JourneyHome,

Many thanks for the offer of assistance!

I think one of the biggest problems for me will be keeping track of finances and coordination of projects. Argghh, I detest having to keep account of every little thing. The artist's spirit loves to just 'do' as it comes and not set a plan and definite course. While the creativity thrives in such an attitude, a business does not!

Years ago, my ex decided that I was to be his 'secretary and accountant' for his now-defunct construction business. While it was not my inability to wear these 'hats' in this situation that caused the demise of the business, it did cause a great deal of friction.

But, the only way I am going to be able to utilize my talents is to freelance or chance upon a telecommuting position for illustration or advertising. Once able to provide for my basic needs then I might feel bold enough to start doing other projects like children's books, fine art, and other things.

I have no savings to speak of, since my ex did a splendid job of spending all of my money, his money, and everybody else's foolish enough to lend to him, so at this point I don't have a cushion to rely on, but I will have enough for the computer in a month or two.

Yah will provide if I will wait and listen, and obey...



[This message has been edited by czygyny (edited 10-30-2007).]

I'd like to share this praise report with you on the goodness of our Father Yahweh.
A year ago my husband and I was ask to take some papers to a attorney for my sister-in-law. This was a 300 mile round trip and we didn't have much money, but we knew this was important to her. So before leaving we prayed for Yahweh to watch over us and keep us safe as we traveled.
We delivered the papers, and was returning home, and I told my husband as we stopped for gas, if we had enough money to get a couple cups of coffee and some sandwiches.
He ask me back if I had faith to believe Yahweh would provide us some money, and I
answered him, with all my heart I believe Father Yahweh will provide for us.
We left after paying for the gas, and continued about another 50 miles into this small town. I was driving and came up to a red light, when suddenly my husband said, "I see some money", and jumped out of the car and ran in front and picked something up off the ground, just as the light turned green. I ask him what he had found and he opened his hand and there was a 100.00 dollar bill.
What is the chance of finding a 100 dollar bill laying in the middle of the road?
I pulled into a parking lot, of a store, and we both said at the same time. Thank you Father. As I looked up, I saw a small resturant and we was able to go get the coffee and something to eat.
I said all this to encourage each of you needing some help to faithfully ask of your Father Yahweh and believe that He will come through with flying colors.
Scriptures tells us to ask and you will recieve.
This is only one example of how Yahweh has came through for me in my life when I needed it. He's never ever failed me. All it takes is faith. I ask of Him and believe its already done, and leave the rest to Father.

Shalom

This is more my cup of tea for financial advice. LOL
I have read most of the books from Larry Burkett to Dave Ramsey and they just don't teach it to that extent.

The scriptures show the people of YHWH being made rich in many ways and they don't involve scraping and scrounging pennies.

Lets see:
Picking dead bodies - 2Ch 20:25
Favor of Pharoahs handing over riches - Gen 13:1-2
Lepers find an empty camp FULL of riches - 2Ki 7:8
Fish mouths?!Mat 7:27

I just don't see debt reduction, mortgage acceleration and 401 K's in YHWH's way of doing things. LOL Nothing against them but my hope is NOT there.

This post is in lightness - Please laugh WITH me

Shalom
Sharon

Shalom Everyone~

Sharon said:



She brought out some valid Scriptures but as far as debt reduction, mortgage acceleration, and 401Ks not being Yahuah's way of doing things, let us see what the Word says -

2 Thess. 3:10-12:
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat. 11 For we hear of some among you walking disorderly, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 But we command and urge such, through our Master Yahusha Messiah, to settle down, work and eat their own bread. I do consider the homemaking woman having a great work.

I think these verses speak for themselves. Consider Sha'ul, he was a tent maker and although he could have went around and had everyone pay for his way he elected to work as a tent maker that he might provide for himself and others.

Acts 20:32-35:
32 “And now, brothers, I commit you to Elohim and to the word of His compassion which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those having been set apart. 33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or garments. 34 “And you yourselves know that these hands supplied my needs, and for those who were with me. 35 “All this I did show you, by laboring like this, that you ought to help the weak. And remember the words of the Master Yahusha, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

I don't think he meant giving interest to the banks.

Matt. 25:12-30:
12 “But he answering, said, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, because you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Adam is coming, 14 for it is like a man going from home, who called his own servants and delivered his possessions to them. 15 “And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability, and went from home. 16 “And he who had received the five talents went and worked with them, and made another five talents. 17 “In the same way, he with the two also, he gained two more. 18 “But he who had received the one went away and dug in the ground, and hid the silver of his master. 19 “And after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “And he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 “And his master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 “Then he who had received two talents came and said, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents. See, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 “And the one who had received the one talent also came and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed, 25 and being afraid, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “And his master answering, said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 ‘Then you should have put my silver with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to him who possesses ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who possesses, more shall be given, and he shall have overflowingly; but from him who does not possess, even what he possesses shall be taken away. 30 ‘And throw the worthless servant out into the outer darkness – there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Interesting parable and although it is a parable would we say that this does not have a literal meaning? I think we can take the literal of this parable here. Yahusha did not give a tov report to the one that hid his talent in the ground. As a matter of fact what he was given was taken away and given to someone else. It kind of sounds like interest on a loan... you go out and work and what you do have is taken and given to another.

The Torah says~

Deut. 15:1-6:
“At the end of every seven years you make a release of debts. 2 “And this is the word of the release: Every creditor is to release what he has loaned to his neighbor, he does not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the release of Yahuah. 3 “Of a foreigner you could require it, but your hand is to release whatever is owed by your brother. 4 “Only, there should be no poor among you. For Yahuah does greatly bless you in the land which Yahuah your Elohim is giving you to possess as an inheritance, 5 only if you diligently obey the voice of Yahuah your Elohim, to guard to do all these commands which I am commanding you today. 6 “For Yahuah your Elohim shall bless you as He promised you. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And you shall rule over many nations, but they do not rule over you.

We know that the world's system does not obey Torah; especially in purchasing a house. Yet I do believe it is Yahuah's plan - the 7-year plan to pay off what is owed. In our case we purchased our home two years ago and have been paying extra on the principal and so far have saved $38,951.44. Yes, we are on an amortization schedule. Like I said before Yahuah willing, we will have the house paid off in 7 years with a savings of some $80,000.00. Now if anybody wants to call that penny pinching they must have a lot more pennies than I. According to the bolded part in the Scriptures if we obey His commandments we would receive the blessing of being the lender and not the borrower.

Call me a penny pincher or whatever but I personally feel that I have been blessed with the income I have. It is His, He gave it to me and I shall give in return. But who should I give to? The banks at their exorbitant interest rates? Or where Yahuah chooses?

1 Chron. 29:10-14:
10 And Dawid blessed Yahuah before all the assembly. And Dawid said, “Blessed are You, Yahuah Elohim of Yisra’el, our Father, forever and ever. 11 “Yours, O Yahuah, is the greatness, the power and the comeliness, the preeminence and the excellency, because of all that is in the heavens and in the earth. Yours is the reign, O Yahuah, and You are exalted as head above all. 12 “And the riches and the esteem come from Your presence, and You rule over all. And in Your hand is power and might, and in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 “And now, our Elohim, we thank You and praise Your comely Name. 14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give so voluntarily as this? For all comes from You, and we have given to You out of Your hand.

~Greg

Greg,

I hope this isn't changing the subject but I was wondering about something in that Parable: 24 “And the one who had received the one talent also came and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed, 25 and being AFRAID, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “And his master answering, said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

1Jo 4:18 There is NO FEAR in LOVE, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear holds punishment, and he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Jam 1:4 And let ENDURANCE have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught.

Heb 5:7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His reverent fear,
Heb 5:8 though being a Son, He learned obedience by what He suffered.
Heb 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the Causer of everlasting deliverance to all those obeying Him,

Heb 12:6 for whom YHWH loves, He disciplines, and flogs every son whom He receives.”1 Footnote: 1Prov. 3:11-12.
Heb 12:7 If you endure discipline, Elohim is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?
Heb 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Psa 94:12 Blessed is the man You discipline, O Yah, And instruct out of Your Torah,

Mat 5:48 “Therefore, be perfect,1 as your Father in the heavens is perfect. Footnote: 1Ex. 17:1, Ps. 119:1, 1 John 2:5, Heb. 6:1.

Do you think the bad servant is one that grumbles against YHWH and doesn't take the flogging or discipline or doesn't learn endurance? Or doesn't learn that being able to endure pain removes the fear and causes you to be able to love fearlessly? Also do you think it's about sorta what has happened on the board recently, hiding our scars or weaknesses instead of sharing them and making ourselves vulnerable to our brothers and sisters in Messiah. Is that like whitewashing, I mean to not admit our past or our present weaknesses? Like if we never told brethren where we started from they could never see how YHWH has helped us overcome?

Shalom,
Naesimo

Shalom Greg

I would call that wisdom and good stewardship.

When I think of penny pinching I think of the proverb:

Pro 11:24 There is one that scatters, and yet increases; and there is one that withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.

This can manifest in many ways and each man judges himself.

In my case, I have chosen to stay home with my children and the only way I saw to do it was live off the equity in my house rather than providing a second income outside the home. I have argued a few times with YHWH about the soundness of this plan but he assures me everything will be alright.

I believe that my 'investment' of 'talents' have produced a multitude of 'talents'. I guess I will see in the final accounting but meanwhile my conscience is clean.

Just how much are children worth?
(Please understand this is from my heart, as a woman)

Should I sell them to the babysitter,daycare or government's public schools for $40,000 a year, $60,000 or $100,000 a year.
If we are slave to the lender are we not also slave to the boss?

I do make money selling on eBay and other means that I am not told I have to work when YHWH, my husband or children need me. I WORK hard in my home and homeschool too (which doesn't pay cash) and still I am free and available for YHWH, my husband, and my children.

Let's not forget that all work does not pay cash but that does not devalue it, especially in the eyes of YHWH.
I think we ALL might fare better if we arranged our lives on the premise of "What would I do with my life if money were not an issue?"
I think we would be a little closer to understanding YHWH's good and perfect will for our lives.

It works for me.
I judge no one and hope to not be judged by anyone.

Shalom
Sharon

Sharon,

Beautiful!

You shared insights into words that have endured too much religiosity and brought out their true beauty!

Thanks!



Shalom,
Naesimo

Blessings czygyny,

I am sorry to hear about the problems with your X. I could not agree more that YHWH will provide for His as long as we are walking the walk He wants us to. Keep your chin up and please remember that if you need help...there are people here that will.

Peace,

JourneyHome

Blessings Yahs_Lamb,

I think that most believers have had similiar situations where YHWH has showed that He was watching over us and listening to our prayers to Him. I have often thought about the 'How did it actually happen'?

When did the $100 bill actually get put on the road?
Was it a real bill that was made long ago or did YHWH make his own?
Did it fall out of someones pocket or car?
Was it there right after the prayer, or did YHWH wait until you got close to the light?
Did YHWH turn the light red so that you would have to stop?
What caused your husband to look where he did? Sparkle on the road?

I could go on and on, but I have fun thinking of those things when I understand YHWH had His hand in it.

Praise be to YHWH!

Peace,

JourneyHome

Blessings Greg,

That is truly great in my opinion. I am encouraged to see and hear about the success of applying YHWH's principals for other Believers. It is really good to know that you know how much you have saved so far and how much it will save you by the end of the plan.

I do not know your annual salary, but it is interesting (in my opinion) that if you take a look at the after tax dollars you saved, how many years you can 'take off' from work.

Example: If a person saved $80,000 with this one move and they earned about $20,000 a year, that would be a 4 year vacation without having any difference in the net monies. If it were $40,000 a year, then that would be 2 years.

Praise YHWH!

Peace,

JourneyHome

JourneyHome,

There is much more to the story than just that, but the firey trial with him was part of the impetus bringing me to the place that I am in Yah, today. Lots of 'rough' stone was knocked off of me in those times, and a finer polish was put to the facets.

Just like the $100 bill story, YHWH can bring about amazing blessings and opportunity for a show of His Kind Hand.