Thursday, August 7, 2008

Broken down walls....part THREE... with a Frugal Friday twist!

Financial walls:
WALLS! To recap: They provide protections (by keeping things in or out), create boundaries, create an identity. They provide safety, security and freedom. The strength of my walls is directly related to my self-control!!! Start with the first in this series for more on the important "walls" in our lives.

Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control."


Self control is the BALANCE of the NOT and the DO.

I am in NO way qualified to teach on finances... I will leave that up to the experts! However, I have learned some valuable lessons relating to self-control and money!!!!!

Over the past few years our family has been attacking our debt and changing our outlook on money. We discovered Dave Ramsey and our life has not been the same since! I do believe what Larry Burket said for years "The way you spend your money says a lot about the condition of your heart."

God, how is my financial wall?? Am I balancing the NOT and the DO? Are my motives right and pure?? We have made so many mistakes in our past! God is full of GRACE and has been with us each and every step of the way as we learn to line up our finances with HIS word!

The SPENDING PLAN requires CONSTANT self-control. It is so easy to fall to weak moments and chip away at the "wall". I have those days that I just don't FEEL like cooking.... I have those days I don't FEEL like paying the bills.... I have moments that I just FEEL like buying a new whatever.... I have days that my thoughts are full of the "If I only had", "If I could just get..", "If only I had more money" "I WANT", "I need", or "I wish...". Retail therapy is a hard habit to break (even if yard sales and goodwill are my shopping of choice)!! Little chips add up to big chunks.

Financial "Walls" need constant PROTECTION.... Self-control is a key way of protecting it. We can't control all of life's curve balls, but we can use wisdom to be as prepared as possible. Eliminating debt, saving up an emergency fund, paying off the house and investing for the future are all things we can do! Walking with self-control is the ONLY way I am going to accomplish these goals.... Exercising self-control in the area of money will make me look different than the rest of America.... Like Dave Ramsey says "Live like no one else, so that later I can live like no one else"!!!

God, continue to give me wisdom each day relating to our finances. Help me to walk in self control. Thank you for being faithful to meet ALL of our needs. Open my eyes to see more clearly the difference between a NEED and a WANT!

For more frugal living posts visit Biblical Womanhood for Frugal Friday.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

One BIG way we save money is having a menu plan.
www.simplefamilysupper.com
Sign up for the free Simple Family Supper Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SimpleFamilySupper/

1 comment:

God's Girl said...

It is so nice to meet you! May the Lord bless you and your beautiful family!

Let's keep in touch. K?