As many of you know, I am a huge Dave Ramsey fan. I was a Financial Peace University leader when he first brought out the program and I currently serve as one of his Endorsed Local Providers. No one has so consistently taught debt-free living like Dave Ramsey. But not only does he teach it, he lives it out.
Our entire office was laughing in the Spring when we were making reservations on-line to see him live in Portland. I was buying tickets for my whole team, so it was an investment I wanted as a tax write-off. As you would expect, I normally use my business credit card for those kinds of things. We burst into much raucous roaring laughter when Dave's system would not accept my card - it would only take a Debit Card! Now that's integrity living.
Dave recently started a movement called the Great Recovery. You can access information about it at www.greatrecovery.com. Included is a video from his kick off event that I would strongly encourage you to watch. In these times, all of us need Dave's positive kick in the pahtootie! I warn you; prepare yourself to be inspired.
In the meantime, as a person participating in the Great Recovery, I received this email from Dave, and I wanted to share it with you.
| Recovering Contentment Becoming content and stressing less.
The only time you see them is when they're talking to the landscaper or carrying bags in both hands into the house from their daily trip to the mall. You half-heartedly smile, wave and glance back at your 10 year-old car that needs a few repairs and a good washing.
Appearances are easy to maintain, until the truth catches up. Ken and Barbie next door with the "perfect" life are in debt up to their eyeballs. Ken is stressed beyond belief at work, trying to close every deal because he needs each one of them to make his payments. And Barbie's migraines are back because she's losing the fight to keep up with the other private school moms, who are fighting to keep up with their neighbors. Peace is a beautiful thing. Resting in who we are and what we have is worth far more than we imagine. How can we be content? How can we rest? Trust. If we trust that God loves us completely and unconditionally, and He'll provide no matter what, we can be content. Consider the lilies and the birds. Remember?
In Hebrews 13:5, we read this. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" He won't leave us! We can be content. We have money, but we don't love it. It doesn't have us. The kids aren't being tortured taking their PB&J to lunch and wearing hand-me-downs from their cousins. And we're not really missing anything at the theater anyway. Let's approach life like Paul. Philippians 4:11-12 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." What Now? Are you trying to keep up with the neighbors? If so, why? Are you making a payment on something you can get rid of? Are you actively trying to educate yourself on how to get out of debt? If you haven't committed to learning how to handle money God's way, find an FPU class near you. |
To Your Contentment,
Amy
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