Where's The Line?

I would guess that most people have struggled at some time with the following questions:

"Where is the line between being responsible and working in a job that I don't love but pays the bills AND working in a job that I love but doesn't pay the bills?"

"Should I do what I love and worry about the money later?"

"Should I take a job that I don't love so that I can pay the bills?"


Especially right now, these are big questions on everyone's mind. I believe that we need to be responsible for ourselves and our families. If that means taking a job that we don't love but will pay the bills then so be it. I realize that may be a hard pill to swallow but no one said life was going to be easy. One of the many reasons our economy is in such a mess is because people were irresponsible from various angles.

Some were irresponsible in making unethical business decisions for their companies.

Some were irresponsible in giving loans to people who were one paycheck away from disaster.

Some were irresponsible for lying on their loan applications thinking that they were "entitled" to a house even though they couldn't afford it.

Some were irresponsible in spending more than they make.

Here is the painful truth. The American dream cannot be achieved by lying, cheating, stealing or being unethical or immoral. It is also not handed out. It is earned through honesty and hard work.

Now, here's the good news. If you know Jesus, you have a way out from this mess. Jesus told us that if we live by the principles in the Bible, we can enjoy a life of abundance and overflow. We can have all of our needs met so that we have plenty left over to help others. We can work in a job that we love because we don't look to our job to provide for us. We look to God as our Provider and our Source.

However, Jesus also told us that it wouldn't be easy and that it would require consistency and dedication. We have to learn about God's principles and live by God's principles before we will see those wonderful and amazing blessings manifest in our lives. I suppose the question then becomes . . .

"Are you trusting your jobs and your own efforts to supply your needs or are you living by God's principles, implementing His ways of doing things and therefore seeing Him supply your needs?"

Proof That Jesus Was Not Poor

I heard a great message this week that gave Biblical proof that Jesus was not poor. I encourage you to put your doubts and prejudices aside and listen to the below link with an open mind.
Once you click the link below, pick the Tuesday, March 31 message under “God’s View of Prosperity.” http://www.kcm.org/media/index.php?p=media

To Budget or Not To Budget?

Have you ever debated as to whether or not budgets are biblical? Here's my point of view.

God told us to owe no man anything but to love him. That means we should not be in debt. If we need to use a budget as a practical way to manage our money then that is great. God tells us time and time again to seek wisdom and use wisdom. I believe that when we are good stewards with our money that is being wise and proving ourselves obedient to God.

God also tells us that He will supply all of our needs. Therefore, we don't need to worry about tomorrow. As long as we are seeking God, putting God first, and being obedient, we will see the Blessing manifest in our lives. Once we start seeing the results of faith, we aren't so dependent on the natural around us. We aren't so concerned about what the budget looks like on paper because we know God will supply our needs. This doesn't give us a license to overspend but it does mean we aren't tied to this world's system.

God also tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. This means that we can believe God to provide the money for that item we want to buy. It doesn't mean we go out and buy it before we have the money in hand because that would be incurring debt. However, it does mean that we have a bigger source than our job. God will supply our needs. We stand on God's Word that He will come through on His promises and we will see the money we need. That's called walking by faith.

If you have been challenged in the area of spending money wisely, I encourage you to set up a budget so that you can see on paper where your money is going. However, this doesn't mean that you can't continue to build up your faith and stand on God's Word. Once we prove ourselves with the little things God will bless us with more. Commit today to making wise decisions with your money and watch God bless your obedience and dedication.

Below is a link to my other site which is full of free tips and forms to help you live a debt free lifestyle.
http://debtfreeliving.synthasite.com/

Bible Verses By Topic

I just started a new website that lists Bible verses by topic. The link is below in case you are interested. Have a great day!

On Suze Orman's Show Last Night

I happened to stop at the Suze Orman show last night and was amazed at what I heard. This 31 year old woman had $25,000 in credit card debt, $14,000 in student loans, a $12,000 car payment, and a mortgage . . . and only made $2000 a month.


Suze did a great job of confronting this woman who admitted she was living on credit cards. She knew that she didn't have enough cash coming in but didn't want to have to cut back or get another job.


What I think is ridiculous is that this woman could declare bankruptcy and start all over again. No accountability for the mess she created. No responsibility in repaying the loss. I was relieved to at least hear that you can't declare bankruptcy on student loans. There is no way out of that. Bankruptcy may make her life easier but it makes mine harder because someone has to eat that lost money. Now my insurance rates go up and so on because the companies have to cover their losses. Why do people think they are entitled to buy things they don't have money for and then escape the responsibility of paying for it?


I think there needs to be stricter rules on who can get credit cards. At first glance it would appear that it is a person's right to make bad financial decisions and get themselves into trouble. The problem is that there are so many irresponsible people, greedy people, unethical people, and people poorly educated in basic finances that they have now ruined our whole economy. The American dream is earned by hard work, integrity and honesty. The American dream is not handed out for free.

Are You A Warehouse or Distribution Center?

A warehouse is a place where stuff is stored, set aside and accumulated. A distribution center is a place where stuff flows freely in and out. When it comes to your money, are you a warehouse or a distribution center?

For those who are not sure, here are a few questions to ask yourself.

1. Do you frequently buy things for yourself?
2. Do you find it hard to part with your belongings?
3. Do you only donate things that you don’t like anymore or don’t fit?
4. Do you believe that you should get all you can, can what you get, and sit on the can?
5. Do you believe that the money in your account really belongs to God and you are just a steward called to distribute it to those God chooses?
6. Do you enjoy giving things away, even your most prized possessions?
7. Have you noticed that as you give, God always fills your distribution center back up?


A warehouse makes me think of a stagnant pond. Without circulation things begin to die. But a distribution center has a constant flow that brings life. God is always searching for people who will be distribution centers because He wants to use them to bring life to people.

One thing that’s important to note is that before God will start giving you this money, He needs to know that you will be a faithful steward and use it how He desires. To start, He may ask you to buy a simple cup of coffee for someone. Sounds easy, right? However, He then tells you to give it to the lady you don’t like at work. Will you do it out of obedience to God or will you walk away? As we prove ourselves in these little tests He will begin to entrust bigger things to us.

My husband and I often give big tips at restaurants. I love to think about how excited the waitress will be when she picks up the tip after we’ve left and finds it is crazy big. It seems simple but if we learn to hear God in these situations, we will be better able to hear him in bigger situations. I know some people who have given away cars, houses and airplanes because God asked them to. We aren’t there yet but I would love to get there some day.

Here are some verses to look up if you would like to learn more about trusting God to supply your needs so that you can learn to be a distribution center for Him.

Deuteronomy 28, Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 28:27, Isaiah 48:17, Malachi 3:8-11, II Corinthians 9:6-11

Are You Robbing God?

Did you know that we help to determine if we see God's blessing manifest in our lives?

Malachi 3:9-11 tells us that we are robbing God if we don't give the first 10% of our income to Him.

You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,

“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;


The reason God demands the first of your income is because where your money is there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34) Tithing is as much an attitude as it is an action. Choosing to faithfully give the first of your income to God shows that you have the right attitude and the right heart condition. You see God as your source and you trust that He will stand by His Word and liberally supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

God doesn't need our money. He simply wants our hearts. One of His greatest desires is to take care of us. He never wanted us to toil for a living. In His kingdom you supply your needs by sowing and reaping. You can't sow apple seeds and expect to see corn in August. That goes against the laws of nature. The same is in the Kingdom of God. You can't withhold your tithes and offerings from God and expect to see a harvest of money. It doesn't work. You will only reap what you sow. If you give in abundance and with a happy heart, God will give back to you good measure, pressed down, shaken together and RUNNING OVER! (Luke 6:38) You can never outgive God. I challenge you to study the verses in the Bible that show how God supplies your needs and then step out in faith begin to sow your financial seeds. Remember, it isn't the amount of the seed. It is the significance of it.

Blessings to you and your family!
Christy

Root Problem With Stimulus Bills

I think one of the root problems with these stimulus bills is that it doesn't fix the underlying problems that got us here. Greed. Mismanagement of personal finances. Irresponsibility. Lack of accountability. People's belief that they are entitled to things.



If people's attitudes and belief systems don't change, we are going to be back in the same predicament when the money runs out. People who were irresponsible, overspent, and abused credit, are probably going to blow any tax credits or other kickbacks on more irresponsible spending.



I especially hate the idea that some people are going to get yearly rewards for paying their mortgage on time. The reward should be that you get to keep your house. As an adult you should be paying your bills on time without a reward. That's called being responsible. This type of "stimulus" is only encouraging those who are working the system instead of getting out there and working to make a living. In addition, those who need this "reward" to pay on time, will probably just short pay other bills to get this extra bonus the government is handing out.



Don't get me wrong. My heart goes out to the responsible people who lost a job or ran into medical issues that caused their bad financial situation. Those people should be helped by family, friends, local churches and ministries, etc. But, a massive stimulus program like these seem to reward the vast majority of people not in this category who carelessly throw their money around and think that because they breath air in our country it gives them a right to certain things. Even if they can't afford it.



The stimulus should be rewarding personal responsibility. This would then encourage others to become responsible so that they too could get the reward. It just seems like these stimulus bills are backwards.

Our New Identity

I believe that the way you see yourself affects how you handle your finances.

If you see yourself as never being able to make ends meet.

If you see yourself as destined for failure because of your past.

If you see yourself as not good enough.


Your actions will follow what you think. So, if you identify with the above statements, then your actions are most likely going to follow. But as Christians, we have a new identity that makes us more than conquerors. We know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We know that if we put God first He will take care of us. We know that God supplies all of our needs so we don't have to worry. When we identify with these statements, we are going to start acting as the victorious Christians we were meant to be. And, when we do this our lives will be an example to others who are struggling to find that same hope.

So, my question to you is . . . What are you identifying with?


If you aren't sure how God sees you, I invite you to visit my online study that I call "Living in the Overflow." Here's the link. http://www.overflowliving.com/Abundant_Prosperity_Study.html


Blessings!
Christy
www.OverflowLiving.com

Have you heard of swagbucks?

Hey, have you heard of swagbucks? Instead of going to Google you do your searches on their site. You earn points while you search which can be turned in for gift cards to stores and online shopping. Looks pretty neat. Below is a link for you to check it out if you are interested.

http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=319527

Making Your Way Prosperous

Everyone is asking how do I make wise decisions and become prosperous during these tough economic times. Joshua 1:8 gives us the answer.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”

Can it really be that simple? Absolutely!

When you begin to immerse yourself in God’s ways, you begin to think and act like God. He will tell you where to invest (or not invest). He will give you favor, promotion and increase. When we live by God’s Kingdom principles, we will see God’s results in our life. Isn’t that exciting?

Hey Christian Ladies!

I found a great blog tonight called At the Well. They are having a grand opening of their new blog on Feb 2 and are offering various prizes.

Here is what you could win...
A brand new blog facelift valued at over $50donated by Doodlebug Designs

A custom blog card (or mom card, if you don’t blog) design, valued at $30. You’ll receive a high quality .jpg, .png or .pdf file – you can do the printing yourself or have them printed online or locally – the options are endless. Print only as many as you need!The file is yours to keep.donated by Simply Amusing Designs

"Fill 'Em Up!" ... a "cookbook" for parents to use with kids which includes a devotional/Bible study that goes along with each recipe.donated by Heavenly Homakers

A signed copy of the book "The Devil in Your Garden"donated by Natalie Witcher from I AM (not)

A digital scapbook dowload packagedonated by The Digital Scrapbook Place

A $25 Starbucks gift certificatedonated by At the Well


Here's the link to their blog. Enjoy!
http://www.titus2atthewell.com/

Donation Tracking Spreadsheet

I’ve found that tax time is easier when I use a checklist to make sure I have everything. And, because I know exactly how much I have sown into God’s Kingdom, I use that info when I declare His promises over my life. I’ve posted the spreadsheet on my website http://www.overflowliving.com/ so that you can print or download at your convenience. (For personal use only please.)

(When you get to the home page, click the “Free Forms” link on the left panel.)

Hope you find it helpful!