Who Do You Turn To

Have you ever been stressed about something - your job not going well, friendships under stress, finances in trouble? Who do you turn to? When you find yourself facing one of these situations, turn to those around you who you trust and who love you. Sometimes we let our pride get in the way of asking for help. A friend of mine recently gave me some excellent advice which helped me with a stressful situation in my life. In addition to the advice I know he is praying for me. Having a circle of friends you can count on can make the difference when life gets tough.

Crown Seminar Follow Up

Saturday's "Journey to Financial Freedom" seminar turned out really well. Curtis Schwartz, the speaker, did an incredible job presenting the scriptures dealing with money and with presenting money management tips and recommendations. We had 135 people in attendance and most importantly, there were 4 people who accepted Christ as their personal savior. Now that is something to celebrate! Be in prayer for the 4 as they begin their journey following Jesus and as they seek to be fully devoted disciples in all areas of their lives including their finances.

James 3:10

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 3:10

God is speaking to me through this verse today.

Journey to Financial Freedom

We are hosting Crown Financial Ministries "Journey to Financial Freedom" seminar today at Alice Drive Baptist Church. Attendance is over what we anticipated. A lot of prayer has gone into preparing for today's event. The attendance itself is an answer to prayer. We had hoped for 50 people and at last count we had 131. There is a tremendous need for educating people in handling finances the way God intended. He does have a plan for our finances. Money and greed are powerful lures in our daily lives. To be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, we need to turn every area of our lives over to Him - including our money.

If you are seeking an answer to the chaos of your finances and you were not able to attend today's seminar, come to Alice Drive Baptist Church on Wednesday nights beginning 1/30/08 at 6:00 PM in room 201 for the Crown Small Group Study.

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:24).

Money Management Tools

As you begin to develop and live by a budget it is necessary for you to keep track of your spending and income in an organized fashion. There are many tools available to set up your budget. Keeping your budget on paper is one option. However, I would recommend trying an electronic budgeting system. There are many great products on the market which cost anywhere from $19.99 on up. One great product I personally use is Ace Money Light. It is a freeware program. You can download and use the program for free. It offers the same features as many of the programs you can buy. The one option the free version does not offer is the ability to track more than one bank account. If that is a feature you need, the full-featured version only cost $30.

This is a powerful, full-featured program that is user friendly and easy to set up.

If you personally use another program that you would like to recommend, send me a comment and I will check it out and put a link on the page for others to see.

Money Management Resources

As mentioned in some earlier posts, January is a time when we seek to set down new habits and practices in our lives. One of the biggest areas focused on in a new year is in the area of our finances. There are lots of great resources to help you plan your finances and get that area of your life under control. When looking for which book, advisor or program to begin, always check out what source their focus comes from. God has a plan for our finances and when we manage our money according to His principles, we will find contentment joy and peace otherwise unknown to us.

The following are some great Biblically based programs and websites:

www.crown.org
www.generousgiving.org
www.daveramsey.com
www.scbaptist.org

24 hours

What a difference 24 hours makes. At this time last night, it looked like we were going to wake up to ice and snow this morning and extremely cold temperatures. It was extremely cold this morning, however, the snow and ice missed us. The sun was shining bright all day. Today was a good day at Alice Drive. We had a lady accept Christ and two people get baptized. As of this evening 89 people have registered for the "Journey to True Financial Freedom" seminar this coming Saturday (our hope was for 50). Last night I was concerned about the weather and what affect it would have on today. I was guilty of worrying and not letting God be in control. I am glad God is in control and not me. He took what looked like was going to be a bad day and made it shine. Lives were changed today for eternity.

Things work show much better when we let God be in control.

Church Is On

Church is on! The forecast calls for winter weather tonight with lows in the 20's. We will have church tomorrow at Alice Drive Baptist Church. Services are at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 and Bible Community groups meet at 9:45 and 11:00. See you at church.

It's Not Too Late

If you made a goal to get your finances in order this year but have gotten off to a slow start, it's not too late. Come to Alice Drive Baptist Church for Crown's "Journey to True Financial Freedom" seminar on January 26th. For further information or to register, go to www.crown.org/events.

I hope to see you there.

In God We Trust

These four words are printed on every US coin and bill. Having this phrase on our currency has been the cause of much debate over the years. Ironically, we often place our trust in the money the phrase is printed on instead of in God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." We have placed our trust in money for too long and it has brought us to the brink of bankruptcy as a nation. The average American now lives on 102% of their income or more. The answer is not found in our money, the answer is found in trusting God and leaning on Him. Only then will we find true peace and happiness.

How do you fill in the blank: "In _____ I Trust"?

Riverfront Park Columbia, SC

Gayla and I went over to Riverfront Park in Columbia Saturday afternoon. If you have never been, it is a beautiful park with a walking path that runs for several miles beside the old Columbia Canal and the river. It was a beautiful day to be outside getting some fresh air and enjoying the beauty of the waterfront. If you are looking for something to do sometime, pack a lunch and head over to Riverfront Park and enjoy the scenery.

Perspective

"The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." (Psalm 24:1-2)

This scripture clearly shows that God is the owner and Provider of all we have. Why then do we hold back on using and sharing those blessings with others? We should use the blessings we have to honor God, serve others and Glorify Him. As you continue to reflect on establishing new habits for the new year, consider the ways in which you can use the abundance you have been blessed with to honor God.

Ten Things to Find Financial Freedom

Crown Financial Ministries has a practical top ten list of things you can do to find financial freedom in the new year. They are:

10. Build a budget – Develop a monthly budget and make it your guide to financial freedom. (Proverbs 16:3)
9. Give it away – Give to God’s work; it’s His money anyway. (1 Timothy 6:18)
8. Reduce your use - Develop discipline in your spending habits. (Proverbs 22:7)
7. Get a grip – Spending doesn’t lift depression. (Proverbs 21:17)
6. Look at your paycheck – Spend less than you make. (Jeremiah 22:21)
5. Cook a meal – Discover the kitchen occasionally and reduce the number of restaurant visits. (Proverbs 13:18)
4. Get in the car – Take a local vacation this year. (Proverbs 16:9)
3. Don’t keep up with the Jones’s – They’re in debt too! (Ecclesiastes 4:4)
2. Keep the “ultimate driving machine” – You know…the one that’s paid for.
(Luke 14:28)
1. Pray each day before you pay – Emotional and spiritual balance will lead to financial freedom. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

For the full article visit: http://www.crown.org/LIBRARY/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=518

Fresh Start

Many of us resolve to improve our finances every new year. We start out with the best of intentions, maybe even write down a budget, but by the end of January we fall back into our old ways. There is an alternative. 2008 does not have to be like every other year. Now is the time to follow through on your intentions and get a grip on your finances. On January 26, Alice Drive Baptist Church will be hosting Crown Financial Ministries' "Journey to Financial Freedom" seminar. This is an excellent first step to take in 2008 to get your finances on track. You can register for the seminar at www.crown.org/events. I hope you will take this opportunity to make a change and to make 2008 the year your resolutions actually are fulfilled.

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2008. I hope this year brings you much joy, peace and prosperity.