It has been 20 days since my last post. Nearly a month has gone by and I am already seeing the fruits that come from being on a budget! Honestly I didn't really think that I would see them until a few years from now, after things were gradually being paid off. But God is so amazing that He is blessing us even now.
After only a couple of weeks, the efforts we are making to honor the Lord in our finances are being rewarded in small but significant ways! And that is a thing that can only come from His almighty grace.
In Proverbs 31:22 our Lady is reaping the benefits of good stewardship in a similar way. All throughout the chapter we have seen the ways in which she works hard to esteem those in her household; money management, making clothes and garments, investing in real estate, gardening, etc. This verse points out that the "fine linen and purple" are expensive evidences of ways that God has blessed her in His grace and lovingkindness.
Cody and I hit up a few after-Christmas sales in Albuquerque on Sunday. I was telling him that I felt humility in a good way... For Christmas I received some wonderful things that I had been wanting, and that I could really use but had put out of my mind because of our budget. We're talking things that weren't necessarily needs, just things I had decided not go get for myself because I am trying to watch my spending. I used to worry about finding a means to get said things, but God has put a change in me that only He can take credit for. I feel so humbled by the fact that my King made a way for me to get these things anyway... He loves me so much to the point that I am down on my hands and knees in undeserving gratitude.
I guess I am just here to report the awesome things God is doing. He doesn't hesitate to show his approval. And the biggest thing I can see is that the changes toward money have come from my heart. I see now how badly I was deceiving myself, and how poor a job I really was doing. My Heavenly Father knows the things I need, and even just things I want. He supplies the birds of the air with food, and clothes the flowers of the field with a splendor that cannot be bought...
This is a fairly short post I noticed, but I'm grateful for that. Sometimes the best things come in small packages. Simplicity is a beautiful thing.
I close now with this prayer.
Scripture is being fulfilled in my life right now... May I remain steadfast in this new attitude, and may I continually bless my Lord with good stewardship.
Have a blessed and Happy New Year!
CW
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
21. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in double thickness.
Wow I have a lot I've been storing away for this newest post.
In fact, most everything has to do with how I've lately veered off-track from this verse. Instead, I have been experiencing worry on top of worry about my debt. In perfect contrast with the woman of Proverbs 31, I have not been that financially responsible... I know I am married and my husband has typically been the main expert with our finances, but he works long hours every week. I got so used to him paying bills that I never let our balances cross my mind. Now that he is gone for most of the day, I've been in charge of overseeing that my loans get paid every month, and I'm also in charge of banking and utilities.
I've always thought I was a pretty frugal person, but I never realized that I was stopping at being thrifty and not planning for the future. November is a month where we start getting into the holidays and spending for Christmas. Well, we spent without limitation, and I realized that I was going to be paying loans off until I was in my fifties. I felt like the biggest failure...like I was irresponsible, and not a good steward. And worst of all, it's all true.
Ouch.
The woman of Proverbs 31 is a mother, upscale, a home manager, and a hard worker. Her husband, her servants, and her children are all taken care of with her as the boss. She runs a tight ship, is wise with her money, and is prepared for whatever may come.
Realizing this about her from the beginning, all I could see was how I failed at being this for my family, and my debts. I remember writing a facebook status a couple of months ago, asking if i should go for the glamourous life, or the simple life. I wanted the things that come with the glamour, but I wanted the simplicity of just being a good steward. I thought for sure that these two kinds of lifestyles were at odds with each other, but now I realize it's that they were warring in my life. I was spending to acquire glamourous things, but what I really need right now (thank you God for your patience) is a simple life, one focused on becoming a good steward of what the Lord has for me right now. Right now, he has given us a house at an amazing price, and do-able monthly bills. He has also given us a way to pay off all my loans in a few years... and a budding side job with photography.
It's just like Jesus tells us in Luke 16: {10-12} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who who will give you property of your own?"
Double-ouch.
All this time I was discontent with my life details, but really I have to become master of my present circumstances before I can move on to bigger and better things. All this time I was trying to acquire the things i want on my own terms... I can't believe how easily I was deceiving myself.
In hopeless desperation I began to pray for how to get myself out of this mess. "Oh Lord," I'd say, "Help me to do things your way." God is so good to answer my measly little cries for help, and He provided a plan... I was at borders and I thought I'd try to see what reading material was available for organization (the house is still a recovering mess from Thanksgiving). I came across a book called Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenrieder. A literal answer to prayer, it was all there right in front of me... As I was flipping through the pages and reading what she had to say, I was surprised at how simple life could be, how easy it was to become debt-free, and to do it all on Biblical principles...I was so ready to jump on that bandwagon that I bought the book without a second thought! (I wasn't planning on buying anything that day)
She calls it intentional living. Cody is on board with me like an awesome husband would be, and we are giving our finances and home life a renovation. It's been four days and I already see the changes, not only in our lives at home, but in my over-all attitude. Praise God! He knew I would hit rock bottom emotionally, but He already had a plan to meet me with a way out of my stupidity. Thank you God for your love and mercy and grace.
I close with these thoughts;
God has a plan for everything...If you are going through something similar in your life, I highly recommend getting the book (it's written by a full-time mom who practices what she's preaching). Cody and I are now on a budget...Please pray for us to approach our lives as good stewards, and to be strong in our faith. Help us to stick to each other, and live everyday from the principles of the word.
In faith I know I can now laugh at the days to come.
CW
In fact, most everything has to do with how I've lately veered off-track from this verse. Instead, I have been experiencing worry on top of worry about my debt. In perfect contrast with the woman of Proverbs 31, I have not been that financially responsible... I know I am married and my husband has typically been the main expert with our finances, but he works long hours every week. I got so used to him paying bills that I never let our balances cross my mind. Now that he is gone for most of the day, I've been in charge of overseeing that my loans get paid every month, and I'm also in charge of banking and utilities.
I've always thought I was a pretty frugal person, but I never realized that I was stopping at being thrifty and not planning for the future. November is a month where we start getting into the holidays and spending for Christmas. Well, we spent without limitation, and I realized that I was going to be paying loans off until I was in my fifties. I felt like the biggest failure...like I was irresponsible, and not a good steward. And worst of all, it's all true.
Ouch.
The woman of Proverbs 31 is a mother, upscale, a home manager, and a hard worker. Her husband, her servants, and her children are all taken care of with her as the boss. She runs a tight ship, is wise with her money, and is prepared for whatever may come.
Realizing this about her from the beginning, all I could see was how I failed at being this for my family, and my debts. I remember writing a facebook status a couple of months ago, asking if i should go for the glamourous life, or the simple life. I wanted the things that come with the glamour, but I wanted the simplicity of just being a good steward. I thought for sure that these two kinds of lifestyles were at odds with each other, but now I realize it's that they were warring in my life. I was spending to acquire glamourous things, but what I really need right now (thank you God for your patience) is a simple life, one focused on becoming a good steward of what the Lord has for me right now. Right now, he has given us a house at an amazing price, and do-able monthly bills. He has also given us a way to pay off all my loans in a few years... and a budding side job with photography.
It's just like Jesus tells us in Luke 16: {10-12} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who who will give you property of your own?"
Double-ouch.
All this time I was discontent with my life details, but really I have to become master of my present circumstances before I can move on to bigger and better things. All this time I was trying to acquire the things i want on my own terms... I can't believe how easily I was deceiving myself.
In hopeless desperation I began to pray for how to get myself out of this mess. "Oh Lord," I'd say, "Help me to do things your way." God is so good to answer my measly little cries for help, and He provided a plan... I was at borders and I thought I'd try to see what reading material was available for organization (the house is still a recovering mess from Thanksgiving). I came across a book called Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenrieder. A literal answer to prayer, it was all there right in front of me... As I was flipping through the pages and reading what she had to say, I was surprised at how simple life could be, how easy it was to become debt-free, and to do it all on Biblical principles...I was so ready to jump on that bandwagon that I bought the book without a second thought! (I wasn't planning on buying anything that day)
She calls it intentional living. Cody is on board with me like an awesome husband would be, and we are giving our finances and home life a renovation. It's been four days and I already see the changes, not only in our lives at home, but in my over-all attitude. Praise God! He knew I would hit rock bottom emotionally, but He already had a plan to meet me with a way out of my stupidity. Thank you God for your love and mercy and grace.
I close with these thoughts;
God has a plan for everything...If you are going through something similar in your life, I highly recommend getting the book (it's written by a full-time mom who practices what she's preaching). Cody and I are now on a budget...Please pray for us to approach our lives as good stewards, and to be strong in our faith. Help us to stick to each other, and live everyday from the principles of the word.
In faith I know I can now laugh at the days to come.
CW
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