income and the giving, saving, and spending of it. No one can serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Budgeting does not have to be complicated. If you will remember the priority that is in God’s heart and faithfully use it as you write down on paper / computer how you will manage the income God has blessed you with, then you will do well in the budgeting arena and thus bring blessing into your life.
GIVING to the work of Christ should be thought of first and accounted for first in your budget. Tithing and then a free-will offering of your choosing should be given to your local church and/or worthwhile gospel teaching / preaching / good works ministries.
Next, you should SAVE a reasonable portion of your income. Focus on an amount now that with compounding interest and future growth will be meaningful and worthwhile, such as 10%, because you will get older, have increased monetary needs in the future, and will want rainy day funds when the inevitable rainy days arise in your life.
Finally, you should focus on making sure that you SPEND without taking on debt. Spending should be primarily focused on taking care of the most important priorities such as reasonable housing, food, clothing, and transportation. Fulfilling desires can and will come in the future once you have put yourself on good financial footing and find that you have much greater disposable income.
You may simply be unable to afford some things you want or have right now and it would be wise to forego purchasing them or to sell them to ease the payment and maintenance costs you are incurring each month. Getting in God’s financial flow will please Him and allow you to afford some of these things in the future while you are also able to avoid irresponsible money management behavior that leads to foreclosure, bankruptcy, and the inability to properly care for your family and personal responsibilities.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Luke 6:38, 12:29-34, John 14:15, 1Timothy 6:5-19, 2Corinthians 9:6
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Some people teach that you should not budget any other way than to set aside the level of savings each pay period that you can afford and then be free to spend all the rest of the money that is at your disposal. They say that you can start with 2 to 3% of your pay and later save more when you can afford to. They believe that other types of budgeting do not work and are unnecessary even if they did work.
The problem with this view is that it puts a person’s focus on the importance of making sure you always have enough money available to spend to get more things that you want. This is not the proper priority of heart and mind that you should have. You should think and act upon GIVING first, SAVING next, and then upon SPENDING to care for responsibilities. Fulfilling the bulk of your desires through spending should come well after you are adhering to the first two principles of giving and saving that God wants you to be focused on.
The improper spending-based view of managing money makes it easy to condone taking on debt to keep up the lifestyle you want instead of shedding debt in order to be in good financial condition. In the spending-based form of budgeting (which people try to identify as saving based budgeting) the debt monster will eat you up and bring turmoil into your life. Because the focus is much too much on the spending side of the equation, you will have set aside only a little savings and later on have to deplete those savings to pay on debts you should not have incurred in the first place. Finally, not knowing what to do, you will inevitably stop saving altogether and continue to take on more debt to do your own thing until you are stressed and pressed with monthly debt payments and high interest charges as your payment history and FICO scores get worse and worse.
Satan always attacks us with thoughts to fulfill the lust of the flesh and eyes and to operate in the pride of life. He wants us to have our priorities in the wrong order and to keep them there. He knows that when he can keep you focused upon your material desires your ability to serve and be an example of Christ-likeness will remain hidden from view and may be entirely non-existent.
How you manage money that comes into your life is a very telling barometer of your spiritual condition because if you love Jesus Christ you will keep His commandments and where your treasure is there will your heart be also. The Word has given us specific instructions as to how true faith motivates us to good works through the acquiring of income and the giving, saving, and spending of it. No one can serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Budgeting does not have to be complicated. If you will remember the priority that is in God’s heart and faithfully use it as you write down on paper / computer how you will manage the income God has blessed you with, then you will do well in the budgeting arena and thus bring blessing into your life.
GIVING to the work of Christ should be thought of first and accounted for first in your budget. Tithing and then a free-will offering of your choosing should be given to your local church and/or worthwhile gospel teaching / preaching / good works ministries.
Next, you should SAVE a reasonable portion of your income. Focus on an amount now that with compounding interest and future growth will be meaningful and worthwhile, such as 10%, because you will get older, have increased monetary needs in the future, and will want rainy day funds when the inevitable rainy days arise in your life.
Finally, you should focus on making sure that you SPEND without taking on debt. Spending should be primarily focused on taking care of the most important priorities such as reasonable housing, food, clothing, and transportation. Fulfilling desires can and will come in the future once you have put yourself on good financial footing and find that you have much greater disposable income.
You may simply be unable to afford some things you want or have right now and it would be wise to forego purchasing them or to sell them to ease the payment and maintenance costs you are incurring each month. Getting in God’s financial flow will please Him and allow you to afford some of these things in the future while you are also able to avoid irresponsible money management behavior that leads to foreclosure, bankruptcy, and the inability to properly care for your family and personal responsibilities.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Luke 6:38, 12:29-34, John 14:15, 1Timothy 6:5-19, 2Corinthians 9:6
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
MoneyWalk 63: Hope Begets Faith
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
If you're born again by Jesus Christ, you'll one day see God face-to-face and have a heavenly home in His presence. It is your hope to live, move, and have your being in Him. Now, faith to do what He commands by His Word and spirit comes from this hope because you innately and intuitively know you're much better off eternally and on earth when you do His will. You must believe this truth when it comes to managing your money as well as other areas of your life.
Many people don't want to believe that God has biblical principles related to managing money and some don’t want to follow them because the world's way of handling money and possessions appears more lucrative and require less of them. It seems they can obtain highly valuable things much quicker than the biblically correct way without having to measure the methods based on godly principles. This attitude represents a lack of faith in God's Word and His promises in both the short and long run it and ultimately leads to:
1) Missing blessings God had in store for you.
2) Spiritual and financial bondage.
3) Eternal consequences.
Take the path that will truly help you eternally and naturally. Let God’s love and plan for your life bring hope that causes you to take action by faith to bring forth that currently unseen substance that God desires for you to receive and achieve to fulfill His plan for your life. Begin to look for the money management principles contained in the bible and faithfully use them. You'll find that God is a rewarder of people who diligently seek Him. Let an unshakeable hope in God produce faith that will lead you to Him and the treasures He has available for you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Habakkuk 2:4, Luke 17:6, Romans 4:19-25, 1Corinthians 13:13, Hebrews 11:1-6
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
If you're born again by Jesus Christ, you'll one day see God face-to-face and have a heavenly home in His presence. It is your hope to live, move, and have your being in Him. Now, faith to do what He commands by His Word and spirit comes from this hope because you innately and intuitively know you're much better off eternally and on earth when you do His will. You must believe this truth when it comes to managing your money as well as other areas of your life.
Many people don't want to believe that God has biblical principles related to managing money and some don’t want to follow them because the world's way of handling money and possessions appears more lucrative and require less of them. It seems they can obtain highly valuable things much quicker than the biblically correct way without having to measure the methods based on godly principles. This attitude represents a lack of faith in God's Word and His promises in both the short and long run it and ultimately leads to:
1) Missing blessings God had in store for you.
2) Spiritual and financial bondage.
3) Eternal consequences.
Take the path that will truly help you eternally and naturally. Let God’s love and plan for your life bring hope that causes you to take action by faith to bring forth that currently unseen substance that God desires for you to receive and achieve to fulfill His plan for your life. Begin to look for the money management principles contained in the bible and faithfully use them. You'll find that God is a rewarder of people who diligently seek Him. Let an unshakeable hope in God produce faith that will lead you to Him and the treasures He has available for you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Habakkuk 2:4, Luke 17:6, Romans 4:19-25, 1Corinthians 13:13, Hebrews 11:1-6
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
MoneyWalk 460: A work plan for the unemployed
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Many people have complained that no one is hiring and that as hard as they’ve tried they cannot find a job. I’m very empathetic toward them because I understand that we have a national unemployment rate of roughly 9% and that people need to be able to provide for themselves and their families. However, I also know that God can make a way out of no way.
Most of those I talk to share with me how they’ve applied at a few places and haven’t received return calls offering them jobs. A few tell me that they’ve sent out a few resumes and have not received any responses from employers. However, when I get down to the nitty-gritty with most of them I find that they have not followed a few important principles and methods for creating income in their lives.
First, they speak very negatively about their situations, past employers, and the economy much too often. Thus, they tend to eat bad from the fruit of the lips. Complaining and speaking negatively about the availability of jobs and opportunities will not get your situation back on track if you happen to be in a poor personal economic cycle right now.
Second, they do not recognize the gifts, talents, skills, and abilities they are endowed with. Some gifs and talents they’ve used in the past and should know they have and some are latent and haven’t been used yet.
Third, they fail to look for a job like it’s a job. Many fail to also stop the flow of spending they had when they were employed and have not set priorities for funds they do have access to. Also, some still engage in habits like smoking, drinking, gambling, etc. that take away money necessary for them to make it more comfortably through the period of unemployment they are experiencing.
Fourth, they fail to recognize that blessings often come in small packages. Thus, they should not despise the day of small beginnings even when the new beginning comes after you were on a large stage previously and you would have liked to continue in that stature.
You must remember that your actual worth and stature is not based on the position, notoriety, fame, or income you have or had in the past. It is based on you being a creation of God almighty and should be augmented by your born again relationship with Jesus Christ.
I often implore those I speak with to write out a plan in which:
1) The first four hours of their working day even while unemployed is spent going from business to business in a two to three mile radius. Choose a radius that you can walk from business to business if possible so you can save on gas or in case you don’t have a car. In such commercially rich districts you will normally find 50+ employers to reach out to.
They should complete applications over and over as necessary until they saturate these employers with the knowledge that they are unlike all the other people who complete an application and then sit at home or do other non-work related stuff while waiting for their phone to ring.
They should show each possible employer that they have patience and perseverance by continuing to come back over and over and over completing more applications and asking to speak with owners and managers of the business.
There could come a time 3 to 4 months later where you may choose another commercially rich location to augment your search, but if you approach this situation like a job and do it day in and day out Monday thru Friday and maybe Saturday you will often find that employment is offered to you because of the passion and hard work ethic you display even while currently unemployed.
2) Next, the last four hours of the day should be spent going door to door in residential areas with business cards or flyers offering to provide some type of personal service that you are able to perform. We underestimate in this current society the mass numbers of people who need or want personal services performed for them and their families.
I’ve known people who have provided at the homes of others hair braiding, animal watching and walking, handyman services, lawn maintenance, snow removal, painting, mural painting in bedrooms, babysitting, home health aide, cleaning, cooking, etc. All of these things have been done without the help of employers.
In essence, the people who accomplished these tasks created their own businesses that either grew to very gainful incomes or helped tide them over until an employer hired them at a higher income.
It is not a bad thing to let the people on whose doors you knock know that you are out of work and would appreciate them giving you an opportunity to work hard performing a service that is helpful to them.
3) They should take a short break mid-morning and mid afternoon and a short lunch time. They should especially spend time fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit in worship, praise, and prayer presenting their petitions to Him so that His heart is moved to help them find a suitable income producing situation for them. Also, they should not forsake the assembly with other believers in order that they receive encouragement, uplift, and help in the time of need. They can return the favor to others later on when they are gainfully employed. Praise be to God who always causes us to triumph.
4) They augment the physical search with the mailing of resumes to businesses that they can get to if a job was offered and at which they may desire to work because of gifting, talent, skill, etc. They should shortly and often follow up with phone calls asking to speak with managers who would hire prospective employees and who would be willing to share more about the employer.
Additional resume mailing and phone calls should be made every few weeks in order that these prospective employers see your perseverance and understand your passion for working with them and working hard when they employ you.
5) They should further augment their continuous hard work and effort looking for a job like it’s a job by listing all of the family, friends, and associates in the area they are located in or they might choose to relocate to and let them know they are out of work and looking for employment.
Ask them to put in a kind word for you with their employers or any other business they may have associations with. Also, ask if they have any insight into job openings or opportunities that you could take advantage of. One of the best ways to find employment is networking with the many friends you have associated with over the years.
Again, the contacts with these friends, etc. should be made over and over every few weeks until employment is found because you want to keep it foremost in their minds that you are still searching for employment to provide income to help you care for yourself and family.
6) They should also look for opportunities to volunteer at churches and charities as many times these stints help you network into employment and friendships that can tide you over until a better ship comes in.
7) Certainly, if you are able to get some free or low cost education and training during this time that can help you get on the path to gainful employment, then by all means do so. You may also be able to obtain some needed free education and tools to help you at your local library. Usually though, the thing that most unemployed people need is some amount of income to help pay the priority bills and get them through to a better economic time.
I’ve had numerous people tell me they weren’t going to work for the little bit that people might pay them for personal services. My response has been, so is it better to sit around doing nothing most of the day than to make the few dollars that you can make doing something worthwhile with your time and talent. Inevitably, I continue to see many of them stay in the poor economic situation they were in when I spoke with them. However, all those who have taken the position that it is better to earn something and spend their time expediently have been blessed and have moved on to better economic times. This is my hope for every currently unemployed person.
If you’ll take reasonable steps daily to find gainful employment and income producing opportunities God will provide helps and tools to get you to your destiny. The determination of how long and how much other people will lend themselves to help you will often come down to the effort they see you putting into making your situation better. So give them absolutely nothing to look negatively on and remember if a man will not work (even when he is so called “unemployed,”) he also shall not eat.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Genesis3:17-19, Proverbs 19:24, Ecclesiastes 11:4-6, Matthew 25:20-21, Luke 19:16-17, Romans 12:6-13
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Many people have complained that no one is hiring and that as hard as they’ve tried they cannot find a job. I’m very empathetic toward them because I understand that we have a national unemployment rate of roughly 9% and that people need to be able to provide for themselves and their families. However, I also know that God can make a way out of no way.
Most of those I talk to share with me how they’ve applied at a few places and haven’t received return calls offering them jobs. A few tell me that they’ve sent out a few resumes and have not received any responses from employers. However, when I get down to the nitty-gritty with most of them I find that they have not followed a few important principles and methods for creating income in their lives.
First, they speak very negatively about their situations, past employers, and the economy much too often. Thus, they tend to eat bad from the fruit of the lips. Complaining and speaking negatively about the availability of jobs and opportunities will not get your situation back on track if you happen to be in a poor personal economic cycle right now.
Second, they do not recognize the gifts, talents, skills, and abilities they are endowed with. Some gifs and talents they’ve used in the past and should know they have and some are latent and haven’t been used yet.
Third, they fail to look for a job like it’s a job. Many fail to also stop the flow of spending they had when they were employed and have not set priorities for funds they do have access to. Also, some still engage in habits like smoking, drinking, gambling, etc. that take away money necessary for them to make it more comfortably through the period of unemployment they are experiencing.
Fourth, they fail to recognize that blessings often come in small packages. Thus, they should not despise the day of small beginnings even when the new beginning comes after you were on a large stage previously and you would have liked to continue in that stature.
You must remember that your actual worth and stature is not based on the position, notoriety, fame, or income you have or had in the past. It is based on you being a creation of God almighty and should be augmented by your born again relationship with Jesus Christ.
I often implore those I speak with to write out a plan in which:
1) The first four hours of their working day even while unemployed is spent going from business to business in a two to three mile radius. Choose a radius that you can walk from business to business if possible so you can save on gas or in case you don’t have a car. In such commercially rich districts you will normally find 50+ employers to reach out to.
They should complete applications over and over as necessary until they saturate these employers with the knowledge that they are unlike all the other people who complete an application and then sit at home or do other non-work related stuff while waiting for their phone to ring.
They should show each possible employer that they have patience and perseverance by continuing to come back over and over and over completing more applications and asking to speak with owners and managers of the business.
There could come a time 3 to 4 months later where you may choose another commercially rich location to augment your search, but if you approach this situation like a job and do it day in and day out Monday thru Friday and maybe Saturday you will often find that employment is offered to you because of the passion and hard work ethic you display even while currently unemployed.
2) Next, the last four hours of the day should be spent going door to door in residential areas with business cards or flyers offering to provide some type of personal service that you are able to perform. We underestimate in this current society the mass numbers of people who need or want personal services performed for them and their families.
I’ve known people who have provided at the homes of others hair braiding, animal watching and walking, handyman services, lawn maintenance, snow removal, painting, mural painting in bedrooms, babysitting, home health aide, cleaning, cooking, etc. All of these things have been done without the help of employers.
In essence, the people who accomplished these tasks created their own businesses that either grew to very gainful incomes or helped tide them over until an employer hired them at a higher income.
It is not a bad thing to let the people on whose doors you knock know that you are out of work and would appreciate them giving you an opportunity to work hard performing a service that is helpful to them.
3) They should take a short break mid-morning and mid afternoon and a short lunch time. They should especially spend time fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit in worship, praise, and prayer presenting their petitions to Him so that His heart is moved to help them find a suitable income producing situation for them. Also, they should not forsake the assembly with other believers in order that they receive encouragement, uplift, and help in the time of need. They can return the favor to others later on when they are gainfully employed. Praise be to God who always causes us to triumph.
4) They augment the physical search with the mailing of resumes to businesses that they can get to if a job was offered and at which they may desire to work because of gifting, talent, skill, etc. They should shortly and often follow up with phone calls asking to speak with managers who would hire prospective employees and who would be willing to share more about the employer.
Additional resume mailing and phone calls should be made every few weeks in order that these prospective employers see your perseverance and understand your passion for working with them and working hard when they employ you.
5) They should further augment their continuous hard work and effort looking for a job like it’s a job by listing all of the family, friends, and associates in the area they are located in or they might choose to relocate to and let them know they are out of work and looking for employment.
Ask them to put in a kind word for you with their employers or any other business they may have associations with. Also, ask if they have any insight into job openings or opportunities that you could take advantage of. One of the best ways to find employment is networking with the many friends you have associated with over the years.
Again, the contacts with these friends, etc. should be made over and over every few weeks until employment is found because you want to keep it foremost in their minds that you are still searching for employment to provide income to help you care for yourself and family.
6) They should also look for opportunities to volunteer at churches and charities as many times these stints help you network into employment and friendships that can tide you over until a better ship comes in.
7) Certainly, if you are able to get some free or low cost education and training during this time that can help you get on the path to gainful employment, then by all means do so. You may also be able to obtain some needed free education and tools to help you at your local library. Usually though, the thing that most unemployed people need is some amount of income to help pay the priority bills and get them through to a better economic time.
I’ve had numerous people tell me they weren’t going to work for the little bit that people might pay them for personal services. My response has been, so is it better to sit around doing nothing most of the day than to make the few dollars that you can make doing something worthwhile with your time and talent. Inevitably, I continue to see many of them stay in the poor economic situation they were in when I spoke with them. However, all those who have taken the position that it is better to earn something and spend their time expediently have been blessed and have moved on to better economic times. This is my hope for every currently unemployed person.
If you’ll take reasonable steps daily to find gainful employment and income producing opportunities God will provide helps and tools to get you to your destiny. The determination of how long and how much other people will lend themselves to help you will often come down to the effort they see you putting into making your situation better. So give them absolutely nothing to look negatively on and remember if a man will not work (even when he is so called “unemployed,”) he also shall not eat.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Genesis3:17-19, Proverbs 19:24, Ecclesiastes 11:4-6, Matthew 25:20-21, Luke 19:16-17, Romans 12:6-13
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
MoneyWalk 62: A Second Dose of Contentment
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Learn to properly manage what God has already given you in order to get the most out of it and to be found faithful to receive more to manage on His behalf. Instead of doing everything humanly possible to get more money, fame, or power, pursue your passion to serve the Lord and use the gifts He’s given and skills you’ve developed in the marketplace to be the best manager you can be.
Such contentment will allow you to seek and be led by the Holy Spirit. A prayerful intimacy and action will move Him to supernaturally promote you to worthwhile positions and endeavors that immensely prosper you to achieve your life’s purpose on earth as a result of your natural and humble work ethic. The truth of the scriptures show that a person who is faithful over little will be faithful over much and the Father loves to reward such faith-filled stewards.
Living by such faith is better than seeking the world’s ideals of success and using its pathways based solely on human endeavor. Worldly methods are usually greed or poverty inspired temptations that seek to move you outside of God’s will to pursue things you feel are necessary to satisfy your fleshly longings or mindset instead of listening for the Holy Spirit to direct you to the things that please Him in order to fulfill your spiritual longings, true needs, and the needs of other people.
Such discontentment always leads to greater heartaches and headaches because your desire to be fulfilled can never be satisfied by worldly status, material things, or a poverty mindset. When the worldly, humanistic path is chosen the power of God will not work to give you spiritual, eternal victory over troubles and obstacles that you will inevitably face. So, allow God according to His plan for your life, create supernatural fulfillment and great success through contentment.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11-13, 1Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:5
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Learn to properly manage what God has already given you in order to get the most out of it and to be found faithful to receive more to manage on His behalf. Instead of doing everything humanly possible to get more money, fame, or power, pursue your passion to serve the Lord and use the gifts He’s given and skills you’ve developed in the marketplace to be the best manager you can be.
Such contentment will allow you to seek and be led by the Holy Spirit. A prayerful intimacy and action will move Him to supernaturally promote you to worthwhile positions and endeavors that immensely prosper you to achieve your life’s purpose on earth as a result of your natural and humble work ethic. The truth of the scriptures show that a person who is faithful over little will be faithful over much and the Father loves to reward such faith-filled stewards.
Living by such faith is better than seeking the world’s ideals of success and using its pathways based solely on human endeavor. Worldly methods are usually greed or poverty inspired temptations that seek to move you outside of God’s will to pursue things you feel are necessary to satisfy your fleshly longings or mindset instead of listening for the Holy Spirit to direct you to the things that please Him in order to fulfill your spiritual longings, true needs, and the needs of other people.
Such discontentment always leads to greater heartaches and headaches because your desire to be fulfilled can never be satisfied by worldly status, material things, or a poverty mindset. When the worldly, humanistic path is chosen the power of God will not work to give you spiritual, eternal victory over troubles and obstacles that you will inevitably face. So, allow God according to His plan for your life, create supernatural fulfillment and great success through contentment.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11-13, 1Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:5
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
MoneyWalk 459: Working unto the Lord is most profitable
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Sometimes, a job or business venture is the means by which satan and his demonic forces try to draw you away from the fundamentals of Christianity and the natural and eternal blessings that extend from it. He will try to convince you in your mind and through other people that you should not mix business with the pleasure of witnessing to or discipling people in your workplace or entrepreneurial endeavor. Not even remotely does He want you to be an example of a believer or ever speak about your trust in the Lord and how He’s making you and your life better by guiding you to the purpose for which He created you.
Rightfully, your supervisors should expect that you will spend your working time making the widgets or providing the service that you have been hired to do. It is a command of the Lord to work as unto Him as you go about serving under the delegated authorities in your workplace. He desires that you do the best you can to make widgets and provide service that will please your employer and help make its enterprise profitable.
So, the problem isn’t that your managers don’t want you witnessing on company time. They have a right to expect you to perform your duties. And, the problem is not generally with what the employer asks or orders you to do. Most often the problem is with you because you don’t recognize that simply living a life committed to Jesus Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your life and efforts, including work, will be a great witness and discipleship tool to others in your workplace.
Also, you often don’t realize that there are opportunities God provides during some lunch and break times that can be used to communicate the gospel with those who may ask about your life or share circumstances in their lives where your experiences may be helpful to them. In addition, a portion of the income God provides you from widget making should be used to help the church spread the gospel in and out of the marketplace so that people can come into the knowledge of God’s plan that leads to salvation and eternal life.
Being a Christian does not mean that you’ll do everything right, be perfect, or be liked by everyone or by your supervisors and other delegated authorities. In fact, there will be times when you may not be well-liked by certain people and they won’t agree with your lifestyle or won’t like your work. Jesus Christ is your perfection and you should seek His wisdom and be teachable in relationship with your supervisor and other associates so you can learn if it’s because you have a character flaw or work defect that you can correct.
If you or your work habits are disliked and there is nothing that you can change within moral boundaries to please your supervisors, then just continue to work as unto the Lord while believing and praying that God will help them see that you are doing your best and that your methods are profitable for the organization. If you do this God will have your back, He will move the heart of your supervisor and others as necessary to fulfill the purpose He has for you, and if necessary He will judge your supervisor and delegated authorities and bring about the consequence in their lives that is best served to meet His will.
You won’t be perfect and you may make mistakes, sometimes glaring ones, but even the toughest critics will be able to see your growth as shown by your elevated respect for your supervisors, leaders, co-workers, and workplace. They will see the increasing honesty, integrity, and faithfulness to complete your work well. They will also see that you take accountability and repent for misdeeds and correct your actions in order to be profitable to God and the employer He allows you to work for. This lifestyle of working as unto the Lord by respecting your supervisors and delegated authorities, building bridges to other associates, not compromising your morals, and doing what is necessary to be teachable so you can grow in Christ-likeness will help other people see their need for Jesus Christ and be drawn to Him.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Romans 13:1-8, Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-25, 4:1, 1Peter 2:12-20
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sometimes, a job or business venture is the means by which satan and his demonic forces try to draw you away from the fundamentals of Christianity and the natural and eternal blessings that extend from it. He will try to convince you in your mind and through other people that you should not mix business with the pleasure of witnessing to or discipling people in your workplace or entrepreneurial endeavor. Not even remotely does He want you to be an example of a believer or ever speak about your trust in the Lord and how He’s making you and your life better by guiding you to the purpose for which He created you.
Rightfully, your supervisors should expect that you will spend your working time making the widgets or providing the service that you have been hired to do. It is a command of the Lord to work as unto Him as you go about serving under the delegated authorities in your workplace. He desires that you do the best you can to make widgets and provide service that will please your employer and help make its enterprise profitable.
So, the problem isn’t that your managers don’t want you witnessing on company time. They have a right to expect you to perform your duties. And, the problem is not generally with what the employer asks or orders you to do. Most often the problem is with you because you don’t recognize that simply living a life committed to Jesus Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your life and efforts, including work, will be a great witness and discipleship tool to others in your workplace.
Also, you often don’t realize that there are opportunities God provides during some lunch and break times that can be used to communicate the gospel with those who may ask about your life or share circumstances in their lives where your experiences may be helpful to them. In addition, a portion of the income God provides you from widget making should be used to help the church spread the gospel in and out of the marketplace so that people can come into the knowledge of God’s plan that leads to salvation and eternal life.
Being a Christian does not mean that you’ll do everything right, be perfect, or be liked by everyone or by your supervisors and other delegated authorities. In fact, there will be times when you may not be well-liked by certain people and they won’t agree with your lifestyle or won’t like your work. Jesus Christ is your perfection and you should seek His wisdom and be teachable in relationship with your supervisor and other associates so you can learn if it’s because you have a character flaw or work defect that you can correct.
If you or your work habits are disliked and there is nothing that you can change within moral boundaries to please your supervisors, then just continue to work as unto the Lord while believing and praying that God will help them see that you are doing your best and that your methods are profitable for the organization. If you do this God will have your back, He will move the heart of your supervisor and others as necessary to fulfill the purpose He has for you, and if necessary He will judge your supervisor and delegated authorities and bring about the consequence in their lives that is best served to meet His will.
You won’t be perfect and you may make mistakes, sometimes glaring ones, but even the toughest critics will be able to see your growth as shown by your elevated respect for your supervisors, leaders, co-workers, and workplace. They will see the increasing honesty, integrity, and faithfulness to complete your work well. They will also see that you take accountability and repent for misdeeds and correct your actions in order to be profitable to God and the employer He allows you to work for. This lifestyle of working as unto the Lord by respecting your supervisors and delegated authorities, building bridges to other associates, not compromising your morals, and doing what is necessary to be teachable so you can grow in Christ-likeness will help other people see their need for Jesus Christ and be drawn to Him.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Romans 13:1-8, Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-25, 4:1, 1Peter 2:12-20
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
MoneyWalk 61: Be Content
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Being content is an attitude of heart and mind that will help you be a good steward of the resources and money that God entrusts to you throughout the stages of your life.
It is necessary in order for you to truly understand and act upon the belief that God owns everything and that you’re just a steward of what He owns who should be committed to managing it in the way that pleases Him.
Contentment is necessary for you to recognize that tithing and giving offerings should be the first and foremost financial commitment that you budget (include in your spending plan) because God commands His people to worship and serve Him in this manner. Contentment is necessary in order for you to not try to buy everything that your eyes, flesh, and pride desire and for you not to take out loans to get even more.
It is an attitude of heart and mind, developed by the Holy Spirit, that does not leave you lacking. Rather, it leads you to the Rock that is higher than you, what you have, and what you can do. It helps you see the importance of developing an intimate relationship with Him that will help you engage any of the activities you need to undertake to fulfill His purpose for you in His great plan for His people. This direct pursuit of Jesus Christ leads indirectly to the prosperity He designed for your life and family.
By delighting yourself in God, you draw closer to Him in fellowship and bypass the natural and eternal destruction brought about by succumbing to satanic temptation to gravitate to ungodly things that seem to glitter. As your fellowship with God increases, the work you’re ultimately called to on earth becomes more evident. You'll be motivated to use talents, spiritual gifts, and learned skills to bring about Christ’s rule in the hearts of men.
You’ll have a firm resolve to bypass the great amounts of money, fame, and power that you might possibly obtain by going down a path opposed to God’s will, because you understand that all your future needs and desires He has for you will be met as you pursue your calling to glorify Jesus Christ, evangelize unbelievers, and equip believers.
As you find contentment in what’s important to God instead of what’s important to you or other people, He will allow your career and ministry to others to take on much greater proportions than you thought possible. This humble and contrite attitude of heart and mind helps you properly manage money and resources and creates enormous future opportunities for you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11-13, 1Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:5-6
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Being content is an attitude of heart and mind that will help you be a good steward of the resources and money that God entrusts to you throughout the stages of your life.
It is necessary in order for you to truly understand and act upon the belief that God owns everything and that you’re just a steward of what He owns who should be committed to managing it in the way that pleases Him.
Contentment is necessary for you to recognize that tithing and giving offerings should be the first and foremost financial commitment that you budget (include in your spending plan) because God commands His people to worship and serve Him in this manner. Contentment is necessary in order for you to not try to buy everything that your eyes, flesh, and pride desire and for you not to take out loans to get even more.
It is an attitude of heart and mind, developed by the Holy Spirit, that does not leave you lacking. Rather, it leads you to the Rock that is higher than you, what you have, and what you can do. It helps you see the importance of developing an intimate relationship with Him that will help you engage any of the activities you need to undertake to fulfill His purpose for you in His great plan for His people. This direct pursuit of Jesus Christ leads indirectly to the prosperity He designed for your life and family.
By delighting yourself in God, you draw closer to Him in fellowship and bypass the natural and eternal destruction brought about by succumbing to satanic temptation to gravitate to ungodly things that seem to glitter. As your fellowship with God increases, the work you’re ultimately called to on earth becomes more evident. You'll be motivated to use talents, spiritual gifts, and learned skills to bring about Christ’s rule in the hearts of men.
You’ll have a firm resolve to bypass the great amounts of money, fame, and power that you might possibly obtain by going down a path opposed to God’s will, because you understand that all your future needs and desires He has for you will be met as you pursue your calling to glorify Jesus Christ, evangelize unbelievers, and equip believers.
As you find contentment in what’s important to God instead of what’s important to you or other people, He will allow your career and ministry to others to take on much greater proportions than you thought possible. This humble and contrite attitude of heart and mind helps you properly manage money and resources and creates enormous future opportunities for you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11-13, 1Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:5-6
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
MoneyWalk 60: Get Someone Else To Do It
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
There's nothing wrong with recognizing when someone else can perform a task better than you. Hiring him/her to complete a task for you may be God's perfect timing for you to be a financial blessing to him/her. Besides, through friendly conversation you might win him/her to Jesus Christ or plant a gospel seed for an eventual harvest. Also, generous discounts and very friendly service will likely accompany your patronage down the road.
When you are in a tough financial position where goods and services don’t seem affordable and even when you are not, God is able to make all grace to abound to you so that you have all sufficiency in all things in order that you may give to every good work. He will help you find someone to do the job you need for a price you can pay.
When searching for someone to do the work get references from friends whose opinions you respect, obtain cost estimates from at least three different providers, and call appropriate agencies (state regulators, better business bureau, state attorney general complaint division, etc.) to ensure that the person/firm you are thinking of choosing is appropriately licensed and does not have an unreasonable history of unresolved complaints.
If person/firm has an unreliable or negative history move to the next choice on your list and so on until you find one that is reputable and seems to understand what it is you really need or want. Choose the person/firm with the best combination of quality and customer satisfaction that fits within your budget. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in research and determining who can best meet your need. The alternative is for you to do less than appealing work that becomes a greater expense to fix in the long run. That is certainly not profitable for you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 31:1-11, 1Corinthians 12:18, Ephesians 4:7-11, James 3:1
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
There's nothing wrong with recognizing when someone else can perform a task better than you. Hiring him/her to complete a task for you may be God's perfect timing for you to be a financial blessing to him/her. Besides, through friendly conversation you might win him/her to Jesus Christ or plant a gospel seed for an eventual harvest. Also, generous discounts and very friendly service will likely accompany your patronage down the road.
When you are in a tough financial position where goods and services don’t seem affordable and even when you are not, God is able to make all grace to abound to you so that you have all sufficiency in all things in order that you may give to every good work. He will help you find someone to do the job you need for a price you can pay.
When searching for someone to do the work get references from friends whose opinions you respect, obtain cost estimates from at least three different providers, and call appropriate agencies (state regulators, better business bureau, state attorney general complaint division, etc.) to ensure that the person/firm you are thinking of choosing is appropriately licensed and does not have an unreasonable history of unresolved complaints.
If person/firm has an unreliable or negative history move to the next choice on your list and so on until you find one that is reputable and seems to understand what it is you really need or want. Choose the person/firm with the best combination of quality and customer satisfaction that fits within your budget. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in research and determining who can best meet your need. The alternative is for you to do less than appealing work that becomes a greater expense to fix in the long run. That is certainly not profitable for you.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 31:1-11, 1Corinthians 12:18, Ephesians 4:7-11, James 3:1
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
MoneyWalk 458: Decreeing then acting prospers you
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
You have heard the phrases “Name it and claim it” and “Blab it and grab it.” These phrases are usually spoken of in an irreverent way against preachers who seem to espouse that believers can declare the ultimate possession of something and shortly receive it.
Throughout much of life, many people’s experiences seem to them to indicate that resources they ultimately obtain didn’t come to them through the above process. So they ridicule these preachers and claim they are focusing people on satan’s kingdom, leading people straight to Hell, taking advantage of people’s emotions in order to steal their money, etc. I’m sure you can think of many more things you’ve heard people say about such preachers.
In some cases this belief is true. Wheat and tare (weeds that some might mistake for wheat) grow together in the world and in the church. Thus, you are going to have some who confess the name of Jesus Christ whose hearts are actually aligned with the enemy and intent on taking advantage of others. Anyone can call himself a Christian and we may not immediately know that he is not, yet that does not make the truth of God’s word null and void. The Lord let us know that when the time for harvesting His people from the earth comes, He will command the reapers to separate the wheat from the tare and cast the tare into the fire.
There is truth in “Name it and claim it” as shown by the whole counsel of God in scripture. The key to obtaining it in the name of God and the thing being as valuable as you think is determined by whether or not you moved in faith upon what God by His Word identified as being available to you and whether or not you really intend to utilize your life, gifts, time, skills, money, and resources overall to benefit the spread of the gospel message in your family, community, and the world.
Mere mortals, who are not believers, name, claim, and obtain things that in many instances have much greater earthly value than things that believers name, claim, or obtain, such as businesses, inventions, jobs, houses, cars, jewelry, etc. So, obtaining things is not really the sign that you have sought God’s will, done His will, or received His blessing.
In order for it to surely be part of a sign of God’s will and blessing it would be accompanied by a lifestyle of steps ordered by God, His Word, and Holy Spirit that show up over time in a fruitful display of actions devoted to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping others share it more and more as the time of His return nears.
It is not always true that men will recognize your fruit. Many believers will, but those who don’t believe may see your words and actions as intolerant or a violation of their doctrine of separation of church and state, not scientifically proven, or nonsense. In this regard, we should not compare the value of what we obtain with that of other people or the world nor boast of it to the church or to men. Rather, we make our boast in the Lord and thank Him continually for using us and giving us much bounty that we can use to better serve Him, pursue our calling, take care of every responsibility He made us for, and serve others.
You do well to name and claim that which God has truly shown you to be your calling or the resources to fulfill it, when He shows you that it is time to declare it for His glory. You do better to put your faith in action and bring forth good works using the bulk of your resources to glorify His name as every believer in Christ is pre-ordained to do. Then, His light will truly shine upon your ways.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Job 22:28, Matthew 7:7-11, Romans 4:17, James 2:20-24, 4:1-4, 1John 1:1-3
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
You have heard the phrases “Name it and claim it” and “Blab it and grab it.” These phrases are usually spoken of in an irreverent way against preachers who seem to espouse that believers can declare the ultimate possession of something and shortly receive it.
Throughout much of life, many people’s experiences seem to them to indicate that resources they ultimately obtain didn’t come to them through the above process. So they ridicule these preachers and claim they are focusing people on satan’s kingdom, leading people straight to Hell, taking advantage of people’s emotions in order to steal their money, etc. I’m sure you can think of many more things you’ve heard people say about such preachers.
In some cases this belief is true. Wheat and tare (weeds that some might mistake for wheat) grow together in the world and in the church. Thus, you are going to have some who confess the name of Jesus Christ whose hearts are actually aligned with the enemy and intent on taking advantage of others. Anyone can call himself a Christian and we may not immediately know that he is not, yet that does not make the truth of God’s word null and void. The Lord let us know that when the time for harvesting His people from the earth comes, He will command the reapers to separate the wheat from the tare and cast the tare into the fire.
There is truth in “Name it and claim it” as shown by the whole counsel of God in scripture. The key to obtaining it in the name of God and the thing being as valuable as you think is determined by whether or not you moved in faith upon what God by His Word identified as being available to you and whether or not you really intend to utilize your life, gifts, time, skills, money, and resources overall to benefit the spread of the gospel message in your family, community, and the world.
Mere mortals, who are not believers, name, claim, and obtain things that in many instances have much greater earthly value than things that believers name, claim, or obtain, such as businesses, inventions, jobs, houses, cars, jewelry, etc. So, obtaining things is not really the sign that you have sought God’s will, done His will, or received His blessing.
In order for it to surely be part of a sign of God’s will and blessing it would be accompanied by a lifestyle of steps ordered by God, His Word, and Holy Spirit that show up over time in a fruitful display of actions devoted to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping others share it more and more as the time of His return nears.
It is not always true that men will recognize your fruit. Many believers will, but those who don’t believe may see your words and actions as intolerant or a violation of their doctrine of separation of church and state, not scientifically proven, or nonsense. In this regard, we should not compare the value of what we obtain with that of other people or the world nor boast of it to the church or to men. Rather, we make our boast in the Lord and thank Him continually for using us and giving us much bounty that we can use to better serve Him, pursue our calling, take care of every responsibility He made us for, and serve others.
You do well to name and claim that which God has truly shown you to be your calling or the resources to fulfill it, when He shows you that it is time to declare it for His glory. You do better to put your faith in action and bring forth good works using the bulk of your resources to glorify His name as every believer in Christ is pre-ordained to do. Then, His light will truly shine upon your ways.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Job 22:28, Matthew 7:7-11, Romans 4:17, James 2:20-24, 4:1-4, 1John 1:1-3
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, June 7, 2010
MoneyWalk 59: Other People Can Help You Greatly
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
You probably have friends who know how to find quality merchandise and service that is normally expensive for rock bottom prices or who know how to do things well that you need and will do it at a price that fits within your budget and doesn’t put you in debt. While other people pay top dollar just because they’ve believed commercial hype, these bargain shoppers know when paying a higher price really makes a valuable difference in product performance, style, or service.
You will do well to take note of people with such skill and consult them frequently prior to purchasing expensive products and services. I've noted people with such money saving skills in areas like home renovations, purchasing cars, decorating, cooking, cleaning, financial planning, etc.
Good counsel and service from these individuals will require you to get off any high horses of belief that thinks products and services are worthwhile only when you pay someone top dollar for them. While that is sometimes true, it is not always the case. Many times there are low cost and high cost options and sometimes the difference in quality, durability, comfort, styling, etc. is not worth paying the higher price.
In the end, these bargain shoppers and bargain providers will have you walking down the road to financial freedom by allowing you to pay off current debts with money you used to spend buying high-priced merchandise and services. Peter, Paul, David, Moses, Abraham, and other great leaders allowed other people's skills, spiritual gifts, and prophetic insights to direct them to success in their lives. So, instead of hanging out with people who encourage and help you spend money you don’t have, allow those friends who represent Jesus, John Mark, Nathan, Eliezer, Bezalel, and Oholiab in your life to help you reach another level spiritually and financially by squeezing out unnecessary fat from your spending.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 36:1-2, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 5:4-7, 19:12-13, 2Timothy 4:11
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
You probably have friends who know how to find quality merchandise and service that is normally expensive for rock bottom prices or who know how to do things well that you need and will do it at a price that fits within your budget and doesn’t put you in debt. While other people pay top dollar just because they’ve believed commercial hype, these bargain shoppers know when paying a higher price really makes a valuable difference in product performance, style, or service.
You will do well to take note of people with such skill and consult them frequently prior to purchasing expensive products and services. I've noted people with such money saving skills in areas like home renovations, purchasing cars, decorating, cooking, cleaning, financial planning, etc.
Good counsel and service from these individuals will require you to get off any high horses of belief that thinks products and services are worthwhile only when you pay someone top dollar for them. While that is sometimes true, it is not always the case. Many times there are low cost and high cost options and sometimes the difference in quality, durability, comfort, styling, etc. is not worth paying the higher price.
In the end, these bargain shoppers and bargain providers will have you walking down the road to financial freedom by allowing you to pay off current debts with money you used to spend buying high-priced merchandise and services. Peter, Paul, David, Moses, Abraham, and other great leaders allowed other people's skills, spiritual gifts, and prophetic insights to direct them to success in their lives. So, instead of hanging out with people who encourage and help you spend money you don’t have, allow those friends who represent Jesus, John Mark, Nathan, Eliezer, Bezalel, and Oholiab in your life to help you reach another level spiritually and financially by squeezing out unnecessary fat from your spending.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 36:1-2, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 5:4-7, 19:12-13, 2Timothy 4:11
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Monday, May 31, 2010
MoneyWalk 58: Bargain Shopping Helps You
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
I worked in a meat packing plant and saw that many different brands of meat with essentially the same ingredients were packaged by that plant using the same machinery. It might add different ingredients for some of the different brands, but basically it produced much the same types of meats for each brand.
This process works the same way for many different types of merchandise. Thus, what you’ve been buying may not be any better quality that what’s sold by others at a cheaper price. In order to be a better steward of your money you should research purchasing items from reputable discount retailers whenever possible. And when you use other retailers, you should consider whether or not items on sale or on clearance actually fit the quality and design that you are looking for. You might just find that what you were getting ready to pay full price for is also on a clearance rack at a sharply reduced price.
For most of your wardrobe and things often used, you should purchase conservative apparel and other belongings that maintain their utility and remain in style for long periods of time instead of choosing faddish things that will quickly be out of style and unusable. Finally, negotiate discounts or simply find out what discounts are available on homes, cars, furniture, appliances, other products, and services because most sellers provide them if you ask.
When used with the strategy of eliminating unnecessary spending, these methods can save you thousands of dollars per year that you would otherwise pay out by purchasing items at higher prices because you didn’t research less expensive alternatives that met the same style and quality standards. If you follow this strategy in tough times, you'll build habits that will pull you out of the pit of financial despair and put you in a future position to comfortably splurge on merchandise that you desire without bills eating you up and unpaid creditors constantly calling you up.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 12:35-36, Nehemiah 2:4-8, Proverbs 8:19-21, Matthew 21:1-3, Mark 14:13-16
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
I worked in a meat packing plant and saw that many different brands of meat with essentially the same ingredients were packaged by that plant using the same machinery. It might add different ingredients for some of the different brands, but basically it produced much the same types of meats for each brand.
This process works the same way for many different types of merchandise. Thus, what you’ve been buying may not be any better quality that what’s sold by others at a cheaper price. In order to be a better steward of your money you should research purchasing items from reputable discount retailers whenever possible. And when you use other retailers, you should consider whether or not items on sale or on clearance actually fit the quality and design that you are looking for. You might just find that what you were getting ready to pay full price for is also on a clearance rack at a sharply reduced price.
For most of your wardrobe and things often used, you should purchase conservative apparel and other belongings that maintain their utility and remain in style for long periods of time instead of choosing faddish things that will quickly be out of style and unusable. Finally, negotiate discounts or simply find out what discounts are available on homes, cars, furniture, appliances, other products, and services because most sellers provide them if you ask.
When used with the strategy of eliminating unnecessary spending, these methods can save you thousands of dollars per year that you would otherwise pay out by purchasing items at higher prices because you didn’t research less expensive alternatives that met the same style and quality standards. If you follow this strategy in tough times, you'll build habits that will pull you out of the pit of financial despair and put you in a future position to comfortably splurge on merchandise that you desire without bills eating you up and unpaid creditors constantly calling you up.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 12:35-36, Nehemiah 2:4-8, Proverbs 8:19-21, Matthew 21:1-3, Mark 14:13-16
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
MoneyWalk 57: We're born again to be givers
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Prior to accepting Jesus as Savior, I thought I was financially savvy. However, I was so ignorant of the truth that I mired my family in debt while thing I was smart enough to know how to manage money without anyone’s help. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, I finally recognized the truth of my incompetence. It was then that I asked the Holy Spirit to show me how to manage the money He entrusts to me so that I could do His will and be successful in sharing His Word with other people.
He showed me financial principles in my bible reading times that I could employ like honoring God through my lifestyle, fellowship, and giving. These activities borne of a heart for Him keeps His blessing flowing down on us. We were challenged by the Lord to begin tithing at a time when we did not see that we had enough money to give to God and pay all our bills. At the same time, the satan tempted me with the thought of giving only small offerings in church until all our bills were paid off. However, I didn't succumb to this temptation and the result is that we've been immensely blessed to see our debts totally eliminated, giving increasing, and assets accumulating for the greater part of the past decade.
I encourage you to faithfully tithe and give offerings to your local church along with budgeting, saving, and investing as the foundation for getting out of debt in order to prosper in life and be in a position to do God’s will to the degree He desires. Before long, you'll receive income increases, promotions, bargains, and gifts that allow you to retain greater amounts of income to pay off your bills and accumulate wealth much faster that you can imagine. Your results will totally confound the many that follow the world’s financial principles and never prosper.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 11:24-25, 19:17, Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 6:38, 2Corinthians 9:7-9
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Prior to accepting Jesus as Savior, I thought I was financially savvy. However, I was so ignorant of the truth that I mired my family in debt while thing I was smart enough to know how to manage money without anyone’s help. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, I finally recognized the truth of my incompetence. It was then that I asked the Holy Spirit to show me how to manage the money He entrusts to me so that I could do His will and be successful in sharing His Word with other people.
He showed me financial principles in my bible reading times that I could employ like honoring God through my lifestyle, fellowship, and giving. These activities borne of a heart for Him keeps His blessing flowing down on us. We were challenged by the Lord to begin tithing at a time when we did not see that we had enough money to give to God and pay all our bills. At the same time, the satan tempted me with the thought of giving only small offerings in church until all our bills were paid off. However, I didn't succumb to this temptation and the result is that we've been immensely blessed to see our debts totally eliminated, giving increasing, and assets accumulating for the greater part of the past decade.
I encourage you to faithfully tithe and give offerings to your local church along with budgeting, saving, and investing as the foundation for getting out of debt in order to prosper in life and be in a position to do God’s will to the degree He desires. Before long, you'll receive income increases, promotions, bargains, and gifts that allow you to retain greater amounts of income to pay off your bills and accumulate wealth much faster that you can imagine. Your results will totally confound the many that follow the world’s financial principles and never prosper.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 11:24-25, 19:17, Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 6:38, 2Corinthians 9:7-9
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
MoneyWalk 457: Focused Steps to Good Stewardship
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Do not live with your eye on this world, rather live with your eye on the world to come. If you hope to become the good steward God instructs you to be and intends for you to be, then you are going to have to develop a deeper fellowship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit that motivates you to follow the pathway the bible lays out for your life and financial health, wealth, and well-being.
Just like Jesus focused all His energies on obtaining the goal of the Father’s will for all mankind to have hope of salvation and a heavenly home, you too must focus and take the steps necessary to achieve the Father’s goal for you. Your focus should be on these steps through which you climb the ladder of spiritual financial success one step at a time. Do not attempt to move to the next step until you are firmly established in accomplishing the task on the step you are on.
1) Understand it is all God’s. Through daily worship, praise, prayer, and bible reading / studying tell God that all the income and assets you have and will ever have access to are His and that as His steward you are now willing to following His instructions and do what He directs with His money and resources.
2) Show contentment. Continue or start tithing to your local church or a worthwhile ministry each time you receive income. Choose delayed gratification instead of instant gratification. Do not buy that bigger house, more expensive car, new furniture, new jewelry, etc. until you have reached the priority goal of being a faithful tithing member of a local church and totally debt-free. Stuff to buy will still be there at prices you can afford to pay after you reach your goal.
3) Tell your income what to do. Draft a 3 to 6 month plan that shows:
a) Your after tax income each pay period
b) The tithe and offering to be subtracted from take home pay
c) Each minimum bill payment that must be paid from that pay period’s income (mortgage, rent, credit cards, car note, etc.)
d) Other miscellaneous amounts that must be taken from the income (groceries, personal money, gas for car, monthly amount of annual property tax payment, monthly amount of annual home and car insurance premium, monthly amount of annual life insurance payment, 2 or 3 low cost weekend vacations each year, low cost monthly entertainment, etc.), and
e) Any amount left over. If there is nothing left over then you will need to work with your spouse and a close friend who is good at managing his or her money or a budget counselor to determine ways in which you can cut current expenses, determine which bills receive priority for payment at the current time, or find other jobs that can help increase your income for awhile to get you out of the rut you are in.
4) Build a one-month emergency fund. Use any amount left over and other assets to build or establish, in a government guaranteed savings or money management account (MMA), an emergency fund equal to one month of all your expenses identified in items 3.c. and 3.d. above. This will help you stop turning to credit cards and loans to take care of problems and emergencies. You will get on the right path to using cash instead of burdening your future with debt.
5) Pay off all non-mortgage loans that charge interest. Chances are that these credit cards, car loans, personal loans, etc charge interest that is well above what you can earn in savings or MMAs. Thus, after you have built the one-month emergency fund, you should use the amount left over during each pay period to pay off your smallest debt. Then, move to the next smallest debt and so on until you have finally paid off all your debts. The only time you break this cycle is if you have an emergency that needs immediate attention and you must use money in your one-month emergency reserve. Then, you would take the amount left over each pay period to build it back up and afterward resume paying down your debt with it.
6) Build a six-month emergency fund. After all non-housing loans are paid off use the amount left over each pay period (which now should be much larger) to build your emergency fund to six-months of all your expenses identified in items 3.c. and 3.d. above.
7) Start funding retirement vehicles that match the amount you invest. If your employer offers a 401k, 457, 403b, etc. that matches your investment up to a certain amount start investing the amount necessary to get the maximum matching investment from your employer. Put the money in a safe and sound investment (like a stable value account, guaranteed investment contract, etc.) until you study and understand the history, nature, risk, and investment costs / fees of other types of investments like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, etc.
8) Pay off your home loans. Use the amount left over each month toward principal pay off of your mortgage until it is fully paid off. Commit to not purchasing another house until at least 5 to 7 years after you have paid off your current mortgage(s). If you have a desire to purchase another home, set the purchase as a faith goal to pursue on a debt-free basis using the equity in your current home and savings that you are able to build each month after your current home mortgage is paid off. Remember contentment and deferred gratification pay off more in the end than encumbering yourself further in debt.
9) Increase your giving and investments. At this point, the amount left over should be huge because it includes the amount you used to pay on your mortgage. Consider increasing your free-will offering as thanks to God for helping you reach the goal of total debt freedom and ability to fund kingdom building to a much greater degree, help those in need, and build wealth to maintain these priorities and care for yourself and family.
Some will ask why funding college for kids is not a top priority. The answer is that your financial plan must operate similar to emergency landing safety instructions given on airplanes. Make sure you are safe and secure first before attempting (outside of your means) to help your children or other people be safe and secure. It is very difficult to truly help others until you have made sure that you are on solid footing, otherwise you risk harming yourself and not saving anyone else.
Following the above plan will help you get to the point in debt-freedom and wealth building where you will have disposable income and assets that you could use to help your children and possibly others with educational expenses and other worthwhile goals that can brighten their future.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Revelation 4:11, 1Timothy 6:9-17, Matthew 23:23, Hebrews 7:8, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Proverbs 21:20, Luke 6:38, 14:28-30
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Do not live with your eye on this world, rather live with your eye on the world to come. If you hope to become the good steward God instructs you to be and intends for you to be, then you are going to have to develop a deeper fellowship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit that motivates you to follow the pathway the bible lays out for your life and financial health, wealth, and well-being.
Just like Jesus focused all His energies on obtaining the goal of the Father’s will for all mankind to have hope of salvation and a heavenly home, you too must focus and take the steps necessary to achieve the Father’s goal for you. Your focus should be on these steps through which you climb the ladder of spiritual financial success one step at a time. Do not attempt to move to the next step until you are firmly established in accomplishing the task on the step you are on.
1) Understand it is all God’s. Through daily worship, praise, prayer, and bible reading / studying tell God that all the income and assets you have and will ever have access to are His and that as His steward you are now willing to following His instructions and do what He directs with His money and resources.
2) Show contentment. Continue or start tithing to your local church or a worthwhile ministry each time you receive income. Choose delayed gratification instead of instant gratification. Do not buy that bigger house, more expensive car, new furniture, new jewelry, etc. until you have reached the priority goal of being a faithful tithing member of a local church and totally debt-free. Stuff to buy will still be there at prices you can afford to pay after you reach your goal.
3) Tell your income what to do. Draft a 3 to 6 month plan that shows:
a) Your after tax income each pay period
b) The tithe and offering to be subtracted from take home pay
c) Each minimum bill payment that must be paid from that pay period’s income (mortgage, rent, credit cards, car note, etc.)
d) Other miscellaneous amounts that must be taken from the income (groceries, personal money, gas for car, monthly amount of annual property tax payment, monthly amount of annual home and car insurance premium, monthly amount of annual life insurance payment, 2 or 3 low cost weekend vacations each year, low cost monthly entertainment, etc.), and
e) Any amount left over. If there is nothing left over then you will need to work with your spouse and a close friend who is good at managing his or her money or a budget counselor to determine ways in which you can cut current expenses, determine which bills receive priority for payment at the current time, or find other jobs that can help increase your income for awhile to get you out of the rut you are in.
4) Build a one-month emergency fund. Use any amount left over and other assets to build or establish, in a government guaranteed savings or money management account (MMA), an emergency fund equal to one month of all your expenses identified in items 3.c. and 3.d. above. This will help you stop turning to credit cards and loans to take care of problems and emergencies. You will get on the right path to using cash instead of burdening your future with debt.
5) Pay off all non-mortgage loans that charge interest. Chances are that these credit cards, car loans, personal loans, etc charge interest that is well above what you can earn in savings or MMAs. Thus, after you have built the one-month emergency fund, you should use the amount left over during each pay period to pay off your smallest debt. Then, move to the next smallest debt and so on until you have finally paid off all your debts. The only time you break this cycle is if you have an emergency that needs immediate attention and you must use money in your one-month emergency reserve. Then, you would take the amount left over each pay period to build it back up and afterward resume paying down your debt with it.
6) Build a six-month emergency fund. After all non-housing loans are paid off use the amount left over each pay period (which now should be much larger) to build your emergency fund to six-months of all your expenses identified in items 3.c. and 3.d. above.
7) Start funding retirement vehicles that match the amount you invest. If your employer offers a 401k, 457, 403b, etc. that matches your investment up to a certain amount start investing the amount necessary to get the maximum matching investment from your employer. Put the money in a safe and sound investment (like a stable value account, guaranteed investment contract, etc.) until you study and understand the history, nature, risk, and investment costs / fees of other types of investments like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, etc.
8) Pay off your home loans. Use the amount left over each month toward principal pay off of your mortgage until it is fully paid off. Commit to not purchasing another house until at least 5 to 7 years after you have paid off your current mortgage(s). If you have a desire to purchase another home, set the purchase as a faith goal to pursue on a debt-free basis using the equity in your current home and savings that you are able to build each month after your current home mortgage is paid off. Remember contentment and deferred gratification pay off more in the end than encumbering yourself further in debt.
9) Increase your giving and investments. At this point, the amount left over should be huge because it includes the amount you used to pay on your mortgage. Consider increasing your free-will offering as thanks to God for helping you reach the goal of total debt freedom and ability to fund kingdom building to a much greater degree, help those in need, and build wealth to maintain these priorities and care for yourself and family.
Some will ask why funding college for kids is not a top priority. The answer is that your financial plan must operate similar to emergency landing safety instructions given on airplanes. Make sure you are safe and secure first before attempting (outside of your means) to help your children or other people be safe and secure. It is very difficult to truly help others until you have made sure that you are on solid footing, otherwise you risk harming yourself and not saving anyone else.
Following the above plan will help you get to the point in debt-freedom and wealth building where you will have disposable income and assets that you could use to help your children and possibly others with educational expenses and other worthwhile goals that can brighten their future.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Revelation 4:11, 1Timothy 6:9-17, Matthew 23:23, Hebrews 7:8, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Proverbs 21:20, Luke 6:38, 14:28-30
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
MoneyWalk 56: Don't Cosign
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
Once you have refused a person's request to cosign, you must encourage him to use biblical money management principles. You have a responsibility to help those truly in need according to your ability. However, you must discern the devil's strategy to have you waste money God entrusted to you on people who mismanage their money and responsibilities, will continue to do so, will not regard God or His Word, and will have you squander money on funding their desires (cars, houses, boats, etc.) that could be spent leading people to Christ.
When a true need exists, it's best to give a person whatever cash or resources you have on hand that you do not need to take care of your priority items like family, mortgage, rent, and bills that you owe. Instead of cosigning a loan thinking you’re going to help him or her by doing so, you inevitably enable the person to continue his or her irresponsibility toward family and good stewardship and help him or her forsake the issues that really should be a priority for his or her family, time, money, and resources. In addition, you enable the person to forsake good stewardship habits that come only from the knowledge of God’s will, trials, errors, sacrifice, contentment, delayed gratification, and complete trust in Him.
Unless you see someone beaten up on the road who needs assistance right now or someone who is hungry and needs food, or who has some other emergency need problem that the person did not bring upon him or herself and will not continue to perpetuate by his or her continued mindset and activities, then you should really, really know the person to know whether or not he or she is truly in need but is normally responsible or is really ready to become responsible. This helps you be prudent in providing the type of help that will truly help him or her take care of the abnormal situation or get out of the irresponsible activities that led to the situation.
Of course, there are times where you extend help to people in the community or in another part of the world, simply because you’ve identified an emergency need. Sometimes, we don’t know entirely the situation at hand and whether or not the person is irresponsible and it led to the sad situation. So, whenever the Holy Spirit directs you to help a person or give to a need, you must obey Him for your best to come to pass, for Him to bring what is important to the attention of the person being helped, and for it to be an example to others of completely trusting the Lord’s guidance.
However, consider that He never asks you to do anything in a way that violates scriptural commands or principles found in the bible. This should be a basis for how you measure the person’s situation and the help that you should give or sometimes will not give. The bible never encourages people to take on monetary debt either through borrowing or cosigning. So, just don’t cosign for anyone unless you already have the money saved in a safe and sound place and are truly prepared to pay off the entire loan when they default on it.
If you have cosigned a note for someone, the bible tells you to quickly go to the lender and attempt to remove your name off the debt. It also tells you that your belongings are subject to be taken if you are not released from the debt, because in most instances the person you cosigned for will fail to pay the debt off. Please don't fall out with a friend because you failed to make the right decision by refusing to cosign for his debt because your failure might be one of the reasons the person has not become responsible in his or her financial dealings. Continue to love the person, pray for financial wisdom, stay away from co-signing in the future, and guide them to complete trust in and obedience to God’s spoken will in the area of finances. This takes the pressure and stress off of you trying to be your friend’s savior and puts the concern squarely upon the person of Jesus Christ.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, Romans 13:8, Ephesians 5:15-17
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Once you have refused a person's request to cosign, you must encourage him to use biblical money management principles. You have a responsibility to help those truly in need according to your ability. However, you must discern the devil's strategy to have you waste money God entrusted to you on people who mismanage their money and responsibilities, will continue to do so, will not regard God or His Word, and will have you squander money on funding their desires (cars, houses, boats, etc.) that could be spent leading people to Christ.
When a true need exists, it's best to give a person whatever cash or resources you have on hand that you do not need to take care of your priority items like family, mortgage, rent, and bills that you owe. Instead of cosigning a loan thinking you’re going to help him or her by doing so, you inevitably enable the person to continue his or her irresponsibility toward family and good stewardship and help him or her forsake the issues that really should be a priority for his or her family, time, money, and resources. In addition, you enable the person to forsake good stewardship habits that come only from the knowledge of God’s will, trials, errors, sacrifice, contentment, delayed gratification, and complete trust in Him.
Unless you see someone beaten up on the road who needs assistance right now or someone who is hungry and needs food, or who has some other emergency need problem that the person did not bring upon him or herself and will not continue to perpetuate by his or her continued mindset and activities, then you should really, really know the person to know whether or not he or she is truly in need but is normally responsible or is really ready to become responsible. This helps you be prudent in providing the type of help that will truly help him or her take care of the abnormal situation or get out of the irresponsible activities that led to the situation.
Of course, there are times where you extend help to people in the community or in another part of the world, simply because you’ve identified an emergency need. Sometimes, we don’t know entirely the situation at hand and whether or not the person is irresponsible and it led to the sad situation. So, whenever the Holy Spirit directs you to help a person or give to a need, you must obey Him for your best to come to pass, for Him to bring what is important to the attention of the person being helped, and for it to be an example to others of completely trusting the Lord’s guidance.
However, consider that He never asks you to do anything in a way that violates scriptural commands or principles found in the bible. This should be a basis for how you measure the person’s situation and the help that you should give or sometimes will not give. The bible never encourages people to take on monetary debt either through borrowing or cosigning. So, just don’t cosign for anyone unless you already have the money saved in a safe and sound place and are truly prepared to pay off the entire loan when they default on it.
If you have cosigned a note for someone, the bible tells you to quickly go to the lender and attempt to remove your name off the debt. It also tells you that your belongings are subject to be taken if you are not released from the debt, because in most instances the person you cosigned for will fail to pay the debt off. Please don't fall out with a friend because you failed to make the right decision by refusing to cosign for his debt because your failure might be one of the reasons the person has not become responsible in his or her financial dealings. Continue to love the person, pray for financial wisdom, stay away from co-signing in the future, and guide them to complete trust in and obedience to God’s spoken will in the area of finances. This takes the pressure and stress off of you trying to be your friend’s savior and puts the concern squarely upon the person of Jesus Christ.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Proverbs 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, Romans 13:8, Ephesians 5:15-17
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
MoneyWalk 55: Don't Borrow Unnecessarily
This program will help you undo financial bondage.
This process starts by saying no to any loan for items that depreciate in value when you cannot immediately pay cash for them and when accepting the credit won't immediately benefit you by allowing your savings to accumulate at a higher interest rate than the interest rate you would pay the creditor on the loan balance.
It’s impossible to meet these requirements with most types of borrowing, including revolving credit card and store charge card accounts, because most institutions that offer such credit charge you very high interest rates. For example, the interest rate for most store charge cards is usually greater than 20%. While the interest rate for some credit cards can be lower, by accepting them you’re generally allowing the credit card issuer to raise interest rates sometime down the road if it believes you then represent greater risk of not paying or not paying on time, etc.
For the most part the rates on these cards hover in the teens and are much too high to presume that you can invest and monthly, annually, or over the long haul generate more investment growth than you’ll pay out in interest. This inability to generate greater growth does not even encompass the various penalties you will pay if you are not able to meet the card issuer’s payment requirements down the road.
There is a very small percentage of people who have played the hedging odds and seem to have beaten the system; people who have financed their business ventures using credit cards and yet experienced such a surge in customers that it seems their revenue has overcome the interest they paid on the credit cards. The small group that seems to have been successful probably represents less than one percent of business owners who have used this method. Don’t let what seem right now to be their success fool you into thinking that this is a prudent strategy for financing a business. Most of those who have tried this method have gone belly up.
Biblical instruction strongly guides you to pursue your financial life, personal and business, from a debt-free mindset; asking God and seeking a number of godly counselors who can help you find prudent ways to start and invest in business endeavors and purchase personal merchandise that is desirable to you. The vast majority of people I’ve met who did not follow this method have found themselves in financial turmoil at some point in their lives and the turmoil for many continues today because they still refuse to utilize biblical money management instruction to guide their financial affairs.
If you have a history of undisciplined use of credit cards, then you should immediately discipline yourself to stop using them, build at least three months of income in an emergency reserve account, and even eventually cut up the ones you have and throw them away because they will continue to bring torment into your life.
If you are a disciplined spender who stays well within established budget boundaries, a low interest revolving credit card will generally not hurt you because you will only use it for convenience and record-keeping purposes where you will only make purchases already accounted for in your budget and you never charge more on these cards than the amount of cash you have available in the bank minus your monthly bills, saving, investing, tithing, and giving.
Though scripture does not absolutely say that you cannot take on any debt, it strongly advises you to live debt-free and that God desires debt-freedom for you. The compounding interest nature of most debt will wreck your ability to build wealth for the future. The enemy knows this and tempts you to satisfy the cravings of your flesh using debt instruments. However, when you commit to God’s plan of living debt-free He will provide your every need without you having to borrow to supply it. When you refuse to take on debt, you enable the LORD to supernaturally provide by moving others to provide needs and desires at no cost when you're unable to purchase them.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Deuteronomy 28:12, Psalms 37:21, Proverbs 22:7, 27:23-24, Romans 13:8
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
This process starts by saying no to any loan for items that depreciate in value when you cannot immediately pay cash for them and when accepting the credit won't immediately benefit you by allowing your savings to accumulate at a higher interest rate than the interest rate you would pay the creditor on the loan balance.
It’s impossible to meet these requirements with most types of borrowing, including revolving credit card and store charge card accounts, because most institutions that offer such credit charge you very high interest rates. For example, the interest rate for most store charge cards is usually greater than 20%. While the interest rate for some credit cards can be lower, by accepting them you’re generally allowing the credit card issuer to raise interest rates sometime down the road if it believes you then represent greater risk of not paying or not paying on time, etc.
For the most part the rates on these cards hover in the teens and are much too high to presume that you can invest and monthly, annually, or over the long haul generate more investment growth than you’ll pay out in interest. This inability to generate greater growth does not even encompass the various penalties you will pay if you are not able to meet the card issuer’s payment requirements down the road.
There is a very small percentage of people who have played the hedging odds and seem to have beaten the system; people who have financed their business ventures using credit cards and yet experienced such a surge in customers that it seems their revenue has overcome the interest they paid on the credit cards. The small group that seems to have been successful probably represents less than one percent of business owners who have used this method. Don’t let what seem right now to be their success fool you into thinking that this is a prudent strategy for financing a business. Most of those who have tried this method have gone belly up.
Biblical instruction strongly guides you to pursue your financial life, personal and business, from a debt-free mindset; asking God and seeking a number of godly counselors who can help you find prudent ways to start and invest in business endeavors and purchase personal merchandise that is desirable to you. The vast majority of people I’ve met who did not follow this method have found themselves in financial turmoil at some point in their lives and the turmoil for many continues today because they still refuse to utilize biblical money management instruction to guide their financial affairs.
If you have a history of undisciplined use of credit cards, then you should immediately discipline yourself to stop using them, build at least three months of income in an emergency reserve account, and even eventually cut up the ones you have and throw them away because they will continue to bring torment into your life.
If you are a disciplined spender who stays well within established budget boundaries, a low interest revolving credit card will generally not hurt you because you will only use it for convenience and record-keeping purposes where you will only make purchases already accounted for in your budget and you never charge more on these cards than the amount of cash you have available in the bank minus your monthly bills, saving, investing, tithing, and giving.
Though scripture does not absolutely say that you cannot take on any debt, it strongly advises you to live debt-free and that God desires debt-freedom for you. The compounding interest nature of most debt will wreck your ability to build wealth for the future. The enemy knows this and tempts you to satisfy the cravings of your flesh using debt instruments. However, when you commit to God’s plan of living debt-free He will provide your every need without you having to borrow to supply it. When you refuse to take on debt, you enable the LORD to supernaturally provide by moving others to provide needs and desires at no cost when you're unable to purchase them.
Please email any questions and pray for this ministry. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Deuteronomy 28:12, Psalms 37:21, Proverbs 22:7, 27:23-24, Romans 13:8
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
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