Article By Stephanie Johnson
Right now, being money-smart is more important than ever before. The days of uninhibited, thoughtless spending are long gone for most of us, and everyone is feeling the pinch of the current economy.
Just yesterday, as I was walking my dog in our apartment complex, I spied an older woman reaching into a dumpster, rooting around for salvageable goods. She had a young boy with her, and he looked at me with a big, gap-toothed grin. “We found lots of good stuff!” he said enthusiastically. “Hush,” the woman said, looking embarrassed and ashamed, not willing to meet my eyes.
I smiled at her, hoping she would see that I didn’t think anything negative of her, and went on my way.
Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon sight in the neighborhood anymore. I see someone salvaging at least once every day or two now. Times are tough. Families have to make hard choices.
Yet still, some people make choices without thinking, and are not utilizing all their assets to their fullest. For example, if you see a penny lying on the street, do you stop and pick it up? When you get home after an outing, do you do anything with the change in your pockets, or just forget about it? What do you do with stay coins you may find in your couch or under then chair? Read More »
God promises to direct your decisions …
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
And How to Stay Sane in the Midst of It
Article By Judy Mosley
Life can change at any moment. Sometimes you get a break. You can know when something important is headed your way. Other times, change can knock the wind out of you before you had a chance to get out of bed.
The biggest change that our family is working through is learning how to live with a new person in the house. Our little Katie came into this world on July 22, with chocolate colored hair and big blue eyes. We knew that bringing her home would transform the dynamics of each person in the family. We just didn’t know how much.
There’s more work, obviously. A little less sleep for the grownups. But … we’ve noticed that our (now) middle child has had more difficulty accepting this new change/new person that’s entered our world. It’s made all of us rethink how we are going to make it through the day. Read More »
Article By Stephanie Johnson
Imagine this: it’s a Saturday morning, bright and early, with cheerful little birds singing all over the place and a bright blue sky.
You could be sleeping in. But you’re not. Instead, you’re standing outside with your family or significant other, breathing in the crisp morning air, a wad of bills in your pocket, surrounded by fresh tomatoes and green beans, bread and home-made jams … and the hustle and bustle of an outdoor market. And somewhere, someone is playing a guitar.
There are many different vendors all around you, and you see lots of different things you’re interested in, all brought in from around your area. There are plump, juicy tomatoes, local cheeses, wild berries, no-spray peaches, honey. Some vendors even sell cage-free eggs, homemade preserves, bacon from a nearby family farm, or even coffee hand-selected and roasted by a local company. Read More »
God promises to reward your patience …
“Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.”
Galatians 6:9 (L.B.)
