MoneyWalk 271: The Best Way To Pay Off Debt

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Paying your debts off starting with the one with the lowest total balance is the best method for those who need to see quick victories in debt elimination in order to be motivated to keep going down that road. After that bill is paid off then you would move to the next lowest total balance and put all your disposable income, after making minimum payments on all other bills and expenses, toward eliminating that debt. You need to keep doing this until all your debts are paid off as well as refuse to take on more debt in order for your financial situation to turn around and take you into the land of financial freedom. Some studies have surmised that more people stick with debt elimination using this model because a quick victory or two keeps their excitement and drive for financial freedom at a very high level.

The top down bill payment method is a mathematically sound way to pay debts off because it allows you to minimize (to the lowest possible level) the amount of finance charges you pay. As discussed above it may be best for most people to use the lowest total balance method explained above. But for those who will remain motivated the top down method works. I and many people I have served have used it to more quickly reach the land of financial freedom and monetary wealth.

Using this model, you pay only the minimum due on each bill except the one with the highest finance charge. Put all extra disposable income that’s not needed for groceries, gas, and other necessary items with the minimum payment for this account each month until it's paid off. Then its minimum payment plus the extra disposable income is available to pay down the account with the next highest finance charge. Continue this process down the ladder of lower percentage finance charges until each bill is paid off.

If you have more than one account with the same finance charge and the same or different outstanding balances, pay off the one that you will be able to use at many different retailers and borrow cash from in case of an emergency. If both accounts let you do this, then use all of your extra income to pay off the one with the lowest outstanding balance so you can more quickly pare down the number of creditors.

An extra step that could help you eliminate debt faster when using either of these methods is, for debts that would take you more than a year to pay off, to shop a number of financial institutions to find an account with a finance charge (annual percentage rate) that is much lower than what you’re paying now. Make sure it has no early pre-payment penalties and no closing cost / fees that the lower payment will not make up for in the next few months. Then, refinance by transferring the balances on higher interest accounts to these accounts to give you a lower payment overall. Now, in your budget replace the old higher minimum payment with the new lower minimum payment and thank the LORD for showing you methods that can help you reach financial freedom much faster than otherwise possible.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Deuteronomy 28:12-14, Proverbs 22:7, Luke 16:8, Romans 13:8

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MoneyWalk 270: Your Reward Is Coming

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Biblical money management principles help you plan life in a way that will greatly benefit you and your family as you move through the mountain and valley experiences you will face in life. They will keep you focused on giving first, saving next, and spending within reasonable limits to keep you out of the debt and financial struggles that many people have when they do not use such principles. They are engaged by faith and provide a resistance to your natural inclinations that help your faith grow more each day by trusting in the LORD to provide things you need or desire that you do not have cash to purchase, without you going in debt to get them.

Though life can be tough sometimes and struggles and hardships will undoubtedly come your way, using biblical principles makes life better for you and your family because by them you set pre-planned giving and spending levels for each pay period that you will not exceed unless the Holy Spirit specifically directs you to do otherwise. Those operating in faith will find that giving abundantly to support ministry works and usher unbelievers to Him is always on His heart. Thus, blessings and rewards flow to those who by faith commit themselves to be in alignment with His heart for giving to propel the Great Commission in the earth.

Yet, you must also understand that exercising self-control and being willing to sacrifice current pleasures is also on His heart so that you consistently spend far less than the income you make and also save a meaningful portion of your income in order to repel the clutches of materialism and be aware that some things he is calling you to do and situations you will face will require the use of such assets in the future. Many people find that inexplicable promotions, bonuses, and greater income producing opportunities come their way after they consistently employ the principles of stewardship, abundant giving, sacrifice, contentment, and self-control that lead to the use of other principles like debt-elimination, no cosigning, saving & investing, and diversifying assets. They begin to understand that this process is not a pledge of poverty or acceptance of lack, rather it is one that trusts the LORD to provide His very valuable treasures designed for them in due time in the way that is pleasing to Him and most beneficial to them and those they are to be a godly example to.

Accepting Jesus as your Savior and LORD and seeking His kingdom and righteousness is crucial, above all else, in order to rightly use the income, time, and talent He has given you. While daily reading the bible, you'll recognize the ways it shows you how to faithfully honor Him publicly and privately. God will supernaturally bless you beyond what you have envisioned as you pray daily, study the bible daily, give praise to God throughout the day, listen for His instructions, fellowship weekly with other believers, pay tithes, give offerings, and regularly help a church ministry perform its service. Pleasing God is the ultimate desire you should have with a mind toward creating a place where the peace of God and joy in the Holy Ghost permeates your life in the natural and eternal realms. Then and only then will the bulk of your blessings and rewards have maximum usefulness for you and other people.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 3:9-10, Matthew 6:33, Luke 6:38

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MoneyWalk 269: Control Your Income And Expenses

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

The only way to truly prosper financially is to spend less than you earn so you have money left over to invest for future growth for greater giving and living. It has been said that when your outgo exceeds your income your upkeep will be your downfall and a fool and his money are soon parted. You need to tell the money entrusted to you by God what to do according to His will and design so that circumstances and other voices do not misdirect the money and pillage your and your family’s future.

For the next six months, use a budget to identify your expected income and expenses each month. Getting all your income, debt, and expense information together and drafting your initial budget will take about four hours. The process can be faster if you have a computer or online budget program because you can copy and paste entries you otherwise would have to write down numerous times. Once you've finished your initial budget, it usually takes less than an hour every pay period to maintain your budget and track your results including revising income and bill payments that differ from your original estimates.

If you remain disciplined and conservative in your spending, using as your original income estimate only average net monthly income as the basis for budgeting, then it’s easier to maintain control over your situation so you can reap savings and investment benefits when raises and promotions come your way. On a sheet of paper, enter your average net monthly income. Then, subtract a tithe of your gross income plus an offering. Next, subtract the minimum monthly payment due for each bill that you have, such as mortgage/rent, car note, visa, mastercard, school loans, retail charge cards, gas, electric, water, cable, telephone, etc. The remainder is what you expect to have available for personal expenses, savings, and debt elimination. Personal expenses include groceries, gas, bus fares, clothing, movies, etc.

The moment you know the amount of your next paycheck, you should revise the original estimate for that pay period so you have a more accurate picture going forward of the income you actually have to try pay expenses, give, save, and invest. You should do the same when you know the actual amount of expenses you will have to pay during particular pay periods. Remember, continuing to have categorical expenses that compromise your ability to stay financially solvent is largely up to you based on how much debt you take on in order to have things. You can stop the madness when you decide to do so. The simple process described above helps you maintain the control necessary for financial vitality by encouraging you to write the vision down plainly, know the state of your flocks and herds, and count the cost before building so you can experience greater financial prosperity. You can do all things through Christ that strengthen you.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. 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

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MoneyWalk 268: The Only Real Hope

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Many worldly and religious people will give you advice that arouses carnal desires. This is not compatible with biblical instruction and will lead to spiritual degeneration instead of maturity in Christ. No blessed gain will result from carnal desires. The only lifestyle that produces blessed gain is the willingness to bear your cross daily to follow Christ while enduring ridicule, embarrassment, and persecution. This does not mean that all or most of your life will be filled with pain and suffering, but it does mean that you will stick with your decision to be saved and become more like Christ no matter what comes your way or how much you must endure. Seeing and being with Him in heavenly eternity will more that make up for any struggles you must endure on earth.

Make up your mind to follow scriptural instruction, including biblical money management principles, no matter how bad people around you ridicule them. Such a lifestyle confirms for you and shows other people that your eternal hope is in Christ and is therefore sure. God desires to bless you abundantly to enable you to take care of your true responsibilities while on earth. And, His provision includes options that allow you to enjoy many things that are not true needs but are enjoyable. He simply does not want you to choose any desire that leads to the pursuit and engagement of ungodly options.

When you choose Jesus as Savior and LORD, He seats you in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. Let this reality and the hope (eager and sure expectation) of eternal life move you to live by His commands and principles. Your mindset in all areas, including finance, should not evolve from the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life where you assume that God wants you to have great wealth to heap pleasures upon yourself. Rather, it must evolve from the foundation laid by the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, who commands that we use our lives and wealth to glorify Him by abundantly financing the Great Commission and serving other people. This is the only pursuit that truly blesses you.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Psalm 71:5, Colossians 1:4-5, Hebrews 11:1, 1John 3:3

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MoneyWalk 267: Balance Your Accounts

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

You cannot build wealth through irresponsible money management. A lot of money could come into your hands through inheritance or through using gifts and skills God has given you, yet many peoples’ experiences have proven that ill will be foolishly spent and squandered and leave you lacking if you do not handle it according to practical money management principles.

Giving to support church ministry that builds the LORD’s kingdom in the hearts of men is the first step to building true wealth. Knowing the state of your income versus expenses is second. Spending less than your net income is third. Eliminating debt is fourth. Eliminating co-signing is fifth. Saving to cover emergency and purchase desired items is sixth. Making continuous monthly investments is seventh. And, diversification is eighth.

Balancing your checking, savings, investment, and credit accounts each month will help you adhere to the above money management principles so that natural and supernatural abundance can accrue to you. Whereas, failing to organize your finances, immediately record additions and subtractions to income and expenditures in your accounts will lead to over-spending because you’ll inevitably think you have more disposable income than you really have to spend.

Start by balancing your checkbook for the last month at the beginning of each new month by subtracting every check written and all ATM withdrawals from your checkbook balance. Never throw away withdrawal slips until you've balanced your checkbook after the end of each month. Use the balancing method on the back of your monthly statement. If you can't understand the directions, ask a friend or a customer service representative at your financial institution to help you. This process takes about two hours each month but will get easier and less time consuming the more you perform the task and use disposable income to eliminate debt and creditors from your financial picture.

Now you can use the same type of process to balance your other accounts to ensure that your monthly expenses are not exceeding your income, you’re not being charged for items you did not purchase, your accounts shows accurate additions and withdrawals for the month, and so you can contact your bank or any creditor to straighten out discrepancies. If you are willing and obedient in you will get to enjoy the best of the harvest the land produces. Failing to be a good steward will subject you to future financial harm.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 27:23-27, Isaiah 55:10-11, Luke 14:28-30, and 2Corinthians 8:12

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MoneyWalk 266: Let Love Guide You

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Everything you have or ever will have has been entrusted to you by the LORD. You are supposed to be a good steward of these manifold blessings for the benefit of His kingdom, other people, and yourself. He loves you so much that He doesn't want you to reap the negative consequences that come from being a poor manager of the life, resources, and money He entrusts to you. But, in order for you to reap the blessings of peace, joy, and godly prosperity you must put on the mind of Christ by placing your trust in Him, which will lead you to regularly and consistently pray to Him and study the bible so that you get to better know Him and His way of having you do things as you walk out this life!

His love will let you know that charity should first begin within your home and within your church family in order to be properly spread abroad and displayed to other people. You must love God and other people enough to do what God directs you to do in the bible concerning how you live and manage the money He’s entrusted to you because this best serves you, your family, your friends, and other people by allowing you to help others without neglecting any of your godly responsibilities.

You must engage in a continual learning and fellowship process to know God’s ways and desires for you. This enables hope and faith to rise out of love so you can serve everyone in the way that He desires by regularly giving a tenth of your gross income plus a free-will offering to help spread the gospel throughout the earth and equip the saints for evangelism, discipleship, and other worthwhile ministry. Now, add a plan for living within your means (budgeting), eliminating debt, and saving & investing instead of borrowing. Then, prosperity will rise from the ashes as you continue you engage practices in line with these biblical principles.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Deuteronomy 7:12-16, Proverbs 8:18-21, Matthew 22:34-40, Romans 13:8-10

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MoneyWalk 265: Statement of Net Worth

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Your true worth is determined by the fact that God made you in His image and desired that you would choose to believe in Him and have an intimate relationship with Him. He made you with freewill to live according to your true worth by accepting Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior and thus be useful to Him and the building of His kingdom on Earth. Freewill also allows you to refuse His offer, live according to the dictates of satan and your carnal mind, and thus reap the consequences thereof.

Taking periodic inventory of your beliefs and actions to see if they line up with the LORD’s biblical standards shows whether or not you are living in accordance with your true worth. Likewise, taking an inventory of your monetary assets and liabilities in order to calculate your net worth shows how well you are living the biblical standard in the financial arena of your life. This arena touches every other arena of life such as caring for family, abundantly helping spread the gospel, helping provide physical means for those serving in ministry, working, friendship relationships, health, education, properly using gifts, skills, and abilities, etc.

Your true worth is certainly not determined by the amount of your net worth, yet your personal net worth statement is one of the indicators that help identify whether or not you have laid up treasures in Heaven versus laying them up on Earth. You generally want to see your net worth grow from year to year via giving, budgeting, and debt-free living disciplines that open Heaven’s windows upon you producing an ever increasing income stream from which you save and invest more in companies that produce higher returns.

You can enter “net worth statement” in an online search engine and find sample statements and instructions. Simply put, create an Asset column to describe each individual asset you own such as a house, rental properties, stocks, bonds, and savings. Then, list the dollar market value next to it. Now create a Liabilities (Debt) column, describe each debt you owe creditors such as a home mortgage, rental property mortgages, car notes, credit cards, personal loans, etc. Then, list the full amount owed next to it. Total the dollar value of all assets and then the dollar amount of all debts. Now, subtract total debt from total assets. The result is your monetary net worth.

If your net worth is negative or small, identify whether or not this is due to you overwhelmingly investing the treasures entrusted to you in carnal things of this earthly realm that have you steeped in debt and financial trouble or whether it’s because you’ve overwhelmingly given great amounts of income and resources to ministries that spread the gospel and build the LORD’s kingdom in the hearts of men. If your net worth is large consider whether or not it’s because you’ve been idolizing money and saving and investing much of it while failing to give a proper proportion of it to help fulfill the Great Commission or whether it is because the LORD has caused you to greatly reap (prosper) as a result of regularly and consistently sowing great amounts of your income and resources into building His kingdom. The testimony behind your present net worth helps identify whether or not your net worth reflects that you live according to your true worth.

If your net worth is negative, small, or large and in either instance you have failed to be a good steward, you are not in a hopeless situation. Following God’s plan for good stewardship from this point forward including abundant giving to gospel ministry, living well within your current income, knowing the state of your income and expenses (budgeting), eliminating debt, saving, investing, and diversifying assets will bring supernatural assistance to help you live according to your true worth and properly build net worth.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Genesis 13:2-6, Job 1:1-5, 1Timothy 6:17-21, James 5:1-8

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MoneyWalk 264: Obedience To The LORD Is The Path To Success

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

In every area of life you have boundaries guided by bible-based instruction that allow several ways to be a good steward of the resources God entrusts to you, unless He tells you specifically what to do in a given situation. What you cannot do because of the weakness of your flesh, the LORD Jesus Christ gives you power to do by the indwelling and guiding compass of the Holy Spirit.

Obedience to His commands and principles brings manifold blessings to your life such as peace, joy, perseverance, natural comfort, true wealth building, and righteousness in the eyes of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Following the ways of the world and satan, our enemy, by using its ungodly methods leads you to a dry land where you find pressure to perform, stress, distress, unhappiness, and failure in God's eyes because you’re operating in rebellion to His will. Some unknowingly rebel because they fail to regularly ask Him for direction and listen to His direction.

If you don’t hear God speaking to your heart, keep reading the bible daily, praying daily, fellowshipping with the saints weekly, and staying away from people and situations that lead you to seek worldly desires and lifestyles. You will hear the LORD’s voice when it’s necessary that He reveal something to you. Otherwise, the path you should follow by the Holy Spirit’s leading is based on principles He left us in the basic instructions before leaving earth (bible) and can be summed up in this, love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. The obedience wrought by this heart and mindset will lead you to everything you need to live successfully and be a good steward of your income and financial resources.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 1Samuel 15:22-23, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 5:29

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MoneyWalk 263: Having Love, Hope, and Faith Prospers You

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Failing to follow biblical principles represents a lack of faith in God and the all-powerful standards and ability of His kingdom to produce everything you need, in abundant proportions using methods that please Him. Yet, many people do not want to believe God gave us biblical money management principles to follow, because the world's methods seem to allow them to more quickly and easily obtain material things they want.

He recognizes that we make mistakes in judgment along the way to maturity. However, He does not want us to be ignorant of the enemy’s tactics nor unfaithful in observing His principles throughout our lives because a disobedient attitude leads to forfeited opportunities, blessings that become cursed, and eternal consequences. Take the path that will truly help you eternally and naturally. Your unfailing hope to live with God in paradise and be useful to Him and your fellow man while on earth produce faith to live by biblical principles.

You’ll have peace, joy, contentment, and abiding love when you make your mission to do His will and you’ll provide services and/or products to others out of love rather than greed. You must believe this truth when it comes to managing your money as well as other areas of your life. Look for the money management principles contained in the bible and faithfully use them. You'll find that God rewards people who diligently seek Him and make His plan first in their lives.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Habakkuk 2:4, Matthew 9:22, Luke 17:6, Romans 5:2-5, Hebrews 11:1-2

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MoneyWalk 262: Godly Satisfaction

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Grumbling and complaining about your situation tricks you into moving out ahead of God in pursuit of things that you feel are necessary for your fulfillment. Instead of listening for the Holy Spirit’s direction, you allow Satan to pull you into activities that are self-destructive, which lead to greater heartaches, headaches, and stress because fleshly desires to obtain riches, fame, positions, and material things can never satisfy your soul.

When this ungodly path is chosen you don't have the power of God working in your life to root out sources of trouble and your life continues unprotected from Satan and the demonic forces because you haven’t made God’s will your first priority. Pursue greater fellowship with God as your top priority, instead of making your priority everything humanly possible to get more money, fame, or power. Being content in Him and thus allowing Him to bless and reward you and show you the pathway and actions that for you lead to far greater resources to fulfill your God-given purposes is far better than seeking the world’s idea of success and pathways to it to get where you want to go.

In the meantime, learn to manage the resources that God already gives you in a manner that allows you to get the most out of them. Such good stewardship involves abundant giving, normally keeping expenses well below income, eliminating and staying out of debt, refusing to cosign, putting away reasonable savings, producing a lifestyle where you have surplus to invest for the long haul, and diversifying your savings and investments.

When utilized in conjunction with other spiritual disciplines like love, hope, faith, worship, praise, prayer, contentment, self-control, and sacrifice, this creates a godly balance in your life no matter the enormity of blessing God continues to pour you’re your life because he who is faithful over little will be faithful over much. Even though others make not be able to see it from time to time, the LORD will bring promotion to your life through natural and supernatural means when you are satisfied in Him.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Psalm 16:11, Joshua 1:5, Romans 14:17, Philippians 4:11-12

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MoneyWalk 261: Be Content

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Being content to allow God to lead and use you in the workplace, local church, and other ministries will bring future advancement as your talents and abilities rise to the top because the blessing of the LORD makes you rich and He adds no sorrow to it. The closer you draw to God in prayer, praise, worship, and obedience to His commands, the closer He draws to you. Then, He joins supernatural blessing with the natural blessings of using biblical principles to give you the desires of your heart.

You’ll begin to understand why He created you and the call He placed on your life. Understanding that all your future needs and many desires will be met by pursuing your call to glorify Jesus Christ, evangelize unbelievers, and disciple believers will negate the temptation to allow money, fame, and power to be your idols. Some business ventures, jobs, and paths pursued to obtain riches are means that Satan and the demonic forces use to draw you into idolatry away from fellowship with Christ, His people, and obedience to His will. However, when you pursue lawful money earning / producing opportunities you will have been instructed by the LORD and His plan for you and not motivated by sinful lusts that drown men in destruction and perdition. Thus, you will be able to maintain Christian decorum in your areas of work and use a great degree of the proceeds to spread the gospel and bring people closer to Christ and use a reasonable amount of proceeds to appropriately care for yourself and family.

God desires to prosper you and allow you to attain much greater income, assets, and blessing through your vocation than you ever thought possible when you allow faith-filled contentment to keep you on His path for your life instead of the path that seems right in your own mind. He can bless you in whatever work, job, career, etc. that you do on the path of His purpose for you. He will fill you with patience and understanding that instill His perfect work in you and physically brings it out of you in service to the LORD and other people.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Luke 3:12-14, Philippians 4:11-13, 1Timothy 6:6-14, Hebrews 13:5-6

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MoneyWalk 260: God Provides Helpers

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

The LORD will cause all grace to abound to you by helping you find someone to do work you need for a price you can pay when you are unable to effectively complete the job or a portion of it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with refusing to do a job that past experience shows you cannot do well. Don’t continue to ruin work and waste money and time in the short and long run trying to do things for which you are not equipped.

Hiring someone to help you at the point you cannot perform well or complete the job by yourself may be God's perfect timing for you to be a financial blessing to that person. You might win that person to Jesus Christ and/or be able to disciple him / her well into the future via friendly conversation and atmosphere while he / she works in your home or business establishment.

When searching for the proper person or business to do the job, get references from others who have had similar work performed, get estimates from three different sources, consider the quality and price for their service, and contact government regulators to check out professional licensing and complaint histories. But, most of all use your God-given discernment to pick the one He wants to bless, encourage, and use at that time. If you become a long-time customer, generous discounts and great service will accompany your patronage down the road as well as a thriving friendship through which God can provide valuable input in your lives prospering you for the road ahead.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Exodus 31:1-11, 1Corinthians 12:18-27, Ephesians 4:4-16, James 3:1

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MoneyWalk 259: You Need Other People

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Throughout the ages, people who are close to God have used other people's skills and prophetic insights to help them succeed in their life calling. Likewise, you have friends, co-workers, and acquaintances with money saving skills in such areas as home buying, car buying, decorating, cooking, cleaning, accounting, carpentry, etc. who may also be good at finding bargains and negotiating lower cost deals. They will brainstorm, strategize, and shop with you if you would only ask. If you do not yet know who they are begin to have conversations with them about different skills they have and ask to see several pieces of their handiwork so you can ascertain the quality of it and identify how they could be of use to you in a mutually beneficial way.

Many of them, to continually enhance their skill set, regularly peruse sale papers, window-shop, and gather a variety of information from different retail / wholesale outlets on the cost of various types of merchandise. They know how to find rock bottom prices for quality merchandise that looks good and lasts for a reasonable length of time. Pick the classy individuals with quality taste who know there's very little difference between many high priced items sold at some stores and lower priced items sold at other stores. Often, what they find is far better than the very expensive products and services you otherwise would have purchased.

You will do well to note them in your circle of friends and consult with them regularly for purchasing advice. Good counsel and service from these individuals will require you to put away thoughts that the most expensive is automatically the best quality. In the end they'll have you walking down the road to financial freedom and wealth building by reducing your expenses thus allowing you to pay off current debts and invest with money you used to spend buying high-priced merchandise and services. When this happens you will find higher income and greater assets attracted to you throughout the future.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Exodus 18:18-20, 2Samuel 12:1-15, Matthew 25:14, 2Timothy 4:9-11

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MoneyWalk 258: Bring God’s Favor Upon You

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Manufacturers package merchandise with the same essential ingredients under many different brands names. This is done in all industries: automobile; clothing; furniture; etc. You will find that different brand names come with differing price levels that make it advantageous for you to shop around for bargain prices before you buy most types of merchandise. This is often true even in secondary, used merchandise markets because people ascribe value to many used items based on brand name or original price and not necessarily on things you may value, such as longer lifecycle, better mechanical operation, lower maintenance and repair costs, etc.

Usually, you can negotiate the purchase price of homes, cars, appliances, furniture, and many other items. You can also check clearance racks, discount retailers, outlet malls, online retailers, and dollar stores. Where possible, you should purchase durable merchandise that remains in style for long periods of time in order to get the biggest bang for your buck. Just be sure that you’re getting quality items that will hold up well for long periods of time under the uses you intend for them.

When diligently employed, these techniques will save you thousands of dollars per year that you would otherwise pay to stores, dealerships, home sellers, other businesses, and creditors. By following these methods over the years you will build habits that release you from financial bondage. They will put you in a place where overtime you will be able to comfortably spend more on merchandise you desire without debts continually growing and overwhelming you and unpaid creditors chasing after you. God will shower you with favor and help these methods bless you.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Exodus 12:33-36, Proverbs 8:19-21, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 16:1-13

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MoneyWalk 257: Giving Blesses You Immensely

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Many people find themselves in horrible financial shape because they listen to the world’s financial experts instead of looking to the LORD who has the correct answers for all of life’s questions. They’re located in the bible and the Holy Spirit will show you how to manage your money if you’ll ask Him to show you the principles you should follow. Then, in order to be blessed naturally and eternally, you need to use them and not turn to any other source that offers guidance that conflicts with His instruction.

Tithing and offering to honor God is one of the biblical principles you must put into action because it produces an abundant overflow of resources to be poured upon you. You will be challenged to tithe and give abundant offerings at a time when you cannot see that you have enough money to pay all your bills, give to the church, and other ministries.

Satan will tempt you with the thought of giving to God later in life after you pay off all your bills. Do not succumb to this temptation because his plan is to entrap you in far more debt in the future, which will close the windows of supernatural provision over your life, so you’re unable to eliminate your debt and be blessed by giving abundantly for ministry work. When you give faithfully as God commanded you will be immensely blessed to see your debts eliminated, giving increased, and great accumulation of assets in the form of God providing through man raises, promotions, bonuses, benefits, bargains, and gifts.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 11:24-25, Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 6:38, 2Corinthians 9:7-8

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MoneyWalk 256: Cosigning Wastes Money

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

If you have cosigned a note for someone, the bible says quickly plead to have the lender remove your name off the debt, otherwise your belongings are subject to be taken when the debt isn’t paid. Many cosigners have had to pay debts because the people for whom they cosigned failed to pay them. Don't fall out with others because you failed to make the right decision by refusing to cosign for their debts. After all, your failure might be one of the reasons they haven’t become responsible in paying their creditors.

You must discern satan's strategy to tempt you to waste your money on the material desires of those who mismanage their money and desires. When a true need exists, instead of cosigning for a loan, it is best to give the person cash or resources on hand – money and things that are not required to meet your tithing, offering, and bill payment responsibilities.

In most instances, you must know a person reasonably well to know whether or not he/she is truly in need. Yet, when the Holy Spirit directs you to help, you must do it in compliance with His will, regardless of your observation of the person, without cosigning for him/her and within the limits of resources you have on hand. Without delay refuse every request to cosign, yet encourage each requester to use biblical money management principles to help him/her become good stewards over their resources.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, Romans 13:8, Ephesians 5:15-17

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MoneyWalk 255: Borrowing Can Hurt You

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

If you’re like most people, much of your past borrowing was meant to satisfy desires and not necessities. It is not automatically bad to satisfy desire as long as you have taken care of providing you and your family needs. However, the problem is in borrowing to get products and services that do not have appreciating value in the future that will be far above the cost of the item purchased and the associate finance costs.

Simply put, God’s best for you, as shown in the bible, is for you to be able to get everything you need and desire, that is not bad for you, without you going into debt to get it. Having debt on things with depreciating value is bondage and it eventually leads to greater levels of mental and spiritual torment when you continue this practice through the course of your life.

God will provide your every need and desires that are good for you without you borrowing to supply them. When you refuse to take on consumer debt, you enable the LORD to supernaturally provide for your needs by moving people and organizations to give you things you need with little or no cost, especially when you're unable to purchase them at higher cost. He shows you how to manage your money to pay cash for non-appreciating items like cars, furniture, and appliances without burdening your family with debt. There is an immediate sacrifice of unneeded material purchases, but the future payoff in added joy, peace, and comfort is so tremendous that it's well worth the sacrifice.

The process starts for you by saying no to any loan offer to purchase something when you don’t have the cash right now to pay for the item. You might have a low interest card but make sure any charges you make to the card account is more than covered by your non-emergency fund savings account and that you’re able to pay the entire charge at the next card account payment due date. If you fail to follow this process and allow the creditor to charge revolving interest each month on the unpaid balance you will generally be looking at paying on average about 15% more in finance charges annually than you would be earning on money held in your savings account. Some people have finance charges on cards that are so high they pay 25 to 30% more and others that use payday lending and other forms of predatory lending pay far more. This is not the direction you want borrowing to take you, otherwise you’ll soon be broke, busted, and disgusted with your financial situation.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. 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

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MoneyWalk 254: Prosperity Is Produced By Givers

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Being faithful often requires that you sacrifice some pleasures early on to reduce the amount you would otherwise pay creditors, so that you prioritize tithes and offerings to God before paying anyone else. This results in His supernatural blessing on your finances by getting the devil off your case so that He does not devour the seed and the fruit that has been already given to you. It also keeps the windows of Heaven open for greater opportunities for you in endeavors and arenas in which you can exhibit Christ likeness in your conversation and conduct, shine, and give glory to the LORD.

The bible shows that you prioritize the LORD’s will above your own in your finances when you give your local church and other ministries ten percent of your gross income plus an offering each pay period. Different forms of offering (alms, building funds, etc.) are freewill in nature and should be given cheerfully as you purpose in your heart recognizing that God will give bountifully to you because you give bountifully to spread the gospel and build up the saints. Thus, God has not commanded a specific percentage or dollar amount of gross pay to be given each pay period. However, He recognizes and so should you that those who faithfully tithe always mature into bountiful givers who are abundantly blessed throughout their lives.

You honor the LORD by recognizing that He is creator and provider of all good things when you give faithfully to ministry work. This faith-filled attitude of heart, lifestyle organization, and management of your finances allows you to eventually obtain the money you need to pay each creditor all you owe them, maintain a debt-free lifestyle, and live in and build upon the abundance it produces.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Genesis 14:20, Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 23:23, Hebrews 7:2-8

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MoneyWalk 253: More Than Enough

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

The parables of the talents and minas in Matthew chapter 25 and Luke chapter 19 show that the LORD expects you to properly manage the money and talents He entrusted to you according to the example He has shown you in the bible. They also show that you can expect to receive more to manage when you manage your current resources for His glory. Men may look at your role as little, but God considers what you do to be great and your life greatly blessed because of the faithfulness you display in doing His will instead of your own.

Managing your life and money opposite biblical instruction brings chaos and destruction into your life and may have eternal consequences for you when you don’t repent, turn to the LORD, and change your ways by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who don't properly manage their incomes cannot be used by God to fulfill the purpose for which they were created and they cannot perpetuate wealth from generation to generation. Your wealth should be used to communicate the new covenant of Jesus Christ thereby leading people to the One they need to have relationship within order to live prosperously on earth and throughout eternity.

Whether rich or poor, the bible exhorts you to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness knowing that everything you need and more will be given by Him into your life. This gives you freedom to use your money to evangelize and disciple other people, provide for your family, and start and maintain businesses that glorify God and provide for the needs of other people. Proper money management results in abundant giving proportionate to your income, eliminating debt that reduces your ability to give abundantly, and investing that enhances your ability to be a long-term asset to your local Church and ministries that build God’s kingdom in the hearts of people worldwide.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 27:23-24, Matthew 25:14-31, Luke 19:12-27, 2Corinthians 8:11-15

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MoneyWalk 252: FAITH IS ALSO IDENTIFIED BY WORKS

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Your ungratefulness toward God by believing that someone owes you something more than your current income provides moves you to unfaithfulness from which you continue to suffer emotionally, financially, and spiritually. When you see your job and ministry work as burdens instead of blessings you fail to oil the godly networking machine that can positively change your financial future.

So, be diligent at work, aspire to lead your life in quietness, and change your attitude to recognize that you work to please the LORD. Then you are able to do the best job possible within moral guidelines to please the people God has placed in authority over you. This positively changes the environment you work in and moves the LORD to provide more opportunities for upward mobility in the future.

These opportunities bring promotions and increases that lead to the elimination of debt and to business ventures that weren't possible when you were discontent and full of negativity. When you become a diligent worker who doesn't complain, your present situation will become a link to the next higher step in God's spiritual and financial development for you. He'll show you how to stretch your current income and increase it in the future to enable you to be successful at everything He leads you to do.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 6:6-11, Psalms 112:1-10, 2Thessalonians 3:10-16, James 2:19-24

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MoneyWalk 251: You Need Patience

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

When you seek God and His righteousness before everything else you will prosper. This requires that you sow godly seed by allowing faith to produce good works in you that flow out of you enabling you to support gospel ministry, your family, and others in need.

Giving yourself and a portion of your income to ministry allows you to spread the gospel throughout the earth thereby leading men, women, and children to Jesus Christ. Satan and the demonic forces don't want your money used for this purpose because they hate men and want to destroy you. Therefore they will put obstacles in your path that present difficult financial situations and struggles. However, you must not fear them or you will give them power to destroy you and keep you from your God-desired destiny. Instead, you must believe the promises of God and use the power He placed in you to rebuke the devourer of your finances, open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing so large that you must share it with other people.

Have patience in tithing to your local church, abundantly giving offerings for worthwhile ministries, and learning biblical money management principles so you can be a good steward over all the resources God entrusts to you. This allows you to overcome the strategies and obstacles of the enemy and be in a position where the LORD will give you more to manage on His behalf. Then, you will have the discipline and endurance to wait on the fruit of God's economic plan to ripen, mature, and grow so you can harvest them for the benefit of His kingdom, yourself, and others.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 20:21; Isaiah 55:10-11; Romans 5:3; Galatians 6:9-10; and James 1:2-5

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MoneyWalk 249: Your Mighty Weapons

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Satan and the demonic forces are doing everything they can to keep you in debt to the world bankers and creditors so you cannot finance to the greatest degree the preaching of the good news that leads many people to Jesus Christ, eternal life, and fulfillment in on earth in Him. If they can keep you in debt and tempt you to continue undisciplined spending and financial mismanagement, then they will succeed in their plans for you and remove you as a valuable asset to the church because it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to faithfully and consistently tithe and give offerings under these circumstances.

Jesus' resurrection provides complete victory over satan. However, you must administer that victory by praying for godly wisdom to manage your money and your life. You must also read the bible looking for principles and instructions on managing the money and resources entrusted to you. Then, in order to be fruitful and come into all that God has for you and do all He wants you to do you must obey His instructions. Satan and his cohorts will tell you God does not care what you do or that He hates money and people with money or that God wants you to do opposite of what His Word instructs or that you should follow a pattern of greed that some influential worldly people follow in order to obtain money and things.

Satan wants you to have nothing or mismanage the little you get or have great wealth and misappropriate it on meaningless things and endeavors. Yet, the weapons you have to fight off these temptations and subtle, vicious attacks are supernaturally mighty for pulling down strongholds, changing attitudes, and placing ungodly desires in captivity to God’s will. By using biblical principles, your weapons have the utmost effectiveness to rid you of negative financial habits and overcome every obstacle that’s placed in the path to building wealth and supporting kingdom work. The name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, and your testimony of obeying His commands give you victory over satan’s tactics, defend against all demonic attacks, and remove all bondages placed on you.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Psalms 37:4-7, 2Corinthians 10:3-6, Colossians 4:2-5, Revelation 12:10-12

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MoneyWalk 248: Financial Planning

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Your wallet will be a bag with holes in it and your life will be filled with embarrassment when you don't have a financial plan that you regularly consult before you make spending decisions. When you first complete these tools it may appear that your release from financial bondage will take many years to accomplish. However, diligently adhering to the pathway laid out by this plan, which includes a budget and future goals, will release you from bondage much sooner than you ever thought possible.

Regularly consulting your plan helps control unnecessary spending by giving you foresight several months in advance so you will know how much net income you'll have available for bills, purchases, and entertainment activities during future pay periods. This helps you meet giving, saving, and investing goals by showing when you need to pare down activities or some of their cost when they aren’t necessary and won’t allow you to meet your goals that provide greater comfort or financial flexibility in the future.

A financial plan gets shortly after you write and follow it because debts get eliminated and thus creditor entries deleted and disposable income grows as you eliminate wasteful, irresponsible, and reckless spending and unnecessary debt. Educate yourself financially, so you can draw up an appropriate plan for your life. This may include visiting a financial planner to get you started and help you through the process. Our preference is choosing low cost providers that give good advice and refer us to investments that at least equal market returns on a consistent basis because the more one pays in sales charges (commissions), advisory fees, and fund expenses the more the investment managers have to outdo the market just to help the person equal market returns.

Consistently beating the market in such situations is not easy and is rarely done. So make sure you get reliable references and research investment company, advisor backgrounds, and investment return history before you trust that someone’s advice is reliable and that they can consistently deliver reasonable investment growth for your portfolio. There are many online resources, such as crown.org, soundmindinvesting.com, ronblue.com, etc. that will help educate you on budgeting, saving, investments, growth history, estate planning, and selecting advisors. So avail yourself of at least their free advice, so you can learn how to start developing a financial plan and identify the areas for which you need more extensive help meeting your vision and goals.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Psalms 37:21, Proverbs 6:6-8, 16:9, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Luke 14:28-29, 2Corinthians 9:5

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MoneyWalk 247: Work Your Budget

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Living by a budget enables you to shed burdens thrust on you by a lifestyle of debt. Write your net monthly income down and subtract a tithe so you can play a substantial role in helping the good news of Jesus Christ implanted in the hearts of men, women, and children worldwide. Now, subtract every minimum monthly payment due for each bill (home mortgages, car notes, credit cards, cable television, retail accounts, etc.). For utility and other bills that vary in amount each month or that are payable quarterly, semi-annually, or annually (gas, water, electric, telephone, car and home insurance, lawn maintenance, snow shoveling, etc.), subtract the monthly average of these bills for the prior twelve-month period. Your disposable income is what remains.

You can spend disposable income on free-will offering, groceries, gas, personal care items, reducing debt, saving, and entertainment. You’re already saving if your employer withholds a percentage of your pay for a 401k or similar saving / investment plan. Do not spend amounts subtracted for payments due quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Allow this money to stay in your budget until it is time to pay the bills. Discipline yourself to budget for at least three months at a time so you can see any irregularities that you may have to consider and account for as you move forward. Refuse to borrow more money as you follow this plan, otherwise it is likely you’ll wind up in a worse position than you’re currently in.

God has a plan for your release from financial bondage but it takes your commitment to budgeting your income and expenses to eliminate and stay out of future debt so you take on a lifestyle where giving comes first, saving & investing come next, and spending on more than your needs is the last priority. Your desires can wait until you have enough extra cash to pay for them. As you become debt-free according to the LORD’s design you will find that not too long down the road you’ll have enough disposable income after giving, saving & investing, and spending on your needs that you will be able to also spend on many items that you desire in a way that does not put you back in financial bondage.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 30:24-28, Ecclesiastes 10:19, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Luke 16:9-13

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WORK IS OF THE LORD

Work is ordered by the LORD

Work unto Him and don’t get bored

Let work from faith in God increase

And your prosperity will not cease

One day you’ll find it will burst forth

To the south, east, west from North

You’ll see your blood, sweat, and tears

Pay off richly throughout the years

Other men will give to you

So you’ll have more that you can do

A large house and nice car

Are the result of working hard

If a man doesn’t work, he shall not eat

Because there will be no money to buy meat

So grab your hammer and your nail

Before your body begins to fail

At all times use your brain

You’ll see God’s blessing pour on you like rain

When you’re young you’ll be blessed

And when you’re old you’ll find rest

So work diligently by faith and don’t get bored

Cause work is ordered by the LORD!

MoneyWalk 246: Know Your Situation

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

The reality for many people who don't budget is their expenses inevitably outgrow their income and leave them in financial turmoil. You must keep the amount of expenses below the amount of income in order to have financial peace in your life.

It's important to get an income and spending plan started now, because the longer you wait the worse your situation is likely to get. It is not necessary to log every single expense on a ledger for the next few months before you decide what route you must take to correct your situation. You already know your situation is bad and should be better. Simply sit down and figure every expense you’re supposed to pay each creditor each month by looking at your bill stubs and checkbook ledger.

Once you’ve figured the total amount that you’re required to pay all creditors, subtract that amount from your net monthly income as determined by your pay stubs. If you have money left over, this is the amount that you must use to buy personal items, build savings, and give to fruitful ministries and charities that help other people. If you have little or no money left over, then you need to devise a plan to: reduce the amount of monthly payments you must make; increase your income; reduce the interest rates at which your indebtedness increases; or do all three in order to get your financial house in order and build wealth.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Proverbs 27:23-27, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Luke 14:28-30, 2Corinthians 9:6-10

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MoneyWalk 245: Money Wise

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

You long to understand your reason for being. Your job has become boring and things advertised as pleasurable don’t bring happiness for long. You’ve hung out at the clubs, dated many people, consumed a lot of alcohol, and engaged in all kinds of entertainment to satisfy what you think you desire. But, you now recognize these things have not fulfilled you like you thought they would and like people told you they would.

Thinking and doing things according to the LORD’s wisdom is the only pathway that can produce fulfillment because it leads you to intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and the knowledge of the Great Commission and your particular purpose in Him that you are to pursue while on earth. Your calling does not have to be anything with a lofty spiritual title like pastor, evangelist, missionary, etc. though it could be. However, it is likely that most people’s calling (the work arenas they will pursue as a livelihood) will be in the marketplace (accounting, administration, physical labor, law, medicine, analyst, manager, etc.).

The arenas in which you work throughout the remainder of your life will be intertwined with your purpose and help fulfill the Great Commission as they are augmented by your continual maturity in Christ-likeness and its byproducts of godly communication, better lifestyle example, and good income management and disbursement to worthwhile ministry. Even when you do not say much (though you should be ready to share the reason for your Hope with anyone who asks or to whom God leads you) you will be an integral tool in God’s hand leading people to Christ, everlasting life, and good works.

Regard wisdom from the Lord more highly than money, gold, silver, precious jewels, position, power, politics, and any other material thing that men desire because through it He gives you dominion in the earth that is tailor made for you. It allows you to do all things through Christ which strengthen you. It helps you mature in Him to obtain the correct knowledge of God and better understand the plan for your life and how you can fulfill it step by step in a way that also enriches the lives of other people.

You are created to glorify God by loving Him through fellowship with Christ in praise, worship, and prayer and by helping fulfilling the Great Commission He gave you on this earth. Money without the Holy Spirit’s direction is of no eternal value to you and therefore of dubious earthly value. So, search the bible for knowledge and understanding of God’s will so you can make godly lifestyle and money management decisions in every arena pertinent to your life.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 15:33, Galatians 6:7-10, Ephesians 5:15-17

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MoneyWalk 244: True Prosperity

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Jesus Christ wants you to have the best in life, spiritually, naturally, and eternally, but that can only happen when you choose Him as Savior and LORD. He's the one who made you, who filled you with a godly purpose that is yet to be used, and who is calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

You dwell in a dry land when you rebel at the LORD’s offers of relationship with Him. However, He offers living water as the remedy for your thirsty soul when you repent of your sins and ask Him to come into your heart. This salvation which brings new life can begin for you right now no matter what your current condition or how bad you’ve messed up in the past, for every person’s righteousness is as filthy rags and no one earns salvation by performing good works. It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that you will be saved and not of works so that no man can boast it was his goodness or deeds that made him safe.

Cry out wherever you are in acceptance of His call and ask Him to help you be cleansed of all the filth that has attached itself to your life. If you’ve made this commitment, the church of God rejoices with the angels in heaven on your behalf. Now, encourage yourself in the LORD and know that He will instruct you to do good works by faith that will positively serve His kingdom, Church, and other people. As you faithfully, daily read the bible He will illuminate biblical principles that you should use to govern your life and financial affairs.

You'll see positive spiritual changes overtake you when you choose Jesus Christ as LORD. Likewise, when you commit yourself to His biblical financial principles you’ll progressively prosper and be successful in this life. True prosperity is understanding that God is looking out for your best interest and that you have eternal life with God starting now and a heavenly home awaiting you upon passage from this life.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Psalms 1:1-6, Proverbs 16:3-4, Matthew 6:33, 2Corinthians 5:1-10

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MoneyWalk 243: Pay Taxes

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

There are people and organizations in the United States who say governments have no right to collect taxes from any citizen, visitor, or tourist. This attitude appears to be catching fire in some members of the church as well.

The first argument says that your allegiance is to God only and therefore you owe no government anything that you didn't borrow from them. The second argument says the U.S. Constitution contains no article or provision allowing taxation and therefore the president, congress, state, and local legislators have no right to pass laws requiring people to pay taxes. The third argument says the amount of taxation has become so enormous that it oppresses people and therefore must be boycotted and left unpaid.

Based upon biblical instruction, you as a godly person should recognize these arguments as invalid even though worldly-minded people may think these arguments valid. Though the current tax maze is burdensome to some and riddled with unfairness, God is sure to provide those who follow His principles more than enough to pay what the governments require. Jesus answered all the arguments by paying taxes for Himself and Peter and also instructing that you should "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and render unto God what is God's.”

You certainly can do all you can to reduce the amount of taxes you pay by taking all legal exemptions, deductions, credits, and other benefits available to you. Just make sure you don’t ruin a blessing of earning extra income and accumulating greater assets by accepting the unwise belief that paying lower taxes is always better. Such logic will cause you to be continually broke or impoverished because the only way to truly be charged no or low taxes is to earn no or low income.

Use overtime and extra work to open the door for such blessing to come to you when it is aligned with God’s plan and common sense. While you should determine whether or not overall expenses would exceed the net amount that you will receive from extra paid work due to added child care costs, added transportation costs, added clothing costs, and taxes, you must understand mathematically the amount of taxes extracted will not stop you from receiving far more than you have right now to take care of the things He’s given you responsibility for and to get things you desire.

You can also protest in a legal way when an exorbitant amount of taxes is being extracted from you and other people. Also, when necessary you should communicate to federal, state, and local legislators that the tax system is too complicated and unfair to some people. Just understand that God provides your need according to His riches in glory and gives you more than enough to pay taxes due.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

1Kings 12:12-16, Matthew 17:24-27, Luke 20:21-26, Romans 13:1-7, 1Peter 2:11-17

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You can find books authored by Randy Parlor and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com

MoneyWalk 242: Insurance Purchases

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

In order to provide your loved ones with the amount of money that's necessary to maintain the standard of living to which they've been accustomed in case an accident were to kill you or render you unable to earn a living, you should purchase life, disability, automobile, homeowners, and other types of insurance as mechanisms to cover the loss of expected future income. However, you should analyze your true need for insurance in discussions with family members and trusted advisors before you purchase non-mandatory insurance and decide the limits of liability and benefits that are best suited for you and your family.

The decision on what’s needed should consider the amount of household income expected before and after an occurrence, amount of savings, emergency funds, and liquid assets available to cover living expenses or a portion thereof, amount of bills, how much you income you have left after bill payments to faithfully pay the premium so coverage does not lapse, time period during which you need particular types of coverage, how long the insurance benefits will need to cover living expenses for surviving dependents, etc. Also, you should consider the benefits different types of insurance will provide if future claims are made against them and what you and your family stand to lose if accidents occur.

Once you've purchased the amount of risk protection that is best for you or available to you, just stand on the fact that God will take care of you and give you peace through Jesus Christ to guard your heart and mind in situations. He will provide for you far beyond what you could prepare for or take care of if a situation occurs. Remember that God is your true source of protection and other tools are resources He allows and equips you to use. This should help you avoid purchasing unnecessary and unaffordable insurances that eat up dollars that can be invested for your future financial growth and stability. In most instances, insurance should be used to manage risk and not as investments that provide high returns.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Psalms 124, 127:1-2, Matthew 6:30-33, Philippians 4:6-7

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MoneyWalk 241: On-line Bill Payments

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Everyone uses a computer system when withdrawing, depositing, or paying utilities at automated teller machines. Also, direct deposit and electronic fund transfers of our incomes and savings to banks, brokerage houses, and creditors are remitted using computerized systems. Many investment companies will allow you to use the internet to make electronic transfers to and from your bank accounts to your brokerage accounts as the need arises. Most electronic fund transfers and automated clearinghouse bill payment systems remit your payment on a specific due date each month that is set by the creditor who accepts payment in this manner, whereas many on-line bill payment programs require you to enter the system from your computer and remit payments from your account to your creditors by their payment due dates.

Today, many systems have been vetted well enough that you can generally feel comfortable that your banks, credit unions, and major on-line payment sources will have adequate security systems so you do not have to be worried about making allowing your payroll checks to be direct deposited into your bank account or making online payments via your computer. You certainly want to make sure that the website is the one for the company you generally deal with and that its payment website link starts with https:// and meets other reasonable safety protocol.

One system is not necessarily better than another, however some companies that offer on-line payment programs charge substantial fees per transaction. Compare costs and security features of on-line, electronic fund transfer, and automated clearinghouse systems to identify the ones that are best for you. An on-line bill payment system or paying bills on-line via the websites of the various companies you make payments to is often a great way to save time and money by reducing postage and check ordering expenses and getting rid of all the paperwork you’ve been maintaining. You can maintain verification of your payments on your computer, in cloud storage, and also find it at the vendors’ websites.

There is generally no need to fear this method of payment. One caution, if you have run into financial problems and are dealing with creditors it is best not to give them access to your bank accounts and credit card accounts because on occasion people have found their accounts raided for more than they expected to be remitted. In this instance, it is best to get your situation organized and under control and pay the creditors with a check or money order once you know the amounts you are able to pay them and still keep enough on hand to take care of your priorities (shelter, food, transportation, etc.).

Technology increasing to allow us such benefits such as on-line payment is a gift from God that we can take advantage of as long as we make reasonable safety checks and verifications of legitimacy of the vendors we use.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 2:6-15, 1Corinthians 6:12, Philippians 4:6-7

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MoneyWalk 240: Get Someone Who Can!

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Most of us have needed various types of work done on our homes and cars, but did not have the ability to perform it ourselves. You've probably faced the same type of situation. When faced with this situation, search for a friend or professional with skills you need who is known for doing a good job and who will charge you an affordable rate.

Rest assured, God has already introduced you to a skilled person or will send him / her your way to help take care of your need to get the work done efficiently, effectively, and affordably when you lack ability and/or time to do it. You simply need to know the limitations of your skill and keep your eyes open for someone who can admirably do the work.

Don't be a freeloader who abuses other people by always expecting them to repair your belongings and provide service to you at no cost. While you can accept a no cost or low cost blessing they offer you, always be prepared to pay a fair price for the work and to bless them with more if God equipped you financially and/or impresses on your heart to do so.

Slothfulness in doing the work if you are able or in seeking the person who can do it will cost you more money, comfort, and flexibility in the long run than not recognizing where your skills end and someone else's begin.

It is generally wise to get estimates from a few different practitioners and inspect work they've done for others before you consummate a work contract. Also, it is best to have some type of written contract spelling out the parameters and necessary specifics of the work to be completed as well as down-payment requirement and total price for satisfactory completion of the work. These things ensure the person you choose performs good work in the field you need them for and that there is a guiding document to help settle disagreements or disputes that could arise.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Exodus 18:18-23, Jeremiah 45:1, Matthew 25:14-15, 2Timothy 4:11

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MoneyWalk 239: The Way To Retire

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

You've been doing the same type of work for many years and you can hardly wait for retirement. Throughout your career you've only taken one or two week vacations when you wanted to relieve stress, but now you want a lot longer than the vacation time allotted to you because you can feel a restlessness and possibly dissatisfaction toward the work, environment, or atmosphere.

Scripture gives numerous lessons on the responsibility to work and its value throughout one’s life. It seems, you'll find only one scriptural situation that speaks of something akin to retirement. The Levites were to retire from being primary workers in the service of the tabernacle, yet it is suggested that they continue to assist their brothers in the service of the tent of meetings. There is no indication that retirement meant that they sit around for the rest of their lives doing nothing or only looking to please themselves.

As a Christian, you have a godly mission to support and be an active participant in, no matter what your age or bodily condition. Christians never retire from serving in the Great Commission even though they may retire from a career path in which they served in this world or move from a long-time ministry that they’ve been involved with. First of all, you should do your work (career, ministry, etc.) as unto the LORD. He will bless and reward you for your labor, diligence, and faithfulness and the blessing and reward may show up on earth via many different avenues (employers, customers, well-wishers, donations, gifts, ravens, manna from Heaven, etc.).

What you long for is not a time of doing nothing or doing only what pleases you. Rather, the longing in your heart is leading you toward another area of service that God created and equipped you to do. It could be wholly different than the arena you’re leaving or it could piggyback off of the skills, platform, or network you devoted prior years to. Talking and listening to the LORD and following His heart will determine the service (work) you should engage in this refirement period. Could be in another arena traditionally considered secular or something that seems more spiritual. Remember, whatever legitimate service you do pleases Him when you make His will and way the priority of your life and seek to glorify Him through it.

Looking forward to God’s next step for you is something to look forward to and not to fear or despise. It may be wise to take an extended time (months) between the work from which you retire and the area of service you will engage to a greater degree in the future. Just make sure it’s not so long that you fall into slothfulness because this will bring unfruitfulness and ruin. When you retire with God’s will in mind, you’ll be able to have peace, joy, and needed rest in a way that refires you and brings fulfillment to your life.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Genesis 1:28, Numbers 8:24-26, Proverbs 10:4-5, Acts 20:32-35, 2Thessalonians 3:6-12

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MoneyWalk 238: Your Worth

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Your true net-worth is not based in the things that you possess on earth, rather it’s determined by whether or not you’re a believer in Jesus Christ whose heart is in tune to the vision on His heart. Christians seek to glorify Him, lead unbelievers to Him, and educate people on the virtue of living by His principles. When you have His heart you take on the mind of Christ and are motivated to be the best steward (manager) you know how to be with the money, resources, gifting, and abilities the LORD entrusts to you while on earth. You continually seek to become more skillful in doing so.

Like most people, you probably think the current state of your stewardship is probably more broadly based on getting most of the things you want on credit and still having the bills to show for it years later when sometimes you cannot even remember what you used the loans / credit cards to purchase. The depreciating value of your cars, appliances, furniture, clothing, and jewelry should motivate you to exercise godly wisdom when purchasing such items in the future. You may have previously been pressured by smooth-talking sales people, friends, or family into buying such items on credit, but now realize these items depreciate in value. It certainly was not wise to use loans to get these items when you did not have cash available in reserve accounts to purchase them or immediately pay off the total amount of the loan at any time. Even if you could pay it off at anytime, it is not wise to get installment or balloon loans or to let the charge revolve month to month because the interest charged on the loan will be greater than what your reserve account will pay you each month and you will encounter other problems you could have avoided.

God is for you achieving financial freedom and building wealth and has given you instructions / principles to lead you there. It's important to understand that some of the men and women of honor spoken of in scripture, who drew near to Him and displayed His heart in ministry (service to others), had great material riches. Likewise, the LORD will allow you to have many nice things over the course of your life, but more importantly He wants you to draw closer to Him. Biblical instructions and the stories of these saints give a clear picture that we should seek the Creator more than the things He created.

Do not layup treasures for yourself on earth that tend to corrupt, decay, and be stolen! Rather, layup for yourself treasures in Heaven that cannot be corrupted, decayed, or stolen. This only happens via properly managing money and resources in order to give abundantly for the spread of the gospel, to properly take care of your family needs, and to be rich in good works that serve other people. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. An intimate relationship with God makes the things He allows you to have truly valuable to you because you will use them for the right purpose.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Matthew 6:33-34, Luke 12:32-33, and 1Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19, James 5:1-6

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MoneyWalk 237: The Only Way, Truth, and Life

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

I can teach you practical strategies to employ biblical money management principles in your life such as vision casting, planning, organizing, budgeting, and record-keeping and I can teach the principles of tithing, offering, debt-free living, smart lending and cosigning. However, you won’t receive the most important type of wealth if you only accept the teaching as a mechanism to help you accumulate money on earth.

The only wealth you need is eternal life starting now with a heavenly home prepared for you when you finally leave this earth. In addition, wealth is to be desired that is gained by fulfilling the purpose for which the LORD made you, so you can please Him and positively affect other people throughout the remainder of your life. Only one person can provide this great salvation and sanctification and that is Jesus Christ the Savior and LORD who is resurrected from the dead and alive for evermore.

You've sinned and cannot access God’s kingdom without exercising faith in Jesus. The wages of your sin is natural destruction, death, and eternal damnation if you do not believe in Him before you die. Sin has produced negative results in your life and rendered you unable to achieve lasting inner peace and joy in good and bad times. It's good to know the gift of God is eternal life for you. You only have to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD.

Then, you’ll receive eternal life and He will help you utilize biblical principles, so you can successfully navigate life’s temptations and trials. You will mature over time to fulfill the purpose God gave your life. You’ll be enriched on earth, enrich others, and build treasures in Heaven that no one can take away.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Acts 4:10-12, 2Peter 3:9, John 3:16-17

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MoneyWalk 236: Don’t Be Deceived

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Many people want expensive homes, cars, and clothes. Many have dreamed of being super rich. Money and possessions are not evil. However, in the hands of people with unclean intentions they will be used to support and carry out ungodly activities that negatively affect the lives of other people.

A lack of desire to use money and other resources in a manner that glorifies God and supports His gospel puts you to a greater and greater degree on the path toward unclean intentions. Such intentions produce get-rich-quick and wealth-by-any-means attitudes that ensnare you in Satan's destructive plan. If you obtain wealth while having these attitudes, it’s easy to regress into arrogance, pride, criminal, and detrimental activities that are unacceptable to God.

You may outwardly appear successful, but you'll be judged bankrupt by God and ultimately He must bring down everyone whom He has not exalted, either while they are on earth or at the Great White Throne Judgment.

As your mind searches out the methods you can use to obtain wealth, be sure to make God’s will for your life the first priority. This will help you find many opportunities that are uniquely fitted to the abilities, gifting, and calling God created you with. Pursuing these avenues brings eternal rewards.

On the other hand, gaining the world now may seem fun for a short time, but losing your soul while doing so will bring negative eternal consequences that you will not be able to handle.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Ecclesiastes 10:19, 12:13-14, Luke 12:13-21, I Timothy 6:6-10, Revelation 3:17-22

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MoneyWalk 235: Bargain Shopping Can Help You

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

You can save money by bargain shopping for homes, cars, computers, clothes, and other merchandise. This consists of searching various outlets until you find the items you want at a price that's well below what others normally pay.

If you have a respecter of persons mindset that only allows you to purchase items in upscale stores with high prices, you’ll inevitably spend more money than you should for merchandise you want and you’ll probably go into debt. This will keep you from building the level of wealth that God intends for you and thus will affect your ability to give abundantly to support gospel ministry and establish the good stewardship pattern that will open the windows of Heaven and have abundant blessing continually poured out on you.

Your mind must be renewed by Christ to realize that there is quality, lower priced merchandise that can meet your needs and desires. You simply have to look for it. A thorough search (asking friends, searching websites, looking at merchandise at a variety of stores) will often reveal that like goods (sometimes with different brand names and lower prices) are offered at different stores.

You may find that different stores are selling the goods at different prices. Look in dollar stores and department stores for less expensive merchandise and give those products and services an opportunity to show you whether or not they are just as good. While you may find that some things are not as good as higher priced ones at other stores, you will likely find that many things like household utility items are just as good.

Without proof, don't believe that high priced merchandise is necessarily better in quality without testing it against lower price goods of the same kind. Also, don’t waste money over brand name loyalty without the proof of better quality and affordability within your financial situation. Ultimately, your wise, good steward habits will put you in a position where at a certain point in life you are able to purchase a variety of goods without having to fret over the cost or even look for lower cost alternatives. It may still be wise to do so, but you will be in a position where you do not have to and can simply indulge from time to time without searching far and wide to see if the goods are offered at a lower price elsewhere.

Remember, a great result of your good stewardship exhibited by not becoming an unqualified “respecter of brands” and not ruling out that dollar, discount , department stores may have what you can use at lower prices is to put yourself in a position where you have more to give to spread the gospel and more to save and invest throughout the length of your life When the additional disposable income is properly invested, over time you will build immense wealth for your situation that puts you far ahead of most if not all of your peers.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!

Exodus 12:35-36, Proverbs 13:23, Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 14:28, Romans 12:3, 1Corinthians 10:12-13

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MoneyWalk 234: Cosign And Have Your Assets Taken

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Cosigning is making an agreement with a person or entity to pay debts taken out by someone else. Such agreements require you to pay the monthly loan payments or the full amount when the person becomes delinquent on his payment of the loan (regardless of whether he is unable to or simply decides not to make good on the loan). Allowing someone to use your credit card technically puts you in the same situation because your contract with the credit card company requires that you pay all charges you authorized on that card.

A person’s request for you to cosign to cover his debt may not look like a bad thing when the appeal is being made to you and such request have a lot of emotional appeal behind them because many of the people that would ask you to do appear to need help maneuvering the financial landscape of life. Yet, it will cause you immense emotional pain, heartache, and financial turmoil when they do not make the monthly payments or pay off the debts as contracted and expected.

It is generally an irresponsible action to cosign for someone given that the vast majority of these situations wind up with the other party not paying as agreed and thus forcing collectors to come after cosigners. It is also irresponsible considering that you don’t have enough in liquid assets to fully cover the total debt if you’re ever responsible for paying it. These situations will negatively affect your well being and that of your family and leave you in a tumultuous financial and relational state.

Cosigning arrangements do not work any better among family members and close friends. Often, the fallout from these situations causes separation of friends and many times ill feelings and un-forgiveness toward one another.

You need to respect that the financial institution does not consider the requester’s personal financial situation healthy enough to sign for his own debt and that these institutions are experts at judging the likelihood of repayment by people with particular financial profiles. Then, just say no!

Otherwise, a significant amount of your disposable income will soon be spent paying off debt taken out by other people (that you could be using to build wealth) and your credit will be wrecked, no matter how much income you bring in, because you are persuaded to cosign for irresponsible and untrustworthy people. You must pray and watch those that labor among you knowing that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In so doing, many have learned bad habits in the financial arena of their lives. Then, you must choose not to repeat their mistakes and not to help them continue to make such mistakes. The best way to help the ones you can help is to use available cash, at a level that will not impoverish your family, when you see a true need and believe you are supposed to be a party to resolving it.

Another thing to consider is that your help is not often the whole solution to deep problems of need, poverty, and financial troubles experienced by other people. While there are times that the Good Samaritan response may mean that you offer financial and other resources, yet there are other times when the Apostles Peter and John’s response is needful, “Silver and gold have we none, but such as we have we give unto you – in the name of Jesus Christ be made whole.”

You should want to be a good steward and allow God’s process to build the type of wealth necessary for your Good Samaritan experiences but also desire spiritual discernment so you can truly detect what is needful and be able to give the Word, encouragement, prayer, healing, and/or deliverance that sets the captives free and gives them the impetus to take on the responsibility and discipline needed to be good stewards and prosper in the future.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. 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!!!

You can find books authored by Randy Parlor and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com