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…
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

Devotional Thought…
On January 20th, 2009, one of democracy’s finest moments occurred yet again, as Barak Obama was sworn in as our 44th President.  The transition of power from George W. Bush’s presidency to the Obama presidency is even more amazing because ideologically these two men are not on the same page with their views on several matters.

Around the world, the United States has (in most countries) someone designated as a United States Ambassador.  The Ambassador is asked to live not in the United States, but in another country and another culture (usually many miles from home) to represent the President and the United States of America in matters of interest.  If an issue arises in one of these countries, it is the job of the Ambassador to know what the will of the President is on that issue and communicate that will clearly to the leaders of this foreign government.  Failure to do so could cause a foreign government to act in a way that could damage diplomatic relations.  When Obama was elected, Ambassadors started being briefed on the specific differences between the previous Bush presidency, and the current Obama presidency.

Today’s scripture reminds us that we too are ambassadors, not of an earthly government but of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Though believers in Jesus have a home in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1-10), for the time being we are asked to dwell on this earth, in a culture that pursues many things that are contrary to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus prayed that we would be “in the world but not of the world” (John 17:15-16).  Jesus wants everyone to become a believer, and to enjoy an eternal citizenship in the heavenly Kingdom.  This passage says he wants to make this truth known through you.

How can you be a good ambassador for the King of Kings?

By knowing the will of the King-  we don’t have to guess, just read it.  The message we need to know is found in the Bible.  Are you committed to knowing the will of the King?
 
By living the will of the King-  its not enough to know the will of the King, as ambassadors we are called to be living examples of it (James 1:22-25).  Are you committed to living out the will of the King in every way?
 
I’m sure that if a President had an ambassador who was not acting in accordance to his will, he would communicate his displeasure.  Through the Holy Spirit, the King of Kings does the same, calling on His ambassadors to confess their sin so that they might be restored (1 John 1:9).  If Jesus is currently making you aware of ways your finances, relationships, actions or attitudes are running counter to His will, confess it and let Him bring you the victory and restoration you need to be an effective ambassador for Christ.
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.

God’s Plan for Financial Freedom

Today’s Scripture…
“I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.”  Psalms 119:14 (NLT)

Devotional Thought…
Have you ever really wanted something and then were able to finally possess it?  Can you remember the feelings that were going on inside of you at that moment?  Maybe one of these examples will help you remember the feeling I am talking about…

The feeling of walking into a home you finally were able to purchase.
 
The feeling of driving home in that car you had your eye on.
 
The feeling of receiving that promotion that you were up for and had worked hard to get.
 
You know the feeling I am writing about.  That feeling that puts a smile not only on your face but a huge happy feeling on the inside as well.

Today’s scripture is a simple one to understand but not often practiced.  The Psalmist basically says to God that the words of God get him just as excited as a pile of money.  The scriptures put a smile on his face and in his heart just as much as his favorite possessions.
 
When is the last time we got excited as we heard from God?  Do we seek after His words to us as expectantly as we seek after a good word from our accountant or retirement account?  If we will seek after a word from God, He has promised that He will deliver (Proverbs 8:17).

Ask God to create expectancy for hearing from Him.  Do we really believe God desires and can speak to us through His word?  Express that belief to God and don’t be surprised when a “godly grin” or a “holy hallelujah” starts to make its way from the inside out.

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…
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

Devotional Thought…
Recently, I was able to visit Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  Oahu is a beautiful island that hosts millions of visitors a year.  Whether you are hiking in the mountains, snorkeling in the reefs, or golfing on one of its manicured courses, it is easy to find a peaceful place.

The morning of December 7, 1941 was not a peaceful time to be on this island.  On that day, the Japanese accomplished a surprise attack on the island, targeting the US naval base at Pearl Harbor.  Over several hours Japanese planes bombed and torpedoed their targets and the once peaceful island turned into a nightmarish turmoil that saw ships and planes damaged and destroyed, and over 3000 people killed or wounded.
  
The island today is a reminder to us that peace doesn’t “just happen.” Peace was restored to this beautiful island but it took a war, it took changing our Pacific strategy, and it took the dedication of striving for new technologies that made peace possible.

Our God is a God of peace, and today’s verse reminds us that He desires us to experience peace in all times and in every way.  If peace is not a reality in our financial situation, our relationships, or in any other category of our lives it means that something ungodly is working against us.  Sometimes the things that work against us come because of the ungodliness of others, but many times the peace we lack is because of our own ungodly and selfish ways that are working from within.  Either way, usually it takes a Christ-waged war, a Christ-revealed strategy change, or a passion for a godly new way of doing things that will make the peace of God a reality in our lives.

Think about your life.  What area(s) of your life does the peace of God reign?  Have you thanked Him for the peaceful places He has established in your life?  Today’s scripture should inspire you to worship and thank the God of peace.

What areas of your life are full of turmoil and restlessness?  Have you cast your burden on Jesus, knowing that He cares for you?  (1 Peter 5:7)  Have you enlisted for the God ordained war it may take to bring peace to the troubled areas of your life?  Are you willing to look to Christ for the marching orders of change that He promises can bring “peace at all times and in every way?”

The Prince of Peace died and lives so that His peace might reign in us. Give Peace a chance!

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…
“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”  Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV) 

Devotional Thought…
As we listen to folks comment on the current economic times, many use words and phrases related to how much we have lost and how difficult gaining more will be in the coming days.
The truth is, anyone who is reading this devotional today has more wealth and more stuff than probably 99% of the rest of the world.  We have a safe and secure shelter to lay our head at night, we know where our next meals are coming from, and we have multiple shoes for our feet.  If you really want to see what the rest of the world is living like, you might take a look at http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats. Could it be we have plenty enough but need to be using what we have differently?

One of the questions we need to ponder with God is, “What have I been doing with my wealth so far?”  Today’s passage reminds us that we need to be honoring the Lord with our wealth, and that honoring is to come from the beginning of our wealth.  Most folks pay their bills for all the stuff they have already bought for themselves, and if there is anything left over then we give some money to God and/or someone in need.  That is the opposite of what today’s scriptural truth tells us to do.

Honoring God with our wealth starts with the tithe (Malachi 3:10, Luke 11:42).  This is how God impacts the world for Him in a “we and Jesus” way.  But above that, God may call you to give in some “me and Jesus” ways.  Using your wealth to meet the need of someone who has lost a job, supporting a mission church or missionary with some of your wealth, or blessing someone with a portion of your wealth who could never pay it back are all ways we can also honor God with our wealth.  God wants us to do more than pray for people in need (James 2:14-17).

If you are realizing that you need to change some things so that you can honor God with your wealth, remember that He is not looking over your shoulder with a mean smirk because of where you are.  God is in front of you, calling to you with a loving smile to experience the super abundant joy that comes from being a giver.  He knows the feeling because He is the ultimate example of giving (Galatians 1:3-5).

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.

The Introduction of the 36-part series of Resurrection of Your Finances states: 

It’s all God’s money.

Many Christians would nod their head in agreement with that statement, but when it’s time to open the wallet, it’s as if we have completely forgotten. Suddenly it’s our money and we try desperately to get or keep as much as possible.

How has the study of this series change the way you view money?

Flora M. Kynard, author of

Prosperity Renewal: 14 Biblical Principles for True Financial Freedom

There have been many articles and reports written explaining supposed ways to cut your grocery bills. Sure, you can eat only bargain noodles and generic beans. That will save a little money. Wash out those plastic bags and reuse them. That will save a few cents. But there is one sure way to cut your grocery bills in half (or more!) that is easy and you can still buy brand name items. By intelligently using the system detailed in this report, you will see savings from the first day.

First, save coupons. Too many people think coupons are a waste of time, or that they only raise the prices that are charged on items. This is false! Buy a box of envelopes, and label your envelopes with the categories of food and products you buy regularly. You can be as broad (“vegetables”) or exact (an envelope for each brand of canned vegetables you regularly buy) as you want. Clip every coupon you come across and file them in the proper envelope.

Sunday newspapers are the best source for coupons. If you find a lot of coupons you can use on a particular Sunday, it may be worth your while to buy a second copy of the paper, to get another set of coupons. If your paper costs $1.00, you can make that back with two 50-cent coupons. The rest will be profit!

Next, watch the sale flyers. When you see items on sale that you have coupons for, that’s the time to buy. Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize. Say you have three 50-cent coupons for “Bill’s Beans.” You can only use one coupon per purchase. But, if you buy three cans at once, that’s three purchases, and you have every right to use all three coupons. Also, watch for stores that offer “double coupons.” That means that they will double the value of the coupon, usually up to 50-cent value coupons. Buy the sale items with doubled coupons, and your saving increase!

For best results, you should try to have a coupon for at least one-half to two-thirds of the items you buy on your shopping trip. Make a shopping list before you go and stick to it. This prevents impulse buys. Also, funny as it may sound, don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. If you do, you’ll no doubt buy extra things that sound good to you at the time, but you may not end up eating.

That’s the first half of the system. Using coupons to their fullest extent is a major part of grocery bill cutting. Next comes rebates.

When you use any canned, boxed or bagged goods, save the package. Labels can be soaked from cans with warm water, and the outside layer of a box (the part with the printing on it) can usually be carefully peeled off. Use a few grocery boxes to organize these. Alphabetically is the best way. These can be stored in an unused closet or the garage. Also, keep your receipts. You’ll need them for rebates. Then, when you see a rebate for an item you regularly buy, you can get the required proof of purchase easily and quickly from the packaging.

Here’s how these fit together: For example, you have three 15-cent coupons for a 79-cent canned vegetable. The vegetables go on sale for 69-cents at a store that doubles coupons. You can now buy three cans of the vegetables for 39-cents each (69-cents minus 30-cents per coupon). Then, a few weeks later, the manufacturer has a $1.50 rebate that requires three proofs of purchase.

By sending in the rebate, you have now made a profit of 33-cents ($1.50 minus $1.17). Many manufacturers will reimburse you for the cost of postage to send the rebate and proofs in, so you get the full 33-cents.

Think about it. If you are able to do this with at least half of your grocery purchases (and you should, if you try), you can cut your grocery bill at least in half, if not more! All this for not a whole lot of work. It may seem a bit much at the start, but once you get a good, organized system in place, it will be quite easy.

To your successful journey,

Flora M. Kynard, Senior Personal Financial Trainer
Prosperity Renewal Ministries