Monday, February 25, 2013

Is Financial Freedom a Myth?

If you're a single mom, the mention of financial planning may very well send you into panic mode. The thought of balancing your checkbook may lead to involuntary twitching. The idea that you could actually attain financial peace may seem so far out of reach that you can't even consider grasping it as a reality.

Few things in life create the amount of fear and feelings of hopelessness quite like financial bondage. Especially for a single mom.

There's a reason for that, and believe it or not, it's Biblical!

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7

I can attest to feeling "ruled over" and to feeling like a slave to the debt that can quickly pile up when living paycheck to paycheck and never quite being able to cover those extra emergency expenses that seem to go hand in hand with having children.

But God doesn't want us to live like that. He doesn't want us to be a slave to anyone. In fact, His Word tells us that it just can't be done. In both Luke 16:13 and Matthew 6:24, His Word says:

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

I'd tried countless times to get my finances under control. I tried everything I knew how to do to stay on top of bills and not allow them to pile up. I did everything I could to limit my spending to only the bare necessitites. But nothing ever worked. It always seemed like there were just a few too many days and far too many bills left at the end of each pay period, and I just couldn't get out from underneath it all.

I was trapped. Enslaved. In bondage.

And then I heard Dave Ramsey say: "No one is born a financial planner. I've been to the hospital a lot and the doctor never looks at me and says, 'Oh look there's a financial planner!'"

And it hit me... I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I may be smart, and I may be motivated, but no one has ever really taught me how to do this stuff. Maybe there's a better way... maybe there's a trick, a secret, a magic formula... something that someone else might know that I don't.

Maybe I should ask.

So I joined Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University in my church, and it has rocked my world! There are no magic formulas, but there ARE tricks and truths and a whole lotta God's Word! And learning it has brought me so much freedom!

So over the next few weeks, I'm going to share a bit of my journey with you...

But in the meantime, if you're an Omaha single mom, this Wednesday evening at Westside Church, the topic of the Single & Parenting class that I teach is Money & Career. A good portion of our DVD lesson is done by Dave Ramsey, and all single moms are welcome to attend - regardless of whether you attend Westside or have ever been to a Single & Parenting class before.

We will talk about Dave Ramsey's first 3 "Baby Steps" to financial freedom, which will help get you on the right track to obtaining control over your financial situation. You will not be required to purchase anything - I will have worksheets available for everyone.

Class will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Westside Church, and free childcare and Midweek activities will be available for children through 5th grade.

If you would like additional information about this class, the fastest way to get ahold of me is through my facebook link above!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Greatest Love in the Universe

For your Creator will be your husband;
The Lord of Heaven's Armies is His name!
Isaiah 54:5



Original video can be found at www.FathersLoveLetter.com