Financial Bondage and Purposing To Be Debt Free

OK, so here's my second post on Jim Sammon's Financial Freedom Seminar we've been watching and reading. I'm going to try to keep it short because I'm so excited to be sharing some new resources I found in the Internet and want to get to updating my budget sheet right afterwards.

After several sessions, we have learned that the first thing we need to do is give it all to God - letting him be in control, after all, we are only stewards of God's gifts to us, including finances. We needed to tithe properly. I never did understand how to tithe until after this study. It doesn't mean picking an arbitrary amount and writing it on a check every week to put into the collection plate - it means giving exactly 10% of your 'first fruits' - before taxes, insurance, etc. are taken out. Plus, it means to tithe ANY amount of money that comes to you - yes, that means 10% of your bonus too, if you get one.

So that was our first 'correction' we made - tithing correctly - giving God our 'first fruits.'

Also, learning more from scripture about how we are stewards of God's money and that we need to be using it more wisely, in all ways, meaning that we examine each purchase we make, not to mention - using CASH and not going into DEBT for any purchase for any reason.

Purposing to be DEBT FREE is our next step - and I found a wonderful online source of a 'Snowball' spreadsheet - showing how to pay down your debts starting with the debt with the lowest balance so you can see (and celebrate) debts being paid off. It's really amazing, really. After you input all your debts it shows (among other things) how the 'snow ball' works, when your debt will be paid off, and an amortization schedule like the one you get when you sign up for that mortgage.

Just to clarify - a 'DEBT' is considered any bill that is unpaid - including: any and all loans (personal or bank), medical bills, utilities, the local hardware store charge account, etc.

Speaking of mortgages, this spreadsheet can probably help you figure out how to payoff your mortgage quicker as well (when paying more than what your regular monthly payment is required).

The new website I found tonight: http://www.christianpf.com/
The article that has the link for the spreadsheet: http://www.christianpf.com/snowball-your-way-out-of-debt/

Before I Was A Mom

Thanks to KC for forwarding this to me tonight! I had read this before, but it's been a while and I really love it! Not sure who actually wrote it...

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a mil lion pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom .

Taco Soup with TVP

Well, I can't say that I'm a health nut or vegetarian, but I like to try new (healthy) things, infact, I've had this 'TVP' for about 6 months and have finally decided how I wanted to try it out. So, really, it took me a while to test it on Mike. Hah. I did pretty good I'd say - as I asked him what he thought it was before I told him - and he thought it was ground turkey. Yeah, that was pretty slick on my part! But he ate it AND enjoyed it, had seconds too.

Some of you may wonder "what is this TVP?" - it's Texturized Vegetable Protein, and has been used as a 'filler' for years with different meat products and used as a substitute, as it has the same texture as ground beef (or turkey) - but it's tasteless and needs to be marinated or spiced-up. It also has similar nutritional value as beef, but without the fat. It's also CHEAPER! You can find it in almost any nutrition section, I bought mine at Fred Meyer.

I thought I'd throw together something from the pantry for dinner tonight and this is the recipie I thru together (this turned out to be awesome!):

TACO SOUP:
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
1 cup TVP reconstituted in 1 cup of boiling water, let set for 5 minutes
1 1/2 Cup Black Beans (you could use any bean you wanted, I guess)
1 Beef Boulion in 1/2 cup boiling water water
3 cups V8 Juice
1 1/2 Cup frozen corn
2-4 TBS Taco Seasoning (season to taste)

TOPPINGS:
Shredded Cheese
Sour Cream
Tortilla Chips

DIRECTIONS:
Saute onion and green pepper in oil, add beans and reconstituted TVP and Taco Seasoning, cook together for a few minutes, add V8 Juice, Beef Boulion, and frozen corn, taste and add seasoning if needed, let simmer for about 15 minutes.

Memories - Part I

I recently reviewed some pictures that Mike put onto my new laptop and thought I'd post some 'memories.'

Live Fire Training

In the picture above Mike is on the far right, standing tall.

Yesterday Mike participated in a live fire training on Douglas. There are supposed to be a couple more in the spring.

Also, on Saturday afternoon he went to a house fire off of El Camino which had started in the livingroom.

He's VERY tired from Sunday's training, as he was gone from 7am-6pm.

I copied these pics off juneau empire's site below: (there are a lot more pics to see...)

http://spotted.juneauempire.com/photos/index.php?id=1894618&page=1

http://juneauempire.com/stories/102609/loc_509170122.shtml

Teaching Children how to Give

Recently with the Tsunami in Samoa - I have seen an opportunity to show Michael Jr. what it means to give to those in need. Because he can understand (for the most part) I explained what happened in Samoa and told him that "the water destroyed and washed away these people's cars, homes, clothing, food, toys, books..." and that we were going to go thru things in our home that we don't use that those in need would put to good use. He was very eager to share and suggested that we give some of his toys and cars to those children in need, and I let him pick out what he wanted to give, as I was doing some of my own gathering of items around the house. Several times a day he thinks about what has happened in Samoa and asks me questions and suggests "maybe people in Samoa need (fill in the blank)" and I find it has been a wonderful way to involve his little (big) mind in thinking about meeting the needs of others.

(There is a local family collecting donnations to send to Samoa via AML - let me know if you want more info on that).

Also, today in checking my email, I had come across the following article that I recommend (a short read) that is appropriate for this holiday season: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/spiritual_growth_for_kids/teaching_servanthood/gimme_gimme.aspx

How do you take opportunities to share with your children the importance of giving to those in need?

Drawing Closer to God - Financial Freedom - Part 1

Mike and I have been doing a bible study on Financial Freedom and it's amazing! It was on back order when we purchased it, so we've been waiting about two months and it finally came in the mail. We've only watched the first session - there are 20 sessions in all - and we've skimmed thru the 'Men's Manual.' The first session is "Learn What It Really Means To Be Financially Free," and is eye opening. It has a twenty question quiz "To What Degree Are You Financially Free?" and then gives 20 factors, scripturally based, showing how scriptural principles affect financial freedom. It also shows you how to identify evidence of financial bondage.

There are listed many factors of financial freedom which include the following:

Knowing God's purpose for money
Knowing how to Tithe properly
How to keep out of Debt
Living within your income
Learning how to live in abundance and in need
Knowing the potential of your home and developing it
Create a good family name
Avoid Partnerships
Avoid Slothfulness

Some scripture to ponder:

Deuteronomy 8:18
"But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth"

Philippians 4:12
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want"

Hebrews 11:6
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him"

Romans 13:8
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law"

John 16:23-24
"...I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name...Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete"

Malachi 3:10
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, "says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

2 Thessalonians 3:10
"...If a man will not work, he shall not eat"

Proverbs 19:15
"Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry"

Proverbs 6:10-11
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man"




I highly recommend this study: http://store.iblp.org/products/FFSP/