Week 20 of 52 - Thoughts on Giving...

I’ve had this topic on my mind this week and when my weekend devotions were on the same topic, I figured it was more than coincidence.  Giving means different things to different people.  As a Christian, I think of tithes and offerings. 
Whew, tithing.  I hesitate to even mention it, I fear sparking a debate.  Some say it’s not a requirement for New Testament believers.   I suppose at some point we all have to decide what we are going to do.

The reasons I believe in tithing:

1.       1.  My mother.  She has always given faithfully.  She recalls the words of Malachi to the nation of Israel and believes the same still applies to us as givers: 

“Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. … Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”  “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:8, 10-11

2.      2.  We’ve been given so much.  Yet despite this, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I once faced a season of questioning whether to give in tithes to my church. I searched the scriptures and felt strongly that God was saying – look I give you all this and more:  forgiveness, salvation, family, health, work, and really, you’re going to find a verse to argue about whether to continue giving a percentage back to Me?   As my mind raced with all the blessings and memories of times that could have only been His provision, I felt so humbled.  Let's just say I came out of that season understanding more about what it means to be a cheerful giver.

I love this quote of Charles Stanley from Friday's devotion:  "We've been given so much at no cost, yet we struggle to give liberally.  Our selfish nature wants to keep what we have."   Yep, that would sum up that season of my life.

This weekend, as I read about the churches of Macedonia and how they gave themselves first to the Lord, then they gave according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord. Wow, if we want to debate something, let's talk about what it means to give beyond our ability!

I also believe in offerings to support the Great Commission as well as minister to the needs of others.   I can think of families in our church with potential financial needs due to health issues.  Families who have served and given to us, I pray we will be found giving back to them.

It would be easy to see all the Dave Ramsey debt reduction talk and think it’s all about building wealth for our personal gain.  If that’s all there is, what a waste. 

For my photos this week, more of my child who seems to have vowed to never look at another camera again...

We went to a nature show this weekend.  So good to have my friend Meg down for a visit!

Week 18 of 52 - Vanity and Maturity at Odds

When we considered what we could we could do without for six months, we agreed no new clothes for the adults.  Believe it or not, it was actually my idea.  We were rocking along just fine; I was even surviving quite nicely in the small segment of my closet known as post- baby-and- not-everything-fits-quite-right-yet.  Then an email from Facebook,  “you’ve been tagged in a photo”.

I scanned the photo and thought how pretty – all the lovely ladies from my church at a wedding we all attended.  Then I paused, who was that older girl on the end?  And what was she wearing? Oh my, that’s me and that brown polka dot dress, that’s mine too...except it just wasn’t as attractive captured there for all time.

Suddenly I realized – I still have Easter to go!  Then my cousin’s May wedding!   What ever will I wear?  This dress will never do…  I will say I did pray over my childish behavior.  And without hearing of my “plight", a dear spiritual mentor calls to tell me that she’s proud of me for the financial changes we are making and God put it on her heart to send some money to buy a dress.  I was quite surprised, thanked God, marveled at His provision, and bought a dress.  

Wouldn’t it be an uplifting story if it ended there?  But it didn’t.  I then bought another dress for the wedding because after all, it was also on sale and I wouldn't want the same people to see me at the wedding wearing the SAME dress.  Then the next day, I bought a third dress because it was one of my favorite colors and I had a coupon!  I reasoned, if it had been at the first store, I wouldn’t have bought one of the other dresses, so maybe I will take back one of those dresses.  But later decided it really didn’t make sense to return the first dress because after all it was on sale and I might need a third dress before summer’s end.  Oh and Walt could use a color-coordinated polo shirt… so in my shopping haze, I end up spending $150 of our dollars.

I like the dresses and while Dave Ramsey would never understand, I tell myself that maybe his wife Sharon would… sometimes you just feel better in a new dress, or three.

As for now, I will enjoy the dresses and work on regaining my focus and maturity with our finances.   I heard Dave say, adults devise a plan and act on it while a child just does what feels good at the time. So I am trying to take Dave’s advice and devise a plan – a plan so big and long-term that the goals are more appealing than what I’m not wearing.  I can only hope my maturity outpaces my vanity.

As for my photography project this week, here's a few:  couldn't resist a shot before pushing those toes back in the crib.  Not as worried about his safety as I was his sleep being interrupted by a stuck foot...

 

While my brother was swinging him sideways...

I joked that this odd shot may be our monthly family photo... Samuel, a blurry George, Walt's arm, my foot...

Week 6 of 52 - Visualize the Victory

As I shared with my spiritual mother about life, she reminded me of her mantra: Visualize the Victory. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago, she clung to her faith in God and adopted this mantra of Visualize the Victory. Today, she is a survivor and remains strong in her faith.

Now when I am tempted to look at the past and say “if only” or look at the future and say “what if”, she repeats “Visualize the Victory” and encourages me to pray and focus my thoughts on what can be achieved. (She also tells me loudly – and repeatedly if needed - to get out of the way and let God handle things as this is almost always applies to how I'm reacting to the situation).

In our attempt to Visualize the Victory with our money management goals, we made a banner that reads: “WE ARE WEIRD AND DEBT FREE!” Each time we pay off a certain amount of debt, we color in a letter. This banner hangs in my bedroom where we can see it every day.

W expressed some concern the scotch tape will pull off the paint when this is over. I feigned surprise at the notion of needing to repaint the bedroom walls! That outcome never crossed my mind…

So for us, coloring in these letters is proving quite motivational. I’d love to hear from others about how they stay motivated to stick with a goal.

As for the rest of our world, it’s been a damp and cold week with few opportunities to be outside. Today I unleashed G on the mud puddles and he had a grand time splashing around.

He saw mud, I saw a small load of laundry in exchange for a tired toddler at nap time.

Verses that stuck with me this week...
Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul ~ Philippians 3:13-14

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.
Jesus ~ John 16:33

Week 4 of 52 - Comparing prices

Ok, my odd behavior this week may land me in the People of Wal-Mart line-up but let me try to explain.  While we have an overall monthly budget, I realized I had no idea what we pay for many items we buy.  So I decided to go on a pricing mission.  

W suggested rather than take the time to record prices, I simply take photos instead - brilliant.  Up and down the aisles, my camera snapped at rollback prices while my eyes darted at unsuspecting blue-vested employees.  Fortunately, I completed my mission with some strange looks and questioning glances, but no Wal-Mart interrogation or demands to erase my memory card full of pricing information.  

Engergized, I continued my pricing mission at a local discount club.  One of my objectives was to price diapers, because as any mom knows, each sweet little baby bottom goes through a multitude of diapers each month.  My price comparisons revealed the Amazon Mom Subscribe and Save was a full $10 cheaper per box than the pre-tax discount club price!  Caveat: I’m positively addicted to the baby fresh smell of a particular diaper brand.  Perhaps a generic store brand would yield similar savings, but I admit I'm a sniffer of new diapers.

This week’s photo is S with the diapers he uses in a month.

My February challenge:  lower our grocery bill by 30 percent.   In preparation, my couponing friends took me on a field trip – it was a morning filled with new couponing actions and lingo: BOGOs, stacking, and even a rain check.  When I checked out and was a little too enthusiastic about my sales receipt savings, the cashier peered over her glasses and said, “You new at this?”  Yep, for now at least.

Week 2 of 52 - One baby step at a time

Week 2 has brought very few photo opportunities. Here’s one of S on his play mat.  Similar to us, he is taking baby steps… rolling over, learning to support the weight of his arms, and trying to crawl.

I had several baby steps this week including a conference call coaching session with Russ Carroll, Dave’s lead financial coach.  The meeting with Russ reminded me of why it’s so important to be better money managers – so we can be even better givers.  He commented we are made in God’s image and God is the ultimate giver, so we too should strive to be givers.

As for the couponing, it’s been a good first start, thanks to the help of my friends!  I have my coupons organized in a hot pink binder and even scored 3 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter for .44 cents each…which may come in handy during this snow storm.  W must be motivated too, he even said he would take the flashy pink binder to the store if needed.

Week 1 of 52 - Couponing!

I'm so not a coupon person.  Well I once was a coupon person and the relationship ended in the middle of an Ingles store.  I was pushing the cart with my hip, shoving a pacifier in the mouth of a crying newborn with one hand, and clutching my accordion-style coupon book in the other hand.  Long about Aisle 5, I tossed the coupon book aside and my left-handed scissors have been gathering dust ever since.

But I have some good friends who are impressive coupon ladies, not TLC Extreme Couponers mind you, but savvy enough that when they told me this week's Sunday paper had 5 coupon inserts, I decided to give it a whirl.

So here is my first shot of the year and hopefully the start of a new less-frustrating coupon adventure.  

As for the photography, it's a very noisy start!  I learned that I must always check my ISO before clicking... I didn't and the ISO was set at 6400!

Meanwhile, if you have any coupon tips that helped you save time and ease frustration, please share!