Finances

Young man sitting relaxing and enjoying the view from dock

Lately it feels as though you’re doing a tightrope dance with the devil himself. He seduces you like an angel of light in one ear and shames you for all your failures in the other.  Your life feels, even smells like a sulfurous war zone and it sure seems as though the casualties are piling up.  But in the quake and the fury, there’s one and only one thing you need to know…

God’s got this.  All you have to do is trust Him.  And say “thank you.”

 

Like a broken cash register, your money drawer only seems to open when it time to shell it out to somebody else.  From disaster salesmen to debt collectors, everybody’s standing with an outstretched hand.  There’s always another reason to fret over this thing called The Economy, and even a box of Girl Scout cookies feels like a sacrificial charitable donation. But in the fear and loathing-, there’s one and only one thing you need to know…

God’s got this. All you have to do is trust Him. And say “thank you.” [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Laughing Woman

In the previous post I started sharing ideas of how you can create multiple streams of income or invest in recession-resistant areas of the economy.  And all of this advice came from the ancient wisdom of the Proverbs 31 woman.

The first four income or investment sources were

  • Trade (owning a business)
  • Income-producing land ownership
  • Housing, and
  • Food

Here are four more areas to explore how you can generate income, either directly or indirectly through investments: [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

(Wisdom on Diversifying Your Income from a Surprising Source)

beautiful little girl plays

I had an interesting coaching conversation last week.  It was about money.  “We have re-budgeted and cut just about everything I know to cut,” he was saying, “and we are barely squeaking by.  How else can I cut my budget when we’ve done all the cutting we know to do?”  I should add that he was trying to avoid cutting his giving to his church.

My reply went something like this:  “A man much wiser than I once told me that he found it important not only to budget his expenditures, but also to budget his income.  Maybe in an effort to balance your budget, you’re looking on the wrong side of the ledger.”

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“Your salary is pretty fixed,” I said, “but your wife has two different sources of income where the results vary.  By seeing just 10 more clients a month (not a week – a month), you will realize the difference you’re looking for.”

His whole brain re-shifted.  Changed his whole perspective.  “I hadn’t thought of that,” he said.

There was a lot of energy in that conversation, and I felt useful.  And while I mentioned to him the sage advice I received from the businessman, what I didn’t mention at the time was that what most changed my perspective was a girl. [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

PuzzleKnow what’s always messed me up with New Year’s resolutions?  New Year’s Day is a holiday.  So all those goals and new beginnings typically start around January 2 and I’m already a day behind.  Then I need to put up Christmas stuff and I’m two days behind.  I’m getting tired just thinking about it.  So I need some mental rest from the holidays.  Three days behind.

So this year I brightened up and decided that this will take a bit more planning and thought. And yes, I’m talking slap-dab in the middle of the Christmas holidays.

So I’m writing this to myself, but inviting you to come along for the fun.  Here are ten suggestions to prepare for the coming year – do all these by December 31, and you can have New Year’s Day off.  I know, I know!  You’re welcome! Click here to get started

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

arriving “I was saved at age 6, and Spirit-filled at age 9,” she said plaintively.  “Now I don’t even know there is a God.  How do I get my faith back?”

I blurted out an answer that distressed more than blessed.  But I still think it’s true.

“You start by showing up.”

Human nature – at least my human nature – has a tendency to self-destruct in the areas where peace or healing or restoration or growth is concerned.  How?  By isolating.  Withdrawing.  Withholding or running away from the situation.  The myth is that: [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }