ENCOURAGED IN HEART

This week we are going to talk about financial goals. The journey to financial freedom has many stops along the way (goals).  In order to successfully navigate any journey, one must be suitably equipped.  If you don’t have a map to guide you, wrong turns will inevitably occur.  Heck, even with a map, wrong turns occur! Crown Financial has developed a Money Map to help guide you.

Last week, I wrote that you should have three months salary in an emergency savings fund.  This is one of the goals, but not the first step in the journey.  Let’s take a look at the map in detail.

The first destination, download your free copy of the Money Map at www.crownmoneymap.org/.  You’ll need to register to view the step by step map, but here’s a snapshot:

1.  Build savings up to $1000 for emergencies.

2.  Pay off your credit cards.  It also includes increasing your emergency savings to one month’s worth of expenses.

3.  Pay off the rest of your consumer debt.  This would include everything except for your mortgage.  It also includes the goal to have three month’s salary in an emergency savings fund.

4.  The fourth step includes saving up money for a major purchase.  You are also to start saving for retirement, funding your children’s college education.

5. Buy an affordable home.  It also includes prepaying your mortgage and investing wisely.

6.  Pay off your mortgage, fund your children’s college and get your estate is completely in order.

7.  FREEDOM!!! Your retirement is completely funded.

Okay, maybe not that kind of freedom…but certainly freedom from the chains of debt.

Something you should consider is celebrating each time you move to the next step.  Because moving a little closer to freedom IS something to truly celebrate.  So decide ahead of time how you want to celebrate, budget for it, and then go crazy once you hit the goal.

The great thing about this map is that it doesn’t put any time lines associated with each step.  The creators knew full well that it will take some people longer than others to forward along the journey.  Here’s to fiscal health which will translate to overall health!

God, is that you?

I remember the first time I truly experienced God’s voice.  It wasn’t an audible sound but rather a simple sentence that replayed over and over in my mind.

I was a recent college graduate, young in my faith relationship and days away from moving to Georgia.  I had left my waitressing job to run errands. Doing the ordinary, God spoke the extraordinary and it changed my life forever.

I experienced an urgency to pull over at the local bookstore.  So I did.  I didn’t think it was a big deal as I had some free time.  It was odd that I didn’t have a book that I wanted to buy but I pulled in anyway.  I walked to the “Spiritual” section and found a book that interested me.  As I flipped through pages, a woman interrupted with, “Is that the last copy of that book?” As I turned toward the voice, the same simple sentence replayed in my brain with a physical pressure that pressed on my heart, “Tell her I love her and haven’t left her.  Tell her I love her and haven’t left her.”

What is going on? I’m not doing that, the woman is going to think I’m crazy! I don’t even know her!

“Tell her I love her and haven’t left her.  Tell her I love her and haven’t left her.” Over and over this same sentence played.  My inner battle lasted seconds yet felt more like hours.  I decided to buy some time with, “I’m not sure, let’s go check.”

“Tell her I love her and haven’t left her. Tell her I love her and haven’t left her.”

In the seconds it took to arrive in the private corner of the bookstore, I negotiated that I would in fact do it.  Uncertain if it was God or not, I reasoned that since I was moving in days, I’d never see this woman again.

Gulp.

“Listen, I’ve never had this happen to me before.  I’m not crazy, just someone who really loves the Lord.  I have no idea why, but I believe God wants me to tell you something, ‘that He loves you and hasn’t forgotten you.’” 

The woman collapsed in my arms and wept, “I’ve been contemplating killing myself for days now. I thought God left me.” I embraced her and went from the shock of, “Wow, that really was God speaking” to, “Listen, it’s clear God loves you and cares for you. I’ve never had an experience like this before.  Do you have a Bible?  Let’s go get one…”  We parted with a hug, a Bible in my new friend’s arm and the reassurance that it’s okay to step out to see if it’s really God or not.

I would love to say that I kept in touch with this woman through the years and that she is on fire for the Lord,  but that just wasn’t the case.  It was God that placed that message on my heart that summer day.  Now, fifteen years later, I often think of that precious moment with God.  However, even more importantly, God pressed the importance of hearing and obeying God.  “What if I wasn’t obedient that day?” has replayed many times in my mind.  Even more importantly, “How many opportunities have I missed because of my pride, for the fear of looking foolish?”

What will you do the next time you hear Him speak, will you choose to obey?

As I pursue being at work at home mother, I wanted to post some diverse and amazing cites from
girlfriends that are also getting down to business, their “home” business!Please check these cites out and if you or another friend have a home business you’d like to post, please leave a comment so we can support one another!

Kerry Debski:

My home based business is Creative Memories. I love it!! I make my own hours and get to help people with their digital and photo memories. We also have fabulous photo gifts and gift ideas. What’s even better still is in many cases people don’t even need to leave the comfort of their home! I can provide a lot of help with online “classes” or “get togethers”. My website is www.mycmsite.com/kerrydebski

Gwen Meehan:

CoolMamaCards
-  custom designed photo cards for any occasion.  I design photo cards for all sorts of events/reasons – party invitations, baptisms, confirmation, wedding “save the date”, thank you – if you have a photo and something you want to let others know about, I can create a card to say it.  Each of my designs are custom for the person ordering it.  I do not use templates, I believe in creating a unique card for each
customer.  I don’t stop until you’re happy.   Please visit my site to see past creations and to learn more – www.coolmamacards.com

Sherry Baker:

Button Boutique. I’m not sure what’s happened to me. I think I’ve become my mother. My sisters and I used to joke about going home and helping my mom in her craft shop! What a chore to help her paint and glue etc. We just didn’t have the “craft gene”.

But since the birth of my children, I love to craft! It started with scrapbooking, then stamping cards, then jewelry and now fabric buttons. What’s next?? I have no idea but I know that for me there is nothing more soothing to my soul then the peace I feel at my craft table!! (dining room table taken over my beads and fabric).

Thanks for reading about me. I hope you enjoy my items! I love making them for you, and love hearing about who they are for and how much they like them!!! http://www.buttonboutique.etsy.com/

Diana Cory:

My “home” business is selling ZoeLife and marketing distributors, which is a great way to make money. LOTS of
money! The product itself, ZoeLife, is a pure powdered form of 21 fruits and vegetables, providing a full day’s serving. It mixes with water, yogurt, juice, or smoothies,  and tastes great!

On the marketing side, a distributor has the potential of making thousands of dollars a week, and I personally know people who are already doing so! The best part is, the company is Christian-based, and always, ALWAYS puts God first! I cannot stress this enough! It’s not a scam, but a true blessing. Please check out my website for more info: www.ZoeLiftSyle.com/Cory

Lisa Hilsden: