I always enjoy the weekly e-newsletter from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  They are filled with helpful tidbits on a wide variety of topics.  This week was about Budgeting.  To some this is a concept of mystery and frustration while others handle it with the expertise of an accountant.  I think I fall somewhere in the middle. When I was first out on my own, I attended a Financial Planning workshop, (which, incidentally, was given by my dad), so I was equipped with the knowledge as to how to create a budget. However, just knowing what to do and how to do it doesn’t mean your going to do it.  Even though I had the tools I fell short in the determination to use them properly and we soon fell into the credit card trap and the ‘need it now’ syndrome.  I believe that the strongest temptation out there is the ‘buy now, pay later’ (and later, and later…) mentality that is so widely promoted.  In 1 Timothy 6:6-21 it speaks of being content with what we have. It says that when we are eager for money (to buy the things we want) we get away from our faith and we end up in trouble.  We are charged to run away from this and to run towards Him who gives us everything.  I believe that Satan couldn’t be any happier as he is when our minds are distracted and focused on the things of the world, such as money issues. (Luke 12:15)  When we become consumed with our economic woes or how we can finance some superfluous item, we lose sight of the Truth. (Mark 4:19)  God wants to give us everything for our enjoyment through our hope in Him. (1 Timothy 6:17, Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

After reaching the point where the stress of financial insecurity was overwhelming, we finally woke up to this realization and began to make serious efforts to get out of debt.  The process has been slow, and we still have a ways to go, but the end goal is in sight.   We now have a plan, determination and are relying on God to see it through. 

Proverbs 30:8-9  Keep falsehood and lies far away from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you.