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About Your Money…

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I’m praying for your financial needs. Some of you do not need more money but rather WISDOM in spending and in saying “No” to others when that is the appropriate response. God gives us resources according to our ABILITY to manage. “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability…” (Matt. 25:15).

So here are my top 5 tips for staying on top of your finances:

  1. Pay your tithes (10% of earnings) to your local church consistently. This is the best way to insure yourself against lack.
  2. Walk in complete integrity; don’t cheat, lie, or engage in other acts to gain a financial advantage. This opens the door for Satan to wreak havoc with your money—plus—it is an insult to God as it implies that He can’t provide, so you are taking matters into your own hands.
  3. Carefully consider your transactions; don’t be impulsive. STOP. THINK. PRAY. Be clear on WHY you are spending. If everybody in the world were blind, would you still buy that item? Or, are you buying to impress?
  4. IMPORTANT: If you lack technical know-how regarding an endeavor or transaction, ask somebody who has succeeded in doing it. Consider HIRING an expert for an hour (or less) of consultation: “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23(KJV)). This is huge. Most people won’t invest in their dream; they want busy experts to sit down with them, tell them exactly what to do, and generally mentor them–all for a free lunch. This may happen in rare situations but usually NOT. TIP: If you do get a free opportunity to converse with such a person, get straight to the point with your specific questions. Take copious notes and don’t waste their time. And yes, pay for lunch!
  5. Expect favor with God and man. God gives favor to us for being in right standing with Him thru the Blood of Jesus. “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” Psalm 5:12 (NIV). Just ask for what you want; No isn’t fatal! Besides, if God says No, rejoice that He knows what’s best for you.

Hey, you can do this! You have a Helper…

I’m Praying for Your Financial Breakthrough!

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Although the best things in life may be free, you need CASH to fund or access many of the things that are not… like funding your child’s education, launching a new business or product, paying for assistance/expertise, buying necessary equipment, staying current on mortgage and other debt, maintaining your vehicle, paying dues to be in organizations that expose you to people who can take you to the next level… the list is endless–and individual. I don’t assume that all of you have all your needs met, but I do know that it is God’s will for you to have more than enough (3 John 1:2). So I’m praying for all of my social media community that God will show Himself strong in your finances. Expect Him to do so. When tempted to become anxious or to worry, begin declaring and personalizing His Word:

“And my God shall supply all MY need according to  His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Now, don’t sabotage your blessing. Walk the F.I.G. path, i.e., be Frugal, Integral, and Generous. In other words, (1) save where you can (and for goodness sake don’t charge luxuries); (2) don’t cheat ever (it’s an insult to God who is just waiting to supply your need), and (3) don’t forget to give to somebody or assist in some way; you’ll reap what you sow!

This past week was full of “favor” & “giving” opportunities for my husband Darnell and me: we got treated to a pricey black-tie affair (actually ended up with TWO invitations) in Beverly Hills, treated to lunch after  Sunday service, donated to two charities outside of our regular tithes and offerings, and blessed a single parent with a quality piece of furniture. Also, I went shopping a few days ago for a pair of “formal” shoes at a great shoe store and found the prefect pair on sale on the clearance rack for only $29; when I got to the checkout counter, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had a $20 “members only” discount that was set to expire at the end of the month! I think that was God’s way of winking at me!

This is an exciting time for our household. Darnell and I are both now officially self-employed, without steady paychecks, and depending on God. I am so glad to HUMBLY say that, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, we have NEVER missed paying our tithes during our entire 35+ years of marriage. As far as we’re concerned, we are insured against LACK!

How Faith Works

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It’s no secret that flying is NOT my favorite pastime; however, I do it a lot because it’s part of God’s plan for fulfilling my purpose. One of the areas of the USA that I LEAST like to fly “to” or fly “over” is Denver, Colorado. The high winds in the mountain range cause significant turbulence.

As God would have it, one of the most significant media appearances of my life, being a guest on the “Today with Marilyn and Sarah” TV program, just happens to be taped in Denver. I’ve been there three times now to record various shows. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart prior to the first visit and informed me: “The place you fear is where your opportunity lies.” So off I went—in obedience but with some trepidation.

Well, yesterday, my husband Darnell and I were en route to Los Angeles from Toronto, Canada and I found myself dreading the return flight which would take us over Denver. The flight out to Toronto had been pretty rocky when we had flown over the area. At the Toronto airport, I felt faith rise up in me and I said, “Darnell, stand with me in believing that we will not experience any turbulence when we reach the Denver mountain range.” Being a man of faith, he readily agreed.

The Airbus 321 aircraft we were on had individual seat monitors and featured a flight map. I kept checking it to determine when we’d be approaching the Denver area. Suddenly, I realized that I was operating in faith and anxiety at the same time. A part of me said, “Get ready for turbulence just in case…” The other part of me fought to believe that our prayers would be answered. It was at this point that the Holy Spirit literally invaded by thoughts and said, “That’s not how faith works. It doesn’t focus on the ‘seen’! Turn off the map and just expect NOT to have the turbulence.” That’s exactly what I did. And guess what? The turbulence NEVER occurred! I had NEVER flown over Denver before without turbulence. So here are my lesson learned:
• Faith relaxes.
• Peace comes when we focus on God’s ability to intervene and away from the circumstances.
• We must not let phrases like, “normally”, “usually”, “traditional requirements”, etc. sabotage our faith. We are the “righteous” (in right standing with God thru the blood of Jesus); we can expect the FAVOR of God. FAVOR implies that we get benefits beyond what “usually” occurs.

Use your faith today! Let Psalms 5:12 be your anchor when you are facing uncertainty: “For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor you will surround him as with a shield “(NKJV).