I am SUCH a slacker.
I still have to write my farewell to Month One post (it really was a success!) and I have to write my intro post for next month. When we originally decided we wanted to start this process, we had planned to begin February because we figured we'd need a month to prepare ourselves. Instead we decided to jump right in and MAN, did that ever backfire. We agreed to take this month off instead and get our heads on straight. We've been kicked in the gut with a lot of personal issues lately and that has made it hard to focus. Hoping the next two weeks will be filled with peace and prayer and preparation.
So the schedule is....tomorrow I will write my farewell to Month One post summing up all that I learned and was successful at. In about two weeks time I'll write my intro to Month Two post. So what to do in the meantime?
Well, I'm going to write whatever comes to mind, if anything.
For today, I want to take a moment to write about something that has been on my mind for a few weeks. Very simple, but very heart stirring. For me at least.
It started with a four word quote:
"God is a verb."
Now I know there are a whole bunch of weird books, philosophies, etc addressing that thought. I'm not going to dive in to all of those. I don't think God LITERALLY is a verb and not a noun. I'm just taking the quote at face value, and thinking about what it means to me.
You have maybe heard the saying "Love is a verb." That I believe wholeheartedly. You can talk about love as a noun when you are describing it as a philosophy. But I believe that you cannot truly love someone unless you SHOW it. Do it. Be it. Saying "I love you" but not doing anything to prove it means nothing. And if you have to DO something, then it is an action word, a verb. Love is a verb.
And is not God the very definition of love?
1 John 4:8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Seems pretty straightforward to me. God is love. When you think about love, what do you think of? You probably think about many things. When I think about love, the things that stand out in my mind are peace, security, companionship, and joy. An overwhelming sensation of happiness. Love is happiness! It is a bond so sweet and so true that you can barely explain it, barely put forth the words to describe it. Want to make it even more indescribable? Think about it in terms of God! Everything I just described IS God! God is a peace that passes all understanding. He is the rock of all ages. He is your truest and most faithful friend. He is the Giver of all things fine and blessed. He IS happiness. He IS love. You can enjoy all those things without God, sure. But never on the level you would experience with God. With God...it's an experience and a bond that is unbreakable. Unimaginable. Unending.
That is God. And what is God if not unbreakable, unimaginable, and unending? He is the beginning and the end of every story in every life that has ever been lived.
So what does that have to do with God being a verb? Well aside from the obvious (God=love love=verb), I think it has to do more with what God expects of us. If Jesus' life on earth is one that we are to try and model, and "to model" is a verb meaning "shape - mold - fashion - pattern", then we are to actively shape on mold our life to be like His. It's not just saying "I want to be like you Jesus." Just as saying "I love you" means nothing without action. It is thinking about Christ in every action, in every movement. Am I being Christ like? Are my actions on par with the Lord's? It is truly "walking the walk" and not just "talking the talk" if you will. To know God is to strive to BE like Him. And to be like Him you must do as He does. We can never reach perfection of course, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try our absolute best anyway.
I want to shape my life to be like Jesus'. I want to live a life that honors Him. The most basic way I can do that is to love. Not just those who are easy to love, like my family, but those who are not always lovable. There are people in this world who are hard to love. But if I want to show them Jesus, I have to show them love. The same is true for all areas of life. There is not one aspect of living that Jesus does not model perfectly. So to model after Him, is to be like Him. To show, do, make, mold, shape, fashion, pattern, a life such as His. It is all action. It is all verbs.
I know this is a simple thought, but I enjoy words. Words can create pictures just like any pen and paper, can recreate emotions just as strongly as the ones you feel. Words SPEAK to me. And not just in the literal sense. So when I think of God as a verb, an action word, I think of a God who DID something. Not just a God that said things but did not do them. He did do them, and He did them perfectly. I aim for the highest and the brightest and the best....so there is no other end goal but God. To me, that is anything but simple. Perfection is hard and I know I will never reach it. It would be much simpler to give up caring and do what comes easiest.
But with a friend like Jesus, how could I justify doing anything BUT my best? I owe Him everything, the least I could give is my all.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Spending: Day 25
No I haven't quit yet!
Though I have been neglecting my blogging.
We're 25 days in and not a take out container in site. I'd call that success. I have been DYING to taste some pizza hut (they JUST opened one up by house the last week of December! It's been torture!) but so far I have resisted. Six days left. I can do this.
I'm really happy with everything we've accomplished this month. You know why? Because we haven't struggled. We've only been allowed to spend money in 7 places, including the grocery store and gas, and we haven't really had an issue sticking to it. (except for ridiculous Richie and the Red Box, but I'm over it, I swear.)
So you know what that means? That means we can totally do this. Throughout the ENTIRE year. No we don't have to deprive ourselves of everything, but if we go out with the mindset that we can only purchase that which we desperately NEED, then we should be fine. At the end of the month if there is money left, then we can buy a pizza or do a little shopping for ourselves. Bills and important things first and foremost.
I'll make a more detailed "farewell to month one" post in a few days, but two things I want to share that REALLY helped up this month too. One is obvious, and one isn't so obvious. But both really help you keep your money in your pocket.
One: Budget budget BUDGET! Know where every dollar goes and why it's going there. Our family budget still needs a bit of tweaking and streamlining, but we've got our foot in the door. I always wanted to hammer out a solid budget but the "getting there" part has always overwhelmed me. There are so many bills and expenditures and comings and goings that I didn't want to deal with it, but I'm really glad I did. And a solid part of budgeting is learning the difference between "wants" and "needs." I really WANTED to buy Vailyn some new hair bows, the boys new shoes, myself some new books, (yay books!) but we could have lived without all those things and lived just fine. And if I would have went out and bought all those things, I would be at least 60 bucks shorter this month. That sixty bucks could be spent in a million better places. I'm glad that I can SEE that now, instead of just feeling deprived of the stuff I want.
Two: MENU PLAN! Can't recommend it enough. You'll thank yourself, you really will. Not only does menu planning cut out half my stress throughout a week (*fridge full of food* "RICHIE WE HAVE NOTHING TO EAT! WE'RE STARVING!"), but it also keep me from mindlessly buying a bunch of ingredients at the store that don't add up to anything. Now I only get what I need and I use every bit of it. No wasting of food or money. I'd still like to figure out how to successfully coupon and buy in bulk so I get the most meals out of my dollar, but that will come later I'm sure. Right now I am super happy to just have a solid meal plan every day and no more stress over what to make for dinner.
It's also really cool to see how God provides for all your needs in a REAL big way. Richie may move to a new department at work soon and he'll probably have to take a pay cut, but I am at peace knowing that the techniques we learned this month will prepare us for whatever comes our way. We never ever go without, and we have no one to thank but God.
So stay tuned, month two starts in 6 days! Still don't know if we're doing media or food month next. I'll figure it out soon. My farewell to month one post will come soon and will be a recap of everything we've learned this month! Long blog post is a'comin...!
Though I have been neglecting my blogging.
We're 25 days in and not a take out container in site. I'd call that success. I have been DYING to taste some pizza hut (they JUST opened one up by house the last week of December! It's been torture!) but so far I have resisted. Six days left. I can do this.
I'm really happy with everything we've accomplished this month. You know why? Because we haven't struggled. We've only been allowed to spend money in 7 places, including the grocery store and gas, and we haven't really had an issue sticking to it. (except for ridiculous Richie and the Red Box, but I'm over it, I swear.)
So you know what that means? That means we can totally do this. Throughout the ENTIRE year. No we don't have to deprive ourselves of everything, but if we go out with the mindset that we can only purchase that which we desperately NEED, then we should be fine. At the end of the month if there is money left, then we can buy a pizza or do a little shopping for ourselves. Bills and important things first and foremost.
I'll make a more detailed "farewell to month one" post in a few days, but two things I want to share that REALLY helped up this month too. One is obvious, and one isn't so obvious. But both really help you keep your money in your pocket.
One: Budget budget BUDGET! Know where every dollar goes and why it's going there. Our family budget still needs a bit of tweaking and streamlining, but we've got our foot in the door. I always wanted to hammer out a solid budget but the "getting there" part has always overwhelmed me. There are so many bills and expenditures and comings and goings that I didn't want to deal with it, but I'm really glad I did. And a solid part of budgeting is learning the difference between "wants" and "needs." I really WANTED to buy Vailyn some new hair bows, the boys new shoes, myself some new books, (yay books!) but we could have lived without all those things and lived just fine. And if I would have went out and bought all those things, I would be at least 60 bucks shorter this month. That sixty bucks could be spent in a million better places. I'm glad that I can SEE that now, instead of just feeling deprived of the stuff I want.
Two: MENU PLAN! Can't recommend it enough. You'll thank yourself, you really will. Not only does menu planning cut out half my stress throughout a week (*fridge full of food* "RICHIE WE HAVE NOTHING TO EAT! WE'RE STARVING!"), but it also keep me from mindlessly buying a bunch of ingredients at the store that don't add up to anything. Now I only get what I need and I use every bit of it. No wasting of food or money. I'd still like to figure out how to successfully coupon and buy in bulk so I get the most meals out of my dollar, but that will come later I'm sure. Right now I am super happy to just have a solid meal plan every day and no more stress over what to make for dinner.
It's also really cool to see how God provides for all your needs in a REAL big way. Richie may move to a new department at work soon and he'll probably have to take a pay cut, but I am at peace knowing that the techniques we learned this month will prepare us for whatever comes our way. We never ever go without, and we have no one to thank but God.
So stay tuned, month two starts in 6 days! Still don't know if we're doing media or food month next. I'll figure it out soon. My farewell to month one post will come soon and will be a recap of everything we've learned this month! Long blog post is a'comin...!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Spending: Day 14
Let me start this post off by saying...MY HUSBAND IS A DIRTY ROTTEN CHEATER!
Yes that man is a liar liar pants on fire and a no good cheater cheater pumpkin eater.
HE WENT TO RED BOX!
AND RENTED 4 (count 'em 4!) REX BOX MOVIES!
I am so ashamed. When he came in the house and I saw those accursed square cases in his hands my jaw dropped. I about fell over. If you recall reading my first post for this month, I had discussed with my darling husband that Red Box was off limits no matter what excuse he tried to pull out of the air. Apparently "he forgot." Yeah, okay dear. Whatever you say. He still insisted that Red Box should be an approved purchase since it's on the premises of ShopRite. We all know he's blowing smoke right? My husband is a fantastic smoke blower. Oy vey. I love that man, but he drives me nuts! He did apologize and take them back (after watching 2/4 movies mind you) but all's well that ends well. $4 of unapproved money, down the drain.
Anyway, other than that we're doing alright. We used our 1 family activity allotment to get haircuts. WOO! FUN! Richie insisted that we all looked like animals that needed their fur trimmed so off we went. We do look pretty fabulous, but I don't know that sitting in Holiday Hair for an hour counts as quality family time. Whatever. The money's gone and now we have no reason to cave and give Red Lobster our "family activity" money. Sigh.
I'm actually surprised at how much I DON'T miss going out to eat. I mean I do, and I missed the convenience of it in the beginning of this month. Now I'm at the point where I am used to the idea of cooking for every meal no matter how much I rather order a pizza. When you have no other choice, you get used to it. It probably helps that we're starting to seriously watch our diets and our waistlines, but more on that in later months ;)
The biggest bonus so far? I'm starting to see a sure and steady rise in our bank accounts. We've already paid off all our bills for the month and the last two paychecks in January will be all ours. I could get used to that. We haven't spent a single dime that we didn't account for in our budget and it's actually been pretty easy. I think we're seriously getting used to training our brains to ask how necessary a purchase is before we actually purchase it. I've said no to quite a few things this month already...not just food but also to SUPER cute outfits for the kids (that they didn't need) and I've had to say no to quite a few books and movies that I REALLY wanted. Richie almost said no to movies. Almost.
He'll never survive in media month.
I've also noticed how much more secure I feel in God's promises. Another added bonus! I've been trying hard to listen to God throughout this whole process, as this is truly an effort to get rid of the "noise" in our lives in order to hear that still, small voice. I feel like verses such as Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" ring truer now than ever before. All my needs met by God? Sounds good to me! And words are important, notice the verse says ALL and not some or most. All. Every single one. So if I feel that I am lacking something, or something isn't being taken care of, does that mean God failed to provide for all my needs? Or does that mean I really do have everything I need, and just want more? I'm thinking "God failed" is an oxymoron, thus I'm betting the real answer lies in my dissatisfaction. A heart issue, not an issue of need.
Let's also take a moment and examine Acts 20:35. "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Hmm. I know most people quote that it is better to give than to recieve often enough. I think we all know that. It's such a wonderful feeling to watch someone's face light up when you give them a gift that they never expected, or even if they did expect it, to feel and see their thankfulness anyway. It's really a gift by itself. But what about the first half of that verse. Support the weak. Three simple words. Support the weak. Support is defined as "Bear all or part of the weight of; hold up." Weak has many definitions, two of them being "Likely to fail under pressure, stress, or strain; lacking resistance" and "Lacking physical strength, energy, or vigor." Ok so it's simple isn't it? We are to bear all or some of the physical/spiritual weight of an individual who is likley to fail under the pressure of his or her burden because of their lack of energy and strength. I guess maybe that's easier said than done.
Let's face it, people are messy. Relationships with people are hard. Especially with those people who are so very different than us. Live a different way than we do. It's chaotic, frustrating, and sometimes downright uncomfortable. Who wants to deal with people who are weird, sometimes belligerent and ungrateful, and sometimes even lacking the simplest means of personal hygiene. Let's be honest here, those are usually the weakest among us correct? I've met a few people like that through the years. You probably have too. They are weak for a reason, not just physically, but spiritually beat down and mentally trashed. They have nothing to give. And yet we who have so much, why do we care so little? It's not just about giving them the five dollars in your pocket. It's a nice gesture, but what about tomorrow? Tomorrow they'll still be in the same predicament. The only difference is, you'll no longer be there.
And why shouldn't you be? I'm honestly not trying to guilt anyone, and I know we can't save the world. But we can do SOMETHING. Save the life of someone. The only difference between the weak and the strong is that the strong almost always have a support system. Whether it be the Lord, generous and loving family, selfless friends...maybe you have all three of those things. And that's wonderful! You ought to be so grateful for those things! But why not give it back? Why not be someone else's support system? Are not those people God's children too? Does God love you more than those people? If we were to really love the way Christ loves, we would see the weak through His eyes. He would give His life for that person over and over again. This angry, ungrateful, weird person. He would die for them. Just like He did for you. We are no different in God's eyes. Maybe God gave us everything so that we could give them something. Maybe He knew that Johnny Hobo would squander His savings with drugs and alcohol so instead of giving Johnny Hobo more money that he desperately needs, He gave it to you instead. Maybe He wants YOU to step up and help Johnny Hobo get back on track, by having you give a little bit of those blessings back. He can't give them to Johnny directly, he'll just waste them. Can God trust it with you? Or will you waste it too? He gave you more so that you would have all you need and then some. Maybe it's that last part we're supposed to pass along.
Think about it a moment. What would the members of the early church think if they were suddenly transported to our time? What would they think if they walked into our homes, saw our cabinets overflowing with food (there's never anything to eat around here!), saw our empty bedrooms converted into computer rooms and workout areas (this house is so small, there's no room for anything!), saw our closets and dressers and drawers fit to bursting with clothing (I never have anything to wear!) What would they think? What would they think if they saw all the suffering in the world, the poor and starving children, the cold and sickly elderly, the suffering of the young with so much of their life left to live...and then realized how many Christians live above and beyond their means? Did you know Christians outmber all the orphans on the ENTIRE PLANET 2:1? Remind me why there are any orphans left in this world? If only half stepped up and took in one...just one...
I don't think they would understand. I think any of our excuses would fall short. Yeah we're living in a horrible economy. Yeah the cost of living is way up. Yeah I have a family of my own to provide for. Yeah I own a house with a pool. Yeah we have a car for each family member. Yeah I have enough clothing that I could wear a different outfit every day for an entire month or two. Yeah I have more food in my pantry than I know what to do with. So what? What's your point?
Point is, we all can do something. We can't do everything, only God can truly heal the broken hearted and provide for the desolate and despairing. We don't have to be God, we can just be us. I think God would be ok with that. We can do what we can. We don't have to fly to Africa and bring home ten children and we don't have to give our life savings to Johnny Hobo. We just have to do something. Give your neighbor a ride to the store, buy that struggling church member a new outfit, help a poor kid buy some school supples. Anything. And support your missionary familys! They are truly making a difference in this world, bringing light where there is only darkness. That has Jesus written all over it!
We don't have to do it all. We just have to support the weak, and love like Jesus loves. Not too much to ask, is it? I know I'm not perfect at it, not even close. You're probably in the same boat as me. Just think about it. Everything we own belongs to God, and so everything we spend money on is a reflection of our God. Just think about it, and do something with it. We are ALL God's children...every.single.one. of us. I think if we remembered that, we'd be okay.
Yes that man is a liar liar pants on fire and a no good cheater cheater pumpkin eater.
HE WENT TO RED BOX!
AND RENTED 4 (count 'em 4!) REX BOX MOVIES!
I am so ashamed. When he came in the house and I saw those accursed square cases in his hands my jaw dropped. I about fell over. If you recall reading my first post for this month, I had discussed with my darling husband that Red Box was off limits no matter what excuse he tried to pull out of the air. Apparently "he forgot." Yeah, okay dear. Whatever you say. He still insisted that Red Box should be an approved purchase since it's on the premises of ShopRite. We all know he's blowing smoke right? My husband is a fantastic smoke blower. Oy vey. I love that man, but he drives me nuts! He did apologize and take them back (after watching 2/4 movies mind you) but all's well that ends well. $4 of unapproved money, down the drain.
Anyway, other than that we're doing alright. We used our 1 family activity allotment to get haircuts. WOO! FUN! Richie insisted that we all looked like animals that needed their fur trimmed so off we went. We do look pretty fabulous, but I don't know that sitting in Holiday Hair for an hour counts as quality family time. Whatever. The money's gone and now we have no reason to cave and give Red Lobster our "family activity" money. Sigh.
I'm actually surprised at how much I DON'T miss going out to eat. I mean I do, and I missed the convenience of it in the beginning of this month. Now I'm at the point where I am used to the idea of cooking for every meal no matter how much I rather order a pizza. When you have no other choice, you get used to it. It probably helps that we're starting to seriously watch our diets and our waistlines, but more on that in later months ;)
The biggest bonus so far? I'm starting to see a sure and steady rise in our bank accounts. We've already paid off all our bills for the month and the last two paychecks in January will be all ours. I could get used to that. We haven't spent a single dime that we didn't account for in our budget and it's actually been pretty easy. I think we're seriously getting used to training our brains to ask how necessary a purchase is before we actually purchase it. I've said no to quite a few things this month already...not just food but also to SUPER cute outfits for the kids (that they didn't need) and I've had to say no to quite a few books and movies that I REALLY wanted. Richie almost said no to movies. Almost.
He'll never survive in media month.
I've also noticed how much more secure I feel in God's promises. Another added bonus! I've been trying hard to listen to God throughout this whole process, as this is truly an effort to get rid of the "noise" in our lives in order to hear that still, small voice. I feel like verses such as Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" ring truer now than ever before. All my needs met by God? Sounds good to me! And words are important, notice the verse says ALL and not some or most. All. Every single one. So if I feel that I am lacking something, or something isn't being taken care of, does that mean God failed to provide for all my needs? Or does that mean I really do have everything I need, and just want more? I'm thinking "God failed" is an oxymoron, thus I'm betting the real answer lies in my dissatisfaction. A heart issue, not an issue of need.
Let's also take a moment and examine Acts 20:35. "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Hmm. I know most people quote that it is better to give than to recieve often enough. I think we all know that. It's such a wonderful feeling to watch someone's face light up when you give them a gift that they never expected, or even if they did expect it, to feel and see their thankfulness anyway. It's really a gift by itself. But what about the first half of that verse. Support the weak. Three simple words. Support the weak. Support is defined as "Bear all or part of the weight of; hold up." Weak has many definitions, two of them being "Likely to fail under pressure, stress, or strain; lacking resistance" and "Lacking physical strength, energy, or vigor." Ok so it's simple isn't it? We are to bear all or some of the physical/spiritual weight of an individual who is likley to fail under the pressure of his or her burden because of their lack of energy and strength. I guess maybe that's easier said than done.
Let's face it, people are messy. Relationships with people are hard. Especially with those people who are so very different than us. Live a different way than we do. It's chaotic, frustrating, and sometimes downright uncomfortable. Who wants to deal with people who are weird, sometimes belligerent and ungrateful, and sometimes even lacking the simplest means of personal hygiene. Let's be honest here, those are usually the weakest among us correct? I've met a few people like that through the years. You probably have too. They are weak for a reason, not just physically, but spiritually beat down and mentally trashed. They have nothing to give. And yet we who have so much, why do we care so little? It's not just about giving them the five dollars in your pocket. It's a nice gesture, but what about tomorrow? Tomorrow they'll still be in the same predicament. The only difference is, you'll no longer be there.
And why shouldn't you be? I'm honestly not trying to guilt anyone, and I know we can't save the world. But we can do SOMETHING. Save the life of someone. The only difference between the weak and the strong is that the strong almost always have a support system. Whether it be the Lord, generous and loving family, selfless friends...maybe you have all three of those things. And that's wonderful! You ought to be so grateful for those things! But why not give it back? Why not be someone else's support system? Are not those people God's children too? Does God love you more than those people? If we were to really love the way Christ loves, we would see the weak through His eyes. He would give His life for that person over and over again. This angry, ungrateful, weird person. He would die for them. Just like He did for you. We are no different in God's eyes. Maybe God gave us everything so that we could give them something. Maybe He knew that Johnny Hobo would squander His savings with drugs and alcohol so instead of giving Johnny Hobo more money that he desperately needs, He gave it to you instead. Maybe He wants YOU to step up and help Johnny Hobo get back on track, by having you give a little bit of those blessings back. He can't give them to Johnny directly, he'll just waste them. Can God trust it with you? Or will you waste it too? He gave you more so that you would have all you need and then some. Maybe it's that last part we're supposed to pass along.
Think about it a moment. What would the members of the early church think if they were suddenly transported to our time? What would they think if they walked into our homes, saw our cabinets overflowing with food (there's never anything to eat around here!), saw our empty bedrooms converted into computer rooms and workout areas (this house is so small, there's no room for anything!), saw our closets and dressers and drawers fit to bursting with clothing (I never have anything to wear!) What would they think? What would they think if they saw all the suffering in the world, the poor and starving children, the cold and sickly elderly, the suffering of the young with so much of their life left to live...and then realized how many Christians live above and beyond their means? Did you know Christians outmber all the orphans on the ENTIRE PLANET 2:1? Remind me why there are any orphans left in this world? If only half stepped up and took in one...just one...
I don't think they would understand. I think any of our excuses would fall short. Yeah we're living in a horrible economy. Yeah the cost of living is way up. Yeah I have a family of my own to provide for. Yeah I own a house with a pool. Yeah we have a car for each family member. Yeah I have enough clothing that I could wear a different outfit every day for an entire month or two. Yeah I have more food in my pantry than I know what to do with. So what? What's your point?
Point is, we all can do something. We can't do everything, only God can truly heal the broken hearted and provide for the desolate and despairing. We don't have to be God, we can just be us. I think God would be ok with that. We can do what we can. We don't have to fly to Africa and bring home ten children and we don't have to give our life savings to Johnny Hobo. We just have to do something. Give your neighbor a ride to the store, buy that struggling church member a new outfit, help a poor kid buy some school supples. Anything. And support your missionary familys! They are truly making a difference in this world, bringing light where there is only darkness. That has Jesus written all over it!
We don't have to do it all. We just have to support the weak, and love like Jesus loves. Not too much to ask, is it? I know I'm not perfect at it, not even close. You're probably in the same boat as me. Just think about it. Everything we own belongs to God, and so everything we spend money on is a reflection of our God. Just think about it, and do something with it. We are ALL God's children...every.single.one. of us. I think if we remembered that, we'd be okay.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Spending: Day 12
I swear my husband is trying to drive my nuts.
This was out text convo last night.
Richie: Ok I will see. Remember me and the boys are getting hair cuts tomorrow. You can get one too if you want to come with us.
Me: Uhm....no. It's spending month my friend. Hair cuts take place on the back deck. Stop tempting me with professional haircuts.
Richie: No it's too cold outside. And I don't want to do it anymore. Making sure we look good is an emergency. Or a family activity or something.
Me: NO it is not! Stop cheating! You will be shaggy and the boys will be ragamuffins til spending month is over! Stop tempting me you stumbling block!
Richie: Whatever.
I win!
He ALWAYS gives the boys hair cuts, and himself, now magically on spending month he's trying to call it quits. Men.
This was out text convo last night.
Richie: Ok I will see. Remember me and the boys are getting hair cuts tomorrow. You can get one too if you want to come with us.
Me: Uhm....no. It's spending month my friend. Hair cuts take place on the back deck. Stop tempting me with professional haircuts.
Richie: No it's too cold outside. And I don't want to do it anymore. Making sure we look good is an emergency. Or a family activity or something.
Me: NO it is not! Stop cheating! You will be shaggy and the boys will be ragamuffins til spending month is over! Stop tempting me you stumbling block!
Richie: Whatever.
I win!
He ALWAYS gives the boys hair cuts, and himself, now magically on spending month he's trying to call it quits. Men.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Spending: Day 8
New year, new spending habits. That's kind of why we started with Spending month on this 7 month long project. We wanted to start paying close attention to where our money was going, and we wanted to see a difference that was actually tangible, something we could see for ourselves and stick to with relative ease. That's the goal after all, to make a difference in our lives that means something. And since money management is one of the biggest challenges we face as a family, we thought it was important to tackle the beast head on. We're on day 8eight, and so far so good.
If you read my blog post from yesterday, you probably noted that I'm running with a theme here. One of Christ-like simplicity and generosity that will keep popping up in every month. This is a 7 month long social experiment but it is also a fast. A fast from excess and overindulgence in order to mold us into something better, simpler. Something Christ could recognize. I want to live a life according to Jesus' version of rich, blessed, and generous.
So this month we are fasting from excessive spending. And you're thinking, right, I gathered that. But I don't want to simply focus on how much money is coming and going...I also want to focus on WHERE my money is coming from and going to.
Three days ago was Hobby Lobby appreciation day. Along the lines of Chick-fil-A appreciation day, it was set up to encourage shoppers to show their support of Hobby Lobby and the stand they're taking for the right to run their business as they please. I really love Hobby Lobby, and so does Richie. I could run through there like a wild woman and grab everything in sight, no problem. Don't even get me started on the wall hangings. I'm all about pretty pictures and meaningful quotes and verses hanging on my walls. 50% off all wall hangings seems to be a popular sale and it is right up my alley. Two thumbs way up for Hobby Lobby!
I'm not going to get in to all the politics of Hobby Lobby and why they are making the stand they are making. If you don't support Hobby Lobby you don't have to. If you do, that's cool too. We as a family have our reasons, and you have to make your choices based on your own reasoning. The point of all this is that I was REALLY considering breaking the rules and going online to purchase a few things from Hobby Lobby's online store in order to show our support. The only reason I was able to resist is because we were SUPER busy that day with our son's birthday get together and so I never had enough time to sit and ponder whether or not the rules were worth breaking. I have since had more time to think and ponder, and here's what I have come up with.
Every dollar I spend goes somewhere. I know that's obvious, but it's worth thinking about. Every single dollar you spend funds businesses and policies that you may or may not be in tune with. For example, you probably don't want to support a business that pays its women workers half of what the men make. You probably don't want to support a business that makes billions through the use of slave labor, forcing people to work for basically nothing so that it can make the most profit. You probably DO want to support a business that stands for equal pay, a healthy work environment, and reasonable and realistic employee benefits for all workers.
Now that's a super simplistic way of looking at it, but it's something I'm striving to think about more often and pay attention to. I want to spend my money wisely not only when it comes to the amount, but also when it comes to the business I am supporting. Think of your dollar as a voting ballot. Truthfully, you vote every time you spend that dollar. And you vote every time you choose NOT to spend that dollar. You vote for the practices that that business carries out, the things they fund, even the charities and events that THEY support. It's a lot to think about.
And maybe you don't want to think about all that. I get it, truly, it's just too much. If we researched and pondered every business we come into contact with, we'd never get anywhere. And there will rarely be a business who's policies we agree with 100%. I get all that. And you may be thinking that your contributions are a spit in the wind anyway, so why bother. Yeah, I get that too. But if enough of us start spitting then SOMEWHERE down the line, who knows? Things could change. I have to adopt an attitude and philosophy that centers around the choices that my family makes and wash my hands of the rest. After all, you will never answer for anyone but yourself.
So all that to say, I hope to be more mindful in the future of where my dollar is being spent. I live in an area where there are plenty of farmer's markets open in the spring and summer, and I would like to support my local economy as well. It's not just about the businesses, but the actual people. These people are getting some of MY money. I'd much rather give my money to someone who shares similar standards and values as me, as well as to people who truly need the money, like local farmers. God created that earth to table system anyway, because that's what works. That's what I want to support.
Spending month. I waste my money, I hoard my money, I need to watch where I actually spend my money. Lovin' it.
If you read my blog post from yesterday, you probably noted that I'm running with a theme here. One of Christ-like simplicity and generosity that will keep popping up in every month. This is a 7 month long social experiment but it is also a fast. A fast from excess and overindulgence in order to mold us into something better, simpler. Something Christ could recognize. I want to live a life according to Jesus' version of rich, blessed, and generous.
So this month we are fasting from excessive spending. And you're thinking, right, I gathered that. But I don't want to simply focus on how much money is coming and going...I also want to focus on WHERE my money is coming from and going to.
Three days ago was Hobby Lobby appreciation day. Along the lines of Chick-fil-A appreciation day, it was set up to encourage shoppers to show their support of Hobby Lobby and the stand they're taking for the right to run their business as they please. I really love Hobby Lobby, and so does Richie. I could run through there like a wild woman and grab everything in sight, no problem. Don't even get me started on the wall hangings. I'm all about pretty pictures and meaningful quotes and verses hanging on my walls. 50% off all wall hangings seems to be a popular sale and it is right up my alley. Two thumbs way up for Hobby Lobby!
I'm not going to get in to all the politics of Hobby Lobby and why they are making the stand they are making. If you don't support Hobby Lobby you don't have to. If you do, that's cool too. We as a family have our reasons, and you have to make your choices based on your own reasoning. The point of all this is that I was REALLY considering breaking the rules and going online to purchase a few things from Hobby Lobby's online store in order to show our support. The only reason I was able to resist is because we were SUPER busy that day with our son's birthday get together and so I never had enough time to sit and ponder whether or not the rules were worth breaking. I have since had more time to think and ponder, and here's what I have come up with.
Every dollar I spend goes somewhere. I know that's obvious, but it's worth thinking about. Every single dollar you spend funds businesses and policies that you may or may not be in tune with. For example, you probably don't want to support a business that pays its women workers half of what the men make. You probably don't want to support a business that makes billions through the use of slave labor, forcing people to work for basically nothing so that it can make the most profit. You probably DO want to support a business that stands for equal pay, a healthy work environment, and reasonable and realistic employee benefits for all workers.
Now that's a super simplistic way of looking at it, but it's something I'm striving to think about more often and pay attention to. I want to spend my money wisely not only when it comes to the amount, but also when it comes to the business I am supporting. Think of your dollar as a voting ballot. Truthfully, you vote every time you spend that dollar. And you vote every time you choose NOT to spend that dollar. You vote for the practices that that business carries out, the things they fund, even the charities and events that THEY support. It's a lot to think about.
And maybe you don't want to think about all that. I get it, truly, it's just too much. If we researched and pondered every business we come into contact with, we'd never get anywhere. And there will rarely be a business who's policies we agree with 100%. I get all that. And you may be thinking that your contributions are a spit in the wind anyway, so why bother. Yeah, I get that too. But if enough of us start spitting then SOMEWHERE down the line, who knows? Things could change. I have to adopt an attitude and philosophy that centers around the choices that my family makes and wash my hands of the rest. After all, you will never answer for anyone but yourself.
So all that to say, I hope to be more mindful in the future of where my dollar is being spent. I live in an area where there are plenty of farmer's markets open in the spring and summer, and I would like to support my local economy as well. It's not just about the businesses, but the actual people. These people are getting some of MY money. I'd much rather give my money to someone who shares similar standards and values as me, as well as to people who truly need the money, like local farmers. God created that earth to table system anyway, because that's what works. That's what I want to support.
Spending month. I waste my money, I hoard my money, I need to watch where I actually spend my money. Lovin' it.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Spending: Day 7
I've had a blog post in mind the past couple of days, but I can't describe to you the chaos that has been my household this past week. Finally things are starting to wind down. So here we go...
A really sweet couple from church invited us to Olive Garden yesterday. We had every intention of paying for our meal and using the "1 Family Activity" allotment to do so, but they insisted on paying and we are extremely grateful. But when spending month is over we owe them one dinner at Red Lobster! I'm even writing it here as a reminder!
It's been interesting to realize how much we actually DO eat out during the week. We eat out a lot. Too much. I've had to struggle to FORCE myself to cook on weekdays when I much rather order out and to find something to eat on weekends when we're used to having pizza. And it's only been a week. I don't want to be the mom that calls in for take out for every meal! I am not a fabulous cook but I can cook and I need to force myself to do so, no matter what.
So anyway, I wanted this post to focus on something that really touched me within the Spending chapter of Jen Hatmaker's book. It was her "Day 8" post, and it started out like this:
"Just because I can have it doesn't mean I should."
She went on to list some of the time honored excuses used by over consumers since the beginning of time. They include but aren't limited to..."I can afford this." "I deserve this." "It's no big deal." "Other people spend way more." etc etc.
There's a lot that ties into that. And a lot of it has to do with the Church. After all, church is where we go to learn about Christ right? We live in a world where our churches resemble shopping malls, where the church lobby has a Starbucks, where the church bus has been replaced with the church jet. It's insanity. Jesus lived a life that exemplified generosity, simplicity, under consumption. And we've managed to corrupt His house with greed and overindulgence. Surprised? I'm not.
Jen Hatmaker uses these verses to illustrate her point, and I will do the same.
Luke 11:37-42
"And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
So let's discuss what just happened here. Basically Jesus went to the home of a Pharisee, one of the most self-righteous and hypocritical types of people you could ever hope to find, and sat down to dinner. Said Pharisee was offended that Jesus didn't wash up before He sat down to dinner, and boy did Jesus ever put him in his place. He explained to him that Pharisee's are all about washing the outside (cup and platter) but completely ignore the filth and corruption on the inside (keeping up appearances). They tithe, they keep meticulous records, but until they turn their pockets inside out and give to the poor, they are basically worthless. The God who made the outside also made the inside, and He wants that to be taken care of too.
Wow. So what does that mean in terms of spending? I'm thinking Jesus meant what he said when he told his disciples in Matthew 19:24 "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. " Camel through a needle? That's pretty much impossible. To me, that means that we should probably fear PROSPERITY more than poverty. What a thought.
It seems pretty simple. If you have a lot of money, a lot of stuff, a lot of blessings....and you hold onto it all....you have too much. Plain and simple. If you aren't giving it back, if you aren't helping the lowliest of the the low, if you aren't using it to further God's promises, then you are no better than a Pharisee. And I'm speaking to myself here! Please do not for a second think that I have it CLOSE to being easy, or together, or that I volunteer in the soup kitchens every week. I don't. But I think I need to start doing SOMETHING, anything to give back. It's something that is so near and dear to God's heart. Did not God say in Luke 12:48b "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." I don't know about you, but I know I have been given much.
And you may be thinking, "But I don't have that much at all. We live paycheck to paycheck. We aren't anywhere near rich!" Trust me, I am right there with you. By the world's standards, we are probably pretty close to pathetic. We have one car for pity's sake! Our house isn't fancy, our clothes are from clearance racks, what do we have to offer? Nothing. At least not according to the world. But according to God? Consider this paragraph in the intro to 7.
"How can I be socially responsible if unaware that I reside in the top percentage of wealth in the world? (You probably do too: Make $35,000 a year? Top 4%. $50,000? Top 1%. Excess has impaired our perspective in America: we are the richest people on earth, praying to get richer. We're tangled in unmanageable debt while feeding the machine, because we feel entitled to more. What does it communicate when half the global population lives on less than $2 a day, and we can't manage a fulfilling life on twenty-five thousand times that amount? Fifty-thousand times that amount?
It says we have too much, and it is ruining us."
We have so much. We do. We live in wealth beyond the wildest dreams of those suffering in TRUE poverty. Not the poverty we know in America where the government pays for your food and health care. Oh no. We're talking the poverty where you eat a handful of rice a day. Work from sun up to sun down and only make enough to buy another handful of rice for tomorrow. Live in a shack with 12 family members who each need to eat too. Have your child work from the time he is old enough to walk and talk. THAT is poverty. That is something that is very real. Something we know nothing about.
And please don't think I'm writing this to guilt you into hopping on the next plane to Africa to feed the orphans. If you feel so led, than good for you. I know that there's a lot I have to get in order in my own life before I could even HOPE to follow you. The point I'm trying to make here is that God gave us SO much. So much. And we squander most of it while most people in the world live with nothing. Truly, we are no better than Pharisees who worry about our outside appearances and care nothing for the greed in our own hearts. Jesus lived a simple life. He hung out with the lowliest people in society. He gave everything He had. Aren't we supposed to be like Christ? It's not just about obeying the ten commandments and going to church on Sunday. It's about being CHRIST LIKE. Walking His walk and talking His talk. We won't ever be perfect at it. But shouldn't we at least try?
This is spending month. Not only do I have to deal with the fact that I waste so much money, but also the fact that I hoard it as well.
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..."
A really sweet couple from church invited us to Olive Garden yesterday. We had every intention of paying for our meal and using the "1 Family Activity" allotment to do so, but they insisted on paying and we are extremely grateful. But when spending month is over we owe them one dinner at Red Lobster! I'm even writing it here as a reminder!
It's been interesting to realize how much we actually DO eat out during the week. We eat out a lot. Too much. I've had to struggle to FORCE myself to cook on weekdays when I much rather order out and to find something to eat on weekends when we're used to having pizza. And it's only been a week. I don't want to be the mom that calls in for take out for every meal! I am not a fabulous cook but I can cook and I need to force myself to do so, no matter what.
So anyway, I wanted this post to focus on something that really touched me within the Spending chapter of Jen Hatmaker's book. It was her "Day 8" post, and it started out like this:
"Just because I can have it doesn't mean I should."
She went on to list some of the time honored excuses used by over consumers since the beginning of time. They include but aren't limited to..."I can afford this." "I deserve this." "It's no big deal." "Other people spend way more." etc etc.
There's a lot that ties into that. And a lot of it has to do with the Church. After all, church is where we go to learn about Christ right? We live in a world where our churches resemble shopping malls, where the church lobby has a Starbucks, where the church bus has been replaced with the church jet. It's insanity. Jesus lived a life that exemplified generosity, simplicity, under consumption. And we've managed to corrupt His house with greed and overindulgence. Surprised? I'm not.
Jen Hatmaker uses these verses to illustrate her point, and I will do the same.
Luke 11:37-42
"And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
So let's discuss what just happened here. Basically Jesus went to the home of a Pharisee, one of the most self-righteous and hypocritical types of people you could ever hope to find, and sat down to dinner. Said Pharisee was offended that Jesus didn't wash up before He sat down to dinner, and boy did Jesus ever put him in his place. He explained to him that Pharisee's are all about washing the outside (cup and platter) but completely ignore the filth and corruption on the inside (keeping up appearances). They tithe, they keep meticulous records, but until they turn their pockets inside out and give to the poor, they are basically worthless. The God who made the outside also made the inside, and He wants that to be taken care of too.
Wow. So what does that mean in terms of spending? I'm thinking Jesus meant what he said when he told his disciples in Matthew 19:24 "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. " Camel through a needle? That's pretty much impossible. To me, that means that we should probably fear PROSPERITY more than poverty. What a thought.
It seems pretty simple. If you have a lot of money, a lot of stuff, a lot of blessings....and you hold onto it all....you have too much. Plain and simple. If you aren't giving it back, if you aren't helping the lowliest of the the low, if you aren't using it to further God's promises, then you are no better than a Pharisee. And I'm speaking to myself here! Please do not for a second think that I have it CLOSE to being easy, or together, or that I volunteer in the soup kitchens every week. I don't. But I think I need to start doing SOMETHING, anything to give back. It's something that is so near and dear to God's heart. Did not God say in Luke 12:48b "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." I don't know about you, but I know I have been given much.
And you may be thinking, "But I don't have that much at all. We live paycheck to paycheck. We aren't anywhere near rich!" Trust me, I am right there with you. By the world's standards, we are probably pretty close to pathetic. We have one car for pity's sake! Our house isn't fancy, our clothes are from clearance racks, what do we have to offer? Nothing. At least not according to the world. But according to God? Consider this paragraph in the intro to 7.
"How can I be socially responsible if unaware that I reside in the top percentage of wealth in the world? (You probably do too: Make $35,000 a year? Top 4%. $50,000? Top 1%. Excess has impaired our perspective in America: we are the richest people on earth, praying to get richer. We're tangled in unmanageable debt while feeding the machine, because we feel entitled to more. What does it communicate when half the global population lives on less than $2 a day, and we can't manage a fulfilling life on twenty-five thousand times that amount? Fifty-thousand times that amount?
It says we have too much, and it is ruining us."
We have so much. We do. We live in wealth beyond the wildest dreams of those suffering in TRUE poverty. Not the poverty we know in America where the government pays for your food and health care. Oh no. We're talking the poverty where you eat a handful of rice a day. Work from sun up to sun down and only make enough to buy another handful of rice for tomorrow. Live in a shack with 12 family members who each need to eat too. Have your child work from the time he is old enough to walk and talk. THAT is poverty. That is something that is very real. Something we know nothing about.
And please don't think I'm writing this to guilt you into hopping on the next plane to Africa to feed the orphans. If you feel so led, than good for you. I know that there's a lot I have to get in order in my own life before I could even HOPE to follow you. The point I'm trying to make here is that God gave us SO much. So much. And we squander most of it while most people in the world live with nothing. Truly, we are no better than Pharisees who worry about our outside appearances and care nothing for the greed in our own hearts. Jesus lived a simple life. He hung out with the lowliest people in society. He gave everything He had. Aren't we supposed to be like Christ? It's not just about obeying the ten commandments and going to church on Sunday. It's about being CHRIST LIKE. Walking His walk and talking His talk. We won't ever be perfect at it. But shouldn't we at least try?
This is spending month. Not only do I have to deal with the fact that I waste so much money, but also the fact that I hoard it as well.
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..."
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Spending: Day 2
Let me just tell you something really quick...this month already stinks.
I feel guilty for saying that, but I guess that's why we're doing this whole crazy experiment in the first place....to train my brain to live with less and be disgustingly happy about it.
It's been two days, and it stinks.
Richie realized yesterday that Red Box is off limits for 31 whole days and he tried desperately to explain to me that Red Box was NOT, in fact, off limits because there is a Red Box location on the premises of Shop Rite...one of our designated vendors for the month. I explained to him that when you use your credit card it shows up as Red Box and not Shop Rite, so therefore it was not allowed, and that ended things. But not before he stuck his tongue out at me and walked away grumbling about having nothing to do on a Saturday night. Oh man, did we ever need this.
There's been about 15 times so far that I have caught myself thinking "Maybe we can pick that up over the weekend" only to realize, no, sadly, we cannot. It's very frustrating.
I think I'm realizing more and more that spending isn't just about the money you actually spend. Yes it's terrible to waste money, especially when that money could be going towards things that are much more worthwhile. Yes it's a shame that we throw our good fortune back in God's face when we say that we need more after He's already provided for our every need. But it's not just about the waste and excess spending in terms of how they affect our wallets and our attitudes. It's about how they define the very people that we are.
Think about it, if you spend all your money on clothes and shoes, it's pretty safe to say you like clothes and shoes right? If you spend all your money on cigarettes and alcohol, it's a pretty safe bet that those things are important to you. Even if you spend every last penny on clothes or toys for your kids, then it is evident that those things are a priority in your life. It may even be a mix of things that you spend your extra dollars on. I can tell you that for our family, we spend a lot of our extra money on entertainment, whether it be movies, eating out, or just browsing through Wal Mart buying whatever it is our hearts' desire.
Now none of those things are necessarily bad in and of themselves (except smoking and drinking, so not worth it) but truly examine your motives for wanting these things. What drives you to spend your last penny on something you know deep down that you don't really need. Is it for show? To show people that you're well-off? Is it to give you or your family something that you were denied growing up? Is it just an impulse? You don't really know why you need this, you just know that you do? These are some of the things I think about when I try and dissect where all my money went at the end of each month. Why did I buy this stuff in the first place? What do all these things say about me anyway?
It's complicated, that's for sure. There could be a million reasons as to why we spend like we do and some of them may be totally selfless while some may be completely self motivated. The hardest part here is being honest with yourself and determining which is which.
Let me give you an example. Growing up, my mom had THE best holidays. She was so creative and always knew exactly what to do to make a holiday memorable. The food, the traditions, the gifts...oh man the gifts! We (my brother and I) got gifts for every holiday it seemed and they were all wonderful and thoughtful and perfect. Christmas morning was insane at our house. Stockings that were overflowing and so many presents under the tree that we ran out of tree space half the time. It was glorious. As a kid, I couldn't have asked for more. And we all know kids can ALWAYS ask for more!
I remember one year in particular, after opening all my gifts, I went over to my friend's house who lived only two houses away. After taking a few minutes to show her all the cool stuff I had just unwrapped, she showed me her presents. And I was shocked! She probably had 1/6 of the amount of stuff I had! She had some great stuff too, but the amount is what shocked me. Didn't everyone have twenty or thirty presents under the tree?
And the fact is, no, they don't. And I didn't know that until much later. So now that I have three kids of my own to provide Christmas presents for, it's hard for me to scale down from what I'm used to receiving. Is there anything wrong with having that many gifts under the tree? Probably not, if you can afford it. But what is the point? Should our kids be just as happy and satisfied with three presents under the tree as they would be with thirty? Let's not even think about why we celebrate Christmas in the first place, let's just think about the stuff. We want to give the people we love the biggest and the best. And that's ok. My mom loved us so much and wanted our holidays to be special. And they definitely were! But what does it say about me when I feel guilty when I can only buy my kids 8 presents each plus a stocking full of goodies each year for Christmas?
It says that I am all wrapped up in the excess, the material things, the things that don't mean a thing to begin with.
For me, that's the root of my issue. I have a spending problem because I think that shopping will make my life better. I think that having this, whatever this is, will make me happier than I would be otherwise. I think that I deserve it, even when my bills are overdue. I think that buying 30 presents for each of my kids will make me a better mom. I think that I can skirt my responsibilities when it comes to living a life that pleases God, in my finances and otherwise, because I'm doing good enough. I could do better sure, but I'm better than that guy, so it's ok. I may not think these things exactly, but these are the things my actions portray. These are the things that seem to define me.
My friend had a wonderful Christmas with 1/6 the presents that I had. I had a glorious Christmas because I got 30 presents. Which Christmas better represents Christ I wonder?
I don't want to be defined by stuff. And I don't want to have a spending problem. I don't want to buy things to fill a void of my own making. I don't want my spending habits to proclaim to the world that I think my kids need everything to be happy, my closets aren't full enough, my vices are worth more than my virtues.
When people look at the way I spend money, I want them to see a woman who is satisfied with the basics. Who finds joy in the overabundance of love from her family, not the money in her wallet. Who thinks that she looks just as pretty wearing a tee from Target as she does wearing a dress from Banana Republic. Who wants her kids to grow up asking for more Jesus and less stuff. Who has a Christmas so centered around Christ, that presents barely register on Christmas morning. That is who I want to be.
I only get one chance at this life, why waste it on anything less than pleasing God? Clothing styles will come and go, my kids toys will break, but God's love is forever.
I think if I can get my mind in the right place, I can evaluate that extra purchase I want to make and ask myself...why do I need this? Sure, sometimes I'll want to spoil myself or the kids. I don't want to get to the point where I deny myself of EVERYTHING. But I hope that most of the time, I can put whatever it is back down and say..."...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11
Content. I just want to be content with Jesus...
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