Today’s Scripture…
“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”  Proverbs 11:24 (MSG)  

Devotional Thought…
Human nature has a tendency to want us to conserve when times are sparse, and expand in times of plenty.
 
Last year when gasoline prices were close to four dollars a gallon, people were glad to exchange their big cars and big engines for anything with more MPG.  Automakers and government were publically talking each day about the need for automobiles that would enable us to conserve energy and people found ways to do less driving.  Cheap oil was hard to come by, and conservation became an important topic.

Currently gas prices are low, and those who held on to their big cars are breathing easier.  Automakers have turned their talk more to how to finance a new car than on how to fuel it, and long trips are being planned for as summer months approach.  There is plenty of cheap gas… conservation can wait!

As many Christians consider these lean financial times, human nature tries to influence us to conserve.  In many ways this is a good thing, especially in ways were we have been living above our means or living to overindulge our appetite for pleasure.  But many times, our conservational thinking becomes an all or nothing mentality where stinginess can begin to rule in places where God intends for us to always be generous.
 
An interesting verse about generosity is found in Isaiah 32:8…
But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.
Isaiah 32:8 (NLT)

As God works on all of us to re-orient our thinking and doing related to financial issues, realize that God is a generous God (Titus 3:6) and He loves it when we are generous. 

Have you considered giving less than a tithe to God this year?  Are you less willing to provide financial assistance to someone in need or to someone whom you are helping do the work of the Lord?  Be careful, the gain you may hope for in dollars will surely result in shrinkage in your generosity and quite possibly in the work of the Lord.  The generous person who gives to others and to the Lord in faith will surely experience a larger view of God’s ability to change lives and a larger understanding of how God provides for our needs as well.
  
Spend some time talking to God about your generosity today.  Is your faith and walk with God getting larger and larger or smaller and smaller because of your financial decisions?  
 
Kingdom Focused!

Flora M. Kynard, author of
Prosperity Renewal: 14 Biblical Principles for True Financial Freedom
info@prosperityrenewal.org
www.prosperityrenewal.org
Excerpt from DAILY DEVOS, a ministry of First Baptist Church of Allen, Texas.  We would love to hear how God is using this ministry to help you find and take your next steps with God.

God’s Plan for Financial Freedom

Today’s Scripture…
“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.”  Daniel 9:3 (NIV)

Devotional Thought…
Daniel was an incredible Bible character who from a young age exemplified what a real, dynamic relationship with the Lord looks like.  We all would like for God to do amazing things for us like He did for Daniel in the lion’s den, but Daniel’s story is one where we find Daniel day by day honoring and connecting to God.  Daniel was faithful in the little things, and so he was available and ready for the bigger things that God wanted to do in and through him.

In today’s focal passage, Daniel had just realized through reading the scriptures his people would be held captive in a foreign land for 70 years.  Daniel also realized that this captivity came about because God’s people had become lax in hearing and doing the will of the Lord.  All of this understanding caused Daniel to want to connect with God even more, so  he might not miss anything God might want to teach him from this experience.  The passage says that Daniel humbly pleaded with God through prayer and through fasting.

Most of us are familiar with prayer, but what about fasting?  Many in the church today have never entered into a dedicated time of fasting, even though the Lord said we should (Matthew 6:16-18).  Many times fasting is associated with food, but it doesn’t have to be.  The spiritual idea behind fasting is to do without something for the purpose of turning our attention humbly and desperately toward God, that He might speak to us about our situation and connect us to His will and His ways.

God is working on several of us about our perspective on and use of wealth.  For others, God is working to change your heart related to some other attitude, relationship, or way we are not completely honoring God.  Why not allow God to use a fast in your life to evidence your humility and desperateness to hear from Him?

I know someone who absolutely loves GOLF.  His golfing doesn’t include drinking, gambling, or robbing precious family time, so it is not a bad or evil influence in his life.  Yet, this guy is desperate for God to speak and to accomplish some “next step” experiences in his life.  This guy is currently on a six month “golf fast.”  The margin that this “fast” has created in his life has already produced some new insights and new next steps, and he is only a few weeks into the fast.
 
What about you?  If God has started working on you concerning your use of and attitudes concerning money, material things, or debt are you humbling yourself to hear?  Are you pleading with God to speak on and show you all that He wants you to do?
  
What if you committed yourself to a one or two month fast from using a credit card so God might speak to you about credit?
 
What if you committed yourself to a six week “just the groceries” spending where you only spent money on the groceries and utilities, and put off every non-essential purchase to see what you could NOT live with?  You might have to borrow or barter, but think what God might teach you?

What if you committed yourself to a two month coke or coffee fast?  What if you put all the coke money or coffee money you would have spent in a jar, and at the end of the fast donated it to the church’s benevolence ministry?  What might God show you?

Daniel’s fasting resulted in more of God’s presence and revelation for Daniel.  What might be the result of your fasting?
Kingdom Focused!

Flora M. Kynard, author of
Prosperity Renewal: 14 Biblical Principles for True Financial Freedom
info@prosperityrenewal.org
www.prosperityrenewal.org
Excerpt from DAILY DEVOS, a ministry of First Baptist Church of Allen, Texas.  We would love to hear how God is using this ministry to help you find and take your next steps with God.

God’s Plan for Financial Freedom

Today’s Scripture…
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”  Matthew 2:11-12 (NIV)

Devotional Thought…
Today’s devotional scripture comes from the Christmas story, where the Magi have followed the star and finally have arrived at their destination.

Mary and Joseph were poor, and were not used to having expensive things like gold, incense and myrrh lying around the house.  Much has been suggested about the meaning of each of these gifts, and these “foreshadowing” meanings are probably right.  But the truth is, the greatest meaning for Mary and Joseph was that these things were quickly going to be able to be turned into cold hard cash!  God knew that as soon as the Magi left, He would have to send an angel to Mary and Joseph, telling them to get Jesus away from Herod’s jealous attempt to kill him (Matthew 2:13-15).  And where did God tell Joseph to go… Egypt!  This trip to Egypt was long, and the time they stayed there was probably a few years.  The money that Mary and Joseph were able to obtain through these gifts made the trip and stay possible.

Most of us have received an unexpected monetary or material gift.  For many, before the day is over we have already spent it or figured out how to use it on ourselves. But what if Mary and Joseph had done that?  If they had cashed in these gifts to spurge on a new home in Bethlehem or a sleek newer model donkey to ride around town on, they would have had nothing for the trip God knew they needed to take.

Many right now are asking God what He wants them to do related to finances?  For some, God wants to help get the ball rolling with debt reduction.  For others, God wants to work on your attitude about money.  If some miracle money comes your way in the near future, could it be…
God’s plan is for you to start a debt snowball with it so you can begin the disciplined process of paying off your debts?
 
God’s plan is for you to give it to someone who has desperate need for it, allowing you to work on your possessiveness of money and things?
 
We will never benefit from what God intended if we just blow it.  Ask God to help you start praying over your checkbook, over your purchases, and over any miracle money you receive.  You might be surprised what God intends to do with it.

Kingdom Focused!

Flora M. Kynard, author of 
Prosperity Renewal: 14 Biblical Principles for True Financial Freedom
info@prosperityrenewal.org
www.prosperityrenewal.org
Excerpt from DAILY DEVOS, a ministry of First Baptist Church of Allen, Texas.  We would love to hear how God is using this ministry to help you find and take your next steps with God.

Be Content With What You Have

Today’s Scripture…
5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Devotional Thought…
Not too many years after the Apostle Paul, lived the great Greek philosopher Plato.  In one of his philosophical moments, he is credited with coming up with the idea, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”  His observations were that most inventions come about NOT through some random idea that popped into the mind of a human, but usually they come because there is a need.  God has caused the human mind to work in a way that when we are frustrated or perturbed, we begin to say to ourselves, “There has got to be a better way to do this.”

Over the last several months, we have experienced an economic downturn of global proportions.  Retirement funds, savings accounts, the worth of homes and the net worth of many families and individuals has shrunk to levels that have caused many to become fearful and panicked.  Through the fog of economic uncertainty, many are evaluating the way they have valued and handled their money up to this point in life and are saying to themselves, “There has got to be a better way to do this.”

Today’s scripture gives us some great truths to meditate on when it comes to the topic of money…
Keeping our life free from the love of money means there should be NO place for it in our lives.  To “love money” means money is something we pursue, we think about, and is a passion for us. How much do you “love money?”  Could our current economy be a way God is showing us that we have a love for money that is hindering some things God wants to accomplish in our lives?  Is this something you need to confess to God?

We are called to be content with what we have.  Are you content with the money and things you have, or is there always something more you desire and seem to be striving to get?  Have you ever taken the time to walk through your house, your yard, and your garage and just thank God for your stuff?  Have you looked at your checking account, savings account or retirement account and thanked God for whatever the amount is?  Do you need to apologize to the Lord for not appreciating all that He has allowed you to have?

Our money will come and go, and so will our stuff.  But there is One who is eternal; one who will always be with us in His abundance.  When is the last time you have worshipped the Lord, honoring and recognizing Him as the Eternal, Abundant, Never-ending One?

The real question to ask during these days is not, “how much am I going to lose in these tough economic times?”  The eternal question is, “What kind of person do I want to be in these times and beyond these times?” 
 
Kingdom Focused!

Flora M. Kynard, author of
Prosperity Renewal: 14 Biblical Principles for Financial Freedom
info@prosperityrenewal.org
www.prosperityrenewal.org
Excerpt from DAILY DEVOS, a ministry of First Baptist Church of Allen, Texas.  We would love to hear how God is using this ministry to help you find and take your next steps with God.

66 Painless Ways to Save Money

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

For several weeks I have wrote about the Resurrection of Your Finances. Last week
was a week of interaction between readers. Interaction was light but hopefully
more people will dive in and get their feet wet this week.

To continue the topic of Resurrection of Your Finances I am going to give you 66
painless ways to save money. I will give you about 12 a day so you can absorb
them.

Since we have learned that everything we have is God’s, let us be good stewards
with what He has given us.

I would like to get the number of tips to at least 101, so if you have some money-
saving suggestions, please leave a comment.

I have a WordPress blog so you must register with WordPress to be able to leave a
comment. If you do not feel comfortable doing that just send me an email at Contact Us.

Let’s help one another.

Save Money on Transportation

Airline Fares

1. You can lower the price of a roundtrip air fare by as much as
   two-thirds by making certain your trip includes a Saturday
   evening stayover, and by purchasing the ticket in advance.
2. To make certain you have a cheap fare, even if you use a
   travel agent, call all the airlines (or check online) that fly where you want to go
   and ask what the lowest fare to your destination is. 
3. Keep an eye out for fare wars. Be prepared to act quickly. 

Car Rentals

4. Since car rental rates can vary greatly, shop around for the
   best basic rates and special offers. 
5. Rental car companies offer various insurance and waiver
   options. Check with your insurance agent and credit card company
   in advance to avoid duplicating any coverage you may already
   have. 

New Cars

6. You can save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a car
   by selecting a model that combines a low purchase price with low
   financing, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and repair costs.
   Ask your local librarian for new car guides that contain this
   information. 
7. Having selected a model, you can save hundreds of dollars by
   comparison shopping. Call at least five dealers (or check online) for price quotes
   and let each know that you are calling others. 
8. Remember there is no “cooling off” period on new car sales.
   Once you have signed a contract, you are obligated to buy the
   car. 

Used Cars

9. Before buying any used car:
        a. Compare the seller’s asking price with the average retail
   price in a “bluebook” or other guide to car prices found at many libraries, banks, and credit unions.
        b. Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially if the car is sold “as is.” 
10. Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you know and
    trust. They are more likely than other sellers to charge a lower
    price and point out any problems with the car.

 Auto Leasing

11. Don’t decide to lease a car just because the payments are
    lower than on a traditional auto loan. The leasing payments may
    be lower because you don’t own the car at the end of the lease. 
12. Leasing a car is very complicated. When shopping, consider
    the price of the car (known as the capitalized cost), your trade-
    in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments, various fees
    (excess mileage, excess “wear and tear,” end-of-lease), and the
    cost of buying the car at the end of the lease. 

Gasoline

13. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by using the lowest-octane called for in your owner’s manual.
14. You can save up to $100 a year on gas by keeping your engine
    tuned and your tires inflated to their proper pressure. 

Car Repairs

15. Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded or
    poorly done car repairs. The most important step that you can
    take to save money on these repairs is to find a skilled, honest
    mechanic. Before you need repairs, look for a mechanic who:
         * is certified and well established;
         * has done good work for someone you know; and
         * communicates well about repair options and costs. 

Save Money on Insurance

Auto Insurance

16. You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing auto
    insurance from a licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state
    insurance department for a publication showing typical prices
    charged by different companies. Then call at least four of the
    lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would charge
    you for the same coverage.
17. Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles
    on collision and comprehensive coverages to at least $500 or, if
    you have an old car, dropping these coverages altogether.
    Taking these steps can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
18. Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping
    your old one. 

Homeowner Insurance

19. You can save $100 or more a year by purchasing homeowner
    insurance from a low-price, licensed insurer. Ask your state
    insurance department for a publication showing typical prices
    charged by different licensed companies. Then call at least four
    of the lowest priced insurers to learn what they would charge
    you. If such a publication is not available, it is even more
    important to call at least four insurers for price quotes.
20. Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace the house
    and its contents.
21. Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping your
    old one. 

Life Insurance

22. If you want insurance protection only, buy a term life
    insurance policy.
23. If you want to buy a whole life, universal life, or other cash
    value policy, plan to hold it for at least 15 years. Cancelling
    these policies after only a few years can more than double your
    life insurance costs.
24. Check your public library for information about the financial
    soundness of insurance companies and the prices they charge. Consumer Report magazines are a
    valuable source of information about a number of insurers. 

Save money on Banking/Credit

Checking

25. You can save more than $100 a year in fees by selecting a
    checking account with a minimum balance requirement that you can,
    and do, meet. 
26. Banking institutions often will drop or lower checking fees if
    paychecks are directly deposited by your employer. Direct
    deposit offers the additional advantages of convenience,
    security, and immediate access to your money. 

Savings and Investment Products

27. Before opening a savings or investment account with a bank or
    other financial institution, find out whether the account is
    insured by the federal government. An increasing number of
    products offered by these institutions, including mutual stock
    funds and annuities, are not insured. 
28. To earn the highest return on savings (annual percentage
    yield) with little or no risk, consider certificates of deposit
    (CDs) and treasury bills or notes. 
29. Once you select a type of savings or investment product,
    compare rates offered by different institutions. These rates can
    vary a lot and, over time, can significantly affect interest
    earnings. 

Credit Cards

30. You can save as much as several hundred dollars each year in
    lower credit card interest charges by paying off your entire bill
    each month. 
31. If you are unable to pay off a large balance, switch to a
    credit card with a low annual percentage rate (APR). 
32. You can reduce credit card fees, which may add up to more than
    $100 a year, by getting rid of all but one or two cards, and by
    avoiding late payment and over-the-credit limit fees. 

Auto Loans

33. If you have significant savings earning a low interest rate,
    consider making a large down payment or even paying for the car
    in cash. This could save you as much as several thousand dollars
    in finance charges. 
34. You can save as much as hundreds of dollars in finance charges
    by shopping for the cheapest loan. Contact several banks, your
    credit union, and the auto manufacturer’s own finance company. A 0% interest loan is not necessarily your best loan. See New Cars section above. 

First Mortgage Loans

35. You may save tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges
    by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford. On a
    $100,000 fixed-rate loan at 8% annual percentage rate (APR), for
    example, you will pay $90,000 less in interest on a 15-year
    mortgage than on a 30-year mortgage. 
36. You can save thousands of dollars in interest charges by
    shopping for the lowest-rate mortgage with the fewest points. On
    a 15-year, $100,000 fixed-rate mortgage, just lowering the APR
    from 8.5% to 8.0% can save you more than $5,000 in interest
    charges. On this mortgage, paying two points instead of three
    would save you an additional $1,000. 
37. If your local newspaper does not periodically run mortgage
    rate surveys, call at least six lenders for information about
    their rates (APRs), points, and fees. Then ask an accountant to
    compute precisely how much each mortgage option will cost and its
    tax implications. 
38. Be aware that the interest rate on most adjustable rate
    mortgage loans (ARMs) can vary a great deal over the lifetime of
    the mortgage. An increase of several percentage points might
    raise payments by hundreds of dollars per month. 

Mortgage Refinancing

39. Consider refinancing your mortgage if you can get a rate that
    is at least one percentage point lower than your existing
    mortgage rate and plan to keep the new mortgage for several years
    or more. Ask an accountant to calculate precisely how much your
    new mortgage (including upfront fees) will cost and whether, in
    the long run, it will cost less than your current mortgage.  

Home Equity Loans

40. Be cautious in taking out home equity loans. These loans
    reduce the equity that you have built up in your home. If you
    are unable to make payments, you could lose your home.  
41. Compare home equity loans offered by at least four banking
    institutions. In comparing these loans, consider not only the
    annual percentage rate (APR) but also points, closing costs,
    other fees, and the index for any variable rate changes.  

Save Money on Housing

Home Purchase

42. You can often negotiate a lower sale price by employing a
    buyer broker who works for you, not the seller. If the buyer
    broker or the broker’s firm also lists properties, there may be a
    conflict of interest, so ask them to tell you if they are showing
    you a property that they have listed.  
43. Do not purchase any house until it has been examined by a home
    inspector that you selected.  

Renting a Place to Live

44. Do not limit your rental housing search to classified ads or
    referrals from friends and acquaintances. Select buildings where
    you would like to live and contact their building manager or
    owner to see if anything is available.  
45. Remember that signing a lease probably obligates you to make
    all monthly payments for the term of the agreement.  

Home Improvement

46. Home repairs often cost thousands of dollars and are the
    subject of frequent complaints. Select from among several well
    established, licensed contractors who have submitted written,
    fixed-price bids for the work.
47.  Do not sign any contract that requires full payment before
    satisfactory completion of the work. 

Major Appliances

48. Consult Consumer Reports, available in most public libraries,
    for information about specific brands and how to evaluate them,
    including energy use. There are often great price and quality
    differences among brands. 
49. Once you’ve selected a brand, check the phone book or check online to learn
    what stores carry this brand, then call at least four of these
    stores for the prices of specific models. After each store has
    given you a quote, ask if that’s the lowest price they can offer
    you. This comparison shopping can save you as much as $100 or
    more. 

Save Money on Utilities

Electricity

50. To save as much as hundreds of dollars a year on electricity,
    make certain that any new appliances you purchase, especially air
    conditioners and furnaces, are energy-efficient. Information on
    the energy efficiency of major appliances is found on Energy
    Guide Labels required by federal law. Check with your electric
    utility to learn if it has a program to help reduce the costs of
    any appliance purchases. 
51. Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate
    programs offered by your electric utility may save you up to $100
    a year in electricity costs. Call your electric utility for
    information about these cost-saving programs. 

Home Heating

52. A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds
    of dollars a year on home heating (and air conditioning). Ask
    your electric or gas utility if they can do this audit for free
    or for a reasonable charge. If they cannot, ask them to refer
    you to a qualified professional. 

Local Telephone Service

53. Check with your phone company to see whether a flat rate or
    measured service plan will save you the most money. 
54. You will usually save money by buying your phones instead of
    leasing them. 
55. Check your local phone bill to see if you have optional
    services that you don’t really need or use. Each option you drop
    could save you $40 or more each year. 

Long Distance Telephone Service

56. Long distance calls made during evenings, at night, or on
    weekends can cost significantly less than weekday calls. 
57. If you make more than a few long distance calls each month,
    consider subscribing to a calling plan. Call several long
    distance companies to see which one has the least expensive plan
    for the calls you make. 
58. Every few months, comparison shop to see if you’re paying too much for your telephone calling plan. If you find a better deal, contact your phone company and negotiate — or switch. 

Save Money on Everything Else

Food Purchased at Markets

59. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at the
    lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often charge the
    highest prices. 
60. You will spend less on food if you shop with a list. 
61. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing price-
    per-ounce or other unit prices on shelf labels. Stock up on
    those items with low per-unit costs. 

Prescription Drugs

62. Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive than
    their generic equivalents, ask your physician and pharmacist for
    generic drugs whenever appropriate. 
63. Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the
    same medicine, call several. When taking a drug for a long time,
    also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which often charge
    lower prices. See Consumer Reports
    (available in most public libraries) for a list of several of
    these pharmacies and their toll-free phone numbers. 

Funeral Arrangements

64. Make your wishes known about your funeral, memorial, or burial
    arrangements in writing. Be cautious about prepaying because
    there may be risks involved.  
65. For information about the least costly options, which could
    save you several thousand dollars, contact a local memorial
    society, which is usually listed in the Yellow Pages under
    funeral services or you can do an online Google search for funeral services in your local area. 
66. Before selecting a funeral home, call several and ask for
    prices of specific goods and services, or visit them to obtain an
    itemized price list. You are entitled to this information by law
    and, by using it to comparison shop, you can save hundreds of
    dollars. 

Kingdom Focused,

Flora M. Kynard, author of
Prosperity Renewal: 14 Biblical Principles for True Financial Freedom