I had the incredible opportunity of speaking to the Lampo Group yesterday. I was absolutely blown away by the graciousness of Dave Ramsey and his entire staff.
As part of my preparation I did a little research on their organization and was extremely impressed.
-Over 750,000 families have now went through Financial Peace University.
-3.5 million listeners tune into the “Dave Ramsey Show” each week.
- In April over 1 million people participated in the “Town Hall For Hope” a live broadcast heard on the radio, seen on the Fox Business Network, and delivered to over 6,000 webcast locations across the country making it the largest syndicated webcast to date.
Clearly God is using Dave and this entire organization to do amazing things for His Kingdom. Beyond the amazing numbers you’ll find a passionate leader who cares deeply about his staff (Dave is currently using flash cards at his desk to memorize all 300 of his employees names). What other organization do you know that take an hour out of their work day to open God’s Word together?
About a year ago God prompted me to the importance of how we use our money. Brandi and I have had several recent conversations about how we could better use our money to impact more people.
My wheels got turning about a year ago when I read the total income of American churchgoers is $5.2 trillion. That’s a lot of stinking money. It would also just take a little over 1 % of the income of American Christians to lift the poorest one billion people in the world out of extreme poverty. Furthermore while American Christians make up only 5 percent of the church worldwide, we still control about half of the global Christian wealth.
I was convicted that I would sometimes stay up late trying to figure out how I could afford this or afford that, but rarely was I compelled to spend hours strategizing about how I could more effectively fund Kingdom ventures. Getting my financial world in order is not just about me getting rich… it’s about me making an impact in this world. Money certainly doesn’t solve all of our world’s problems, but it sure can make a difference when it’s managed well.
Dave Ramsey and others like him are on a crusade to help people find a hope and freedom that could have a huge impact on the American church and the advancement of God’s love around the world.
I know money is a really, really, really personal thing, but I would love to know how you guys are doing in this area.
Have any sound financial advice that could benefit our community here?
I know funding huge buildings and grand video/sound equipment doesn’t help people starving in India or Africa. Large staff and salaries aren’t curing AIDS. People of the church are giving more than 1% – TEN PERCENT. I know everyone doesn’t tithe – but would it average out to about 1% per person?
So if people are giving then what are the church governors doing with all this money? Are the widows and fatherless being taken care of first, as perscribed in the Bible – or the building/equipment/staff fund? How much did the Apostles get paid? What did they do with tithes?
I’d like to see the childcare workers get paid at least! In most churches still, they are “volunteers” made to feel guilty they don’t do it more. But, “the worker is worth his wages” and if the pastor “should” get paid, so should those taking care of the children.
Money is a “personal” thing, in that every person has a very strong feeling abot what’s being done with it in the church.
Cheryl’s last blog post..Hymn vs. Him
@Cheryl, you ask some good questions. I can’t answer for the church you attend but I know at Cross Point we give 11% of our offerings to missions. We’re increasing that by one percent each year.
Even great missions organizations that are feeding people in Africa and India and attempting to cure the aids epidemic have to pay overhead. This allows people to use their time to focus on solving issues like this.
Wow, Pete. Debbie Downer music comes to mind…
For me and my house, the issue of debt is the one thing that springs to mind first. I am near 50 years old, 3 kids, 2 in college, one soon to be, a house, 4 cars, you know the drill.
I also work for a TARP bank so my bonus went away this last year. So what was I confronted with first when half my income went away? Why do I have debt!
We have found a way this last year to pay off debt, fund tuition with cash, give a tithe to the church and still have a little fun. God is good, and He teaches that if you live on 80, give 10 to the local church, and save 10, the rest can take care of itself.
So, for you youngsters out there, don’t do drugs, no, I meant don’t do debt. (sort of the same thing). Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow. Or so I’ve heard.
Pete, can we go back to more fun questions tomorrow?
Pete,
The sound advice you seek is rarely the advice people want to hear. I should know, I’m in the financial advice business. The reality of many of the folks in our country is that they face financial issues because they cannot stand to sacrifice. We want everything NOW! and we have to have all the latest cool stuff NOW!
Unfortunately, to get stuff NOW, which we don’t have the money for, we pay it later. By doing that we put ourselves in a position of not being able to keep our own heads above water, let alone help those less fortunate. Savings and charity almost always becomes the first casualties of this mentality.
The really said part is watching the rationalizations people go through to try to convince themselves that what they are spending their money on is not fluff but really neccessary.
We are in the middle of one of Dave’s classes right now…can I say they are in a word – CONVICTING! Like so many others we bought into the “American dream” (also known as mortgaged to the hilt.) His lesson called Dumping Debt was the best “sermon” I have heard in a long time. The economic times in this country are a wake-up call. If we as followers of Christ have the ears to ear and the courage to answer, I believe God will provide Kingdom resources for Kingdom purposes that really can change the world — not buy us bigger houses, nicer clothes, a flashy car, and another meal out because “we deserve a break today”!
@Shari, been there!
Often times we ask “God, how could you let people in other countries (and our own) be so poor and not have anything?”
For some reason I think his answer would be something like, “How could you let yourself become so distracted by stuff?”
It’s a tough question. One on hand we are so blessed and need to be thankful for it, but on the other hand, are we really impacting the kingdom by having “Jesus AND stuff?”
DubHow’s last blog post..Ironing is the Devil!
Yeah. DON’T GET CREDIT CARDS. And don’t be stupid. Don’t give during a sacrificial giving series on a credit card??! (Not that we’ve ever done that.
Do not buy stuff you cannot afford (via awesome Steve Martin SNL skit). We cut up our credit cards in November.
PS- have an amazing time with my pastor Jeff & Michelle Kapusta, they are ridiculously incredible, godly people… and be sure to show them a good time. Take him to my fave Calypso Cafe for me!
rebekah king’s last blog post..All About the Fruit
All I can say is that my husband lost his job of 13 years recently and although he has now set up his own business, we had not had any income for the last few months. This has made it all too obvious that prior to this and despite the fact that we give to church and various mission projects of our choice, we were way too extravagant with our expenditure and lifestyles.
We have since cut down considerably and it is amazing and liberating to see how one can have a pretty content life with so much less. The temptation was of course to cut dowm on our giving to God’s causes, but with a lot of wrestling and prayer, we are managing to not only keep our commitment to this giving but also challenge ourselves to give a bit more now that we have no guarantee that my husband will earn some time soon.
It is a scary place to be at, but also incredibly exciting because in a way we know money no longer has got such a hold on us. God has shown us that He alone can carry us through and provide our every need.
And when I look at how little people on the other side of the world have, I feel sick I even worry about my own circumstances, but I know God will see to its completion the good work he has started on us. Ok, we could give a lot more, but it wasn’t that long ago, we gave nothing. Praise God for shaking us up when we fall into complacency and lukewarmness.
ransom33’s last blog post..The trail of “Godly” Leadership: Can the blind lead the blind?
I like the KISS method.. Keep It Simple Stupid. The earlier poster talked about the 80-10-10 rule. That is pretty simple and a great way to teach kids to manage their money. Instead of calling it ‘saving’ you can call it ‘paying yourself’.
Also, teaching the kids that putting money back to buy something in order to combat the “got-to-have-it-now” mentality that or society is always preaching.
Finally, can I just be honest and say that I HATE anything to do with finances. I love math but as soon as you stick a dollar sign on the front, I just want to run the other way. I am glad that there are people out there like Dave Ramsey that have been blessed with the ‘love’ of helping people with their finances. And Dave is a great speaker… saw him at Catalyst last October. I still chuckle about the story of the young man that kept showing up late for work and Dave told him the next time he was late to bring a box with him… and that was just what he did.
Our church also does Crown Financial teaching.
Tony York’s last blog post..Poetry – Country Rain
Just finishing The Hole in Our Gospel and it really challenged me in this area. (Great book by the way, I know I work for the publisher but it really is a GREAT BOOK.) This $ thing is something I really need to work on. And I don’t think it is fair to just put this burden on church leadership. If you are not happy with how your church is handling your tithe – get involved, do something about it, or give someplace else.
My time, talents, and treasure are all resources and I need to do a better job investing all 3 in the kingdom.
Lindsey Nobles’s last blog post..I Am What I Tweet?
I have always struggled with where my money should go. I tend to want to save the world and feel that things like vacations and items for personal enjoyment are not right to want or have. Don’t get me wrong, I have a few things but it really is a few by American standards.
It is finally coming down to me realizing I can’t save the world, not with money or time or effort. I can however be obedient to God with money and time and effort. I am working really hard now on listening to Him and allowing Him to direct me with those three things.
btw, I have taken Dave’s class and had the privilege to meet him as well.
Shout out Dave, you know you remember me.
Harold’s last blog post..Your Turn To Be The Difference
I just got back from a mission trip to the Ukraine and I am really struggling with this as well. Mostly I am kicking myself for my poor choices previously in life. Before going, I thought I was doing okay…we were on a 15yr mortgage, no car debt, only student loans- I sponsored a child through compassion (can you hear the self-righteousness here!)….
Now, I SEE how much more I could be doing if only I didn’t have those stinkin student loan payments. I look around at all my junk bought a “stuffmart” and think about how far those dollars could have gone in the Ukraine toward reaching a child, or feeding someone…It’s finally real for me and yet at the same time, I drool every time I see a Kindle advertised?! (I don’t understand how I can be this way, but I am)…
I am however, determined to live my life differently. Can I change the world? no…but I can change what I have been doing with what I have…and I think that is what the message is that Dave R. and others preach (crown financial is another good resource, btw)
My wife and I are working our way out from under our car loan and student loans. We just paid off the car 3 years early and are hoping to hammer out the rest of our non-mortgage debt by next summer. We listen to Dave Ramsey from time to time and have utilized his methods to reduce our debt quickly.
I’m looking forward to the day when we are debt free and are able to use more of our financial resources to doing the Kingdom work we have been called to do.
BTW – Just finished reading “The Hole In Our Gospel” and it was an amazing wakeup call/challenge…
Jeremy’s last blog post..Who is “We”?
Wild…I just toured Dave’s offices last week…what a cool company.
I can tell anyone here who will listen…FPU or the Total Money Makeover is the best program out there.
My wife and I are graduates from 2003 and it completely changed our lives. We had a combined 70K in debts between cars, credit cards and student loans. Got them paid off going through Dave’s program and have never looked back.
It is amazing what it has allowed us to do the past few years.
We have given more money than ever before.
There is no money stress in our marriage.
We have traveled more than just about anyone with “cash”.
Saved money
etc. etc….
The great thing about all this is the freedom you are allowed from living like this. Economic downturn…well everything is on sale!
Make the sacrifice people….TRUST ME…it is worth it!
joseph’s last blog post..the art of the coffee shop deal
When Noel and I got married we were doing really well, because we had no kids. Then we had a child and then three more and then one more. Well that meant that logically we would be living on one salary instead of two. We have had to give up things, but Noel trusts that God will provide if he is obedient to His command to give. We still have some debt but we all have to live on a budget. Prayer, obedience and common sense is always good.
Jennifer Wilcoxson’s last blog post..The Love of Food
C.S. Lewis said it best I think:
“I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures excludes them.”
In order to be able to do that though, you have to spend less than you make. I think those two are the best pieces of advice, hands down.
Jon Smith’s last blog post..From George Orwell on His Birthday
“It would also just take a little over 1 % of the income of American Christians to lift the poorest one billion people in the world out of extreme poverty.”
This reminds me of this other thing:
A pastor is addressing the congregation, and says: “We have good news and bad news.
The good news is that we have enough money to pay for our heating, air conditioning, hydro, water, and gas bills this year. We also have enough money to get a new lighting system, and new instruments for the band. We even have money to stock up for the food bank we’re running in the inner city. This year will be great!
The bad news is: the money is still in your pockets”
This is what I like about Crosspoint. As a church, you guys model the biblical way to manage money.
And that’s what Dave teaches. Don’t get out of debt just for the sake of it. But get out of debt so you can build all kind of wealth and then give TONS of it away…to help with missions, the needy, etc.
Great post Pete!
Robert’s last blog post..Lucas Glover: Did you pick him to win?
Simple, don’t take the example of our government, if you don’t have it, don’t spend it. Also, don’t be afraid to sweat for food if necessary. See, Darwinism and the “Jesus fish” can co-exist.
3 years ago my husband and I became completely debt free except our mortgage and now have emergency funds hidden away. I can’t even explain how this has freed us up in giving, not only financially, but mentally and spiritually. The cloud of worry is gone! It was hard work, but so worth it for our family. Anytime people as us advice it’s the same “get out of debt, get an emergency fund, and give, give, give.”
Jenn Becker’s last blog post..Move over 8, it’s about Jon & Kate
Thought: Our church also supports world missions and intended to increase the giving each year; it has now been decided that the church will remain at the 10% mark and has challenged the congregation to make the personal commitment to increase support of world missions. It seems to increase awareness on the part of the congregation of God’s work in the world instead of relying on the church to take care of it. I think our society has depended on “others” to take care of business too long – the schools raise our kids, welfare hands out food stamps to the hungry, government insures job loss and the church covers the spiritual issues. We are the people….His people…it starts with me…
I was told this repeatedly, and it’s the best advice I’ve gotten for *my* time of life (I realize it won’t apply to a lot of people, but maybe for their kids it will…)
Live like a student now, so you don’t have to live like a student later.
Law school is crazy expensive, and this phrase rolling around in my brain helps remind me to live simply (which I would probably do anyway) and save so that when I graduate I won’t have to live off ramen noodles forever. Granted, I’m going into public service so I might be living like a law student for the rest of my life
Chere’s last blog post..tunes for thursday
I think it’s important to remember that although there are Christians around the world starving, there are also Christians in your backyard who are hungry. While it may only cost you $32 a month to feed a family in India, it takes considerably more for a family to feed themselves here.
While I do think it’s important for American Christians to offer help to other parts of the world, I think it’s also important for American Christians to offer help to other American Christians. Not just money, but time, resources, love, etc. There is a lot of time and energy spent on saving the lost, but not so much time and energy spent on discipling the saved. All too often new converts are given a gift bible, a pat on the head, and a “see you in Heaven”. I understand that evangelism is a significant part of what we are to do as Christians, but I also believe that discipleship is equally significant. Are we taking care of our brothers and sisters? Our mothers and fathers? Are the poor allowed to glean our fields behind us?
This is something I struggle with a lot. Foreign missions are important. Foreign aid is important. But I think that sometimes we spend more time trying to save the world, when our neighbors are just as lost, just as hungry, and just as needy. Especially now. No, there aren’t obvious signs of hunger and disease in our country. No, we aren’t living in tents. No, we aren’t as drastically poor as other parts of the world. But I guarantee you wont have to look hard to find someone who doesn’t have the money for a gallon of milk. You wont have to look far to find someone who isn’t sure how they’re going to make their house payment next week.
I know my salvation is secure. I know where I will go when I die. However, as a single mom to two great kids, working full time, taking 18 hours a semester, juggling church, choir, bible study, trying to maintain a home, keeping everyone fed, happy, loved, and clean, sometimes I just wish the Holy Spirit did laundry. If I feel that way, I guarantee there are many, many, many more just like me who you see every single day. Sometimes saving the world really does start by saving your neighbors.
Here’s my advice (coming from a reformed shop-a-holic):
1.Stay out of the stores and catalogs and you won’t even realize that you “need” anything new.
2. Shop the sale racks First! You might find just what you’re looking for there.
3. Wait before you buy. Sometimes, just putting a day between a purchase and me will leave me realizing I didn’t need it anyway.
sherri’s last blog post..It’s gonna be a violent weekend….
Ahh…maybe some advice to redeem my ridiculously long post?
1. Always, always, ALWAYS cruise through the clearance section of any store you frequent. I have already found 3 sweaters and 4 cold weather outfits for my daughter for next year all for less than $20 simply because I looked around.
2. When you have a windfall, (tax return, unexpected bonus, etc) think about what you could buy now for cheap that you will need later anyway. My tax return just about completed my christmas shopping. It was the exact right time for finding gifts ridiculously cheap.
3. Groceries are a big expense. Plan what you eat and stick to the list.
4. Search the internet for tips and tricks. There are a ton of websites out there that will give you ideas of how to save money.
5. To keep from carrying around a lot of cash, or have it hanging around my house, I load pre-paid credit/debit cards. I have separate ones for bills, groceries, gas, etc. It gives me the convenience of a credit card – no cash laying around, but it works like the envelope system. Once it’s gone, it’s gone! The only thing that comes out of my checking account debit card is my insurance payment. It’s really helped me get past the ‘robbing peter to pay paul’ dance I used to do each month.
6. I sat down and wrote down all the holidays and birthdays and big money events that were going to happen this year. Then, I thought about what I would need to buy for those. Seeing what is coming up has made it easier for me to plan ahead and buy things as I see them on sale. Also with school supplies. I wrote down what I’ll need in the fall, and have started picking up one or two things every time I go. Spending $5 or $10 each month is a lot easier than spending $60 in August. I keep my lists, birthday ideas, and upcoming events in a small (tiny) notebook in my purse.
thanks for posting this.
and thanks to all of you for the tips!
so many people (especially us Christians!) avoid this subject and pretend it doesn’t exist. finances started out as an area of great conflict in my marriage…but has become one of the biggest areas of “growth” and of knowing God more.
He is faithful.
but we have to be obedient.
Courtney’s last blog post..for the record
Pete: it was 2005 and I had just bought a Chevy Colorado Crew Cab (my truck of dreams) THEN i read Dave’s TMMO. Bummer! But it was the best thing that ever happened to me financially. I cut up every credit card (about $20k in debt) and sold off stuff to pay on them. I/we now have a balance where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel (and it is not an oncoming train). We had some set backs (moving, having to buy a house, medical, a car being hit by a train) but we are still working to get debt free. I thank God for DR.
bill (cycleguy)’s last blog post..Clean Hands
We REALLY struggle in this area…REALLY struggle. In fact – it rates #1 on my struggle and stress list.
We enjoyed a few good years and now are stuck with “investments” that we now wish we didn’t have to deal with.
I’ve been committed for the last 7 years to support our sponsor child in Haiti and have added extra funds at least 2, if not 3 times per year.
In the last 15 months, I’ve committed to tithing a full 10% (a first in my life) …which was SO HARD for me to do! I’m still only tithing after taxes and am starting to feel convicted to do it on my gross business. Have I done this yet? No…guess that means I’m still not trusting 100%, huh.
We’ve been praying for buyers to come in to help relieve some of our financial burdens… Sam and I would like to do much better things to make a difference in this world. But trying to stay encouraged that if that’s what God wants for us, He’ll bring the buyers…and if not, He’ll provide the means.
Advice: Pay off your debts. Start with the smallest one so you feel a sense of accomplishment when it’s gone. Then move on and on and on until it’s all gone. We have done this. We are now completely credit card debt free, paying down the priciple on our mortgage every month plus an extra pymt per year, almost car pymt free, and saving like never before. If we hadn’t taken the initiative to pay off our debts and curtailed our spending we would be bankrupt. Pay them off, then STOP using them.
@Deb, How about this? Let’s do both. Let the church increase missions giving and also encourage individuals to increase their mission giving as well. I think we can do both!
Boils down to needs and wants. We often confuse the two and put wants in the same category as needs, thus impulse buying and feeding the internal beast that says “I need the biggest, brightest, newest what-cha-ma-doodle… regardless if I can’t really afford to pay for it with cash versus credit.” So easy to justify it too. “It’s okay for me to buy ___, I worked hard for it or I NEED it.” But do you really need it? Could you take that excess and do something more with it? There will always be times of indulgence (buying a boat, taking a trip that you’ve saved up for, etc) and I think that’s okay in moderation… it’s when those things alone become the goal of our finances that there is issue. Accumulating stuff. Stuff rots and rusts.
We need very little or at least a whole lot less than what we consume. Consumption blocks us from doing more with less (living on less so we can give more). I’m not casting stones, I’m just as guilty here but I do recognize it and have been altering my life and my families finances accordingly. Our debt load was way too high from dumb choices years ago. Now we’re on the path to freedom so we can use what He has given to bless others. We want to teach out kids that it’s better to live off less. You can still have nice things and be content with what you have but there is a point of excess that needs to be seriously evaluated in our society. Being slave to the lender means not being free (physically, mentally, and spiritually). God doesn’t want that for us.
We are in the FPU right now. Our church decided to take our Sunday School hour and second service hour and give them up for 13 weeks of Dave Ramsey’s studies. It’s been very well attended.
It’s hard. We have lots of debt, very different views on money and different habits regarding money and the study. It’s been a challenge so far. What is exciting to me is having a plan. And end to our struggles. A light. And best of all – Dave is fun to listen to.
~Kate
Katy’s last blog post..A Birthday post – a week or more late….
My parents helped me out a ton. I was able to get some scholarships to help with college, then I got a job and paid for half of the rest, while mom and dad paid for the other half. I graduated college debt free!
This really helped when I got married too. My wife and I used the recent housing credit to pay off our car, and now all we have is our house and a little left on her school loans.
We’re cutting down stuff we don’t need and are paying three times the amount of our monthly bill on her loans–which translates into paying them off about 5 years early.
This might sound crazy, but we don’t have cable, TiVo, or Internet at our house. Bunny ears save us $50/month.
All of this is a result of my parents having money in savings and then instilling in us a passion to live life in a very free way–a way that’s not in debt!
Meanwhile, we’re able to tithe at our church and give to our missionary friends. That’s my favorite part.
Jacob’s last blog post..Good Discussion Questions
For me it’s eye-opening to think that God is the owner of it all, and in essence I’m an asset manager for Him. That inspires me to try to make better decision with all of the resources He entrust to me whether money, time or anything else. I’m thankful to Dave and Crosspoint for helping me to learn to do that…by example.
Really enjoyed this post!
I’ve always found it amazing that we can be so open and forthright about almost everything, and for the most part will let people critique our lives and hold us accountable. But, when it comes to money we clam up quicker than Scrooge’s wallet at charity time.
I’ve grown up believing in tithes and offerings. The tithe being 10% and offerings anything above that. I like what my pastor in Florida said when it came time to take the ‘offering’. “Now let us bring our tithes and offerings into the storehouse of God, not in acts of repayment, but in an attitude of thanksgiving.”
I don’t think there is a trickier subject for a pastor to speak on from the pulpit. If it’s never mentioned the legalistic, fire-n-brimstone crowd will fault him for not preaching the whole bible and getting their favorite program funded. If tithing/money is mentioned, people get angry because “all he ever does is talk about money, why?” How can a pastor win???
I think one of the best, and most convicting, things I ever heard from the pulpit was back in my home church sometime when I was in high school. If everybody in the denomination I grew up in went on welfare and tithed 10%, giving would go UP.
I have found in my life time that money and material possessions are not the most valuable things in life. I run recovery housing dealing with the broken and spiritually challenged that society forgets about. Helping 30-40 people on a daily basis heal and return to society is very emotionally and spiritually draining. My question is, for me being a servant of God how do I budget the emotional and spiritual depletion that comes along with what God has called me to do? How can I tap into an increase into God’s power to compensate the depletion of the spiritual and emotional demands placed upon my life due to being of service?
God sent FPU into our lives at a very crucial junction this year. Because of the classes, we are on a mutually agreed upon budget, we have started talking about our finances (instead of arguing about them) and aren’t living under the ax of losing our house (the Four Walls are a life saver!). The other creditors aren’t happy and the road ahead may still be quite bumpy, but we have the essentials covered and that alone eases a whole lotta stress. The sad thing is that we already KNEW all this stuff over 20 years ago, we just kept putting off DOING it. There is a price to pay for procrastination people. Whatever God is revealing to you- DO IT NOW!
Pearl’s last blog post..Adjusting Focus
Pete, I’m glad you have brought this up. I wrote about it in my blog. I made some poor choices. Now, we (the Church and my family) are trying to climb out of stupid debt. Feel frre to read about it on my blog. Thanks Pete for your leadership.
Thanks for being so authentic and open about your mistakes Randy. I know others will learn from it.
So cool that you got that opportunity. Dave is my HERO!!
Mac Lake’s last blog post..Maybe it’s time for a Change
Ron and I have been married for 20 years. We dated 4 years prior to marriage. We each had daughters that would attend college – mine was already into her 2nd year and his daughter to attend within that next 4 years.
A lesson I learned in the first year of our marriage was that I was not as good at keeping the household checkbook as I thought. Ron obviously had more insight about that than I did. So I willingly turned it all over to him. One of the first things he did was talk me into going to Financial Peace University (that was when Dave Ramsey taught the 6-week course himself as he was just starting FPU – 1990-91, I think.) It was an eye opener for me and we immediately began using the baby steps (envelopes and all) to get us out of debt – as a result of previous marriages, the need to survive and desire to really give back to the Lord our tithe – which was hard to do at first. But we got through it (although we never had to get to the beans and rice level.)
We have put two daughters through college, gotten out of debt, cars are paid for (so is the Gold Wing), we have a comfortable home, and now we both are fully retired. God is Good – so is his messenger, Dave Ramsey. I highly recommend FPU to anyone wanting to get out of the debtors dungeon and live life calmly knowing that God is in control. One would never regret having done it. It’s not without sacrifice and learning how to say “NO” to yourself.
We’ve even given his books to my nieces as gifts to help them understand the concept. They are both married now and working toward freeing themselves of this self-imposed debtor’s imprisonment. It’s a great concept and I highly recommend it and so very grateful we listened to God’s words.
Being totally honest – it is time to look at the prompt that is thrown in front of my path all the time. People around me are in need, yet I close my eyes all too often. I am not sure why other than fear about the future, uncertainty, anxiety, or even mistrust. I can throw out all those words, but I also must add to the list selfishness. I give time and energy, but generally I give very little. Ugh…
Michael’s last blog post..Is this the answer I really wanted…
Being musicians married to each other, we end most months with a…”whew, we made it”… or almost made it. It’s the life we chose and love but the stress from trying to pay our bills can bog us down sometimes.
Of course, whenever you do the … “if you own a car.. you’re among the top 10% richest people in the world.. if you own a home.. you’re among the top 5%.. ” sermon- it puts it all in perspective. I know we could live with a lot less but it’s always.. we need this piece of gear to make more money in the studio.. so we put it on a credit card and hope it pays off.. (now don’t go and tell Dave Ramsey on us!)
“. . . sometimes [I] stay up late trying to figure out how I could afford this or afford that, but rarely was I compelled to spend hours strategizing about how I could more effectively fund Kingdom ventures…”
OUCH! This so hits home w/ me! Here I am spending hours stressing over the fabric that covers my dining room chairs and spending $$ to build up my house, but what am I really doing to build up God’s kingdom?
Thanks for making me stop and think!
For the first time in our married lives we wrote out a budget last year. We’ve managed to pay off some debt, cash flow the maternity bills this time, and give more than we ever have before–and I give credit to Dave’s book TMMO for getting us on track. I attended FPU with my 19 year old niece last year–hoping she will make better choices than we have with our money.
We have a plan, we are on the right track, and I am so thankful!
Mama Koala’s last blog post..Super Savings Saturday, 82% Savings
I want to leave the job I’m in and go into ministry. There. I said it
.
I’m not sure what that’ll do to my “take home” (we’re expecting a lot less) and my wife and I are concerned about what that might mean for our kids education but that aside, if it’s God’s will, we’re in.
I live in Africa. Poverty is all around. It’s part of life here.
In Christ,
Mark
Mark Penrith’s last blog post..Brethren in the bush
Pete, my husband was happy to finally meet you at the devo that day. We don’t comment often, but we love the blog community you’ve created here!
I used to shop to relieve stress, loneliness & boredom. When the credit card bills came in I threw them in a drawer. I paid minimums and surfed balances and found ourselves in an incredible mess. We later went through Dave’s FPU and without question it changed our lives! Last year our family finally paid off the last of our credit cards. There are so many layers to what we learned over the years trying to finish that off. Accruing stuff is not going to bring you satisfaction or make you look cool! The first time I was able to help a friend in need, I cried because I was finally able to do it without a nagging voice in the back of my head worried about how close I was cuttin it with wondering if the cc payments had cleared yet or not. It’s so worth it to press on and give up what you have to to get out of debt. It’s been a painful but also a beautiful learning curve for me.
Heather’s last blog post..Flippity HD-DooDa