In 1983, I was a single parent of two teenagers when I gave my life to Jesus. We were living in an efficiency appartment and struggling to meet our expenses. I was so hungry for a close relationship with the Lord that I was reading 2-4 hours per day and then began taking courses at our local Bible College. My classes involved Christian Counseling and then Financial Counseling. I was sent to the Larry Burkett (now Crown Financial Ministries) Teacher Training Workshop by our local Christian Financial Counseling ministry. I have been counseling and teaching since 1985 and this is my story.

 

The Holy Spirit impressed upon me the importance of getting out of debt to relieve my worry and frustration. The first step was my credit cards. By cutting back in the unnecessary spending catagories, the credit card debt was fully paid in about 9 months. With this new freedom from credit card debt, I was thrilled, but then the Lord persisted in my then paying off the balance of my car loan. Using the same strategy of cutting back and making do with less, the car was paid off in about 1 year. I was so excited and PROUD of this accomplishment, I told everyone that I knew what had happened as a result of becoming obedient to what the Lord had shown me.

 

The Lord was not finished with me. When the Lord planted the idea that I needed to also pay off my home, I knew that he must be wrong because no one pays their home off. In my hesitation, I knew that if I was to help others, that I needed to be out of debt completely. My new plan to pay off the home was scheduled to be completed in 15 years.

 

I found out that the more obedient to the plan of repayment I became, the more the Lord blessed me with ideas of how to make more money (I had 3 jobs at the same time during part of this process), reduce debt (that meant not buying items unless I had the cash to pay for them) and controlling my spending (using the guide to limit my spending in specific catagories).

 

My plan to pay off my home was 15 years. Praise the Lord! it only took 3.5 years and my children decided to live with me! We were blessed with a buyer for the small condominium soon after our decision. I qualified for a 3 bedroom 2 bath home that was double the value of the condominium. The new plan was to pay for the home in 15 years. Through working 3 jobs and being obedient to our plan, the new home was paid for in only 3.5 years.

 

God is so good and faithful to his word.

 

As I am growing older, the Lord is showing me that I can do without many of the items that I previously viewed as necessary. While working in a remote area, I learned that I was quite happy in only 660 square feet.  I can live in less space as can be seen in my last move from the 3 story new townhouse to a 1364 square foot older residence to reduce cost of the asset and utilities.   

 

My vision is for me to be out of debt, for you to be out of debt, for the church to be out of debt...and then as Deuteromy 28: states:

 

1 ¶  And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that Jehovah thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth:
2  and all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God.
3  Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4  Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy beasts, the increase of thy cattle, and the young of thy flock.
5  Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading–trough.
6  Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7  Jehovah will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee: they shall come out against thee one way, and shall flee before thee seven ways.
8  Jehovah will command the blessing upon thee in thy barns, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto; and he will bless thee in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
9  Jehovah will establish thee for a holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee; if thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, and walk in his ways.
10  And all the peoples of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of Jehovah; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11  And Jehovah will make thee plenteous for good, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12  Jehovah will open unto thee his good treasure the heavens, to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13  And Jehovah will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them,
14  and shalt not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

God is so good and has a better life for all of us.

God Bless YOU!!