Paying off debt is not the only reason we need to find margin in our budget. We all have things we need to save for such replacing our car, projects in our home or take a vacation. The following are ideas of ways to save and earn money that were previously posted on the FOCUS…
The majority of people have 24% of their income going towards consumer debt We need to come to the realization that expenses over 100% of our income are not sustainable. Something to ask yourself, “Is my spending in line with my financial goals, vision and values as a Christ follower?” Everything we have are gifts…
To achieve your financial goals, you have to put a plan in place. Having a spending plan is the best way to achieve the goals you have set and you may discover new goals you want to put in place. I like the spending plan that is referred to as Zero Balance Budgeting. You put…
Little Wife set her empty wine glass on the kitchen table and gazed sadly out the window at the falling snow. The weak mid-January sunlight filtered through the cold clouds barely reaching the ground before dissolving into another gray afternoon. “Well,” she thought to herself, “If I’ve had one glass of wine and broken my…
I was recently asked, “What New Year’s Resolutions are you going to make?” I quickly answered “none.” I find it more fruitful to reflect on my “stones of remembrances” of God’s faithfulness to me and the ministry throughout the year. This year has been one of those challenging years personally and in ministry. In my…
Once we have established our own household it is necessary to prioritize and organize our thoughts around our finances, especially if we did not have the responsibility for them in the past. If we have children, our thoughts and actions usually revolve around them and their activities and everything else is put behind them. We…
While leading divorce recovery groups in the mid 1990’s, I became acutely aware of the issues newly single people were having with their finances. Many hadn’t been included in the financial decisions of the married household and they had never overseen a budget. At that time I was referring people in my groups to the…
These are certainly perilous times, just as the Bible told us they would be. (2nd Timothy 3:1) And those of us who have experienced domestic abuse and violence in our homes and lives understand and believe that very much. It does seem like the world has gone “off the rails”. As lawlessness abounds all around…
Relationships are supposed to be fun and fulfilling and full of love. That was God’s original plan. First with our family and our friends, then as romantic dating partners and then as married people, we were originally meant to be kind and loving and patient and full of grace and mercy towards the people in…
The Bible is full of true stories. God saved these real stories about real people who really lived so that we could learn from them. This week I’ve been reading the story of Abigail over and over. I believe God has something for us in her story which is saved in 1st Samuel 25:2-42, just…