Head and Heart

I had one of the coolest moments happen to me this past Sunday!

Someone came to me and handed me a check and said this was their first time tithing even though they have been a Christian for quite some time.  It was so awesome!!  I love seeing people recalibrate their finances to put God first.

This person was moved emotionally by their decision and I know why.  I've been there.  We all have.  That moment when you go from having the knowledge in your mind about something you should do to having that knowledge drop from your mind and into your heart.  It's a powerful thing!

When something gets into to your heart it changes everything.

Just like with giving our first 10% to God is first a head thing that later becomes a heart thing so is the truth when it comes to saving our money.

Come on be honest with me, we all know we need to save but how many of us actually go out and make it happen with each paycheck?  Things are going to happen that require us to have extra money set aside.  Cars need new parts, homes need new furniture, kids need new clothes, vacations need to be paid for (You do go on vacation don't you?  If you don't we need to have another talk.) 

And if you are like most, you don't have the savings to take care of that...so...you...CHARGE IT and get deeper into a debt hole (Something we'll talk about in February) that you feel never gets smaller only larger.

So make the decision in your head to save today and watch as you choose to save that decision becomes a passion of your heart!

Saving with you,
David

Saving Money - You just have to do it

Why do so many of us find it difficult to save?

 

I don’t think it’s from a lack of desire or even poor planning.  I know most people have every intention to save money.

 

I think saving extra money is much like spending time with God each day. 

You just have to do it. 

It may seem so small and insignificant at first but as you keep showing up to spend time with God, day in and day out something happens. 

Something changes...in you, with you and to you spiritually.

 

You become more confident in your relationship with God

 

The same is true when it comes to saving money.

You just have to do it.

Even if it seems so small and insignificant at first but as you keep making the choice to save some amount of money, week in and week out, something happens.

Something changes...in you, with you and to you financially.

 

You become more confident in your relationship with your finances.

 

In both instances you have done something to your heart.  Something good.  Something God desires.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

 

Haven’t started saving anything yet?

You just have to do it. 

Why not start today?

 

Saving with you!

Pastor David

You can save money!

This week I chose to give you encouragement to save from someone I trust very much when it comes to finances - Dave Ramsey.  Here is an excerpt from his thoughts on saving money...

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. –Proverbs 21:20
Saving money is not a matter of math.
You will not save money when you get that next raise.
You will not save money when that car is paid off.
You will not save money when the kids are grown.
You will only save money when it becomes an emotional priority.

We all know we need to save, but most people don't save like they know they need to save. Why? Because they have competing goals. The goal to save isn't a high enough priority to delay that purchase of the pizza, DVD player, new computer, or china cabinet. So we purchase, buy, consume all our dollars away or, worse yet, go into debt to buy these things.

That debt means monthly payments that control our paychecks and make us say things like, "We just don't make enough to save any money!" Wrong, wrong, wrong! We do make enough to save money; we just aren't willing to quit spoiling ourselves with our little projects or pleasures to have enough left to save. It doesn't matter what you make—you can save money. It just has to become a big enough priority to you.

You can find the whole article at http://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-secret-to-saving-money/

You can do it!  You can save money!!
We can do it together!!

In Him,
Pastor David

The Ride

Here we are, the first full week of 2016.

I don’t know how you started the new year but for me it started with an excitement and nervousness all at the same time.  Just be clear the nervousness isn’t filled with fear but with anticipation.

I liken it to being in line for the first time on a brand new roller coaster.  This is what it was like for me and my ladies this summer when we were at Disney’s California Adventure getting ready to ride the Radiator Springs Racers.

The line was long, the wait seemed forever at times, you could hear the ride flying by and ever so often you got a glimpse of part of the ride.  Finally we were at the front of the line, in our car and we were off.  It started slow, giving us scenic views along the way, then you got ready to race and you were off, speeding through the canyons!  We loved it so much we went again later that day.

At New Life, we have decided to start off our year much like this experience we had at the Disneyland Resort.  We chose to Recalibrate our Finances.  Making the choice to reset the priorities of your finances can make you excited and nervous, but like with the ride the nervousness should be filled with anticipation rather than fear.  Why?

Because anytime someone chooses to put God first in their finances, they are choosing to put God first in their heart.  Check out what the Bible says about it…

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” ~ Matthew 6:21

And look what God says about your desires…

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.” ~Psalm 37:4

This gets me excited!!  It should for you too!!

So as we decide to save each and every extra dollar we can in the month of January, don’t forget to give your heart to God in the process and trust Him with your finances, (with your heart really) and get ready to enjoy the ride that will follow in 2016!