Praise God! One down!

Well, its official. God just totally provided a way for us to pay off one of our debts!!! We are so excited!!! This is another of the miracles that I spoke about in an earlier post. For years we have been in a downward spiral of debt. I know so many can sympathize with us because you too are there as well. When we decided to go on the road in obedience, it was not easy. We certainly didn't know how it was all going to work out. We were getting more and more involved in the church that we have always felt as our church home. We were growing spiritually, both individually and together as a family. We were just down the road from family and able to spend time with them on a regular basis. We were also making some really good friends. However, we were floundering financially and having to use our credit cards to buy groceries. Yep, heading down the spiral again. Well, God gave us a view of how our lives could be lived and let me tell you, its amazing! We want that and that is why we are following in submission. Here is what God showed us...

Can you imagine becoming aware of a major need somewhere, say a friend has no way to buy groceries one month or you know some missionaries who need something, but can't afford it or you have an opportunity to send someone on a mission trip or make a huge difference in someone's life and all it takes is money. You know money that actually all belongs to God anyway. The stuff He can give even if you don't know how or when, but it just shows up all of a sudden? Well, what God showed us is we can be conduits for God moving His money around in this manner. No matter what amount of money we make, its all God's anyway. When we are good stewards of what God has already given us, i.e. getting and staying out of debt (Being in debt is being a slave to that money. Money is using you not the other way around and God's plan for you gets stalled because you are enslaved elsewhere!) giving your tithe not only willingly, but joyfully and helping God's kingdom prosper by giving to His missionaries, sewing seeds of hope where there was none like Angel Tree kids, orphanages, pastors and their families, etc.
Even though, on paper, when we first started doing this, we shouldn't have been able to, God totally provided the means and direction. Its amazing!! Not only has He provided for the extra money to go to His ministries, He's provided more money for us to begin paying off our debts. Eventually, we want to be able to have enough money to provide for our family. Not excessive amounts or anything. We're not looking for super nice vehicles or houses or things. We want to have a house that has enough room for us to be generous with the space and at least one possibly two dependable vehicles and there are some other things we desire for our family which I will explain in future posts. The excess money, which will be a good chunk of change when we get out of debt and live well below our means, will go to missions, churches, supporting new pastors in countries where Christianity is not supported, going on missions trips ourselves to provide our particular gifts God has given us where they are most needed...the possibilities are endless!!!

Isaiah 55:2 - Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.


Matthew 25:14-28 - Parable of the Talents - "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.

More verses to look up:
1 Timothy 6:3-10
Deuteronomy 8:11-20
Proverbs 13:11
Proverbs 22:1, 4, 7, 9 and 16
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Getting up to date

Yep, its a new year and we are still in Austin and still living in a motor home living the life of gypsies. Although I'm just fine with where we are in our journey to becoming debt free, I do occasionally think about what it will be like when we finally have a house. I'm looking forward to my kids having lots of space to run around and play.

For anyone who doesn't know, my husband and I made a decision a little over a year ago to go back on the road to get out of debt. We are trusting God to take us on this journey because we are no good at doing it in our own power! God has been so faithful! He has given Sam such great jobs and He has also blessed us profusely in so many other ways!!! Hopefully, I will get good at putting all of those blessings into words so that everyone will be able to share in the wonder of it all with us.

To start with, we have two great kiddos. One miracle that has happened lately is that I have done a complete 180 on my decision that I'm done having kids ea natural. Well, I have been watching my kiddos interact and it is just the coolest thing!!! I really feel like there should be another one. Of course, Sam is not ready for that yet and if he never is then I will be just great with what I already have been given. The miracle is really that I am not only considering it, but would really look forward to it. Yep, pigs must be flying. If you are wondering what the big deal is, let me share a little something about my last pregnancy. There was a whole lotta throwing up for about 4 months. Yeah, a little thing called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I'm sure there are several of you out there that know what I'm talking about. I had to get on Zofran just to be able to keep any kind of food down and my poor husband had to pretty much do EVERYTHING. I could hardly get out of the bed much less do anything else. Needless to say, he's got some hesitation. The great thing is though, if God wants to bless us with another child, He will prepare both of our hearts about it and we will be on the same page raring and ready to go. So cool!!! We do both agree that we would like to wait at least a year. We are hoping to be more settle by then. Also, I would really like for Zekey to be the baby for a while. Still, I'm just really giving it all to God. He's my master and He knows what is going to happen so who better to give it to?

So, perhaps this will be the beginning of a consistent blog...who knows?!

New Year, New Blog...

Well, normally I've been blogging on my MySpace page, but I'm gonna try this out. I've been really put off by several of the "friend" requests I've been getting and I don't really want to deal with that anymore. So, here goes....