Written by Philip Brewer of Wise Bread

In the 1950s and 1960s, a working man could support a family at a middle-class standard of living with just one income. It might surprise you to learn that one person working full-time, even at minimum wage, can still support a family of four at that standard of living. Nowadays we call that “living in poverty.”

According to John E Schwarz in Illusions of Opportunity:

In the early 1950s, fully two fifths of American households had no automobile, about a third did not have a private telephone or a television, and the homes of about a third of all Americans were dilapidated or were without running water or a private toilet and bath. Only a small minority of families enjoyed such basics as a mixer or had a hot-water heater.

Those dilapidated shacks without hot water improved over the years, but as late as 1970 the median single-family home was still less than 1400 square feet (versus over 2200 now).

I have a personal recollection of the 1960s and 1970s (I graduated from high school in 1977). My dad was a college professor and probably made a pretty good income, but we never had a standard of living as high as lots of “poor” folks seem to have now: We never had air conditioning. We didn’t get a second car until I was in high school. We didn’t get a color TV until I’d gone away to college. We never took vacations overseas. Eating out was for special occasions.

The key fact about the period was not the high standard of living, but that it was a rising standard of living, which made the period one of considerable optimism. I’m not advocating that anyone live at a 1950s (or even 1960s) standard of living, but I’d be pleased if people would quit romanticizing those days as a golden age of prosperity.

Real household income rose last year. At the same time, the earnings of both men and women fell. How can household incomes go up when the earnings of both and women go down? Easy: The number of workers per household go up.

The arithmetic of this strategy for making ends meet doesn’t work well, though. Additional expenses are needed to support a second income–a second car, child care, additional commuting, higher rent (due to optimizing the living situation for two jobs instead of just one). The income from the second job is often smaller (else it would be considered the first job) and more heavily burdened by taxes.

In fact, most people understand that the second income doesn’t contribute much to increasing the standard of living. It’s at least as much a ploy for some stability in income (a hedge against the income of the first job being lost) and a way to maintain the employability of the second wage-earner.

A little frugality goes a long way. In fact, I take back what I said about wishing that people would quit romanticizing those days as a gold age of prosperity. If romanticizing those days motivates people to live a little more frugally, then they should do just that.

My husband and I were given a new camera from my mother for our 25th anniversary. It was a thoughtful and extravagant gift that we greatly appreciated. (Enter… the brainless wonder.. namely ME!) A few weeks ago we had potential buyers walk through our home. Since I knew they would be looking in our closets I hid items that were valuable. One of them was our new camera. A few days later I went to find the camera and couldn’t remember where I hid it.

 I knew how much Mama spent on it and I was so upset at my carelessness. I hunted like mad for that camera.  I pulled out boxes in literally every closet of the house. I took a flashlight and looked behind furniture, in cupboards and inside boxes. I looked under beds and behind closet doors. I looked in very conceivable place I could think of and thought I had exhausted every possible hiding place that came to mind.

Finally, as I was on another hunt for the lost camera, I happened to move some items in my closet and there was the camera! I threw kisses up to God and thanked Him for revealing it. I called my granddaughter to me and showed her what I had found. She rejoiced with me! I called my husband and shared the GOOD NEWS and he also rejoiced. The lost camera had been found!

Immediately in the midst of this rejoicing a parable came to mind ….

Luke 15:8-10:  Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’  “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (NAS)

I suddenly knew that God wanted my attention. My spiritual ears perked up.  God was using the common daily round of my life to teach me a spiritual truth from His Word.  It’s amazing, actually, when you think of it. Here nearly 2,000 years later His Holy Spirit is using an everyday event in my life to remind me of a spiritual truth He taught many years ago.

The spiritual truth was that HE loved the lost sinner more than I ever could.  I thought of those I labor over in prayer for the salvation of their souls. I thought of those loved ones whom I want to see grow more in Christ. I thought of my own sins and weaknesses that discourage me so. Suddenly, I found great rest and peace in knowing that Jesus said He came to “seek and to save that which was lost”.  Luke 19:10

I’ve tried several times to share where I am these days on the road of frugality but I just haven’t been able to get it on paper. I found the article below on Tim Challies blog. He says many of the things I wanted to write about so I’ll cheat and share his article instead. 

Briefly, there came a point where I realized I was spending way too much time (and thoughts) on trying to save money or obtain free items.  As a result I personally made the choice to live with less.  That means less variety in groceries or toiletries which means less time spent in searching for deals online, searching for coupons, organizing coupons, driving to several stores…less… less… less! It has simplified my life and I’m actually saving MORE money than I was when I was trying to get free items. 

My way does not necessarily have to be YOUR way. Everyone has to decide how much is too much when it comes to focusing on the things of this world. I just found it difficult to love the Lord with ALL my mind when most of my thoughts were obsessed with money and saving it. Others may not struggle with their thought life the way I did.

I’m hoping to share the particulars within the next few weeks.

I hope you enjoy the article.

*~*~*

Today I want to discuss frugality. I raise this issue because I have seen it appear as a topic many people, and women in particular, discuss on their blogs. Now the Bible makes it clear that money issues are often very closely connected to heart issues, and whether a person spends money freely or whether he spends money only with great reluctance, it is wise to look always to the heart. Money can be an idol both in want and in plenty. So I think this is an issue that is well worth discussing.

The actual definition of frugality can differ from person-to-person. Some see it as meaning little more than economical so that a frugal person is a person who buys things at lower prices than another person might. I think this is what most people mean by the term and how most people live out their attempts at frugality. They feel they are being frugal when they buy things using coupons rather than paying full price and when they purchase clothes or other necessities at thrift stores instead of paying full price. There is certainly nothing wrong with saving money on life’s necessities and this is usually wise. The problem with this definition, though, is that a person can still have an irrational or unbiblical love of “stuff” while trying to be frugal. By saving money on groceries a person can then buy more of other things—more that is unnecessary. Is it really frugal to save fifteen cents on a box of macaroni but still to have a house filled with things bought at Salvation Army stores?

I think the greater ideal with frugality, and something a lot of people miss, is the ideal of not just paying less, but buying less and thus avoiding waste and avoiding becoming captive to “stuff.” To me frugality is not spending less but in having less. So a frugal person doesn’t buy as much “stuff” (or more) at lower prices, but just learns to live with less “stuff.” If you find that your efforts in frugality help you spend less but to have a house that is equally filled with “stuff,” I’m not sure that you’re really being frugal. A definition I felt hit the mark is this one: “It’s about a simpler, less complicated lifestyle, not about being cheap. While those who put a frugal lifestyle into practice do tend to be thrifty, there is a method to their madness”. It goes on to say “People who practice frugal living tend to look for ways to save time as well as money, and generally prefer a slower, more laid back pace instead of the hectic ‘rat race’ life so many others lead.”

This is not going to be a systematic theology of frugality. Rather, I just want to share a few thoughts that my wife and I have come up with as we’ve pondered it. When Aileen and I got married we had no money and this actually continued for the first five or six years of our marriage. It is only in the past few years that we’ve had any kind of disposable income, though the government seems to be finding ways of cutting into this with great zeal. This fact, coupled with my wife’s Scottish heritage, meant that we spent very little money in the early years of a marriage. But lately, as we’ve had just a bit more money, we’ve begun to wonder just how free we should be with it. We’ve begun to ask whether frugality is a biblical concept or command. So this article shares just a few of our thoughts under some convenient headings.

The heart – I mentioned this already, but wanted to discuss it just a bit more as I think it is very important. I don’t know that there are many better barometers for our hearts than money. Whether you are spending too much or pinching every penny so hard that it bleeds, I think your attitude reflects something in your heart. If you spend too much perhaps you are reflecting greed or a bravado that rejects the fact that God expects us to be in control of our spending. If you pinch every penny, perhaps it shows that you live in fear or that you somehow think God will provide only through what may be excessive frugality. There is no guarantee that a frugal person is less addicted to money and less under the control of money than a person who spends all he has. Always we need to remember that it is God who provides for us and that He has promised never to forsake us. He will provide what we need and our confidence must be in Him, not in our own efforts. This is true of the great issues like salvation and sanctification, but also of the smaller issues like finances. So always look to the heart! If you find that your frugality has extended to life’s necessities—that you do not buy what you need even if you have the money, or if you find that you are reluctant or stingy in giving money to the church or to others in need, you can be certain that your frugality has taken you captive.

Necessity – Many people who attempt to be frugal could probably get along just fine without being frugal. Thus I wonder if the amount of time it takes to scour the racks of thrift stores, clip coupons, search for deals online, and so on could be better spent in another enterprise. A man who brings in millions of dollars a year probably doesn’t need to have his wife work at McDonald’s to bring in $300/month and her time is doubtless better spent in some other way. I wonder if the same may be true for those who don’t absolutely need to be frugal. If God has given great blessing, maybe the time it takes to be very frugal can be spent doing something else. Instead of spending days hunting for the perfect and perfectly cheap cake pan so you can bake a cake and have people over to evangelize to them, perhaps it would be best to just buy it for full price and have the people over a couple of weeks earlier. The finances of some families dictate that great time and care must be given to each dollar, but I wonder if those with lots of money make a mockery of God’s abundant provision when they act this way.

It seems to me that God has released some of us from worries that may concern others. For example, not every man can have the confidence I do that his wife will be faithful to him. I never worry that my wife will one day pack up and leave me for another guy. Yet for other men this may be a legitimate concern. It would be irrational for me to worry if my wife is ten minutes late arriving home from an appointment, but for other men this may be something they can legitimately worry about. Similarly, God has released some people from imminent concerns over finances. It makes no sense, then, for these people to act as if finances are still a huge concern and that they must be frugal with each and every dollar. I have known people who, though so rich they could not possibly come to the end of their finances, worry about the expenditure of a single dollar on something that is good and necessary. Surely there is no good reason for a person with such money to be too concerned about one dollar. Is this any different from a person with no money using credit to purchase something frivolous and something that will sink him further into debt?

Gleaning – As I thought about frugality I was drawn to the biblical concept of gleaning. In the Old Testament God commands that people who pick crops leave gleanings behind. Rather than picking the fields clean they are to leave portions that have fallen so the poor can follow behind and gather them. Of course the wealthy landowners would have wanted to pick these up and increase their profits, but God used gleaning as a way to provide for the poor. This made me think of wealthy people who often pick through thrift stores or who line up first for the big sales and wonder if the gleaning principles has something to say to us here. If we can easily afford $10 for a t-shirt, should we really take the last marked-down one on the rack when for another person this might make the difference between being able to afford it and not being able to?

Teach a man to fish – It has been my experience (and I say this carefully because I know this is certainly not always the case) that many people who are impoverished are this way because of poor financial decisions they have made or because they simply do not know how to take proper care of their finances. In the same way many wealthy people are wealthy because they have made wise financial decisions or because they really do know the best way to care for their money. Many people may be in a good financial position precisely because they have mastered the art of frugality. Where this is the case, it would surely be beneficial for these people to mentor others who are in financial difficult. It goes back to the old proverb of “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.” Rather than heading to the thrift stores for your own benefit, perhaps it would be wise and godly to take a friend who is in need and teach that person how to shop wisely, all the while ensuring that her heart is right before God.

I guess the long and short is that money can be as big an idol when you seek not to spend it as it can when you do nothing but spend it. Frugality in and of itself must not be an end in itself but must be a means to a greater end of bringing glory to God and of serving others. Ever and always it is a matter of the heart.

Challies Blog

“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”
-1 Corinthians 7:20.

“SOME persons have the foolish notion that the only way in which they can live for God is by becoming ministers, missionaries, or Bible women. Alas! how many would be shut out from any opportunity of magnifying the Most High if this were the case.

Beloved, it is not office, it is earnestness; it is not position, it is grace which will enable us to glorify God. God is most surely glorified in that cobbler’s stall, where the godly worker, as he plies the awl, sings of the Saviour’s love, ay, glorified far more than in many a prebendal stall where official religiousness performs its scanty duties. The name of Jesus is glorified by the poor unlearned carter as he drives his horse, and blesses his God, or speaks to his fellow labourer by the roadside, as much as by the popular divine who, throughout the country, like Boanerges, is thundering out the gospel. God is glorified by our serving Him in our proper vocations. Take care, dear reader, that you do not forsake the path of duty by leaving your occupation, and take care you do not dishonour your profession while in it. Think little of yourselves, but do not think too little of your callings. Every lawful trade may be sanctified by the gospel to noblest ends. Turn to the Bible, and you will find the most menial forms of labour connected either with most daring deeds of faith, or with persons whose lives have been illustrious for holiness.

Therefore be not discontented with your calling. Whatever God has made your position, or your work, abide in that, unless you are quite sure that he calls you to something else. Let your first care be to glorify God to the utmost of your power where you are. Fill your present sphere to His praise, and if He needs you in another He will show it you. This evening lay aside vexatious ambition, and embrace peaceful content.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I’ve tried to collect all of Amy Carmichael’s books! I love her writings. This poem is a favorite and comes from Edges of His Ways.

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

Amy Carmichael

(More info can be found about this book and more of Amy’s in the sidebar under Godly living at Georgene’s Bookstore).

What are the first thoughts that come to mind when I mention faith? Do
you immediately think of Abraham? Or do you recall the long list of
faithful heroes found in the 11th chapter of Hebrews? These are the
type of examples I thought of when faith was mentioned, and most
assuredly, their stories have been preserved for our example and
encouragement. But, I’ve come to see that the total realm in which I
viewed men and women of faith was very limited. I had reserved faith
for those circumstances that were out of the ordinary. Such as, the
hard financial times where there was not enough money to meet the
bills, or the death of a loved one or a sudden illness. I never once
associated faith with my daily tasks that involved homemaking or the
daily pressures that went along with being a wife and a mother.

The Lord began teaching me these simple lessons of faith over 10 years
ago when I first began a home business. At the time my children were
still living at home. My days were already full between helping my
husband with his business, homeschooling and trying to keep up the
laundry, dishes and other homemaking chores. So, once my business began
to grow it pushed me way beyond what I felt I was physically and
emotionally able to do. There never seemed to be enough time to clean
everything that needed to be cleaned in the house, or spend the amount
of time the children needed in their school work let alone run the
business. At times I was short in my response to my children and most
of the time I felt more like a drill sergeant than their Mother. There
was work to be done and heaven help them if they didn’t cooperate NOW.
I didn’t know how to live peacefully under this type of enormous
pressure. I began to have physical problems. At times when I was under
stress my chest felt like a ton of bricks was sitting on it and I had a
hard time breathing. It felt like I had cotton in my lungs and my
breathing would become labored. I finally went to a heart doctor and
they ran their myriad of tests. Their final conclusion was that I was
suffering from ‘good old-fashioned anxiety‘. (That is what the Dr.
called it).

I couldn’t believe it! Anxiety? Not a very nice word to associate with
a woman who was suppose to be a Christian. I began to search His Word
for answers and cried out for His help to show me His ways.

As I evaluated my thoughts during those times I began to see that I was
anxious/fearful about finishing the goals I had set for the day. I
looked at the mountain of work and found myself kicking into high gear
emotionally and physically to accomplish everything that needed to be
done. I had my expectations of how my home, children, and life should
be and worked towards keeping that image. Behind my anxiousness was the
final fear, ‘What if someone came to the house and it was out of
order?’ I had people coming to my property throughout the day to buy
books so there was always the chance they would visit my home, too. I
had other fears, too. What if my children didn’t finish their
textbooks? Would they end up not succeeding in life? Would others think
I had failed at homeschooling? What if the business shop was out of
order? What would the customers say? Would I discredit Christ? Now, I
wasn’t consciously thinking these things each time I had a type of
anxiety attack. It had become a conditioned response to the work
because somewhere in the past I had acted upon those thoughts.

I can surely relate to the story of Martha in the New Testament.

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain
village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and
heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to
him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to
serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and
said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many
things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part,
which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42

* Cumbered: 4049 perispao; to distract (with care):

* Careful: 3309 merimnao; to be anxious about:

* Troubled: 5706 thorubazo; to bother, to distract, disturb, clamor, to frighten

The Word says in verse 40 that Martha was ‘cumbered about much
serving.’ The word ‘cumbered’ in the Greek means DISTRACTED WITH CARE.
When someone is distracted it suggests that there is something else
that they should be focusing on. In the story of Martha and Mary it’s
clear to see that Mary had chosen to put her focus on Christ while
Martha was distracted from His presence and had her focus on all the
work that needed to be done. One of the terms used to describe
‘troubled’ means TO FRIGHTEN. Can you see it? Can you see Martha was
not only distracted with all the care but she was frightened that the
work would not get done? But, Mary, was looking at her Source. She
wasn’t worried that there wouldn’t be food. She was looking to the
source of her food. Her eyes were kept on Him. Poor Martha. Her eyes
were on her circumstances which caused her to become careful and
troubled.

If we have a family we know that realistically we cannot sit at
Jesus feet the entire day (every day) without suffering some major
consequences in our homes. We have many duties that we alone are
responsible for. So, how would this principle apply to us as we face
each day with a mountain of work before us? I believe the answer has to
do with the ‘principle’ of sitting at Jesus feet in our minds and
hearts.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose MIND IS STAYED ON THEE: because he TRUSTETH in thee. Isa 26:3

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…
Hebrews 12:2

This may come naturally for some but for me, personally, keeping my
mind stayed on Christ is a practice that I am continually working on. I
must admit, though, as I learn more of Him and about Him I find my
thoughts drawn to Him naturally throughout the day.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the
peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

This is where I was lacking faith. When I became overwhelmed with
the cares and distractions of the day, I did not pray and turn my
thoughts on to the Lord in faith knowing that He was there and able to
work it all together for His good. I kept my eyes focused on the
problem, instead, and then became overwhelmed. I didn’t go to Him in
prayer and make my request known that I needed His strength. My faith
was not in God but my own abilities and strength to accomplish all that
I had purposed to do. I was not ‘sitting at His feet’ with the eyes of
my heart placed on Him. I was racing about like a wind up toy, going
about in my own strength and most of the time going in circles. I was
distracted from Him, divided from the knowledge of His presence.

Right about this same time I listened to one of Elisabeth Elliot’s
tapes that expounded on the scripture below and it was life changing.
The tape was called, The Gift of the Present Moment. Basically, what
she opened up to me from God’s Word concerning this scripture is the
principle that God has assigned my days and my hours. He is the God of
my moments. He has also promised that He will follow close, He’ll
sustain me in each of those moments. He is my Strength and my Helper.

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Ps 16:5

Portion: 4490 manah (maw-naw’); something weighed out, specifically (of food) a ration; also a lot:

Maintainest: 8551 tamak (taw-mak’); to sustain; to obtain, keep fast; to help, follow close:

So how does this work itself out practically on a day by day basis?
Well, let’s envision a normal, typical day in our homes. The details
may differ but the basic principle remains the same. We all have our
‘mountain’ of work that screams at us the moment our eyelids pry
themselves open to the sound of the alarm. We may have a schedule
roughly planned out in our minds or we may have written some thoughts
down on a paper the night before. Either way, we just KNOW that there
is more work to be accomplished than we can physically perform but we
start out hopeful with our plan of attack. Things are running fairly
smooth and then all of sudden some unforeseen event takes place. It
could be a child suddenly becomes ill and needs our full attention or
perhaps our husband calls and asks us to drop everything and take care
of something he needs done right away or unexpected guests call and
want to stop by for a visit today. We each have our own daily
interruptions so just fill in the blanks with your particulars. So, at
that precise moment we begin to feel overwhelmed. We panic. We think to
ourselves, “How in the world am I going to get everything done today
that needs to be done if I have to stop and do _____?” Or you may not
even think anything but just immediately react with frustration and
irritation. We become agitated. If our husband is the one asking us to
change our plans then we may snap back an unkind response. If the
children are the cause we may grumble at them. We may start showing
signs of anxiety such as chest pains or labored breathing. Whatever has
changed our initial plans becomes our target of misery and we find it
hard within ourselves to do the ‘interruption’ as unto the Lord.

Let’s take the above scenario but this time let’s play it out
differently as we choose to focus on the Lord. The moment our eyelids
open to the sound of the alarm we lift our hearts toward heaven and
give our day to the Lord. We remind ourselves that we belong to Him and
that we are nothing without Him. We commit our ways and our plans to
Him. We realize we are here for Him and that all we do today is for
Him. We trust that He will direct our steps for the day and be our
Strength.

As the day unfolds and pressures and trials begin to arise, as they
most assuredly will, instead of focusing on the problem, we lift our
hearts towards Him in prayer. We cast the care of the situation onto
Him. We have memorized His Word concerning our weakness to be
distracted by the cares of this world, so we immediately ‘put off’ the
anxious thoughts and begin to renew our minds by quoting His Word that
reminds us that He will direct our steps. We remind ourselves that He
is all powerful and works all things according to His will. We trust
Him to redeem the situation as He sees fit. We give Him our plans. We
give Him our ‘To Do List’ and we consciously make a decision to trust
His plan instead of ours. We give Him the details of the things that we
fear won’t get done and in FAITH we trust that HE will give us a
portion of time, in His own timing, later that day or perhaps another
day, to complete that which concerns us. We ‘put on’ prayers and
supplications. (Eph 4:22-24) We continue to keep focused on Him and not
the problem throughout the day. Our minds and hearts are filled with
His peace and on our tongue is the law of kindness towards all in our
homes.

This may seem like a simple truth to some but to a person who is
overcome easily by stress and a heavy workload this truth is the
difference between living a godly life of peace compared to a life
where she is overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, cranky, confused, doubtful
and angry.
Time and time again He has proven to be faithful in this type of
situation. Time and time again, over the past 10 years, I have seen the
obstacles in front of me and He has given me His grace to make a
decision to trust Him instead of worry and fear. I have found His Word
to be true and as I handle the stress in my home in a biblical manner I
find that He floods my mind and heart with His peace, His life and His
glory.

I know that your desire is the same as mine… all that we are doing in
our homes and for our husbands and children… we want this to be
pleasing to our God because of our great love for Him. Right? His Word
says that the just shall LIVE by faith. To me that means, that in my
home, I am not to merely perform my daily duties in a timely manner but
that in all I do I am to look to the Lord with the eye of faith
depending on His strength and power to work through me to accomplish
His will. This will bring forth His life instead of the fruit of my
flesh.

A few months ago my son and his wife had a new baby. My son works for
us and because of the nature of our business he was not able to pick up
his wife on the day she came home from the hospital so he asked if I
would mind picking them up. So, that morning I had already left the
house and was on the way to the hospital when my husband radioed me and
said that one of the diesel’s had broken down. He needed me to drive
(an hour away) to pick up the part and take it to the shop and then
wait until it was finished and take it back to the truck. *Gasp* I
couldn’t believe it! My plans were set! Immediately, I started to get
irritated and frustrated. Now, you would think that after 10 years of
trying to learn this lesson that I would respond perfectly, right?
*Smile* I wish I could say that I did. My first reaction was not good
and I responded with the ‘godly’ remark… “Of all days!” BUT….
immediately the Lord reminded that He was able to work things out for
good so I lifted my thoughts up to Him and asked that He help me accept
whatever came my way as His plan for my day. I put my faith in Him to
work it all together for my good, my daughter-in-love’s good and His
glory.

The fear, frustration and anxiety left. Peace flooded my mind.
During the course of the conversation I had another thought on how we
could solve this problem and my husband agreed that it would work out.
I didn’t have to change my plans at all. But, let me tell you, I was so
grieved that I had initially failed that test. (I am reassured, though,
that I’ll have plenty of situations to practice it’s truths, again.
*Smile*) I also know from past experience that it doesn’t always work
out the way I hope it will. Many, many times I have had to stop
whatever I was doing and completely change my plans for the day. More
times than not.

The meaning of faith means so much more to me today than it ever has
before. The Lord, in all His glory, loves me and has a plan for my life
and my home. He has promised that He is weaving His perfect plan
throughout my days. He cares about my home. He cares about the work I
have to do in my home. But, more than all of this, He wants me to put
my faith in Him to accomplish all that needs to be done in my home. He
wants me to look to Him in all I do. To keep my ‘eye’ on Him, so to
speak, as I go about my day. Just as a child sitting in the room with
His mother as he plays with his toys concentrates on what he is doing
but all the while he is aware that his Mama is there. So it should be
with us and the Lord. We must trust Him to work through us to build our
homes for Him. And do you know what is even more wonderful… HE IS the
author and finisher of our faith. So, if I lack faith to trust Him at
those moments when everything seems out of control, I can pray and ask,
“Lord, increase my faith” and He will!!!! What an awesome, good God we
serve!

Georgene Girouard

September 19, 2002

* God manages perfectly, day and night, year in and year out, the
movements of the stars, the wheeling of the planets, the staggering
coordination of events that goes on the molecular level in order to
hold things together. There is no doubt that He can manage the timing
of my days and weeks. Elisabeth Elliot

* Where faith begins, anxiety ends. Where anxiety begins faith ends. George Mueller

* Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the
earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to
the rock that is higher than I. Ps 61: 1, 2

Have you ever been in a situation where you were waiting for some news and you could think of nothing else? It may have been the good news from a pregnancy test. Or it may have been the fearful wait for the results of a medical test. I remember so many different scenarios throughout my life when I was in that ‘waiting mode’ with my sole concentration on the future. I was nervous, my flesh was agitated and I could think of nothing else. The present moment was being wasted.

I found myself there today. My flesh had followed my thoughts into the future.. a place where only God dwells. My peace was gone and I could think of nothing else. I knew this was not a place I wanted to stay.

I searched through the scriptures that had been hidden in my heart over the years looking for one that would set me free from the anxiety.  Then a particular scripture came to mind…

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31

Ahhh.. that was it.. that was my answer! No matter what the future holds…the present moment stretched open before me like a book… and with it the responsibility to obey God in that moment….at that present moment.  WHATEVER you DO..do ALL for the glory of God! 

I looked around. What did I need to DO? What was my duty at that present moment? What was the next thing needing to be done?  That was where my focus needed to be.. not on the future.

Scripture is clear that if we do the right thing our emotions will follow. (Genesis 4:6,7) I experienced that principle today. When my mind was set on the Lord and doing what was right my flesh settled down and my mind was flooded with peace.   The future was left in the Lord’s hands as my focus was set on bringing God glory in the present moment.

I love God’s Word!