"We won't have any money at all for Christmas this year," Mike informed me in the middle of November last year. "I don't even know if we have grocery money."
Last Year's Christmas
Last Year's Christmas
Now, keep in mind that 10 people lived in our house at the time. Wow! That was inconvenient! Mike and I lived below the poverty line for years while he was in seminary and for a few years afterward. We had scrimped and saved our pennies, shopped for presents at the Dollar Store, and lived on as little as possible. We never paid bills late or used government assistance because God always came through, though sometimes at the very last minute.
Here we were almost 50 and our business income had plummeted. Not only the economy, but new regulations from the EPA that were hard to pin down precisely for application. We were not alone. Friends we knew who used to bring home 6 figures are now delivering pizzas with a thankful heart. Maybe you are going through difficult times as well or scared of a possible lay-off. What does God want us to do?
Same Rules Apply
Here we were almost 50 and our business income had plummeted. Not only the economy, but new regulations from the EPA that were hard to pin down precisely for application. We were not alone. Friends we knew who used to bring home 6 figures are now delivering pizzas with a thankful heart. Maybe you are going through difficult times as well or scared of a possible lay-off. What does God want us to do?
Same Rules Apply
The same rules that apply in times of prosperity apply in times of poverty.
Tithe First
We put God first. The tithe is paid no matter what. We are not tempted to NOT tithe. Mike and I can testify that 90% with God's blessing is better than 100% without His blessing. We have noticed that God comes through if He is King of our wallets and bank accounts.
Work Hard
"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads to poverty," (Proverbs 14:23 NIV).
It doesn't help to sit around making idealistic plans and schemes. Take time to plan, but then get right to work. If you are out of work, your job is to find a job--work hard at job hunting.
God rewards hard work! Look for ways to go the extra mile, to do a little extra. My friend, Brad, delivered pizzas last Christmas, but he arrived to work an hour early and tried to learn everything he could about working in the resteraunt. He showed initiative and was proactive. God honors this!
The Lord rewards all hard work, whether it is taking care of your home, serving at church, or working for a paycheck. God's plan is hard work.
Make a Budget & Stick to Your Budget
- Tithe First
- Work Hard
- Make a Budget
- Stick to Your Budget
- Manage Finances with Integrity
- Live Generously
- Cry Out to God
Tithe First
We put God first. The tithe is paid no matter what. We are not tempted to NOT tithe. Mike and I can testify that 90% with God's blessing is better than 100% without His blessing. We have noticed that God comes through if He is King of our wallets and bank accounts.
Work Hard
"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads to poverty," (Proverbs 14:23 NIV).
It doesn't help to sit around making idealistic plans and schemes. Take time to plan, but then get right to work. If you are out of work, your job is to find a job--work hard at job hunting.
God rewards hard work! Look for ways to go the extra mile, to do a little extra. My friend, Brad, delivered pizzas last Christmas, but he arrived to work an hour early and tried to learn everything he could about working in the resteraunt. He showed initiative and was proactive. God honors this!
The Lord rewards all hard work, whether it is taking care of your home, serving at church, or working for a paycheck. God's plan is hard work.
Make a Budget & Stick to Your Budget
Sit down and make a bare bones budget if times are tough in your home or if a lay-off is likely. The extra money you save can carry you through a few months of unemployment. Be realistic. Think about what is important and not important.You can buy used clothing at a thrift store, but will have to buy underwear new. Can you repair clothing and appliances? Can you barter with friends?
Manage Finances with Integrity
As business owners, we always pay our employees before we pay ourselves. We are accountable to God for how we treat our employees. Our next priority is to pay our bills. Only then, do we use our money for food, clothing, and other needs. (Of course, we tithe first!)
Live Generously
A generous man will prosper; whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed," (Proverbs 11:25 NIV).
Open your heart to others. Sometimes God calls us to give to people who have more than we do. Ouch! When economic times are hard, I have to guard my heart from envy, reminding myself that God is training me through financial hardship.
When there is no money to give away, I give away stuff: clothing, furniture, knick-knacks, and things we don't need. We open our home to others. Sometimes, we can't afford to feed friends a meal. Instead, we watch a movie together and eat popcorn.
Cry Out to God
When times are hard and we need a financial miracle, our family goes to The Source. The whole clan gathers in the family room and we pray. We pour our hearts out to Jesus and ask Him to come through for us. Funny thing is that these times of crying out to God as a famiy will be etched in our children's minds and hearts forever, reminding them to run to the Lord when times are hard. They will remember parents humbling themselves before their chidren and, more importantly, before their Heavenly Father.
I am thankful for this time in our lives and look forward to all God has to teach me. May God bless you in the New Year!
Living In His Blessing!
Merey
(Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
Manage Finances with Integrity
As business owners, we always pay our employees before we pay ourselves. We are accountable to God for how we treat our employees. Our next priority is to pay our bills. Only then, do we use our money for food, clothing, and other needs. (Of course, we tithe first!)
Live Generously
A generous man will prosper; whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed," (Proverbs 11:25 NIV).
Open your heart to others. Sometimes God calls us to give to people who have more than we do. Ouch! When economic times are hard, I have to guard my heart from envy, reminding myself that God is training me through financial hardship.
When there is no money to give away, I give away stuff: clothing, furniture, knick-knacks, and things we don't need. We open our home to others. Sometimes, we can't afford to feed friends a meal. Instead, we watch a movie together and eat popcorn.
Cry Out to God
When times are hard and we need a financial miracle, our family goes to The Source. The whole clan gathers in the family room and we pray. We pour our hearts out to Jesus and ask Him to come through for us. Funny thing is that these times of crying out to God as a famiy will be etched in our children's minds and hearts forever, reminding them to run to the Lord when times are hard. They will remember parents humbling themselves before their chidren and, more importantly, before their Heavenly Father.
I am thankful for this time in our lives and look forward to all God has to teach me. May God bless you in the New Year!
Living In His Blessing!
Merey
(Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
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