We all are living in troubled times. Even if your life is secure right now, there is enough uncertainty in the world to keep everyone on edge. Here are 2 prayers that will help you focus on Strength, Faith and Wholeness.
Wholeness Blessing - We Are Not Broken
We walk in troubled times
But let us not be troubled souls
We stand in financial challenge
But let us not see our lives only in crisis
We have suffered loss, pain and indignities
But we have survived, and we will survive
We have been hurt and we may be broke
But we are not broken
AMEN
- Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway
Prayer for Strength and Faith
Dear Lord
In these troubling times
I am filled with unspeakable fears.
I reach my hand out to you now.
I ask you to walk beside me.
Please help me hold on strong
During these storms
And help me hold my hopes high,
Even in the darkest hour.
AMEN.
- Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway
May these prayers help you find comfort and strength - no matter what your life situation is right now.
Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finances. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Let Go and Let God
My Dad always tells me that he has never seen God work in someone's life like He has worked in mine. It is humbling and scary at the same time but also gives me great comfort. It seems like whenever I am doubting myself or fretting over circumstances beyond my control I receive a "message" that reminds me to "let go and let God." Now don't think I have taken leave of my senses - it's not a "voice in my head" kind of thing. Let me explain...
Almost 1 year ago I was really fretting over whether or not to pursue a counterclaim in my divorce. Money was tight and it was obvious that TheColdOne was NOT going to negotiate a fair settlement. I was just about at the point where I wanted to throw in the towel and say "to Hell with it". Well I always listen to talk radio when I'm working. Glenn Beck at 9am, Rush at 12 then switch stations to catch Hannity at 3. On the day I was fixing to call it quits, I was tied up on the computer and didn't get a chance to change the radio station. Dave Ramsey's show came on - which I NEVER listen to - and the first caller was asking about her mortgage as it related to her pending divorce. The caller explained how her soon to be ex was forcing her to make a decision that she was not comfortable with just yet. Dave went into a mini-rant and told the caller to hang firm, do what was right for her and her family and ignore the "bully". Ding Ding Ding - a switch flipped in me - it was like Dave was talking right to me. Now some may call this a coincidence but I call it the hand of God.
Just a few days ago, I found myself fretting again over money. I had just finished my taxes and the final result showed I owed the federal government some money. My co-pays for MD appointments and medications had just gone up on Jan 1. I did have a second job for most of last year but that ended on January 1st when the agency finally got fully staffed. Not to mention that my oil needs changing in my car, my grocery bill has shot up since I was diagnosed with uncontrolled diabetes and the coldest winter in years means a much higher electric bill. Yada Yada Yada - you know the story.
On the very day I found out that I couldn't cash in some of my accrued time off, I took a break from work and checked my personal email. I subscribe to a daily email devotional sent out by The Purpose Driven Life. I usually read them but lately had deleted them without reading. This day I opened up the top one in my inbox. What I read literally took my breath away... Here's how the text of the devotional began...
"God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask him for help, (2) learn to be content, (3) practice giving in faith, (4) maintain your integrity and (5) trust him with your life."
Coincidence? I think not.
The very next paragraph made my heart beat a bit faster...
"Worry is really just a form of atheism. Every time you worry, you're acting like an atheist. You're saying 'It all depends on me'. That's just not in the Bible. Worry is a warning light that you doubt the love of God..."
Another coincidence? No way.
So the next time you are fretting - whether it be over money or any of the other myriad of things that pop up in your day to day life, remember these words from Matthew...
"...Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:32-33
In other words - just Let Go and Let God.
Blessings to you all.
Almost 1 year ago I was really fretting over whether or not to pursue a counterclaim in my divorce. Money was tight and it was obvious that TheColdOne was NOT going to negotiate a fair settlement. I was just about at the point where I wanted to throw in the towel and say "to Hell with it". Well I always listen to talk radio when I'm working. Glenn Beck at 9am, Rush at 12 then switch stations to catch Hannity at 3. On the day I was fixing to call it quits, I was tied up on the computer and didn't get a chance to change the radio station. Dave Ramsey's show came on - which I NEVER listen to - and the first caller was asking about her mortgage as it related to her pending divorce. The caller explained how her soon to be ex was forcing her to make a decision that she was not comfortable with just yet. Dave went into a mini-rant and told the caller to hang firm, do what was right for her and her family and ignore the "bully". Ding Ding Ding - a switch flipped in me - it was like Dave was talking right to me. Now some may call this a coincidence but I call it the hand of God.
Just a few days ago, I found myself fretting again over money. I had just finished my taxes and the final result showed I owed the federal government some money. My co-pays for MD appointments and medications had just gone up on Jan 1. I did have a second job for most of last year but that ended on January 1st when the agency finally got fully staffed. Not to mention that my oil needs changing in my car, my grocery bill has shot up since I was diagnosed with uncontrolled diabetes and the coldest winter in years means a much higher electric bill. Yada Yada Yada - you know the story.
On the very day I found out that I couldn't cash in some of my accrued time off, I took a break from work and checked my personal email. I subscribe to a daily email devotional sent out by The Purpose Driven Life. I usually read them but lately had deleted them without reading. This day I opened up the top one in my inbox. What I read literally took my breath away... Here's how the text of the devotional began...
"God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask him for help, (2) learn to be content, (3) practice giving in faith, (4) maintain your integrity and (5) trust him with your life."
Coincidence? I think not.
The very next paragraph made my heart beat a bit faster...
"Worry is really just a form of atheism. Every time you worry, you're acting like an atheist. You're saying 'It all depends on me'. That's just not in the Bible. Worry is a warning light that you doubt the love of God..."
Another coincidence? No way.
So the next time you are fretting - whether it be over money or any of the other myriad of things that pop up in your day to day life, remember these words from Matthew...
"...Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:32-33
In other words - just Let Go and Let God.
Blessings to you all.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Save the Receipts & Bank Statements!!
If there is only one piece of advice I can give ANYONE (not just those in the midst of a divorce) it is this - SAVE THE RECEIPTS AND BANK STATEMENTS!! I was one of those people that glanced over my credit card statement then shredded it. I kept my paper bank statements for a couple of years then tossed them into the burn pit. Receipts? Puh-leaze those were trashed before I even left the store.
Little did I know just how precious those little pieces of paper would be. When trying to prove how much money I had spent remodeling and redecorating TheColdOne's house for divorce settlement purposes, his attorney wanted itemized statements showing how much money I spent and on what - going back for 10 years! My attorney advised me that it would be a "he said-she said" situation that would probably not go in my favor without documentation.
Luckily there were a few things I had saved. I was able to find the account numbers of some old credit cards that were closed long ago and contacted the customer service center. When I asked for copies of the itemized receipts, most of them just sighed and went into the spiel about how much it would cost me. I will admit that some of them were very kind when I explained what I needed them for and waived the fee. Of course I could only get back as far as 6 years but that was better than nothing. Don't let anyone say it can't be done because I was able to do it. AND don't let YOUR ColdOne claim they can't get the information for YOUR attorney - that's what mine claimed and I can prove him wrong with just one flick of a file folder.
Check with your bank about getting copies of the old statements. I was able to go online and order copies of my checking account statements from as far back as 2000. The great thing was I used my debit card instead of checks so the details were printed out on the statement.
I did have a good deal on information on Quicken - but the attorney said having the actual statements would be best. I was able to input the old information from the statements into Quicken and pull up reports breaking down expenses. THAT was very helpful in compiling a list of what I spent and where I spent it.
Can't find the account numbers? Having trouble figuring out what that large check was written for? (it costs a pretty penny to get copies of old cancelled checks). Pull out your income tax files. I was lucky that I had used Quicken for years so despite my computer crashing about 6 years ago, I still had the reports printed from Quicken with expenses broken down. I was able to correlate those to some of the bank statements to figure out whether or not the check I wrote at Kroger was for groceries or medication.
Yes it was a lot of work. Yes it took a lot of time. But hopefully it was worth it - we'll see when we finally get to mediation. Another great thing about going through the receipts and statements - it made me realize just how much money I simply blew away on junk. It was a great motivator to help me get my personal finances back on track now that I'm the only income.
In the meantime, start saving the receipts and statements. Make notes on them for what exactly the item was used for. Keep them in a safe place. You never know if you'll need them until you get slapped upside the head like I was.
Little did I know just how precious those little pieces of paper would be. When trying to prove how much money I had spent remodeling and redecorating TheColdOne's house for divorce settlement purposes, his attorney wanted itemized statements showing how much money I spent and on what - going back for 10 years! My attorney advised me that it would be a "he said-she said" situation that would probably not go in my favor without documentation.
Luckily there were a few things I had saved. I was able to find the account numbers of some old credit cards that were closed long ago and contacted the customer service center. When I asked for copies of the itemized receipts, most of them just sighed and went into the spiel about how much it would cost me. I will admit that some of them were very kind when I explained what I needed them for and waived the fee. Of course I could only get back as far as 6 years but that was better than nothing. Don't let anyone say it can't be done because I was able to do it. AND don't let YOUR ColdOne claim they can't get the information for YOUR attorney - that's what mine claimed and I can prove him wrong with just one flick of a file folder.
Check with your bank about getting copies of the old statements. I was able to go online and order copies of my checking account statements from as far back as 2000. The great thing was I used my debit card instead of checks so the details were printed out on the statement.
I did have a good deal on information on Quicken - but the attorney said having the actual statements would be best. I was able to input the old information from the statements into Quicken and pull up reports breaking down expenses. THAT was very helpful in compiling a list of what I spent and where I spent it.
Can't find the account numbers? Having trouble figuring out what that large check was written for? (it costs a pretty penny to get copies of old cancelled checks). Pull out your income tax files. I was lucky that I had used Quicken for years so despite my computer crashing about 6 years ago, I still had the reports printed from Quicken with expenses broken down. I was able to correlate those to some of the bank statements to figure out whether or not the check I wrote at Kroger was for groceries or medication.
Yes it was a lot of work. Yes it took a lot of time. But hopefully it was worth it - we'll see when we finally get to mediation. Another great thing about going through the receipts and statements - it made me realize just how much money I simply blew away on junk. It was a great motivator to help me get my personal finances back on track now that I'm the only income.
In the meantime, start saving the receipts and statements. Make notes on them for what exactly the item was used for. Keep them in a safe place. You never know if you'll need them until you get slapped upside the head like I was.
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