Tossing my Plans

I have a control problem.  No, not controlling other people - I mean controlling every THING.  I think it is somehow infused into our minds that control = happiness.  Control = security.  And that we should strive for control because it will make life better.  But does it really?

These days, the things I do in my free time aren't necessarily for my own enjoyment or for making things better for others.  I try to micro-manage every single aspect of my life in hopes that continually improving it and eventually perfecting it will bring me peace and happiness.  And the weird thing is, deep down inside I know it won't but I keep doing it anyway.  I've organized and re-arranged our 2 storage rooms 4 times now (we've lived here less than 2 years!).  I've organized my photo collection multiple times in hopes that it would motivate me to work more on scrapbooking.  I've many times attempted using a meal planner (apps, paper, whiteboards, you name it) in hopes of actually making meals when I say I will so my husband will know what is for dinner that day.  And I have many times redone the cleaning schedule in hopes that I could actually keep up with it so that my home would stay tidy and not get out of control.

But honestly, this is all I ever do.  Fix, fix, fix.  Plan, plan plan.

I am in constant planning mode - in the hopes that once I finally figure all of these things out, my life will be better.  And as I have been shown time and time again, there is no such thing as and end and there is not such thing as figuring all this stuff out.  It's a result of the dreaded Pinterest Perfectionist Disease!  Where exactly is all of this work getting me?  Matthew 6:25-26 says:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Instead of wasting so much of time perfecting the details of my life, what would happen if I used all of that time for something more worthwhile?  Things that make a LASTING impact.  I've been investing so much in the idea of perfection, but I believe it's time to invest in truly living.  I know this won't be an overnight change in how I go about my day, but today I think I will start by praying about it.

Seven Months Later

I think it's been that long since I last posted but it seems like 3 years worth of stuff happened in that time and now that things have settled down, it's due time to give Someone the credit.

I think this verse accurately sums up the time lapse since my last post.

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Three years ago, I thought I had my life planned out year by year.  Yeah yeah go ahead and laugh because I'm laughing now along with you.  Go to vet tech school, move to somewhere in the Midwest and get a vet tech job, get a house in 5-7 years, have kids.....perfect plan.  Yep.  

Living in Western Nebraska in cowboy country was harder for me than I anticipated and not because of the rattlesnakes or tumbleweeds that occasionally rolled down main street.  The nearest town over 1000 people was 45 minutes away and since my husband did the grocery shopping after work there, there were a few times where I didn't leave our town for 1-2 whole months. Ugh.  And being a second year tech student with surgery class and exit exams, my life revolved around labs, papers, and LOTS and LOTS of tests. Even more ugh. And although there were some good aspects about living there, I was depressed a lot of the time and felt isolated from the family and community I loved back home.  Many times, I would let these frustrations roll into my marriage and arguments and hurt feelings pulled me down even further. I didn't fit in with the student body and their lifestyles that didn't agree with my morals.  I had some friends, but I didn't feel super connected with anyone like I did with friends back home.

                               But God knew what he was doing. 

He always has and always will.

A few months before school ended, my husband got a job offer back in our hometown area -  a job he had been hoping and (I'm assuming) praying for.  So come summer we moved back to where both our families live and I got an internship that wasn't too far away.  The apartment was bigger (double YAY) and we got to come back to our home church.

Two years of hard work were hopefully going to pay off.  My last semester in school was the hardest and most emotionally draining semester of school I have ever faced.  But I thought I was ready for my internship at a nearby veterinary clinic.  As the weeks went on though, I didn't find myself enjoying it nearly as much as I had hoped, but I put it off as "You're new and scared, it will get better as you learn more skills."  But even at it's end, I didn't feel as passionate about the job as the other technicians and I began to really re-evaluate my career choice.  I was scared to get into it further, and ended up working at a local market for 4 months which I didn't care for either. I felt like the scum of the earth to be honest.  All the money and time I put into tech school and being near the top of the class and dragging us out to cowboy country for 2 years for nothing. My family had supported me and my love for animals for so many years, and now I'm crawling back into a hole and hoping I didn't disappoint them.  Ugh.  My friends from grade school and high school all got jobs in the field the went to school for and were making good money and now I was making minimum wage at a grocery store.

                               But God knew what he was doing.

By living in that small western Nebraska town, we were able to live on Matthews salary alone because rent was so cheap and (fortunately and unfortunately) there weren't many places to shop or go out to eat so we were able to pay off about half of our student loans!  We helped lead a church youth group and give teens advice for life.  I learned a ton about animals that will really help me out in ANY animal career and by sharing my knowledge I can help people and their pets in amy capacities.  At the local market, I gained leadership experience by being a supervisor and performed basic bookkeeping skills that I'm sure pretty every business does in some capacity :)

After taking my board exam, I decided to leave the store in hopes of really finding a job I was passionate about, thinking still that it would be vet tech.  I applied at a few clinics and some other businesses in the area.  This went on for 5 LOOONNNGGG months. 5 months of either getting interviews and being turned down or getting rejection letters in the mail or sadly MOST of the time, not even hearing back at all and having to call back multiple times just to get a straight "No" from people.  Here I have 2 college degrees and it felt like I was being turned down at EVERY corner I came to.  I prayed, and prayed some more, and asked people to pray for me.  It felt like God wasn't listening at all.

                              But God knew what he was doing.

A few weeks after I quit my job, my husband and I went to look at a FSBO house that happened to be close to his work.  I hadn't done any research on home buying and we weren't really serious about buying anything.  Just browsing.

Ha. Ha.  That's what women say when they go shopping.  And yet we still bring home pretty bags filled with clothes and tied with bows.

It was perfect.  I spent the next 3 weeks buying and borrowing every book I could find on mortgages and home buying.  Since I didn't have a job, I had all the time in the world to make sure we knew what we were doing here.  We got pre-approved. We juggled budget ideas.  I needed to get a job so I can help pay off this mortgage and the remainder or student loans. And a few months later, we are the proud new owners of a 3 bedroom brick house on a shady quiet street near our families in my favorite town in Nebraska.  And it didn't stop there.

Besides cleaning up the house and having a blast redecorating, I applied for and got TWO new part time jobs.  One helping the local dog groomer and one at our public library.  I love getting to work with dogs every day and giving owners some tips about living with their pets. My boss is great and we have become like friends.  Our local library, a BEAUTIFUL one at that, has the coolest staff ever and we are like a big family.  I get to spend my evenings surrounded by books and learning about all of the cool programs the library has for children and adults- scrabble tournament anyone? I often think that this would also be the perfect part time job I can have when we have young children.  No I don't work 40 hours and week and no I don't get paid nearly as much as I would be making as a technician. But God saw what was in my heart and what would really make me happy and these part time jobs are what keep me excited to do what I do each day.  Would I be able to support myself alone with these two jobs? No, but thanks be to God that my husband has a very steady job with a salary that allows me to pursue these jobs without worrying if I will make enough to pay the bills.

God speaks to us in so many ways!  Not just through people and written words, but through our struggles and triumphs, our horrible days and wonderful days as well.  This fall, Matthew and I felt lead to be leaders of our incoming freshman youth group at church.  I'll admit I'm not always the best leader and I'm a little bit scared, but THIS I don't want to back down from.  Young people today need to hear of God's love and promises and I will do whatever it takes to bring them to that joy.  Yes, I'm checking out books and buying books from Amazon.com all about youth ministry.  Hey, books are valuable resources when you have no idea where to start.  Plus, this will make me clean the entire house each week with no excuses.

I still often wonder if having a job as a veterinary technician is where I should be.  Sometimes it feels like I didn't live up to my own or my friends and family's expectations.  But career paths change even for people who have been working at the same job for 40 years.  Whose to say it won't be right for me someday?  Or maybe I will be a librarian for life....who knows!  I feel so blessed and happier than I have been for so long before.  I LOVE my jobs and the people I work with.   I've learned that trust may seem hard at first but trusting in God's plan and that he has your best interest at heart is the only way to go.  Trying your best is important but sometimes that personal best isn't in the time or space that you thought it would be.

God knows what he is doing. Trust me on this.

FREE Energizer Batteries

Need to stock up on some batteries?  Energizer is running a great promotion through Walmart right now!  Through 4/30/2015, you can buy two specially marked packages of Energizer batteries (8AA or 8AAA) and get a $10 Walmart Gift Card FREE!

Here's the Deal:

Buy (2) specially marked packages of Energizer batteries (8AA or 8AAA) 5.97 each
Total - $11.94
Use (2) of the $1.50/1 Energizer Max Batteries coupon found at www.coupons.com
Out of Pocket: $8.94 plus tax
Submit for a $10 Walmart Gift Card

All you need are the codes from the packages, no receipt is needed!  Your $10 card should be sent to your email in about 2 weeks.  I did this deal earlier in the year and received the emailed gift card in about 2 weeks and simply printed it off to use in the store.

CMA Awards

For those who watched the CMA Awards last night, I hope you are not suffering from "Post Partum Taylor Swift Disorder" as Brad and Carrie and many country music fans are.  I agree that I loved her music before she moved on to the pop scene and her songs actually had some...meaning.  Luckily for us, The Piano Guys have kept one of her songs very much alive with a cover of "Begin Again" that, in my opinion, is even better than the original.

Roca Scary Farm

      I always loved going to pumpkin patches for field trips in elementary school and can still say there isn't any other experience quite like it.  It's probably one of my favorite ways to celebrate my favorite season that seems altogether too short.  We decided to invite a few friends and spend the afternoon and evening at Roca Scary Farm, a pumpkin patch I had not been too before but it was so worth it.

I can say that I didn't expect there to be hundreds of cars in the lot or thousands of people inside - talk about crazy!  Although many of the attractions were kid oriented, we will had a lot of fun going through the mazes, going through the haunted house and haunted carnival (clowns....) and eating kettle corn with apple cider.

Fort  "Where Am I?"

Left or right?

The haunted house that wasn't too bad during the day but at night
when they had actually people dressed up as zombies, ghosts, etc in there,
it got a little creepy.

    Of course the best part was the Roca Scary Farm, where you get to do the Zombie Hunt and the Psycho Path.  For the zombie hunt, they had army trucks with hay bales to sit on in the back and paintball guns mounted to the railings.  You can either shoot zombies or ride along, which 3 out of 4 of us did.  You drive through a wooded area with run down buildings and shoot zombies as they come at you.  As I had hoped, we were told the "zombies" wore hockey gear and helmets underneath their masks and costumes so we weren't worried about hitting them with paintballs.  Occasionally, there would be zombies on the road and they would jump onto the trailer and try to scare people (the clown just HAD to come on our trailer).

   Last was the Psychopath which I was most worried about.....   There is a HUGE gate with an anamatronic dragon on top that leads into the "forest" (which is actually a pretty big wooded area).  They only let people in once the sun goes down.  It felt like the longest 20 minutes of my life....but at the same time it was fun to be scared.  People dressed up as zombies, clowns, ninjas, spirits, whatever, walk around and follow you or jump our from behind run down buildings and scare people.  At one point a guy was hiding behind a tree and lit off some firecrackers right as I walked by....almost lost it right there.  Sometimes that path gets wider and other times narrower making you go one by one through the creepiest things like um wrapped up bodies hanging from the ceiling and motion sensor anamatronic "dolls."  Near the end you have to go down a dark slide and there is a guy with a chainsaw waiting at the end for you....wow.  And the strobe lights really mess with your eyes so everything is even scarier.

     I'd love to go back next year and try to shoot some zombies myself.  And hopefully someday when we have kids, we can take them here as well (for the kid activities, duh - not the weird and creepy stuff.)

Finally a "Good" News Story

This video just made my day.  Take a quick look!

Post by NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

FREE Meat after Rebate - Bar S Products

Talk about a great deal!  I've never seen a food rebate this awesome - click here to be taken to the website and the rebate form.  From now until November 1st, you can purchase one or all of the Bar - S products listed on the rebate form and receive a 100% refund check in the mail!  All you have to do is fill out the form and include the original dated store receipt!  Of course, 6-8 week delivery time is expected but still it's free meat...

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like... Halloween

A lot of things have changed since I last posted, which was like....in January.  My husband and I moved back nearby to our hometown and are enjoying being back and getting to talk with old friends. It is also wonderful to have more shopping options and be able to simply take a short walk to the downtown shops and the grocery store.  We have both been blessed with jobs and a great church and the opportunity to visit with family on a regular basis.  God is good.

Fall is in the air and I couldn't be happier, it is my favorite time of year.  We already dug out the Halloween decorations and the color orange is in every corner you look...

A very cool yet creepy looking silver tea set
I found at an auction.

Love those colors!

"Slightly Imperfect" or better?

   I love reading Christian non-fiction books and this year I hoped to do more of that than I have in the past.  There was an email in my inbox from christianbook.com so I decided to take a look to see what they might have.  Of course, I hardly ever pay retail price for things so the first section I went to was one titled "slightly imperfect" books.  Here is the website's definition of a slightly imperfect book:

It's slightly imperfect, so you get it for an outstanding price! Minor flaws on this spectacular deal may include wrinkled pages, stray marks, missing dust jackets, dented corners or spines, dusty page edges, or minor cracks in CD cases.

I thought why not take a chance since I care more about the content of the books that what they look like.  My total order contained 7 books for just under $21 shipped so about $3 per book!  My order came in about a week and I was very surprised at what came!  Honestly the biggest flaw I saw in these books was one had a spot where a price sticker was ripped off and it was a bit sticky.  The other books looked just fine!  Now I can't say this will happen with every order, but if you are looking for some great Christian books to read, I suggest going to christianbook.com and check out their sales and "slightly imperfect" books.

Here is my stack of books I got in the mail!

Here's a list of the books I got and their descriptions in case you are interested: (Note some of these titles may  no longer be in the slightly imperfect category)

The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie

When you marry another person, you make a vow to love and cherish your spouse through thick and thin, as long as you both shall live. But what if that commitment is tested by serious illness, or financial difficulty? Would you stay together? Are there limits on how far love can go?

Kim and Krickitt Carpenter never expected their commitment to each other to be tested so early, when 2 months after their wedding, a car accident left Krickett with a traumatic head injury and in a coma. When she awoke several weeks later, her rehabilitation began, but Krickitt had no memory of her husband. The previous 18 months when they had met, fallen in love, and been married were completely erased. Kim and Krickitt had to start all over again with the stress of physical rehabilitation, mounting medical bills and amnesia against them.

In The Vow, the Carpenters share their story of how, against enormous odds, they stuck together, fell in love again, and kept the marriage vows they'd made to each other. They also share their Christian faith, and how it sustained them through their most difficult times. In this volume, you'll read about the true events that inspired the February 2012 movie starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, and see personal photos from Kim and Krickitt.

Who's Pushing Your Buttons?

Dr. Townsend introduces a revolutionary approach for reaching out to, confronting, negotiating with and setting appropriate limits for the difficult people in our life.

Take A Closer Look

The Bible. You may have grown up reading its pages, memorizing its stories, considering its claims. Now you can take a closer look at those familiar passages in this uncommon series: Take a Closer Look, Take a Closer Look for Teens, and Take a Closer Look for Women. Discover a new power-packed and personal perspective that can't help but change your world. You'll experience a fresh encounter with God, the author of the most compelling book in history, and embark on a lifelong adventure designed just for you.

Think No Evil

On October 2, 2006, the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, was in shock after a truck driver shot 10 young girls---leaving five of them dead. In this first-person account, counselor Beiler describes the families' responses to the horrific act---and how they demonstrated God's love by reaching out in forgiveness to the killer's family. 224 pages, hardcover from Howard.

The Shelter of God's Promises

Gain a trust in God that will sustain you for life! Weaving together her hallmark storytelling, personal experience, and Scripture, Women of Faith speaker Walsh unveils 10 foundational promises of God that safeguard our lives during the most difficult times. Discover how encounters with Christ are the eternal fulfillment of his unrelenting commitment to us. Includes a free, in-depth Bible Study. Hardcover.

Sexy Christians

"Sexy Christians." The phrase sounds like an oxymoron, but God never intended it to be. Sexual fulfillment is, in fact, God's idea. Yet many Christians seem to think the more spiritual they are, the less sexual they will be, and the more sexual they are, the less spiritual they will be. Dr. Ted and Diane Roberts want to turn this thinking on its head. Readers will learn why men and women see sex differently, what the greatest aphrodisiac is, and how to avoid the most lethal killer to a great sex life. The authors also explore what men's and women's sexual needs are and why they are so different, what sex is all about from God's perspective, and what the differences are between male and female sexual response cycles. End-of-chapter questions encourage couples to apply the book's principles at home. Readers and groups can go a step further with the Sexy Christians Workbook. Loaded with additional content, this workbook is designed to challenge couples to explore the rewarding work of intimacy.

A Visual History of the King James Bible

It's been 400 years since the King James Version of the Bible was first published and thus became the most influential book in the English language. In A Visual History of the King James Bible, Donald Brake brings to life the fascinating story of the Authorized Version, how it came together and its continued proliferation throughout the English-speaking world. Using over 90 Illustrations, as well as insightful photos, charts and sidebars, Brake invites readers to explore the KJV's mysterious beginnings, the men who translated it and the manuscripts they used, the significant people and places that influenced its production, and even William Shakespeare's involvement in it. In an era when numerous translations of the Bible abound, discover what has made the King James Version an enduring legacy for 400 years.

Pinterest Please

    Now that Christmas is over, I can actually post some of the Pinterest projects I've been working on for gifts (and some not).  You may automatically think that making gifts is less expensive than buying something already made, but it's not always the case.  I tend to throw away or give away things if I no longer have a use for them (yes we had to buy wine so that I could use the bottles, but the wine itself tasted pretty good too) so sometimes my organization works against me.  But I think our gifts turned out great, so here are a few of the things I was frantically working on before heading home...

I found a wood burner in one of my boxes from an auction and it still worked!

     

I saw this idea on Pinterest and fell in love!  I took two wine bottles
and spray painted them white.  Then I used my Silhouette Cameo machine
and an old book to cut out the butterflies and tree.  Lastly I used my
Xyron sticker maker to make the backs sticky to put on the bottles.

I saw some Christmas signs on Etsy (for mayself that I really liked and decided to make my own.
The wood pieces were actually a bit pricey ($20 for both) but I couldn't find them
anywhere else and they were perfect for the project.  I found a guide to making
your own wood stain - I filled a jar with apple cider vinegar and placed a piece of steel wool
into it.  After a week it was ready to use.  Since my two pieces of wood have different colors
in the first place, my final results weren't exactly alike, but I actually like the different colors.

These are the final results!  I used my Silhouette Machine to cut out the words
on a piece of cardstock, then I used it as a stencil and painted in the design.  I thought
about using contact paper for this since the machine can cut contact paper but I was worried
that the stain would come off.  I noticed after painting them that a bit of stain came off where
I place the tape to hold the stencils down so I'm glad I went the cardstock route instead.

Dreaming Big

     Last night around 8:30, I crawled into bed to read for a while - that only lasted like ten minutes.  The blankets were extra warm and inviting so I soon fell asleep on my back (which is a rare thing for me).  Since Matthew and I have been watching Once Upon a Time on Netflix, I began to dream of the Evil Queen and Snow White kicking butt in the kingdom :)  We were chasing the Evil Queen by ship and she always managed to escape no matter how close we got.  I don't remember much more than that, other than it was a true adventure - the kind of dream I like.

     I've always wondered why God gave us the ability to dream.  There are lots of theories out there like it let's us play out the things we wish we could do, or that our brain is trying to dump information from the past day.  Honestly, if it's dumping information, why did I dream a few weeks ago that I was in a huge meat locker running from the poisonous gas in the air vents?  Never heard of that one before....   There has to be more to it than just being a cleaning out process.

    I have to believe that many authors get their story ideas from dreams.  Haven't you ever said while reading a book, "Where did they ever come up with an idea like that?"

     They just seem out of this world sometimes, right?  We wrote lots of stories in fourth grade and I often used my dreams as starting points for many stories (and reading through the journals again, I wonder how on earth did I ever come up with such ridiculous ideas?)

    No matter the reason God gave dreams to us,  I am amazed at how they work.  There are multiple instances of God using dreams in the Bible, so I believe he still uses them today to speak to us in such a way that our minds are a little more....open to suggestion.  I'm not saying you should go out and buy a dream interpretation book from Barnes and Noble cause I don't think each scene can mean the same thing for everyone.  But, be open to the ideas and feelings your dreams bring before you.

Surprise from Santa

I was called to come to the front office of our apartments this morning and told that there were Christmas treat bags for us from Santa.  They didn't mention that these were actually boxes filled with groceries!  There were bags and boxes for everyone in the apartments complex crammed into that office.  I am amazed by the generosity of the people in this town and I am so thankful that I have a safe and friendly neighborhood to live in.

The Christmas Tree is Up!

Free Christian Books for Kindle

Today on Amazon you can download these two free books to read on you Kindle, PC, or other device:

The World of Jesus: Making Sense of the People and Places of Jesus' Day

I'm No Angel: From Victoria's Secret Model to Role Model

Amazon Prime Air?!?

This is sooo crazy and so cool! You have to check this out!  Amazon is introducing a new concept of delivering packages to people in less than 30 minutes of when the order is placed... sounds crazy?  By using a small helicopter device to carry packages to your door, Amazon is upping their game in the online consumer world.  I can see how there would be MANY complications with this kind of system, but I think it could happen in years to come.  What do you think?

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Online Safety

Most of the Black Friday ads for the big stores are out!  Besides in-store offers, many retailers offer hot deals starting midnight of Black Friday morning as well as Cyber Monday deals.  If you plan on doing some Christmas shopping, it is important to keep your information safe while buying online.  I found a great list of online safety tips I wanted to share from krazycouponlady.com that can help make the shopping experience easier and safer.

I never even considered reading a company's privacy policy before reading this - who knows what certain companies do with the information they receive!  As a general rule, I only fill out the required information that sites need for an account especially if the address is optional.

Another quick tip that doesn't quite belong on the list, but is a safety measure to yourself, is check out the company's return policy.  This especially true if you are buying things like clothing or shoes that have a good chance of being returned due to size variation.  Some companies offer to pay your return shipping and you can print out a shipping label, some only pay return shipping if you want an exchange or it the item is defective or wrong, and many require YOU to pay return shipping no matter what the reason.  I always check the return policy of any website before making a purchase to decide if buying the item would end up costing me a lot in the long run if there are any issues.

Good luck shopping everyone :)

11 Cent Shipping at Joann.com!

In honor of Veterans' Day, Joann.com is offering 11 cent shipping today only!  They have some great sales if you check out the sale section.  I got a 16x20 black wooden float picture frame for only $8.00 + tax + $0.11 shipping for my charcoal sketch I have been working on.  Many of the Wilton baking supplies are 50% off too.

Calling All Bacon Lovers

Today you can get Bacon Wrapped: The Ultimate Recipe Guide for FREE on Amazon for the Kindle (or supported device).  It has great reviews and why wouldn't it, if it's all about bacon?  Click here to get your copy.

Family Christian Bookstore Black Friday Deals

Family Christian has their Black Friday deals listed online and in their newest catalog!  Some deals include 50% off ALL wall art, $5 Chris Tomlin CD's, $3.97 select Veggietales movies and $3 select other DVD's.  If you're like me and love to shop sitting at your computer in your PJ's with some apple cider, these deals will also go live at midnight Nov. 29 online.  If you plan to go to the store, they open at 6 a.m.  Please note that as of yesterday, the site was experiencing some issues with broken links for some items. Click here to see the deals!

Managing God's Money: Part 2

Perspectives that Impede Faithful Money Management

   Last week we talked about getting into the right mindset about using God's money and being his stewards.  Along with a sinful love of money, there are many "myths" out there about  money and how it is used.  In this section, Randy wants to shine some truth on these false ideas.

Myth #1:  Money is Bad a.k.a Money is the root of all evil.

    We discussed this a little bit last week.  Things cannot be evil - things are inanimate objects that have no feelings or sense of good and bad.  It is the sinful nature of people that makes money SEEM evil.  1 Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.   Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  In reality, money is simply a piece of paper that only has value because we say it does.  It is a tool that can be used for the right and wrong reasons. So instead of condemning money, rejoice that God has given us a tool that we can use wisely and generously for building his kingdom.

   Some people take the idea of money being bad so far that they completely get rid of everything they do not need and live as simply as possible.  They see money and objects as evil and distracting our eyes from God.  While this is partially true, we cannot be more spiritual simply by getting rid of things.  God blesses us with gifts so that we can use them ourselves and to bless others.

Myth #2:  It's All About Money (and stuff)

  "God created us to love people and use things, but materialists love things and use people."

        The wanting of things can make us do some pretty stupid things.  Stealing. Cheating. Bribing.  I can think of many times in my past where I hurt someone's feelings because I just had to have something, and it hurts both people involved.  There are many examples of people in the Bible who used people for monetary gain.  Delilah betrayed Samson to the Philistines for a fee, Solomon gained large amounts of gold, silver, and wives against God's commands, and Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. We cannot simply assume that we are immune to temptation of misuse of money.  It's hard to realize that our greatest resources are not material, but spiritual. Are the richest people in the world the happiest?  Many studies on this topic say no, in fact, the opposite!  Contentment is not from the riches of this world, but in the riches of Christ.

       I think one of the biggest areas where we need to promote wise use of money is in children.  We don't have any kids yet, but Matthew and I have already discussed how we want to instill some of these values in our children.  It is one thing to provide for a child, but it's another thing to smother them with things.  Christmas in particular seems to be a time when financial perspectives are skewed.  What's the first thing kids think of when you say the word "Christmas?"  Most likely, they think of all the awesome toys they are going to unwrap and play with, not so much the story of Jesus' birth and time with family.  I admit, that's how I thought of the holiday for a long time growing up.  It is a holiday of EXPECTED gifts, or DESERVED gifts.
 
    So parents work overtime to make enough money to buy the $150 toy set of some kind that isn't exactly in the budget but it would be so worth it to see their child's face light up on Christmas morning.  So the day comes, presents are unwrapped faster than lightning, and played with for a few days until it ends up in the mountain of toys they have acquired over the years.

      Although it is fun to give gifts, the lessons we are unconsciously teaching them don't follow God's idea of good money management.  If we grow up getting whatever we want, there is a good chance that we'll buy whatever we want when we have our own bank accounts.  Things like the misuse of credit cards or using all of their paychecks on wants would be far too common.  And the world doesn't help with the situation much either.  We are bombarded with commercials that say "You need this to be beautiful" or "You will feel powerful if you buy this car."  But sadly the satisfaction will never come if we keep buying these things.  Things that appeal to use in small amounts are unappealing in excess.  We need to be good examples not only for our families, but everyone else too.  "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

      Myth #3 If I Obey God, He Will Give Me More Earthly Things  

          This kind of reminds me of the whole Santa thing where if you are good for the year, Santa will bring you more toys.  Makes sense, right?  Not so much in the Christian sense.  Just because you follow God's will does not mean you will never run out of money or have tragedies happen.  However, if we show God that we wish to follow His commands and care for the possessions we have been given, he is likely to trust us with more since we have shown responsibility.  We should not be obedient to get more things, but because God tells us to.

          Sometimes it seems like the exact opposite of the myth is occurring.  People who do not love the Lord end up with really nice things and lots of money and those who love God, suffer greatly.  "Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?" Job 21:7  Job was obedient to God, yet he lost all of his earthly possessions, family, and his health.  Yet even in all of his sadness and devastation, he trusted in God and His plan."I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world," John 16:33

This Weeks Question:  There are plenty more myths out there concerning money that are "busted" by God's Word.  What are some other myths about money that you know of?