Saving Your Money for the Important Stuff

Hello Everyone!

Part of my "new leaf" is my goal to pay off debt and start saving money!  I have become utterly obsessed with using coupons and finding amazing BOGO deals.  I have made a couple of trips to the grocery store this week and it is my mission to make the best decisions!  So far I've done pretty well.  The idea is to find the deals in the grocery store circulars and try to match up with any coupons I can find.  When I walk into the store I know exactly what I'm buying...get it...and get out!  The problem comes when we start to wander the aisles and find all of the stuff we're hungry for! NO...don't do it!  Get in...get out...and make sure your wallet is still full.  Proper planning and being prepared is key!  Publix has great BOGO deals.  I stocked up on lunch items for my daughter and snacks.  I am also committed to not eating out and using all of the resources for dinners that I already have in my pantry and fridge.  Dinners may be interesting but no more wasting money for this mama!  If that means I am eating toast and spanish rice...then so be it!  My husband is currently deployed so I am only cooking for myself and my daughter!  We are going to save all the money we can during this time and pay off some of that pesky debt that is looming over our heads!

God wants us to be better stewards of our money.  My pastor always said that everybody tithes somewhere.  I want to start saving money and not blowing it on ridiculous things.  I recently told my husband that my biggest reason for paying off debt and being more frugal with our money is so that we can give like never before.  I want to be able to bless others and not constantly trying to bless ourselves!  It is better to give than to receive!   :)

Uncomfortable...

So from here on out...I am making some changes.  I have been so wrapped up in my plans to get "home" I have neglected to live life.  One thing that I am going to start doing is making myself uncomfortable.  Why you ask?  Because I have to do so in order to live my life according to God's purpose.  It is always said that following Christ can be uncomfortable and I have become too comfortable in my life.  I shy away from meeting new people...I am content to sit on the couch and do things alone.  I started this morning.  I asked God to reveal to me ways each day that I can put myself out there.  This morning I went to church (which is normal) I taught Sunday school (which is normal) but then I made it a point to make eye contact with people.  I made it a point to smile, say good morning, and use their names.  This may not sound like much to some, but for me...I was really putting myself out there.  I don't know what tomorrow will hold.  We will see.  Relationships have always been hard for me.  And I'm not sure why.  I recently read a book where it talks about "those" kind of people who expect everyone to reach out to them.  They never make the first phone call or text.  Well people, that's me.  So you can imagine moving to a new state where no one knew my name...was easy for me!  I didn't have to reach out to anyone...because I didn't know anyone.  This has got to change.  God wants us to have relationships with one another.  I am now going to every day...make myself uncomfortable.  Speak to someone, reach out to someone, they may need me as much as I need them.

And God said...LET GO!!!!!

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Have you ever felt like you are waiting...waiting for the next big thing.  Right now is never where your happiness is.  You think...'when I get this promotion life will be good' or 'when we pay off our bills life will be good' or 'when we move everything will be perfect'.  God has been working on me.  He has been working me good.  For the last few years I truly believe that God has been trying to release my hold on what I think will make me happy! I now know that God moved me...He is showing my husband and I that we need to LET GO!  We need to put all of our trust and energy into him.  But like a dog with a bone...I just won't let go. Some of you may think...this is extreme...God wouldn't do ALL of this to make you let go!  But I know He did, and he will until I can finally give it ALL to Him!

We are a military family.  Just a little over three years ago we were relocated to Florida.  I was completely devastated.  Because of my husband's job at the time...we thought we would never have to leave Oklahoma.  We are both from there and all of our friends and family are there.  The move sent me into a deep depression.  This whole time...three years later.  All I have done is pray for God to move us...I am not living life because I am wrapped up in my own plans.

In the last 6 months...God has gotten a hold of me and I am trying to change my life and truly do what God is calling me to do.    But once again...I'm constantly looking trying to figure everything out.  Maybe I should do this...maybe I should be here...if I go here...do this...this will be what God wants.  Yes, I am seeking his calling for me...but I still won't let go the control over what, where, when, and how.

I have heard...I don't know how many times recently, that when you hand it ALL over to God and LET GO...that this is when things fall into place.  Don't get me wrong, I don't think that we should just sit and wait either.  But if I do the things that I KNOW He has called me to do, such as continuing to serve at church, to surround myself with like minded people, and stay constant in prayer..then happiness will find me and doors will open.

I am writing this blog to hold me accountable.  Let's have a conversation and lift one another up.  There are so many things that I want to say and talk about but I wanted to start with this...the premise of this blog... Let Go and Start Living Life.