money Monday

I read a statistic today.  Unfortunately it really wasn't that shocking.  It should be, but really it isn't.
It's reported that in 2009, the average American spent $1.22 for every $1.00 earned.  So, let's assume (using a rough average I found at Wikipedia) that the average American made $40,000 in 2009, that average American spent $48,800.  Roughly.  This same report noted that the average American family carried $8,000 in credit card debt at the end of 2009.  Hmmmm…
Why?
Part of it we come by nationally, errr I mean naturally.  The government spend about $1.4 Trillion more than it collected in 2009 too.  But we can't blame everything on the government.

So what does that 22 cents and the $1.4 trillion say?
"We have been provided with less than what we need.  We must spend more than we receive to live."
*
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus"  Philippians 4:9.
*
Do I believe that God will provide all that I need?  ALL?  He will provide everything that I need.  It may not be what my neighbor has, or what I think I really want or what Bill Gates has in his change jar on the dresser, but God has custom-made a providing for me.  And it is sufficient.  For ALL.  If God provides me $1, I have what is necessary for ALL I need.
*
Is it a sin to spend more than we make, to have debt?  You won't find a specific verse in Scripture claiming "thou shalt not have credit card debt".
As with so many things in the life of a follower of Jesus, this is a heart issue.   Why spend more than you have been provided (more than you make)?  What is the heart reason behind it?
*
God will meet all our needs.  All of them.  It may not look as fancy as a Pottery Barn showroom or a BMW dealership, but our needs will surely be met.

5 things I know

This week in Sunday School with the teenage girls, we were talking about our identity & the masks we sometimes wear when we believe the world's lie that we're not good enough the way we are.  We looked at various verses about what God knows and thinks about us.  In one set of Scriptures we read [below], we learned 5 amazing things:

• God knows everything about us.  everything!
• God is with us always, no matter where we go or how we try to hide. always!
• God made us exactly the way He wanted. exactly!
• God is the Author of our lives. Nothing we do can surprise Him!  nothing!
• God's thoughts towards us are precious and innumerable.  precious!

I couldn't help but think that having some of these Scriptures in my heart could change the way I think at times.  Perhaps having my true identity, that is - what God says about me, in my mind, in my memory and on my tongue, I could replace the identity the world says I have.  When that little voice says, "you're alone, you don't have any friends", I could argue back, "I can never escape from the Spirit!  I can never get away from His presence!"   Or that voice that says "you have a really big nose", I could argue, "God made all my delicate parts!  even my nose".

So, a bit crazy?  perhaps.  But I'm going to try anyhow.  Here's a collections of verses I love that remind me of what God thinks and knows.  Let the memorization begin!  Won't you join me?

Psalm 139:1-18

Oh, Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  

You know when I sit down or stand up.  

You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.  

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  

You know everything I do.  

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.

You place you hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.

I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there;  if I go down to the grave, you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 

even there your hand will guide me, & your strength will support me.

I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night - 

but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother's womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.

Everyday of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  

And when I wake up, you are still with me!

living with less...a Hearts at Home contest!

I am excited to share a fun opportunity with you!

To celebrate the release of Hearts at Home’s newest book: Living With Less So Your Family Has More, by Jill and Mark Savage, the Hearts at Home blog is launching the Living with Less Contest.

Email Hearts at Home a story or money-saving tip that gives a peek into your daily experiences representing the humor, richness, or spiritual aspects of what it’s like to live with less.

Better yet, blog readers will benefit as many of the money-saving entries will be posted on the Heart’s blog throughout the month of February!

For contest details go here!

new button for grabs

For anyone who has previously grabbed my button, I have redone it.  If you would be so kind as to grab the new one over there on the right and replace the old one…it would be fantastic.

If you haven't grabbed my button, I'd love it if you would and paste in on your own blog.  Not sure how?  It's easy-peasy.

1. Simply highlight the text under the button.  
2. Copy it (right click for PC users, or press cmd & c for us Mac users).  
3. Go to your blog - "customize" & " layout".  
4. Click "add a gadget".  
5. Select the "html" option.  
6. Paste it in. (again right click for PC's, or cmd & v for us Mac lovers)

  Easy peasy.  And if you want to get super fancy and have a scrolling list of buttons, head on over to my friend, Jamie's blog (six bricks high) for step by by step instructions.
Thanks for stopping by, thanks for grabbing my button, thanks for leaving a comment *hint, hint*

lesson from noah

The word earthquake always tends to direct my focus to Matthew 24:7b where Jesus is telling the disciples about the signs of his return & the end of the world. "There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world".  Earthquakes.  Haiti.  And although I would never dare to say that I think it's coming soon, I would bet that we're closer to his return & the end of this world than we were yesterday.
Something new caught my eye this time though while I read in Matthew 24.  In verse 37, Jesus tells the disciples that the world will be like it was in the time of Noah.  He reminded them that people were partying and enjoying themselves right up until the time Noah got on his boat.  "People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came & swept them all away".  I thought of Noah, the only guy (along with his wife & kids) who had any clue as to what was about to happen.
I went way back to Genesis 6 and read the familiar story.  Only this time I was struck by two things that I'd never noticed before.  (ahhhh, a bullet point list *smile*)

• Noah knew what was going to happen.  He had the inside scoop.  God told Noah the plan.  2 Peter 2:5 says that Noah "warned the world of God's righteous judgment".  But he didn't forget the instructions God gave him & he completed the ark, obeying God's word.  He didn't get off task, he didn't listen to his neighbors who likely laughed at him & told him he was crazy, he didn't read every article written on the subject, he didn't throw an internet poll out to see what other's thought, he didn't come up with his own idea of what God meant.  He heard, he listened, he told, he obeyed.  Like Noah, we have the inside scoop on what's going to happen.  We, too, must hear, listen, tell and obey.  Even if obeying seems completely ridiculous (I'm sure Noah's ark seemed absolutely ridiculous!)
• Have you ever really paid attention to the construction instructions (say that 10 times fast) given by God to Noah about the ark?  No, me neither.  Honestly, I usually skip over all the cubits & pitch & wood preference & decks &... but this time I read through it.  And I found that  Noah was told to construct a really big boat with no engine or sail and with no way to steer it.  Once Noah (and the fam) climbed onboard, he was at the mercy of God.  He would have no control.  None!  God would take over.  I wonder how often I forget that? (actually I know how often I forget & it's frequently)   God gives me the instructions for my salvation (Jesus), the ransom paid, the debt wiped out, but by climbing "on board", just like Noah, I need to relinquish control.  I need to give up my engine and my rudder and go where God takes this ship.  Harder than it sounds.

"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree.  When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.  In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door."  Matthew 24:32-33

giving wisely

Tragedy.  Absolute tragedy.  People who need their most basic needs met.  Basic needs.  Survival needs.  Always reminds me of how incredibly blessed I am, how incredibly luxurious my life is, how quickly, instantly it can all be turned upside down.  In a moment.

If you have a desire to give, may I suggest an organization that I know will use your donations in the best way it can, in the name of Jesus Christ.  A member of our church here in Geneva is a part of this organization and is in Haiti right now.  I have no doubt that the funds provided to this group will be used to help meet the needs of the people of Haiti & for Kingdom work during this unimaginable tragedy.  If you have a place to donate or are not interested, no biggie.  But if you're looking for a place to give, but not sure where to send your funds, I would recommend you take a look at GAIN.

Following Christ - step 1

Remember back here I was talking about following Christ...

Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily and follow me."  Luke 9:23

Jesus lays down three requirements for being his follower.

1. turn from your selfish ways,
2. take up your cross daily,
3. follow Him.

Although the NLT translated it "selfish ways" the NASB has said one must "deny himself".

I'm a pretty selfish person.  Really.  I tend to look out for and spend most of my time making sure that numero uno is pleased, comfortable, having a good time.  I am bent that way.  To some extent I think the entire human race is bent that way.
Denying myself or turning from that selfish desire is not a natural response.  Not for me at least.  But that's criteria #1 for being a follower of Jesus Christ.  If I checked the "yes, I want to follow" box, then this is one of the requirements.  Easy?  No.  Necessary?  Definitely.
But what is it exactly?  Denying myself?  I know some folks that walk around miserable, thinking that this must be what denying one's self is all about.  I don't think so.  I think it's all about will.  It's about making a choice, even if it's hard or uncomfortable to follow God's will.
I can tell you that more times than not, my own will provides me with a nice level of comfort.  I do what I like, not sticking my neck out into uncharted waters.  I stick to the same routes and enjoy little ripples in the waves.  But God's will isn't always so....calm and comfortable.  And sometimes it's really hard to be uncomfortable.  But if to truly follow Christ, well it's also necessary.
Christ was perfect, not because his house looked like the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog or because he stayed fit by never missing a workout and eating only organic foods. He was perfect because he followed the will of the Father perfectly.  Without fail.  He denied his own life, his own comfort, his own everything to follow God's will.  Perfectly.  And I don't think it was easy or comfortable or always fun.
And we are asked first to do the same thing.  Deny our own lives.  Choose the will of the Father, the plan of the Kingdom above our own desires.  Sometimes it will be easy-breezy. Sometimes it will feel impossible.  Luckily, we are promised that nothing is impossible with God.

taking flight

Proverb 23:4-5

 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich.  Be wise enough to know when to quit.

  In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.

I can't help but think of the financial "melt-down" over the past couple of years when I read the second of these verses.  Some reports claim that when the housing market and the stock market are considered, in 2008 Americans lost nearly $9 trillion in wealth.  That's $9 trillion, with a 'T'.  And where did it all go?  This particular article that I read says, "Mostly up in the air".  

Sounds like it spouted wings and flew away.

Wealth is fleeting.  Here today, gone tomorrow.  Just when you think it's been caught, it is flying into the heavens.


The first of the verses sounds like a great line to throw in the face of that spouse or friend who works too many hours and never has time to spend with the family just to gain a bigger paycheck.  However, as I looked at the verse a bit closer, what stuck out to me was the words "to get rich".  Other translations say gain wealth, become rich, pretend to be rich.  Interesting.  
Do I on occasion (or an many occasions) wear myself out trying to get rich by not loosing our wealth?Do I worry have anxiety about becoming less wealthy?  Have I ever become weary trying to pretend to be rich?  Looking rich, dressing rich, having a rich house?  


The Bible clearly says we are to work & provide for our families.  We should be good stewards of the financial resources we've been given.  Definitely.  But are there times when I wear myself out trying to maintain a certain level of wealth or a certain appearance of wealth?  Sadly, yes.
~
That I would remember that everything, including the finances of my family, are in the control of God.  To remember that wealth is fleeting, like a flying eagle.  To avoid getting in the habit of wearing myself out to maintain or gain wealth, this is my prayer.

steamy story

Yesterday was a long day.  We're at day 21 of Christmas vacation.  The excitement of vacation has long passed and the thrill of new toys has also passed.  Today was the return of the lava monster game in the living room (remember that from when you were a kid?)  It was loud, it was rowdy, it was energy in little bodies bouncing off walls.  We went outside and ran around in the snow, but the energy was still overflowing and it was a loud, long day.

By the kids' bedtime, I was ready for a bath.  A soak in a hot bubbly tub.  "Ah, Calgon take me away!"

I started the tub filling and headed down to grab a couple of unread magazines.  I returned to a very hot bath.  Nearly too hot (if that's possible).  I jumped in and sank into the world of only me.  Quiet.  Slow.  Peaceful.

James popped his head into the bathroom to see where I'd gone off to.  "Wow!" he said.  "Looks like the tub's really, really hot!"

As I looked up from my Cooking Light magazine, I could barely see him standing at the door through the heavy steam in the room.  It clung to the glass mirror and windows.  It was everywhere, even dripping down the tile walls.  James didn't have to feel the water or even have me tell him how hot the water was. He knew the bath was hot because the room was completely filled with steam - the proof of a hot tub.

~

Matthew 3:8 "Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God."

Matthew 7:17 "A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit."

~

A hot bath tub produces steam.  A cold tub cannot produce steam.  The bath doesn't have to say it's hot, it doesn't have to be felt for someone to know it's hot.  The presence of steam is the proof of a hot bath.

Likewise, a life in love, in full devotion to Christ and His message will naturally generate "steam" - the proof of a life devoted to God - it will bear fruit.  It doesn't need to say what it's doing, someone doesn't need to see firsthand.  This life proves that it belongs to God, to His work, to His purposes and the evidence is as obvious as steam from a hot bathtub.

~

That my life would produce fruit as naturally as a hot bath produces steam.  That I would take such delight in the Word, that I would so deeply love my Savior that the evidence would lie thick around me like steam.  It would cling to mirrors and windows and walls and drip with a testimony of God's grace, mercy, goodness so other's would know of the power of God, who could turn this messy human into a steam factory.  I cannot generate this steam on my own, I cannot squeeze out the good fruit myself. That my heart would be filled with the Holy Spirit and my life would be evidence of Him, that is my prayer.

Memory 2010

It seems that every year this tops my list of goals for the upcoming new year:  Scripture Memorization.  But, unfortunately, it is also one of the goals that I never seem to reach.  I have plenty of excuses like, "memorization is difficult" or "I'm really not that good at remembering stuff" but the truth of the matter is that I just don't try.  If I can remember pointless lines from songs or tv shows from the 90's (Seinfeld is a favorite) I am certainly capable of memorizing Scripture.  So then I'm left with the pathetic realization that if I am capable of memorizing scripture perhaps the problem lies in whether I see it important to memorize it (as if Seinfeld lines are important...)

A couple of quotes to get me thinking:
“Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization” Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California

“I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified” Chuck Swindoll.

These two Bible scholars believe that scripture memorization is worthwhile and important, but what does the Bible say about the topic?  Here are two reasons why I should make scripture memorization a priority:

1. Fight Temptation & Sin:  One scripture I do have memorized (ironic) is Psalm 119:11 "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you".  (NASB)  The word 'treasured' in this verse is the same word used in Luke 2:19 to describe Mary treasuring up all the memories of the birth of Jesus.  Its a word that means to keep, to store, to save.  My attitude towards the scriptures should be that of Mary towards the amazing birth of her Son, the Savior.  I should treasure the word the way a mother stores up the memories of her children - bottling them up forever.  Treasuring them.  But why?  Psalm 119:11 clearly instructs us to memorize scripture in order to overcome sin. Jesus used memorized scripture in Matthew 4:1-11 to defeat Satan's temptations.  The Word, stored in his heart, was used to rebuke the temptations offered by Satan.  Memorized scripture can help overcome Satan's trickery and schemes.  If Jesus used scripture to combat Satan, who am I to think I can defeat him in another way than that?  Scripture, stored up in my heart, is ready and waiting to be used against the enemy.  I won't always have a Bible handy to find the scripture I need, but if it's in my heart it is ready for battle.  This reminds me of the Whole Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-20.  The only defensive piece of armor is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  It is the only tool in my military kit to defeat the enemy.  Everything else is used for protection, but the Word of God is used to cut and divide (Hebrews 4:12) and should be ready, sharpened, in my hand for battle.
2. To Bring Encouragement:  Scripture memorized can be called up at any moment to provide a kind and encouraging word to another or it can be called up to encourage me. Jesus says in Luke 6:45  "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."  Jesus reminds us here that whatever we have stored up in our heart, whatever fills our heart (whether scripture or Seinfeld) that is what our mouth speaks.  And although there are times when a funny Seinfeld line might be appropriate, more often than not a scripture would be an excellent source of encouragement & strength, love & kindness.  Reminds me of when James & I were in college.  His roommate had a game system and the game Grand Theft Auto (horrible game by the way, but great for this illustration).  We would come home from class and play for hours, stealing cars, shooting good guys, driving recklessly, and the like.  Hours were spent on this pointless, mindless game.  I clearly remember leaving the guys place one afternoon to go to study Dairy Queen.  I got in my car and drove from one side of Pullman to the other.  All the way there, I had to fight this urge to swerve into oncoming traffic or to knock over telephone poles or to take out college student pedestrians.  It was awful!  And I remember thinking that I'd spent so much time in front of that crazy (awful) game that I was reenacting the scenes from it.  It was what was stored up and it wanted to "come out".  Whatever we store in our hearts, whatever is treasured there will flow from our mouths.   Oh, to store up scripture to use when I'm down, when a friend is hurting, when i'm rejoicing, when I pray, when a friend is in need.  To have it in my heart, ready to be used.  

Two reasons why I should make this goal to memorize scripture a priority.  I am committed to this.  I need to do this.  Even if it's just half a dozen, it will be more than last year. I will do this this year!

Money Monday - Week 1

The Bible has a lot to say about money, wealth, possessions.  Jesus spoke on the topic many, many times during his ministry.  There are nearly a dozen parables on the topic alone and Proverbs is filled with wisdom on our finances.

I plan to take a Biblical look at money, wealth, possessions every Monday here at 58 degrees to see what God has to say about it all.  Won't you join me?

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce.  
      So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995.

*the Instruction
Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce. 

• Honor - to be heavy, weighty.  The idea of showing how much you respect the Lord or showing how great & wonderful the Lord is.
• Wealth - sufficiency.  It refers to all the money and material possessions we have.  Even if we think we are not "wealthy", if we have anything then we have some measure of "wealth".
•  the first - choicest, finest, best.  In Exodus 23:19, the Israelites were told to bring the VERY BEST of the first harvest to the house the Lord.  In Leviticus 23:15-21 the Law of First Fruits is established.  The first is the very best, the choicest, the prime.  It is not what remains at the end, the left-overs, the second rate what I couldn't use or didn't need.  It is very much what I want, could use, would like to have.  It is the best.
• All - entire, any, every, whole.  
• Produce - crops, revenue, income, increases.  It is our income, our bonuses, our pay raises.  It is what is earned and provided.

*the Promise
So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.

• This promise is the idea of overflowing abundance.  And although it sounds like an abundance of material possessions, God’s purpose for us are not necessarily to make us materially wealthy. Instead, He is interested in developing in us godly character, and His promises are generally given with that idea in mind.  However, this promise has an underlying thought of being satisfied. An abundance, an overflow.  Completely without want.  Full barns and overflowing vats are a sign of satisfaction or a life without want.  Perhaps even better than abundant riches is overwhelming contentment.  Contentment.

Show how great God is by giving to further His Kingdom work with the first and very best of everything you have and earn, not with what's left-over after the bills are paid, the taxes have been collected and there are new shoes in the closet.  Then God will provide all you need to be satisfied and to be overwhelmed by a content life.

disciples of Christ

Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily and follow me."  Luke 9:23

Jesus was talking with his disciples about the events that were beginning to unfold.  He spoke of rejection by elders and priests and foretold of his death and resurrection.  He then went on to speak of what was required to be a follower of him.  Jesus, himself, lays down the requirements for being his follower.

As is so often the case in Scripture, we are only given two options to choose from.  Jesus says "if you want to be my follower".  This leaves us with two alternatives.  One, choose to be his follower.  Two, choose not to be his follower.  Simple as that.  There is no third option.  No "kind-of be a follower" box to check.  It is either follow or not follow.  And, unfortunately, my life often reflects my desire to write in a third option - follow enough to appear like a follower, but not enough to look like a freak & make my life uncomfortable.  ouch!

I'm planning to start off the new year looking at following Christ.  Really becoming the follower he asks me to be.  To examine  what he requires of his followers, what it will cost to follow, those who did it well, what he promises those who follow fully.  There is so much to learn, so many areas for growth.  I imagine this to be exciting and life-altering.

A follower of Christ.  A disciple.  Defined by Easton's Bible Dictionary as one "who believes Jesus' doctrine, rests on his sacrifice, imbibes his spirit and imitates his example".  This is what I desire.  To believe, rest, imbibe and imitate.  Let the journey begin.