I want to live like no one else...

...so that I can GIVE like no one else!  Some of you know what I'm talking about.  :)  That's the saying Dave Ramsey uses in his Financial Peace University course.  I love that quote!  It's been a long time dream of mine.  Just read my testimony and you'll see that.  The thing is I feel like we're getting so close, yet the closer we get the more excited I get and the harder it is to be patient.  We've been on this journey for almost 4 years now.  I mean where we decided to get serious and be obedient.  We're so close to being completely debt free.  I'll tell you that this hasn't been easy.  We've had to make many sacrifices.  We have not purchased one thing unless we've had the money...cash in hand. 

It's very freeing to be on our way to financial freedom!  We paid cash for our last vehicle.  It's old, but it runs and we don't owe a dime on it.  And this summer, our other vehicle will be paid for as well.  I tell you this to encourage you.  You can do it!  No matter what your circumstances are...you can have financial freedom as well.  Like I said...it hasn't been easy...but if you set your mind to it, you can do it.  We've done this while my husband was not even working.  He was unemployed for 9 1/2 months in 2007 and is now starting up a ministry to help the homeless.  He's been unemployed for the second time since June 2009.  Well, he's been employed by God and is storing up treasures in heaven actually.  ;)  He will be getting his first pay check finally!  Yeah!   So, when I say you can do it, I really mean it.  When you make the choice to live as God intends you to live, He will help.  We've been blessed in more ways than I can even tell you through the past 3 1/2 years.  You can read all about it in my testimony at the top of this page.  It's all true! 

2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver.
My heart longs to be able to give freely.  And I'm talking over and above tithing.  One day (soon) I am going to give someone $500 anonymously.  And one day I'm going to give $1,000 just because I can.  And maybe even $10,000 or something huge like that!  I don't know who or when, but I know that I will do those things.  Why?  Because God knows my heart and He longs to give me the desires of my heart, especially when it's for His children.  And because it's all His money anyways!  I'm just called to be a good steward, a money manager for Him.

Thank you Heavenly Father for the path you have taken me down.  That I may give up my pride for You.  That I may live more Christ-like so that I may give with an open hand.