The Power Of prayer

In the last year I’ve gone through a lot of things that should have had a negative effect on my life. I had both my knees replaced and went through half the year with only one months pay, about $800.00 from my 401k, and what my wife makes at the shoe factory. In August I started getting disability checks. By all rights we should be in really bad shape financially, but we aren’t and there are two reasons why.

1)      We live on a tight budget. This is something we always have and always will do. When you only have a limited amount to spend you need to keep track of what you have to spend, when you have to spend it, and if you can get by not spending it. A budget allows you to prioritize your spending. Deferring what is important and how much of your income you can afford to use to meet those needs.

2)      Most important of all we had help. When ever things seemed the bleakest, there was an unexpected windfall or things were not as bad as they had seemed. We were able to get by with less than we thought we needed, we were able to spread the payment over time, or there was extra income we didn’t expect. Yes we had help, not from a person but from the Lord.

I was brought up to believe that He was watching over me and if I was willing to put things in His hands He would take care of me. That does not mean that I can sit back and do nothing, nor does it mean that He will give me a fancy car or a big screen TV. It means that if I have faith in Him and bring my problems to Him in prayer, He will provide me with what I need. When I ask for guidance He will show me where to go. I’ve always believed that when life closes the door on you God opens a window. He answers your prayers; it’s just that the answer may not be the one you wanted to hear.

My mother was a real believer in the power of prayer. She was also a believer in what she called laying out a fleece. She would ask God to show her if what she was praying for was what He wanted. I can remember many times after a thing had happened that she would say that it was what God wanted because she had asked for a sign and He had given it to her. Although I lack that kind of faith I know that He will be there when I need Him, and often it will be in a way that says “Oh yea of little faith, did you forget I said I would take care of you”.

I was raised to believe in the idea that if you knock the door will open, if you ask it will be given, but you have to make the effort.

Money, Getting Things, And Happiness

Of all the things that can mess up your life, right at the top of the list is money. How much we have of it and how we spend it. We want to keep up with what the really cool people in our world have even if we can't afford it.The need to acquire stuff drives us to find a way to get it- no matter what.
Number one on the list is get credit cards. The card companies are falling all over themselves sending out offers, they want you to use them. Buy all that wonderful stuff and just make the payment.
Of course you might not qualify for a card, especially if you just lost your job. Don't worry, rent to own. Most of those places advertise no credit checks. Heck sometimes you don't even need a down payment.
The important thing is to get cool things at any cost .

Foreclosure, repossession, bill collectors, and bankruptcy. Not nice to think about, but they are there.
If you don't need it don't buy it. Use the twenty four hour rule. Give it a day and if you still think you need it save up and buy it.
That's right only buy what you can afford. Keep a budget and save for what you want. Why spend the rest of your life paying for something you can get along without.
Shelter,food, clothing, transportation, biggest bills first, than savings. If you don't have enough money either get more or don't spend it. Get a second job, cut back on things you don't need, or sell something.

Make up your mind what you can spend and what you need, than learn to live within your means. You aren't poor if you don't think you are. There are other things that can make you rich. If you have good friends and family to share your life, what more do you need. When we were kids we didn't have a lot,but we never knew we needed anything else. We were happy just being ourselves.
It's not being content that makes us want to get things. Only we find out that those things can't satisfy us and we still want more. Until you learn to be satisfied with what you have you will never know what it means to have inter peace.