The Habit of Waiting for His Time

 Habits for life, Heavenly Habits  1 Response »
Nov 132012
 

Meandering down a country road in my minivan, I saw it.  Out of the corner of my eye, surrounded by miscellaneous, unwanted household items.  I held my breath as I pulled the van over and approached the woman in charge.  “How much?”  I asked cautiously.

“Twenty,” she replied.  My budget is currently tight.  Very tight.

“Will you take ten?  That’s all the cash I have.”

(Without hesitation)– “Sure!”

My next hurdle was getting my husband on board, for he would have to remove the seats from the van and return with me to load it.  I wondered what he would say.  To my delight, he was happy… especially when I told him what I was paying.

We returned to the yard sale, my husband loved the piece as well, and we brought it home.  It now sits in our garage, waiting for its painting and distressing job, which shouldn’t take long.

I have been married twenty-two years, and have always wanted a full dining room with a table and chairs and a buffet.  I prayed about this almost from the start of my marriage.  We were married almost 16 years before my husband found the table and chairs set at an antiques store.  For the last six years, I’ve had a dining room with a lovely table and chairs, but no buffet.  I’ve looked at pictures in magazines, tried to figure out how to purchase one, plotted where to get the extra money , and even sighed, “I don’t have anywhere to put my grandmother’s china!”  All along, God said, “Wait.”  For the right time, the right price, the right piece… a quality antique with value that I could pass down to my children’s children.  He gives us the best but wants us to trust Him for the timing.  And then, one day when I least expected it, there it was as I was driving by.


This is the one God had for me, at exactly the right time. I smiled, because He is good, and loves me enough to give me things I want as well as things I need. All in His good time.

~by Kim A., The Daisy Muse

Yard Sales…The Frugal Way to Decorate!

 Habits for a Happy Wife, Housekeeping Habits  5 Responses »
Mar 282011
 

It’s that time again…the beginning of spring and of yard sales!  I get giddy just thinking about waking up early on a Saturday morning, putting hot, strong coffee in a take along mug, and heading out in my van, extra seats removed, to the nice neighborhoods north of me.  Here, on sunny weekends, I can always find several good yard sales.

Why go “yard saling”?  Well, first of all, it’s the frugal way to decorate your home!  I obtain many needed or wanted items for my home at yard sales…all purchased at rock-bottom prices and in decent condition, simply because someone wanted to get rid of them.

Here are some of what I call my “golden finds”:Our kitchen table and chairs, purchased for 100.00 total.  What a blessing to find a set that matched my existing décor, and finally be rid of the used, 80’s formica table and chairs I’d had for 4 years!   (No, it does not look like the picture all of the time.  It usually has several used glasses and some schoolbooks strewn across it!)

My Kirby vacuum, with all attachments, manual, and full bottle of carpet shampoo.  The price was $100, I asked “How low will you go on this?”  and got it for 85.

My Hoover vacuum…so I would have an extra one for upstairs, purchased for 1.00.  The man also gave me several extra vacuum bags with it.  It is old and not made to last as long as a Kirby.  But for 1.00, I will use it upstairs as long as it lasts, then guiltlessly toss it as the cost per use is practically nothing!  I have had this for two or three years already.

My Homedics sound machine…I love to sleep with the sound of crickets or the ocean, but would never pay full price for one of those.  But for $3.00?  Certainly!

Jeans for my husband…in his size, Levi’s, with the tags still on, for $2.00.  I almost wanted to offer her more!  This, of course, was a one-in-a-million find, but we are always on the lookout for those! Continue reading »

The Habit of Using Coupons: Guest Post by Heidi Stearns

 Habits for a Happy Dad, Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for life, Heavenly Habits, Housekeeping Habits  7 Responses »
Aug 202010
 

Heidi is a friend of my heart. We share many common interests. We homeschool together, attend the same church, have taught children’s choir together. Even our children match in ages – and are best of friends. Plus, we love to save money. May I introduce to you the one everyone admiringly calls…

The Coupon Queen.

I am blessed to be able to share with you what I have learned about saving money because I believe that as Christians, we should be wise spenders. Everything we have is a gift from God and how we spend our money should honor Him. We need to take control of our money. Being good stewards requires us to plan ahead and make good choices in how we use the gifts God has given us and being responsible with those gifts will be pleasing to Him.

Proverbs 27:23-24 says “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.”
Luke 16:10 says “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much”.

Like many homeschool families, my family struggles to make finances work on a single income and at times it can be is very difficult. As a family of five, I was budgeting over $200 a week on groceries, that is over 25% of my family’s total income. I was willing to try anything to help my family save money. A little over a year ago I was introduced to a new way of saving money, an idea that would change my family’s finances and prepare us for even the most difficult financial times. After 12 months of using this “new” system, on average I spend less than $70 every week on groceries and have a stockpile built up that can provide for my family for a month. Couponing has made a huge financial impact on my family and the blessing of security and peace that comes along with it is priceless.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:12-13 Continue reading »

The freedom of frugal living

 Habits for life, Homeschool Habits, Housekeeping Habits, Recipe Box  32 Responses »
Aug 172010
 

Every now and then I need to make fun of myself.

See, I’m afraid I’ve become that stereotype. That bread-baking, homeschooling, make-your-own mixes type of mama. Really, it was a slow, years-in-the-making process. Now, simple, money-saving steps are just part of my life.

Bam. I was there. Bread-baking, homeschooling mama.

I know. I know.

But part of the poking fun at myself is the figuring out. Finding the freedom in frugality. Continue reading »

Staying focused on Christ in seasons of little money pt. 2

 Habits for life, Heavenly Habits  2 Responses »
Aug 122010
 
This is the second part of  Trisha’s post from yesterday and it is chock full of good stuff! If you missed part one, check it out first, then hurry back here for a blessing!

  • Pray for perspective change!  ~ Facebook, Twitter and blogs are good but on bad days can be a curse. I get all wrapped up in what others have and can afford to do. Don’t compare…. instead compare yourself to the rest of the world that has far less that you do! America has warped our definition of wealth. You are wealthy if you have a roof over your head, clean water to drink and clothes on your body…. seriously! Most of the world can not say the same. Being able to think this way is a God thing…. I used to whine about having “no money” when my husband and I’s combined salary was 3x what we make now. Now, to God be the glory, I feel richer than I have ever been! I mean that too! God has transformed my mind through this season! So in short PRAY! Pray that God would give you His perspective and allow you to see how He has provided so much for you already!
  • Give  ~ You will never “have enough” to “start giving”. Mark and I would always say, “when we pay off debt we will start giving more”. If you can’t “afford to give” now you never will. I am not talking about a mere 10% in tithe either. It is so freeing to give what the Lord has put in your heart to give! It is a huge faith step showing that you trust God to meet all your needs! Mark 12:41-44 “ …for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put all she owed, all she had to live on.”
  • Trust the Sovereignty of God ~ Money is of no object to God. He made the universe with its many galaxies and billions of stars. I don’t think He stresses over $1,000 or even $100,000. He wants your heart. He wants you to love Him first and manage what He has given you…. whether that be a lot or a little. So if you are in a season of little, trust that God has you there for a reason! As Paul explains in Phillipians 4 keep “pressing on” but remain content with whatever God gives you. Seek and pursue Him rather than a larger pay check. In His timing He will give you more income, if it so pleases Him. Hebrews 13:5-6“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you,” so that we may confidently say, The Lord is My Helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
  • Cut yourself some slack…. this is hard! ~ This season has been rough. Making “a gallon of lemonade out of a lemon” …. making bills, groceries and gas for a family of 4 on our budget has been very hard! We have to be VERY structured and disciplined to make it all work. At times it can be completely overwhelming and consuming. I think when I look back, I will wish I had just cut myself some slack, relaxed and enjoyed the season. My greatest struggle is thinking I could put our family in a homeless shelter for forgetting that $5 off Kroger coupon at the house. I will almost make myself vomit over small mistakes in our day to day life. I don’t have that much control!!! God is still reigning over our life! Trust Him with the details and RELAX! “Oh Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For you have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with PERFECT faithfulness.” (emphasis added) – Isaiah 25:1

I could have added stay in the Word, pray, keep serving, don’t forsake relationships, or some practical advice on money management but theses were/are the 5 that are most difficult for me. I feel as if I could write a book on this topic. God has taught me so much! I have watched my husband flourish as our spiritual leader through this trial. He is the strong one. I am the one who totally freaks out! I am learning though! I think I’m getting better. This is a season for us. I know God has us here for a reason because He has shaped us and taught us so much! Struggle is a guarantee on this earth. I joyfully accept that we have been allowed to “suffer with Christ” in even the smallest way!

To God be the Glory!

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