Discontentment

This morning as I was reading The Purpose Driven Life daily devotional that I receive and I thought this needed to be shared with everyone. Discontentment is probably the number one thing that gets most of us in BIG trouble with our finances. As Rick Warren states, "there is nothing wrong with wanting to look nice, or to have nice things, or to try to better your life and the lives of those you love. Discontentment, wrapped within the proper perspective, is one thing God uses to move us in a new, healthy direction."

However, he also reminds us that "discontentment becomes unhealthy when your desire to acquire becomes the focus of your life and your possessions. In fact, at that point, your possessions begin to possess you and your discontentment becomes a short leash that controls you and actually holds you back from experiencing the abundant life God created you to enjoy.

The apostle Paul, who was blessed with great privileges, but also beaten and stripped of everything he had, taught that true contentment must be learned: “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” (Philippians 4:12 NIV).

He goes on to say that God gives us strength to be content. This is an important spiritual truth to learn because if wealth, good looks, and a star-quality spouse brought us lasting contentment, then Hollywood would be filled with some of the most content and happy people on earth."

I think I very important thing we need to ask ourselves and think about for 2009....“Why is it in your closet?” Honestly how many items in your closet were bought because you just had to have the latest trend or because you felt just a teeny, tiny bit jealous about the way your co-worker always wears the latest styles at the office? Are there things in your closet you bought because you were bored with your wardrobe, or because the scent of discontent filled the air as you shuffled between hangers?

Credit card rates infuriate many - CNN

Have you seen the headline on charter.net from CNN? The heading reads "Credit card rates infuriate many". Funny huh? I was just forewarning everyone blogs ago about it is coming. They article states "They have this provision that says they can raise the rate -- any time, any reason...credit card companies get away with whatever they want, as long at they put their desires into the fine print." Law makers are stuck at this point with no where to turn to change the laws, or so that is the excuse they use, because they have been receiving donations in their campaign from the financial sector. They say their hands are tied - yea right!!!!! They are serving money and not the American people's best interest.

If my blogs, Dave Ramsey or anyone else is who on board with the Financial Peace principles can not get you to change the way you think about credit cards, maybe this will.

The Federal Reserve is expected to vote on its own, new rules regarding credit cards, rules in the works for four years that could clamp down on rate-jacking. Personally I do not understand why it has taken four years. Maybe the Federal Reserve is sponsored by Citibank as well??? Whatever is passed, it is said, these charges probably would not take effect until 2010. Are you ready to tell them no more and cut up all of your credit cards? Maybe let them loose their buildings like some of us have lost your homes due to this bondage?

"QBQ! The Question Behind the Question"

I have been reading a book the QBQ by John G. Miller. The book is about what you should really ask yourself to eliminate blame, complaining, and procrastination. However, as I was reading the last chapter it hit me how this could be used in FPU. Most of the book is to teach us about personal accountability, "my mess, my responsibility." I do not at all want to beat anyone up, but most of us will admit that the reason why we are in debt bondage is because of our own choices. The book teaches us that we must be asking the "QBQ" in order to start disciplining our thoughts and making better choices. You are to ask questions that begin with "what" or "how", contain "I" and focus on action. So the FPU QBQ should be something like this:

"What can I do to set better financial boundaries and just say NO"?....answer.....a BUDGET!!!
"How can I communicate better with my spouse about our finances"?....answer....a BUDGET!!!

This is the way you should approach the current financial crisis that you are in. Do not lay blame elsewhere. You should take personal accountability for the problem and find a resolution. In a nutshell the success of FPU is about getting on a budget and having a plan for your money. Are you willing to do that and stop blaming everyone else? If so, then have a budget committe meeting this weekend with your spouse. It will truly set you free.

Made in His image

One of our FPU graduates sent me an email this week. He is in Kuwait serving our country and said that he was talking to someone who asked why the church always asks for money. He shot right back at them at with one of the principles you learn from FPU about tithing. Dave often asked that question himself when he became a new believer and after reading Genesis where it states that we are "made in His image", he felt he had the answer. God gave his only son. If we are made in His image and God gave all, then He expects us to be a giver. I will quote what Dave teaches about this issue.

"Each time we give, it makes us less selfish. Less selfish people always prosper over those who don't. Cynical people think the church wants us to give because God needs our money. Now that's funny! God needing our money? Wow! The church doesn't need our money neither. The church needs sold-out believers that are walking under the spirit and wisdom of HIS word and giving is just the by-product of that. Giving is similar to God giving his only son but of course on a much smaller scale. Giving is a mechanical act that represents God's gift to us. So, giving a tithe to the church is an unselfish act to represent God's gift to us and reflects that we are a Christian, which means "Christ-like".

The Garden of Eden

I was doing my Bible study this morning in Genesis and in the daily sanctuary portion of my Bible I was reading about Eve. While I was reading this, it hit me that Eve was tempted by Satan in the Garden of Eden by questioning her contentment. Satan shifted Eve's focus from all that God had done and given to her to the one thing He had withheld. That just struck me as being exactly what FPU is all about. Society today has shifted our focus from what we do have and our true needs to what we do not have. This has caused the financial mess this country and many families are in today. We can not seem to be content with where we are and with what we have. I can honestly say that my life has changed since FPU. I am not at all going to continue to allow society through Satan to remind me of what I do not have or what the "Jone's" have. I am very content with what I have and where I am and that is true Financial Peace.

Twas the month before Christmas

This poem is the very reason we must stop loving "stuff" and money if not for anything else, but to keep the real meaning of Christmas in Christmas. Stop and ask yourself for one minute if you really do consider that Jesus was born on this day in Bethlehem while you are scurrying through the stores finding that next gift.

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS , not Happy Holiday !