prosperous self improvement resources

Growing Prosperity: 18 Financial Stewardship Principles

Growing Prosperity: 18 Financial Stewardship Principles

Financial Stewardship PrinciplesOur main goal, here at Growing Prosperity,

is to provide resources that will help

empower you to live a prosperous life.

And when it comes to financial prosperity,

stewardship is key.

Today I want to point you toward a helpful

article by Christian author, Tom Blubaugh.

While Tom was doing financial planning with a couple,

he shared some biblical wisdom for dealing with money

and he lays out 18 powerful financial principles.

You can find his complete article here.

You work hard to earn your money. Why let it slip through your fingers? Why not learn to be a good steward and manage, save, invest, budget, and spend wisely? God wants us to be wise stewards and He has provided us with instructions on how to do just that.

“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.”
Luke 16:10 NIV

18 Financial Stewardship Principles:

The powerful financial principles Tom shares are briefly mentioned below…

1. Pay yourself a minimum of 10% of your gross income.  Start a…

2. Analyze your previous twelve months spending.  This will be…

3. A budget is an operating plan.  It is not…

4. Plan for recurring expenses.  When you…

5.  Debt reduction.  List all of your debts…

6. Never eliminate a payment from your budget.  When a…

7. Become your own banker.  This is a result of…

8. Buy interest free as much as possible…

9. Use community tools…

10. Plan purchases.  This will…

11. Get the best price…

12. Tax wise investing.  An Ira, a 401k, a 403b are…

13. Transportation costs…

14. Pay off loans early the easy way.  Let’s say you…

15. Offset inflation by increasing your savings/investments by the…

16. Don’t spend any change.  Put it in…

17. Sell, trade, or barter any item you are not using…

18. When buying a car or any other product you are financing, never…
(read complete article here)

Go now and read the details Tom Blubaugh has written for these 18 financial stewardship principles here. You are sure to gather insights, wisdom, and tips to becoming a better steward over the money you manage. You may even want to bookmark this resource for future reference.

“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Matthew 25:23

May you be a wise financial steward and live a life of growing prosperity!

Be Blessed to Be a Blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

p.s. Looking for a great adventure novel to read?

Then you’ll want to check out Tom Blubaugh’s “Night of the Cossack” at Amazon…

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The Greatest Growing Prosperity Secret of All Time – Giving!

The Greatest Growing Prosperity Secret of All Time – Giving!

The Secret of Growing Prosperity

Growing Prosperity Secret - GivingGrowing Prosperity.

God set it all up.

Created the whole universe.

Freely gave.

Freely gave abundantly.

Freely gave abundantly, exceedingly – a never-ending, ever-flowing, overflowing supply.

God set the example of giving. We should be following His example. But do we?

It has been said that “the secret to prosperity is giving.”

I find this statement rather humorous. Why? Well, first because I just don’t understand how the principle of giving can be considered a secret. God makes it very clear and obvious that he wants us to give. So it is not really a secret.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”
Galatians 6:7

The above are only two examples of the giving principle. All throughout God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation, God shares with us the power of giving. It is not information that has been hidden…it is written, taught and made available for anyone willing to see it and hear it – and activate it in their lives.

So know this: If the powerful principle of giving seems to have been a “secret” to you, it is not because information has been kept from you, it is only because you have chosen to ignore it or simply not tune into it and accept it.

Growing Prosperity Secret or Mystery

The other reason I find humor in the statement: “the secret to prosperity is giving,” is the fact that it seems to contradict itself. It appears to be more of a mystery than a secret. How can a person prosper by giving? It would seem that in order to increase one would need be getting not giving…

But again I repeat: “Do Not be fooled – GOD will NOT be mocked – whatever a man sows, that he will reap!”

Growing prosperity is an ongoing process of sowing and reaping; giving and receiving. There is no better example than that of a farmer. If he wants to reap a harvest he has to sow seed. The measure he sows is the measure he’ll reap. The type of seed he sows is the type of harvest he’ll reap; sow corn, reap corn.

  • Give money – receive money.
  • Give love – receive love.
  • Give compassion – receive compassion.
  • Give encouragement – receive encouragement.
  • Give thanks – receive thanks.
  • Give loyalty – receive loyalty.
  • Give a lot – receive a lot.
  • Give a little – receive a little.
  • Give hatred – receive hatred.
  • Give discouragement – receive discouragement.

And on, and on, and on it goes… I think you get the point.

Giving, as a way of life, should be a given for Christian believers. Why? Because having freely received we should have a heart to freely give. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

Blessed to Be a Blessing

When we give, we reap the joy of sharing! Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) We are blessed to be a blessing!

When God prospers and blesses us, it is so that we can turn around and repeat the process by giving and blessing others. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and so that your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NKJV

Give abundantly, give wisely, and give with a cheerful heart. “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) Let the “secret” of giving bless you with an abundance of peace, joy and prosperity in your life.

Growing Prosperity: Keep in mind, God set it all up. He is not only the God of the universe – He is the God that created the universe. What more can be said? His creation, His plan – what a beautiful thing! Don’t keep it a secret…pass it on.

May you always abundantly give with a cheerful heart and live a life of growing prosperity!

Be Blessed to Be a Blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

Do you believe in the power of giving and prospering?

If so, Like, Tweet & Share… And we’d love to hear a personal example of how your giving resulted in receiving! Thanks!

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Growing Prosperity: Focus on Being A Blessing!

Growing Prosperity: Focus on Being A Blessing!

The Power of Flowing Prosperity

Growing Prosperity - Focus on Being a Blessing!Growing prosperity is an ever-increasing

manifestation of God’s abundance in our lives.

God desires that we prosper and

He is pleased when His blessings are

flowing through our lives.

A key here is “flowing through.”

Prosperity doesn’t come into our lives only to bless us personally. The reason we are blessed is to be a blessing. The prosperity that comes into our lives is meant to be shared and flow through our lives to bless others.

You see, when the prosperity stops with “me,”  it also stops growing. In order to get, we have to give. The “miracle” happens when the heart of our focus is upward and outward and we purpose to make our lives a blessing to God and others.

A DESTRUCTIVE FOCUS

Sadly, the main focus in today’s society is on self. The majority of people are primarily concerned about how they will benefit themselves and how their own lives will improve. Masses of people are self absorbed and have an attitude of “What’s in it for me?”

The catch here is that these people are, usually unknowingly, participating in self-destructive behavior. This self-focus hinders prosperity and at the same time encourages poverty and lack.

The good news is that we have the option to change our focus, and change our future. We can choose to adjust our focus and begin to see growing prosperity in all areas of our lives.

A POSITIVE FOCUS – BE A BLESSING

Powerful forces are unleashed when we focus on the positive, and focus on being a blessing. And keep in mind: this is not in reference to the financial realm only, but all areas of life; spiritually, physically, and financially.

The following areas of focus are meant to help give some insight and direction in keeping a positive focus:

Focus on GIVING – Not Getting

God gave so we can give. None of the gifts and blessings we receive should be self absorbed. Nothing we have is meant to be hoarded. We are told to be good stewards over all that has been given to us. Giving and sharing is a basic elementary principle. We are blessed to be a blessing. And the great thing is, when we give we receive and prosperity continues to flow through our lives.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.”
— Luke 6:38

Focus on Serving Others

God gave us family and friends, and our relationships come with the responsibility to help one another. Of course we all have needs, but the trouble starts when we put our focus on our own personal needs not being met. Soon frustration, bitterness, and anger creeps in because of what another person is not doing. But our focus needs to be on “What can I do to help meet their need?” and not on what they can do to meet mine.

Initially this doesn’t seem to make sense and you’re probably asking “How then will my needs get met?”  Well the first thing to keep in mind is that we can’t change another person, we can only change ourselves. And when we focus on meeting the needs of others, our lives have purpose, our love grows, our trust in God grows, and ironically we find our greatest needs met.

When our focus is on meeting the needs of others and trusting God to meet ours, we also live with a great sense of peace.

“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 passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:6-7

Focus on Living Life with a Positive Purpose

Life is short. We should live with a purpose to be positive, godly examples and good stewards over the time we are given. It is important to be a life-long student and teacher; always learning and always passing on that knowledge. Ultimately, teaching others how to teach.

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children.”
— Psalm 78:6

Empower your communication with purpose and be a blessing in words. Much of our communication today lacks power because it lacks purpose.

Focus on Love

Live life with a purpose to do all things in love. Let love be a primary focus and measure of giving. Remember, God so loved that He gave. God gave first – let us focus on His example of abundant loving and giving, and follow it.

Bottom line: Focus on being a blessing and unleash powerful forces in your life! Be generous, serve, purpose to empower others, and love abundantly. Turn your focus upward and outward. Always allow your blessings to flow through your life and you’ll continue to experience an ever-increasing manifestation of God’s abundance.

May you be blessed to be a blessing and live a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you always –

Cheers,
Brenda

 

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Prosperous Thoughts – 7 Things to be Mindful of to Help Manifest Abundance!

Prosperous Thoughts – 7 Things to be Mindful of to Help Manifest Abundance!

Change Defeating Thoughts to Prosperous Thoughts

Prosperous Thoughts to Help Manifest Abundance!Prosperous thoughts help

manifest prosperous living.

No doubt: successful individuals do not

reach their goals by filling their minds with

thoughts of failure and defeat.

Overcoming the challenges and obstacles,

on the road to abundance, requires a determination to succeed and a positive mindset.

“We demagnetize ourselves by wrong thinking and lack of faith…We see only the obstacles in our path, and forget that man, working with God, is greater than any obstacle that can oppose itself to his will.”
— Orison Swett Marden

7 Things to be Mindful of to Help Manifest Abundance:

1. Question Self-Limitations

Question why you limit yourself from reaching your potential. Are you simply afraid of what others will think if you don’t succeed at your first attempt? Do not put a limit on your potential and abilities. If you continually say “I can’t” then you won’t even try. Instead ask “How can I?”

2. Question Limitations From Others

Why accept the limitations others put on you? People enjoy telling us what we can and cannot do. Don’t fall into the trap of filling your mind with other people’s limitations.

3. Monitor Everyday Thoughts

Turn on the mental radar, because even the most well intentioned person will find negative, defeating thoughts try to sneak in under the radar. To often we begin to affirm those negative thoughts without even realizing it.

4. Reprogram Negative Attacks

A passionate dream that you desire to accomplish is hard to keep to yourself. It is normal to want to share your ambition with others, but also way too common to have others ridicule you about it. Learn to quickly reprogram the negative attacks and laugh it off when others laugh at you!

5. Visualize Your Abundance

Keep a visual image constantly in your mind of the goals you desire to manifest. Place pictures and notes up around your living and workspace that positively affirm a mental image of your desired goals.

6. Renew Your Mind Daily

Renew your thought life daily like a mental bath. Keep your thoughts positive, clean, and empowering. The most empowering way to renew your mind is with the Word of God and filling it with who He says you are and what you can do.

7. Turn Thought Habits Into Action Habits

Continue to be mindful of your thought life until positive, productive, prosperous thoughts are a habit. Once they become habit, you’ll find that positive, productive, prosperous actions follow. As these actions become a habit, you’ll automatically move toward a prosperous life.

Final thoughts: Regardless of all the negative thoughts currently filling your mind, it is possible to change those thoughts to the better and become prosperous. Begin today to start making some positive changes to your thinking and soon positive changes will manifest in your behavior and your life!

May your mind be filled with prosperous thoughts and your life be filled with growing prosperity!

Be Blessed to be a Blessing!

Cheers,
Brenda

 

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Abundant Attitude – Think Like a Prosperous Winner and Stop Whining!

Abundant Attitude – Think Like a Prosperous Winner and Stop Whining!

Think Abundance – Attract Abundance

Abundant Attitude and Prosperous ThoughtsAbundance is all around us in many ways.

The abundance of God is a never ending supply and flow.

In order to see and tap into this supply requires

an abundant attitude.

God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all

that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

A Prosperous Winner or a Poor Whiner?

There is so much whining and complaining going on these days. I’m sure today alone you’ve heard someone complain about school, family, friends, work, the boss, lack of money, traffic, waiting in line, and more.

What happened to a little gratitude and appreciation? Where is the thankfulness for all the abundant blessing in our lives?

For those whining about their boss and job, there are many who would be more than thankful to have a job with even the worst boss. For all those complainers, there are many people in worse situations that would gladly trade places with them.

Choose not to worry, whine, and complain about life’s challenging circumstances. They only thing whining will accomplish is to attract more of the negative things you are whining about.

Put on an Abundant Attitude and Think Prosperous

The Word of God has the power to cause us to prosper, but we have to put it to work in our lives by meditating on it, speaking it, and doing it.

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” 
— Proverbs 23:7

Keep your life in perspective and have an abundant attitude by giving God thanks for all that is going well and all you are blessed with. Think and focus on the positive and attract a greater flow of the abundance of God in your life.

When God’s Word and His principles are first place in our lives, our attitudes and thoughts will begin to line up with His, and we’ll act accordingly.

“Then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” 
— Joshua 1:8

Speak and confess success and the abundance of God flowing in your life. The power of His Word at work in our hearts will cause us to have thankful, grateful hearts; able to see the blessings all around us.

Is the abundance of God flowing in your life? God has created a system that will produce abundance in our lives. Blessings will come to those who operate in it; even when others experience lack. Choose to think prosperous and put on an abundant attitude!

May you have an abundant attitude and a life flowing with growing prosperity!

Be Blessed to Be a Blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Growing Prosperity – 5 Keys to Stay Positive and Hopeful in the Midst of Financial Problems!

Growing Prosperity – 5 Keys to Stay Positive and Hopeful in the Midst of Financial Problems!

Help When Discouraged by Financial Problems

Growing Prosperity Help in the Midst of Financial ProblemsGrowing prosperity is still possible even

in the midst of financial problems and setbacks.

Are you discouraged by financial troubles?

Well an important part of turning things

back around is learning to stay positive

and hopeful.

5 Keys to Help You Stay Positive and Hopeful in the Midst of Financial Problems:

1. TRUST GOD

Stay positive and hopeful, knowing blessings follow those who trust in the Lord.

Many people, myself included, have discovered this “secret” during months of unemployment or other hardships. Our burdens must be put on the Lord. He is able when we are not.

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” 
— Proverbs 16:20 NIV

When we learn to trust God, we discover how few things we really need, such as new clothes, restaurant dinners, vacations and new cars. We also quickly learn to recycle and reuse, not to mention many different ways to cook rice and beans.

2. KEEP GOD AS YOUR FINANCIAL PARTNER

Stay positive and hopeful knowing blessings are promised to those who partner with God through tithing.

If we trust God, we will continue to partner with Him and tithe 10% of our income, even during the difficult times. In order to get, we must give. And we cannot out give God.

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…and prove me now, saith the Lord, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
— Malachi 3:10

Cultivate a giving, loving, prosperous attitude and you’ll notice your circumstances begin to change for the better. If you don’t have extra money for offerings, then give of your time, your love, and the things you don’t need.

3. SAVE – Pay Yourself Second

It is definitely much easier to stay positive and hopeful knowing you have emergency savings because you’ve learned to pay yourself second. (God of course gets His tithe first.)

Successful people have learned, when managing their finances, to pay themselves second. God is first, savings second, then living on the balance. By learning to save consistently, regardless the amount, the discipline helps develop encouragement and goal setting.

Trusting God, keeping Him first, and paying yourself second will help you move to a place where your relationship with the Lord grows and your financial struggles lessen.

4. SEEK OUT POSITIVE PEOPLE

Stay positive and hopeful by surrounding yourself with positive people.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” 
— Proverbs 27:17

Associate with positive people and read motivational and inspirational books. We’ve heard it said, “If you hang around broke people, you become broke; if you hang around successful people, you become successful.” How right that is!

5. NEVER GIVE UP

Stay positive and hopeful knowing help is available to those who choose not to quit.

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” 
— Psalm 31:24

When things get tough, keep yourself going by committing to do the best you can, expect God to do the best He can, and never give up!

Conclusion: Don’t lose hope. Financial problems can be overcome. Stay positive and be encouraged by others who have pulled themselves out of financial slumps. Turn to God as a partner and put His financial principles to work in your life.

May you stay positive and hopeful and enjoy a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Financial Prosperity – Why Not Claim Victory Over Your Finances With a Bold Faith?

Financial Prosperity – Why Not Claim Victory Over Your Finances With a Bold Faith?

Bold Faith For Financial Victory!

Financial Prosperity with a Bold FaithFinancial prosperity is a growing process

that lots of people find hard to master.

However, God has provided many

financial principles that can help anyone

claim victory over economic decline.

Learning to replace fear with bold faith in His principles will lead to victory.

Financial Difficulties Anyone?

If, perhaps you’re going through financial difficulties, like a great many folks these days, do you possess any kind of a plan of action? Or do you merely keep on moaning, as well as stressing about just how hard circumstances are, and how the government is simply not dealing with joblessness, overspending, high taxes, and on and on?

Letting Go of Financial Fear

The sooner we learn to let go of the fear, worry, and stress over the economic circumstances we simply cannot change, the better. You may legitimately have much to complain about. You may see your income declining while you work harder for less money. Or maybe your previous income source is gone and there is genuinely much to fear.

Regardless of the circumstances, keep in mind: Dwelling on the fearfulness of the situation will do no good. If we want to claim victory over our finances we must quickly replace the fear, anger, and worry with faith and hope in God’s financial principles.

We must dwell on the available abundance of God and His Word.

The Blessings of God’s Financial Principles

God’s financial principles work in combination with a bold faith in Him and His Word. If we want to have faith to grow our finances, then we must repeatedly hear God’s words of possibility, blessing, and abundance.

Words of faith are needed to drown out words of fear, doubt and discouragement.

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” 
— Romans 10:17

There has to come a point in time when we take a stand with God and look at what He can do, instead of what our government, and local leaders are doing or not doing. As surprising as it might seem, no individual ought to look to employers, clients or any source of income as their ultimate source of help.

God is our source and that is who we should look to!

Bold Faith for Financial Victory

Ideally the time to look to God is when things are going well. Whenever individuals practice faith and trust in God when everything is good, as soon as circumstances become difficult they are prepared to stand bold in faith, instead of in fear.

On the other hand for individuals who are new to faith, is it too late? Or what if you have never had a financial breakthrough, ever, and you’ve constantly struggled? Can you still claim victory over your finances?

As a believer, you must realize there is a greater One living in you that can overcome all things. The doorway of possibilities with God is wide open and ready for you to enter.

If you determine to see this time period as being an opportunity to become strong and bold in your faith, you certainly will start to see just what God can do! I myself am speaking out of personal experience, not just from practical knowledge.

No doubt: Now is the time to see and discover possibilities rather than misfortune; financial growth rather than financial disaster. This is your time to claim financial victory with God. You can allow your faith in God and His promises to empower you to have financial prosperity.

May you have a bold faith to claim financial victory and a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Growing Prosperity: 5 Things You Need to Abundantly Receive the Abundance of God!

Growing Prosperity: 5 Things You Need to Abundantly Receive the Abundance of God!

Is Your Measure of Prosperity Limited by Your Ability to Receive?

Abundantly Receive the Abundance of GodGrowing prosperity is limited

by many human factors,

including our ability to receive.

If we were to enjoy the abundance of God

according to His willingness and ability to give,

there would be no poverty among us; for surely there is no lack in God!

The Giver and The Receiver

If you were given the choice to prosper according to your ability to ask and receive, or according to God’s willingness to give, what would you choose?

Who would even hesitate to choose the generous giving of God? We cannot even want a blessing that God has made available as eagerly as He wants to give it to us!

Our asking is limited by human factors. And our boldest request is sure to be small compared to God’s unlimited willingness to give and His boundless ability to perform what He wills.

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” 
— Ephesians 3:20

God is infinite, but it is not enough that we acknowledge the infinite abundance of God. We must also believe that He is infinitely generous to give and bless us out of His abundance.

So let me ask you: Why are Christians so poverty stricken? Their God is the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth, and rich beyond the powers of man to comprehend. Well of course, the problem is not with God the giver. The problem is on our receiving end, so let’s take a look at that.

5 Things You Need to Abundantly Receive the Abundance of God:

1. FAITH

Only a little faith is required to believe that God is infinitely abundant. However, to believe that God is a generous giver as well as the possessor of infinite abundance requires an advanced faith.

We need to be convinced that God is generous, goodhearted, kind and ready to pour out His blessings upon us. To gain a personal revelation of this and increase our faith, meditating on the Word and immersing ourselves in the Scriptures is a must. This will help validate our expectations.

Faith needs to be exercised to be effective and help us grow in our ability and capacity to receive abundantly. So believe God for financial abundance, spiritual abundance, and also abundance of love, joy, and peace. Have faith in God to prosper in every area of your life.

2. RECEPTIVE MINDSET

A receptive mindset to prosper is needed to receive in a greater capacity. This requires changing our focus from a scarcity mentality, to a more than enough mentality. The world would have us focus on lack, shortages, and loss to destroy our abundant mindset.

But, God is the God of more than enough and we should not put limits on Him. Our focus should be on the abundant promises in His Word.

Whatever you lack, believe God for it and expect to receive. Believe that God will supply all your needs; believe that He meets your needs and provides for those who seek Him.

3. RESPONSIBILITY

A serious responsibility goes along with the abundance that is manifested in our lives. Selfish stewardship over the gifts, talents, and blessings we receive can destroy their usefulness and our ability to receive more.

The gifts we have been blessed with are meant to be used to benefit others; not only ourselves. We are blessed to be a blessing.

4. GENEROSITY

Generosity opens the door to receiving. Giving and receiving go hand-in-hand. The more we give the more we receive. A generous heart is the heart of God and those with a generous spirit are blessed.

“Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over… For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 
— Luke 6:38

5. THANKFULNESS

It is impossible to be too thankful to God, but it might be good to try. It is God’s will that we give thanks in everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Those who maintain an attitude of gratitude also keep their ability to receive wide open.

Now what? Are you ready to receive in a measure more in keeping with God’s liberality? If so, then it is time for you to make these five things part of your life and abundantly start receiving the abundance of God.

May your ability to receive continue to increase and move you into an abundant life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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