April 2009

Dave Ramsey Town Hall for Hope Meeting

Dave Ramsey Town Hall for Hope Meeting

This post is a bit delayed, since the Dave Ramsey Town Hall for Hope meeting was on Thursday 4/23. I wanted to blog sooner but I had surgery the next day on Friday and have been recovering…

Now that I am back on my feet and playing catch-up, I want to help pass on this much needed message of hope. Our church hosted the Town Hall for Hope telecast and it was encouraging. With so much doom & gloom everywhere you turn regarding the current economic condition, a spirit lifting message of hope was gladly received.

Dave has a real back-to-basics, common sense approach to not only financial affairs, but life in general. He presents it with a positive and humorous outlook and includes clear steps of action. It is always great to leave a meeting “feeling” better, but if you don’t also leave knowing what action to take, the feelings will fade and nothing in your life will change!

There was a lot presented that night and some others have put together great summaries and reviews. Just do a quick search online. You’ll also want to check out the Town Hall for Hope website at www.townhallforhope.com that has additional resources. I’m assuming a video replay will be available soon.

I do want to make note of the action steps Dave left us with though…

3 Steps for those Struggling with Hope:

1. Get Up & Take Action! – Don’t rely on anyone else or the government to fix your problems. Take control and take personal responsibility of your future in all areas and start with yourself and get your own house in order.

2. Don’t Take Part in Loser Talk!!! – Stop listening to all the negative loser talk from people that are going to suck the life out of you and keep you in fear. Get around people that are positive and going to encourage each other and at the same time hold you accountable. Speak hope. (Dave cracked me up when He said “The average millionaire can’t tell you who got thrown off the island last”. :0))

3. Start Giving! – Giving takes the focus off yourself and this does wonders for your hope. Giving of your time or money helps change your mindset for the better. America is #1 in giving, but we can do even better.

There is a family at our church that shared how they were $60k in debt and within a few years after going through Dave Ramsey’s course, they recently became debt free!

It always helps me to hear of others that overcome. I stepped out into full-time self-employment a year ago and also started taking some online classes. So with the added expense of classes, mixed with cost of starting a business and temporary drop of income…on top of already being a single parent of two teenagers, lets just say my personal financial situation is not where I want it to be.

I’ve never stopped giving of my time and money though. Never stopped tithing and putting God first. I truly believe my situation is changing for the better everyday. :0)

My favorite verse is Hebrews 10:23 from the NLT:
“Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”

Here’s to the growing prosperity in your life as you keep your hope in God!

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. I’d love to hear your comments on this meeting or if you’ve used any of the Dave Ramsey materials.

You can also find new and used deals on the majority of his products from The Total Money Makeover to Financial Peace University, books, software and DVDs at Dave Ramsey Resources

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Hope in God for Prosperity, Psalm 33

Hope in God for Prosperity, Psalm 33

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him,
Upon them that hope in His mercy:
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”  Psalm 33:18-22

Want the eye of the Lord on you? Then put your hope in His mercy. Our help in time of need and our provision to prosper in all areas of life comes from God!

This video is less than a minute but worth the watch to soak in a word of hope…

God bless you –
Brenda

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Stop the Enemy from Attacking the Prosperity of Your Teenager

Stop the Enemy from Attacking the Prosperity of Your Teenager

How to Get Your Teenager Back on the Path to Prosperity

When you are on the path to a prosperous life, you quickly discover there is resistance. Attacks of all sorts pop up along the way to prevent your success. This is common to everyone seeking prosperity. It also seems that the closer you get to your desired result the greater the challenges.

Often times, we find ourselves successful and prospering is several areas. Our diligence and determination begins to produce results. However, the enemy likes to play dirty and if he can’t get to us personally he will go for our children.

Teenagers already experience a great set of challenges of their own. New changes are constantly happening in their lives. They experience physical changes in their bodies, they get jobs, learn how to drive, begin new classes and activities at school, struggle with peer pressures of all sorts, have to make decisions for the future, and begin acquiring new responsibilities, just to name a few.

As parents we want the best for our children and to see them prosper. We invest in them to the best of our ability regardless of how demanding it can be at times. Anyone that has raised a teenager knows that many a time your mental, emotional, and physical reserves will be zapped. Yet, we continue to get up each day and give them the unconditional love they need.

Yet, what do you do after you’ve taught and instructed them in the way that will prosper them and then the enemy takes over? Through temptations, addictions, and rebellion they are on a path to destruction. This is a great turmoil in life to see a child that you love go through. It creates an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and helplessness in a parent.

There is hope, however, regardless of your situation. Our children are a blessing from God. And God has power over the enemy and we need to stand on His Word to activate this power.

Meditate, confess, and stand on the following verses from God’s Word in faith daily:

“Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping;
Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears;
for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.”
Jeremiah 31:15-17

Stop your weeping. Keep serving the Lord. Refuse to let the enemy have your children. Don’t give up. Put your trust in God and His Word. If He says there is hope, then believe there is hope and that your children will come back from the land of the enemy. God’s plan is for you and your children to prosper.

May you and your children experience growing prosperity as you serve the Lord!

God bless you with hope & encouragement,
Brenda

P.S. If you have a personal testimony of getting your child back out of the hands of the enemy or any advise in this area … please comment and share. I’d love to hear from you as I’m standing on the above scriptures for my daughter to come back!

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How to Prosper by Overcoming Anxiety with Abundant Favor!

How to Prosper by Overcoming Anxiety with Abundant Favor!

God Gives an Abundance of Favor for Your Confidence to Prosper

Our minds often get conditioned to accept a low level of confidence because of past experiences we’ve had as far back as our childhood. The stresses, pressures and daily attacks on our minds can have us living in fear, anxiety and depression. However, that does not have to be the case.

God’s love and favor heals insecurities and anxieties!

Begin to realize the divine favor you have with God and man and learn how to put it to work in your life. God’s blessing of favor flowing in your life is not based on your background, talents, or anything you have learned.  Ephesians 6:24 says that grace is with all those that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Grace means favor you do not deserve.

Start the favor of God flowing in your life by daily confessing what God promises. Then you will see yourself walking in His favor in every area of your life. Speak words of favor over and over during the day until your spirit is revived.  When the truth of God’s love and favor get planted into your spirit, it will replace the insecurities and anxieties you have.

Many people confess doubt and failure over and over during their lifetime until their spirit is depressed and broken. Do not be one of those people! Within just a few days you can experience a very dramatic change with God’s abundant favor.
 

Get started right now with these confessions on favor and confidence:

I am blessed with God’s grace. God pours out on me a river of favor with God and with those around me.

You, Lord bless me with favor and You surround me as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12)

I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16)

The Greater One lives in me. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

I am being filled with God’s fullness. I am being rooted and grounded in love. God is doing exceeding and abundantly above all that I ask or think. His mighty power is taking over in me. (Eph. 3:17-20)

I grow strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace and favor of God is upon me. (Luke 2:40)

The truth of God’s Word makes me free. (John 8:32)

Thank You, Lord, that I have favor with You and man and people go out of their way to bless me and do good to me today.

Favor flows by standing on the living Word of God in faith.  Reject the negative things you have been feeding into your mind. Accept only what the Lord has told you. Repeat the above confessions until doubt disappears.

Learn to walk in God’s favor. It is for you today. Speak favor. Live favor. Be prosperous. Live life expecting something great to happen daily and it will. Remember, with God nothing is impossible. Let His truth take root in you. Favor is God’s promise to every believer from His Word. All you have to do is receive it and prosper.

Enjoy growing prosperity as the favor of God flows in your life!

God bless you,
Brenda

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Prosperity Power from God, Deut. 8:18

Prosperity Power from God, Deuteronomy 8:18

“And you shall remember the Lord your God,
for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,
that He may establish His covenant which
He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”  Deut. 8:18

This video is less than a minute. It reminds us that God is the one that gives us the power to get wealth.  And we are to use our wealth to help establish His covenant on the earth.

Enjoy & be blessed to be a blessing!
Brenda

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Prosperity – Only If You Think So!

Prosperity – Only If You Think So!

Are Your Thoughts Holding a Vision for Growing Prosperity?

Living a prosperous life and attracting those things that make it abundant and fulfilling require directing your thoughts. General concepts, vague desires, fuzzy or wishful thinking do not have the power to create a specific result because they are not specific thoughts.

The following three keys will help you prosper by directing your thoughts correctly: 
 

#1 Have a Clear Mental Picture

You must form a clear vision of what you want to do, have, or become. It is key to know specifically what you want, before you can ask for it. It is not enough to have a general thought of desire for wealth, health, or a loving relationship. Most people wish for these things.  A clear, specific, mental picture of what you want must be formed in your thoughts in order to put the creative power of your mind into action.
 

#2 Keep a Clear Mental Picture in Your Mind Continually

A clear vision of what you want must continually be in your thoughts. If your mental picture is clear and specific with details, the more you’ll think on it and the more you’ll desire it. Your desire must be strong enough to keep your thoughts directed toward that thing continually. The stronger the desire becomes the easier it will be to keep your focus on what you want. This in turn acts like a magnet drawing that desired thing to you.

#3 Unwavering Faith is Required to Take Possession of the Thought

A clear and concise, constant mental image also requires an unwavering faith to materialize and take possession of the vision. Live in the mental realm with full enjoyment of what you desire until it takes form around you physically. Take possession of it in your mind with the full power of faith that it is actually yours. Do not waver in your faith for even one instant that it is real.

Jesus told us in Mark 11:24 “Whatsoever things you ask for when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” Also note that in verse 22 He said “Have faith in God.” Then in verse 23 He also said “Do not doubt in your heart.”

Grow prosperity in your life by formulating your thoughts into specific, clear, mental images of what you desire. Take mental ownership of the desire in your vision and keep it continually in your thoughts. Keep the vision with unwavering faith until you obtain it and prosper.

May you experience growing prosperity in your life as you direct your thoughts daily in faith!

Cheers,
Brenda

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Prosperity Requires Wisdom – Stop Being a Fool and Get Wise

Prosperity Requires Wisdom – Stop Being a Fool and Get Wise

How to Get Wisdom to Make the Right Choices and Prosper

No matter what area of life you want to prosper in, wisdom and knowledge can get the job done.  Every successful person avoids the things that will hinder their prosperity.  You will determine the level of prosperity in your life by the choices you make on a daily basis.   Knowing which choices to make and which ones to avoid requires wisdom. 

If you have made foolish choices in the past, you can turn it around today.  Today is the day to stop being a fool and get wise!  James 1:5 says if you lack wisdom, ask God who gives it generously.   So don’t continue to be a fool, but make a wise choice today and ask for the wisdom God is offering for free.  Start prospering with the wisdom to make the right choices.

The Wise Builder Prospers

In Matthew 7, Jesus tells the parable about the wise person who built his house upon the rock.  Then when the storms came it did not fall.  However, the foolish man built his house upon the sand and when the storms of life came, great was the fall of it.  Both houses were attacked by storms, but only one stood and continued to prosper. 

The wise person takes time to not only hear the Word, BUT DO IT.  Knowing the right choice to make is first and then actually doing it is the action required to prosper.   Be determined to make wise choices that will put your house on a firm foundation.  That way you will not only stand strong in the storms of life, but you will come out prospering.

Confession to Gain Wisdom and Achieve Victory in Life

“Thank You, God, that You warn me of danger and You instruct me in everything that concerns me!   You give me practical wisdom and creative ways to prosper in all areas of my life!”
(Based on Proverbs 8:12)

When we are obedient to learn God’s word and put it to work, He can miraculously prosper us in every area.   Let God impart explosions of wisdom into you from His Word.  Take the time to get wisdom so He can establish in you a strong foundation to prosper and walk out His great plan for your life.  Gain the wisdom you need to obtain the prosperous life God intended you to live.  

Enjoy growing prosperity in your life as you continue to make wise choices!

God bless you,
Brenda

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Jesus, This One Goes Out to You

Jesus, This One Goes Out to You

On This Good Friday – For a Good Jesus!

“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.”  Psalm 100

This video is just over 1 minute.  Enjoy on this Good Friday that Jesus made good!

Be blessed,
Brenda

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