Glorifying God

in your

By The Team at A Biblical Marriage www.ABiblicalMarriage.com

finances

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Please visit Fount of Inspiration for cover design and formatting.

Disclaimer

This book contains some affiliate links. If you purchase through them, the author receives a

small commission which benefits our family. Thank you.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright ©

2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All

rights reserved.

All scripture taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted.

Jason & Jami Balmet © 2013 | All rights reserved.

ABiblicalMarriage.com | Facebook.com/ABiblicalMarriage | @BiblicalMarriag

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Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Scriptural Foundations Chapter 2: Laying the Ground Rules for Creating a Firm Financial Foundation Chapter 3: Start a Written Budget Chapter 4: Five Ways Preparedness Can Save Your Family Money! Chapter 5: How to Find Peace When Worried About Finances Chapter 6: Save Money by Shopping Online Chapter 7: Faith Regarding Finances in Marriage Chapter 8: Finances and a New Baby Chapter 9: Growing Together as a Young Couple Chapter 10: What Does it Mean to be a Good Steward of God’s Money? Chapter 11: 5 Steps to Managing Finances Together Chapter 12: Preparing for Holiday Shopping Chapter 13: Avoiding Financial Stress This Christmas Chapter 14: For Richer or For Poorer Suggested Resources About the Authors

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Introduction Finances. Whew, what a confusing and conflict-filled subject. Do you cringe when you think of

finances and your marriage?

Finances are the #1 source of conflict in marriage. Maybe you are the couple who has a blow up

fight every time money is mentioned. Or maybe it has turned into a taboo, high stress subject

that no-one mentions but it always simmers just below the surface. Or perhaps you get along

fairly well and are generally on the same page about money, but want to learn more about how

you can glorify God when it comes to your finances.

When it comes to finances, it’s important to go to scripture and see what God has to say on the

subject. We must align our hearts with His word and His teachings on money. Your heart

attitude is just as important as how you practically handle money.

Part of this book will cover the heart. How does God want you to respond to finances? What

does His word have to say on the subject? The other part of this book will be highly practical.

We will start with a theology look at finances, and from that framework we will move on to see

how that practically plays out.

All the members of the team here at A Biblical Marriage have had diverse life circumstances

and experiences in marriage. We have come together to share what we have learned and to

give you encouragement.

Collectively we have had times of great communication with our spouse about finances, and we

have had war-like times. We have gone through times of prosperity and times of poverty. We

have learned what it means to be generous with our funds and to be selfish.

We have gone through marriages, divorces, new babies, teenagers, grandchildren, tragedies,

and blessings. And we have come together to offer you this comprehensive resource.

We pray that you will be encouraged from God’s Word. We pray you will feel united with your

spouse and work towards reconciliation in this area if you need to. We pray that you will learn

practical tips to implement into your own family’s finances. We pray that this resource would

help you on your path towards an ever growing understanding and practice of A Biblical

Marriage.

Jason and Jami Balmet, A Biblical Marriage

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Chapter 1: Scriptural Foundations As with anything in life, our discussion of money should begin with what the Bible has to say on

the topic. We can read from popular finance experts and learn practical tips on managing

money, but our understanding of money should first and foremost come from Scripture.

Scripture is fully sufficient to meet our every need in this life. We do not need anything else in

this life to determine what truth is other than the Word of God.

Now this doesn’t mean that we can learn practical tips and find encouragement from other

sources, but to know the truth about something, we need to look to scripture. So what truths

can we find from the Bible about money?

And please really read the scriptures below, and meditate on them. Don’t just skim through this

part of the eBook, as it contains truth from the Bible that is foundational to the topic at hand.

7 Truths About Money 1) Do Not Love Money

There are over 800 scripture references about money, and most of them have this lesson at

their core: do not love money. God has given us money as a tool to use in this world, but we are

not to make an idol out of money. We come to love money more than we love God.

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and

harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root

of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and

pierced themselves with many pangs.” ~ 1 Timothy 6:9-11

How do you know if you are making money an idol in your heart? Are you willing to sin when it

comes to your money? Are you willing to lie about it? Are you willing to sin to get money or to

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,

and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every

good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:15-1

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protect your money? Do you spend more time thinking about your money and what you will do

with it than loving God and thinking about how you can serve Him better?

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income;

this also is vanity.” ~ Ecclesiastes 5:10

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I

will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~ Hebrews 13:5

2) Don’t Be Anxious

Anxiety strikes us all at different times and in different forms. But money is universally one

thing that causes many of us to stress. Stress and anxiety over how to get money, losing money,

making more money, spending all our money, how much things cost, etc…

Sometimes we have anxiety and stress over unimportant things like feeling stressed while

trying to buy a new BMW. But many times we have stress over very important matters, such as

getting food on our table or being laid off. Yet Christ is clear on this subject, we are to put our

trust in HIM and not in things of this world. We are not to have anxiety:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What

shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that

you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things

will be added to you.” ~ Matthew 6:31-33

Clothing and food are the most basic physical needs of man, and yet even in those things God

calls us to rely on Him and not to have anxiety. Oh, I’m not saying this is easy! I personally

struggle with anxiety and I know that it can be a daily struggle for some. But we should always

be striving to glorify God and to put our trust in Him regarding finances and money. Slowly, day

by day, we should be getting a little less anxious as our trust in Him grows.

“Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many

sparrows.” ~ Luke 12:7

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to

be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every

circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can

do all things through him who strengthens me.” ~ Philippians 4:11-13

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“But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter

in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” ~ Mark 4:19

3) Give Freely

This is another struggle for many families. Most of us know that giving to the Church is

important, but as doctor’s bills pile up and the kids need new shoes for school, giving just slides

further down the priority list. One missed month of giving turns into two which turns into a

year. Before you know it you have gone years without giving and don’t think much of it.

But giving is so important to God. Does he need our money? Would His church fail without our

giving? Absolutely not! God is sovereign and the world would keep spinning without our giving.

So what’s the big deal about giving?

We give because God commands us too. Plain and simple, He wants us to give back. God has

entrusted us in this life with money, and all that we have ultimately belongs to Him. He has just

given it to us temporarily. Therefore we should give back to Him and the church.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” ~ Proverbs

3:9-10

But this is not a commandment. The New Testament does not require that you give 10% of your

net income to the Church. Instead, God’s Word encourages you to give what you feel led to

with a cheerful heart.

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully

will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or

under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Many people find 10% as a good starting point to be able to decide how much to give. But 10%

is not the hard and fast rule. Are you in a season of poverty? Give from your heart and

according to what you can give. Likewise if you are in a season of prosperity, don’t just write

that easy 10% check and be done with it. Search the scriptures, pray, and let God lead you in

how much to give. And always do it with a cheerful heart.

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“You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him,

because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.”

~ Deuteronomy 15:10

Giving should never become a cold ritual. It should be prayed about and given out of

cheerfulness and thankfulness to the Lord!

“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” ~ Psalm

37:21

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak

and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than

to receive.’” ~ Acts 20:35

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is

doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

~ Matthew 6:3-4

4) Work Hard

Many times in Scripture, God calls us to work hard and to not be lazy. The Proverbs especially

compares the hardworking man to the lazy man. We are to work hard in this life and God will

bless us. Now this blessing may not be financial. God is not promising that if you put in a solid

day’s work you will become rich.

This is because receiving a blessing is not the same thing as being rich to God. But He does show

that working hard is conforming yourself to the likeness of Christ.

“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks

sense.” ~ Proverbs 12:11

We are to work hard at our jobs. We are not to be lazy and sit around all day. Men, are you

working hard to provide for your family? Working hard means to work to provide for your

family, but it also means not being lazy in all areas in life. Are you working hard to spread the

Gospel? Are you working hard to become more like Christ in your everyday actions?

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“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will

have plenty of poverty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be

rich will not go unpunished.” ~ Proverbs 28:19-20

A hard worker plans ahead and is always thinking about what they can do next for their family,

to spread the Gospel, and to be more like Christ.

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or

ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” ~ Proverbs 6:6-8

5) Be Good Stewards

God is sovereign over this world and our life. He has given us all the resources we have. I think

we often forget this because it feels like we are doing all the work. Wasn’t it ME who went to

college? Didn’t I land that job and later the promotion? Don’t I bring home the paycheck every

week? I don’t think many of us intentionally think these thoughts, but slowly they pervade our

thinking and we forget that God has given us everything we have.

“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” ~

Proverbs 13:11

Because God has entrusted us with HIS resources, we are to be good stewards of it. But what

does that mean? We are to use His money wisely. That means learning how to save and not

spend it all. It means looking toward the future and planning instead of just living in the

moment. Ultimately it means being smart with our money and using it according to God’s

standards. We hope this book will help you in that endeavor.

6) Be Responsible

This goes hand in hand with being good stewards. God calls us to be good stewards, and to do

that we must be responsible with the resources He has given us.

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether

he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to

finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to

finish.’” ~ Luke 14:28-30

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“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or

ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” ~ Proverbs 6:6-8

7) Be Content/Not Greedy

This one is often the hardest truth to swallow. Oh, we know deep down that we are to be

content with what He has given us and not to be greedy…but that can be hard to live out on a

daily basis! It’s so easy to look at those around us and want what they have. Do you look at your

wealthy neighbor and wonder why you don’t have that wealth? Greed catches us all at different

times and in different ways. But God calls us to lay down our selfish desires and be content with

our resources, and even to be joyful in the midst of what we have.

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we

have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into

temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin

and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that

some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” ~ 1

Timothy 6:7-10

Remember These Truths

As you continue on to find more encouragement and practical tips through this book, keep

these truths in mind. As you open up your bank account tomorrow and have an anxiety attack

at the amount in there, remember to trust in the Lord with your finances.

As you eye the rich man on the pew next to you on Sunday, remember that God has given us all

different gifts and abilities and we are called to be content with what He has given us.

Remember to give with a cheerful heart and be responsible with what He has graciously given

us!

Resources:

To learn more about the Sufficiency of Scripture

Overcoming my Struggle with Anxiety

To learn more about Stewardship

Does God Require Me to Give a Tithe of all I earn?

A Biblical Model for Giving

Jason and Jami Balmet

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Chapter 2: Laying the Ground Rules for Creating a Firm Financial Foundation

Marriages are made of stories woven together, both good and bad, that form a foundation that

will either stand the test of time, or crumble like the sifting sand. Within some marriages, you

may find the following story ringing true.

The wife knows she is running late and her husband will be home any minute. She has to get to

the house before her husband, so she can hide her most recent purchases in the closet so her

husband does not yell at her for the umpteenth time for spending money they did not have.

Her heart is heavy; she knows she shouldn’t deceive her husband, but something deep down

tells her that this one more purchase won’t hurt anything.

She pulls into the driveway and quickly opens up the trunk and grabs her bags. As she reaches

up to close the trunk, she sees her husband walking out of the house with a sullen look on his

face as he approaches the car. He reaches for his wife’s hands and says, “Honey this needs to

stop, and it needs to stop now. This isn’t what the Lord has designed for our marriage. God

wants us to work together as a team, not divided with each of us looking out for our own

interests.” The wife hung her head in shame, she knew he was right, she knew she didn’t want

this anymore, but rather wanted to be unified with her husband, working together for the

betterment of their marriage with God at the center.

Finances can be such a difficult topic within marriages. In order to ease the burden that

financial discussions can bring, there needs to be ground rules for how money is handled within

a Christian marriage, each one forming a strong layer and bond between the husband and wife

in order to create a firm financial foundation.

1) Get on the same team.

When a man and wife are united in marriage; they need to remember that this puts them on

the same team, not opposing teams who are each jockeying for the best position within the

relationship. The Lord’s word states, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help

each other succeed.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT) When a couple decides to come together in unity,

each working for the common goal of honoring God, and seeing their relationship succeed and

grow, they will flourish in establishing a union that can handle any storm.

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2) God needs to be at the center of every marriage.

As with anything in life God needs to be at the center of all that we do. This is especially true

when it comes to the topic of finances within marriage. “Though one may be overpowered two

can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)

The husband and wife need to go to the Lord in prayer seeking His guidance for how their

finances should be spent. They need to ask tough questions concerning what they want their

future goals to be and how this will affect their finances. They also need to seek the Lord’s

guidance in the area of tithing, making sure that the Lord is given what’s owed to Him. If these

questions as with many others are ignored, and God is taken out of the equation, it will create a

foundation with cracks that will haunt their marriage for years to come.

3) The wife needs to relinquish final control to her husband.

This can be a controversial subject for some wives. Many women in this current day and age

may feel that whether they earn part of the money or not, they should have just as much say in

how it’s spent. This type of attitude can cause serious discord within a marriage. This is not how

God intended marriage to be, God’s word lays out direction for the husband’s role in marriage.

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which

he is the Savior.” Ephesians 5:23 (NIV) Again, both husband and wife need to come together

seeking God’s will, as well as having the freedom to express their own opinions. However, when

the final decisions need to be made the wife needs to allow the husband to lead. She needs to

rest easy in her faith in her husband and the Father, trusting that the best decisions will be

made.

4) Recognize that God equips each person with distinctive gifts.

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well”. Romans 12:16a

(NLT)

God has granted us each of us with unique gifts that we excel at. In the area of finances, some

are better with math, and balancing the budget, while others may prefer to write the checks,

mail the bills, and make any needed phone calls. The point is to not force one person into doing

a job that they don’t fill comfortable with. Sit down as a couple and discuss each area that you

feel comfortable handling and work together as a team to take on that specific role that’s best

suited for each of you.

Whether you've been married one year or fifty, it’s never too late to create a firm financial

foundation. Leave the mistakes of the past in the past, and bring with you your success stories

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to build upon. You can start today to create a marriage that’s works together as a team, where

each member is working towards a common goal and moving forward in the Lord.

Shari Miller

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Chapter 3: Start a Written Budget My husband and I have huge savings goals this year. We have student loans and want to be

saving for a home! We need to watch where every penny goes and the only way to really do

that is to have a firm budget set in place.

Usually during the last weekend of a month we both sit down with our budget for that month,

get out our bills and check book, and pull up our bank account online. Then we get to

budgeting for the next month. During the month we refer to our written budget many times

and follow it all month long.

We set a budget for how much we will spend on groceries, eating out, starbucks (our favorite

place to read and write) and all our bills. This has been amazing and the months that we save

the most are months that we stick to our budget pretty much to the dollar.

Don’t Believe me?

5 Reasons to Have a Written Budget 1) Budgeting Shows Where You Overspend

There is nothing like going through you’re spending for the last several months and adding up

everything that you wasted money on. When we first began budgeting we went back three

months and added up our spending in different categories i.e. eating out, clothing, and things I

spent money on (Joann’s, Hobby Lobby).

What did we find? We waste so much money! I always thought we were good with money. We

don’t really go to the movies, we don’t usually eat at restaurants (just cheap fast food), we go

to Starbucks every once in a while but usually get a regular coffee. But boy were we wrong!

One of our biggest money wasters was in eating out. $10 here and there REALLY can add up

over a few months. When you see $100′s that you are spending in addition to your grocery

budget it can really help you get serious about saving money!

2) Budgeting Helps to Reduce Stress

We have had months in our marriage where we didn’t know if we would make rent. We have

had stressful moments when our bank account was already dangerously low when a surprise

bill hits our account or someone cashes a check you forgot you wrote.

We have all been there and it can be some of the most stressful times in our lives. But

budgeting can greatly reduce this stress. Now you will still get stressed if your account is this

low but hopefully after a few months of budgeting you can prevent these events from

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happening. Budgeting helps you to know where your money is at all times and should help

reduce those occurrences of surprise bills and payments.

3) Budgeting Puts You and Your Spouse on the Same Page

Many stresses in marriage come from money and how we spend it. We are firm advocates that

a married couple should not have separate bank accounts. Because of that my hubby has access

to everything I spend money on and vice versa, the way it should be.

I know I have spent money on something before thinking my husband won’t mind and he does!

The opposite is also true (though thankfully we have always been mostly on the same page

when it comes to finances) but having a written budget can help this communication even

more.

Typically I spend more in our marriage than he does. I have scrapbooking needs wants and

crafting expenses that my hubby just doesn’t have. Sometimes I NEED some more scrapbook

paper and he is looking at the cases full I already have (he clearly doesn’t understand). So when

the month starts we agree that I have $20 to spend on any crafting thing I want.

This way I can have some (affordable) fun and I can feel good that this money is supposed to be

spent on this. Likewise he likes to eat out for lunches more than I do because he often has a

working lunch. So at the beginning of the month we agree beforehand on a reasonable amount

he can have for lunches and he can spend that however he wants.

If he wants to splurge on an iced coffee during the month he can because he has that money

set aside. It’s a great way to eliminate fights about money and puts you both on the same page

before any money has been spent!

4) Budgeting Helps You To Save Money

This is probably the main reason that you started budgeting in the first place, to save money!

After you have sat down and realized how many ways you blow money it’s a great feeling to

decide before the month starts to only spend $25 for the month eating out and then to actually

stick to that amount! When you actually stick to your budget you know exactly where your

money is going and you make goals to save.

5) Budgeting Provides Motivation

Our most successful months with money by far are the months that we have an actual written

budget. Part of this is because we know where our money is being blown, we are on the same

page, and we are not as stressed throughout the month. But also, it helps keep us motivated!

When we have a goal of saving $200 in a month we have more motivation as we decide on that

at the beginning of the month.

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When we plan before the month we decide that we are going to save $200. So when I am

having a weak moment half way through I have a goal that I’m focused on and I know that if I

save this $15, it will add up in the end!

Budgeting takes time and determination up front, but you will be reaping the benefits all month

long. Do yourself (and your marriage) a favor and pull out the old calculator and your bank

statements and get to work!

Jami Balmet

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Chapter 4: Five Ways Preparedness Can Save Your Family Money!

We’re by no means rich or even moderately well off, but we do believe strongly in living within

our means. Granted, we’re probably not as strict on some things as noted Christian financial

guru Dave Ramsey would be, but on most financial matters we try to follow what we believe to

be the spirit of Dave’s financial ‘school’ of advice. While he teaches specifics that any family

who wants to get out of debt and attain financial freedom should follow, the basic things we

have done to get and stay out of debt (except for our house, unfortunately) include some of his

and even a few of our own – one of which is… prepping!

Prepping?!?! When most people think about prepping, they probably think about spending

gobs of money on doomsday bunkers, 30-year freeze-dried goods, solar panels, and other

expensive items. Sure, those are fun and, given a few truckloads of discretionary income, would

be great things to purchase; but prepping, ultimately, should be a money saver first. We firmly

believe EVERY family, on even the most modest of budgets, should take some basic prepping

steps.

It’s a crazy world out there, and it’s getting crazier by the minute. Economic uncertainty, war

rumblings, a shaky power grid, natural disasters, an out-of-control Fed, and a gazillion other

reasons attest to the probability that things aren’t likely to continue as smoothly as they have in

our relatively recent past. Doing our best, as wise stewards, to prepare our families for the

potential hard times to come is not only the smart thing to do, it’s the Christian thing to do as

well!

In case you’ve been considering these things but have been holding back for financial reasons,

we’d like to explore five ways prepping can actually save your family money over the long

haul.

1) No matter what you buy, buying in bulk is usually less expensive.

This is often true whether you are buying raw ingredients or your favorite canned, frozen, or

dried items. While it’s certainly important to check the cost per ounce, buying things in bulk,

especially from a wholesale retailer like Sam’s or Cosco, is normally less expensive than buying

things one at a time. Furthermore, seasonal, local, fresh vegetables from a co-op or local

farmer’s market can often be less expensive than the grocery store. Gardening yourself is even

cheaper!

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2) Raw ingredients are usually cheaper and store longer than processed foods.

Cooking from scratch is much healthier than buying chemical laden processed foods. The good

news is, for those with a preparedness mindset, cooking from scratch is a win-win. First of all,

it’s much less expensive than eating out or buying processed foods from the grocery store (OK

maybe you could make a cheap meal out of SPAM but who really wants that?). Basic rule of

thumb – the more ‘hands’ (or machines) that touch the food, the more it costs and the more

unhealthy it often is! Even buying that can of soup from the store is much more expensive than

making the soup yourself. Secondly, basic, scratch ingredients store easily and often for longer

periods of time – a real boon for those who want to prepare and save money at the same time.

For many families, the transition from convenience foods to a lifestyle of cooking healthy,

nutritious, wholesome foods from scratch can certainly involve a pretty dramatic lifestyle

change, but it’s well worth it!

3) Prepping allows you to buy almost everything on sale.

Except for fresh items like milk, eggs, fruit, and the like, we rarely buy a food item that’s not on

sale. Let’s say you want to make a nice chicken casserole from scratch one night for dinner.

Great idea, except you don’t have any chicken in your pantry – so you go to the store, only to

find out the chicken you need isn’t on sale. In fact, it’s marked higher than it normally is! Had

you been prepping all along you wouldn’t have run out of chicken in the first place, and the

chicken you have in the pantry would have likely been bought on sale. When you spot a good

deal on foods you would normally buy, clear the shelf (score!)! After all, who knows when that

deal will come around again?

4) Prepping saves time – and time is money.

How much time, gas, and vehicle wear and tear do those avoidable (see point 3) trips to the

grocery store take? If you have a grocery store in your pantry, and are stocking it up with bulk

and scratch items, how many trips to the grocery store do you really have to make? Not as

many as most people!

5) Prepping in this way will help you eat healthier, and eating healthier will save you money

in the long run.

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be

thy food.” Cooking and eating healthy ingredients from scratch is certainly not something only

preppers do, but preppers who practice this will reap the same rewards. A healthier lifestyle = a

healthier family = less medical expenses = more money in your pocket! Win-Win-Win-Win!!

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It’s a no-brainer – prepping, properly and smartly done, can SAVE the average family money

over the long haul. Then, later, maybe there’ll be enough for those doomsday bunkers and solar

panels!

Scott Morefield

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Chapter 5: How to Find Peace When Worried About Finances

I think most people at one point in their lives have worried about their finances. We've

attended what I like to call, The School of Financial Suffering. Of course some have been

attending this school longer than others. Certainly the one person that holds a Doctorate in

this school is Job himself. Goodness, I think he could be the Valedictorian as well as the

President of this university!

I identify with Job in more ways than one.

We have lived through an IRS audit, were dragged through a lawsuit, had our home foreclosed

upon, couldn't afford to pay rent for the rental home we were living in, and then we had to live

with friends. So, yes, I do know what it feels like to attend the School of Financial

Suffering which, of course, led my flesh to feel overwhelmed with worry.

The worries came when...

We only had a few bucks in our pockets and there was no work on the horizon.

We didn't know where we were going to live.

We didn't know where we'd get the money for our medications.

Our electricity was turned off because we couldn't pay the bill. It was a cold, dark night!

We didn't have much food in our pantry and we didn't know when we could buy more. I

was hoping this problem would cause me to lose some weight! It didn't...but I didn't

have to cook as much since the cupboards were slightly bare! :)

We didn't have health insurance and a my Beloved was in need of medical attention. A

trip to the ER can really set a wife over the emotional edge and cause a great amount of

anxiety!

Parts were stolen off of my car which left it inoperable until we could come up with the

several thousands of dollars to fix it. Oh, that Enemy is a thief alright and I'd like to kill

him...but I'll let Jesus take care of that snake!

The transmission went out on my husband's truck which put him in a bind of driving it

home backwards for several miles. I was so glad I was not in the vehicle when that

happened!

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I lost my mind when I didn't know where my home was. I'm so not kidding on this one!

We moved so many times in such a short time period that I actually drove to the wrong

house! I was mentally spent to say the least!

My mind was consumed with fear and desperation as I thought, Is God's grace really

enough, like the song says, when in reality my boy needs shoes because he's got holes in

the bottom of his soles and it's raining outside.

I know what it's like to feel uncertainty, fear, exhaustion, anger, despair, apathy, and

frustration. I also know what it's like to feel forgotten and forsaken by God Himself. I

was well acquainted with all those words and emotions for years on end. And yes, I did

wonder where God was in all of this as we purposefully and intentionally lived a

righteous way of life only to have more heartache and pain from one financial problem

after another.

And then I look at Job....He was righteous too, yet God allowed him to go through one trial after

another. I take heart in Job's story and his faithfulness to proclaim the name of the Lord in

spite of all that he endured. He's a faithful man of God that I deeply admire.

I, too, want God's name lifted high even when my bank account is low and my health is failing.

So here's what God has taught me while I've attended the School of Financial Suffering.

Most Believers know the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy

6:10) Now it's probably hard to think that we love money when we're just trying to pay the

mortgage/rent and put food on the table, right? Come on now, it's not like we're asking the

Lord to give us a boatload of money so we can buy a new car or go on some extravagant

vacation! Yet, looking back over the last 5 years of our financial storms, the Lord revealed to

me a few things about how I view money.

I basically put more trust in my husband's business, our savings account, wise spending and

budgeting, etc, that I felt more secure in that system, rather than finding my security in the

Lord. In essence, I was trusting in our riches, savings, frugality, etc. rather than in God. And I

was loving and trusting in what money was capable of doing for our lives rather than what

God wanted to do in our lives.

So my Father prodded me with following questions:

Daughter, do you love and trust money so much that you distrust Me?

Daughter, do you love and trust money so much that you deem it okay to take out your

fears and frustrations on your husband and children or those around you?

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Daughter, do you realize that your love and trust in money is causing you to lessen your

respect for your husband? This isn't biblical, by the way. So, is this the type of wife that

you want to be? Or do you want to be a faith-filled wife?

Daughter, do you realize that your love and trust in money is a threat to your marital

oneness? If you keep holding on to your fears and live in a state of worry then this

problem will come between you and your Beloved.

Daughter, do you realize that your love and trust in money can turn you into a snappy,

contentious and controlling woman because you lack faith that I will provide for you?

Yes, I was totally convicted by my Lord's words!

So why did I feel this way? Because I'm selfish.

Why did I distrust that God would provide? Because I lack faith and I was fearful of our future.

Why did I lash out or take out my frustrations on my husband or children? Because I lack

control over my situation.

So my Father taught me why I struggled with all of this...

The 3 Root Causes that Feed Our Financial Concerns 1) We Become Fearful

It's scary to lose what you're used to. You're not sure of what's going to happen to you. Where

are you going to live? Where's the money going to come from? What do you do when medical

attention is needed? What are you going to eat and will you have clothes to wear? Honestly, I

really think we need to look at birds more often like the Scriptures say.

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your

heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26

Peaceful thought: According to God, we are more valuable than birds!

2) We Become Controlling

You know, we sure do think highly of ourselves, don't we? We think we've got life all under

control when in reality, that is the furthest thing from the truth. God is the one who's got things

under control! Yet, we have a tendency to think if we've got money tucked away in our savings

or 401k we'll be okay. Well, I can tell you from experience that it doesn't matter how much

money you have in the bank....it's a false sense of security because you never know what the

Lord is going to take you through. If you don't believe me, then let me remind you of Job.

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So what does God's children start to do when the finances are becoming less and less? We turn

to the Lord in prayer, right? No, not usually. First we freak out and then we try to control our

situation. Then, if we're really controlling, we'll turn to our spouses and start to control them!

This right here is key to many marital problems when the financial trials start to rain in your

marriage.

3) We Become Selfish

Not only do I want a beautiful roof over my head, a soft bed to sleep in, blankets and covers to

keep me warm, but I want a nice fluffy pillow for my head too. Yet, when I reflect on the verse

below, I can't help but think I'm pretty darn selfish! And why do I say this? Because the Lord

has provided all of these things for me, however, I'm still not satisfied. I want more and I want

things my way! Take a look at how our Savior lived so you can have a better understanding of

this viewpoint.

And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has

nowhere to lay His head." Luke 9:58

Yes, the reality is, when we love and trust in money more than God, this causes us to do some

strange things! When our finances are low (or non-existent) we become more fearful,

controlling and selfish. Turning our eyes to Jesus is what we need to do in order to overcome

these issues....and this is where you'll experience the peace of God!

Jolene Engle

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Chapter 6: Save Money by Shopping Online If you're like me, then you do a lot of your shopping online. Not only does this enable you to

stay out of stores (come on, I'm not the only husband who hates to shop, am I?), but it can also

save you a lot of money. The trick to this is to know where to shop online. Now this is where

online shopping can start to look overwhelming to someone not experienced. There are so

many websites dedicated to shopping for clothing, electronics, furniture, or pretty much

anything you can possibly think of. How are you supposed to know where to go to get the best

online deals?

The point of this chapter is to compile a list of some of the best sites to shop at online in order

to save money. Granted, none of these websites will be groundbreaking to anyone who already

shops online quite a bit, but for those of us who are online shopping newbies, it should prove to

be very helpful.

Amazon

When people think of Amazon.com, they think mainly of books. However, Amazon sells

a lot more than books these days, and their prices are almost always the best. From electronics

to garden tools, from groceries to clothing, you can find nearly anything on Amazon. Plus,

Amazon also offers many used items at an even lower price. Their customer service is excellent

as well. If you are a bit uneasy about shopping online, rest assured, Amazon will take care of

you. They have a fantastic return policy, and if an item you purchase shows up at your house

damaged, or doesn't show up at all, they will reimburse you or send you a replacement item

right away. No questions asked. I've personally experienced their customer service, and I was

very happy with it.

Vitacost

Vitacost is a great place to shop for discount vitamins, supplements, and natural whole foods.

Their prices are very competitive, and they offer free shipping for orders over $49. They are

constantly offering new sales and deals on their products, so it's a good idea to check their

deals every so often.

This is my wife’s favorite place to buy things from Echinacea to toothpaste to safe cleaning

products to use with our babies. She gets so excited each time she does a Vitacost order. They

carry such a wide variety and often there prices are better than Amazon! Also, if you sign up

through this link, you can get $10 off your first purchase! It makes ordering from Vitacost a

great deal! So start shopping today and get $10 off!

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Overstock

Overstock.com is another site like Amazon that sells essentially everything. They differ in that

they have slightly less product variety, and their prices are sometimes a bit higher than

Amazon's. However, they are always worth checking to compare with Amazon, as they

sometimes offer sales on items that nowhere else can beat. I bought my wife a Cricut

Expression Die Cutting Machine from Overstock, and at the time it was at least $20 cheaper

than anywhere else I searched.

Home Shopping Network

Like the HSN channel on TV, the website carries many different products, including jewelry,

clothing, and kitchen appliances. While their typical prices don't compare to the prices on other

sites on this list, they sometimes offer bundles of related items for fantastic prices. For

example, their price on an Xbox 360 may not be the cheapest, but they may offer a bundle

including the system, 3 games, and 2 extra controllers for a price that beats the competition.

Costco

Everyone knows that Costco is a great place to buy high quality items (often in bulk). However,

not everyone knows that you can do it online from the comfort of your own home. Costco

always has incredible prices on pretty much everything from clothing to food to computers to

books to jewelry, and their store brand Kirkland Signature is very good. Over the years, I have

bought a number of computers from Costco, and have paid much less for them comparatively

speaking. Also, their return policy is fantastic. You do have to pay for a yearly membership, but

it is most definitely worth it!

Newegg

Newegg is best known for their electronics, but they actually sell a diverse range of products,

including home appliances, office products, and even automotive products. Like Overstock,

they don't always have the best price, but are worth checking because sometimes they have

special deals that beat even Amazon.

Academic Superstore

This website requires that you have a student ID of some sort. But if you do, then you can get

rock bottom prices on software, cameras, mp3 players, and much more. When I was in college,

I bought an Adobe software bundle worth approximately$800 for less than half price!

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Woot!

Woot is unique among this list, as it only offers one unique product per day, never to be

repeated. The price is always excellent, but the catch is you don't know what will be offered for

sale on any given day. For example, on the day that this chapter was written, Woot was selling a

laptop bag with a built in charger battery for $39.99. They've never offered that particular

product before, and likely never will again. A good idea is to bookmark their website and check

it daily while on your email or Facebook. They often offer unique items for low prices, and if

you have a particular item in mind, you may stumble across it on Woot one day. A couple years

ago, I was in the market for a blue-tooth hands free headset for my cell phone, and Woot was

selling the Jawbone brand for about 30% off list price. I snatched it up, and have been very

happy with it ever since.

Monoprice

Monoprice is the best place online to buy cables and accessories for electronics. They sell

components, adapters, ink/toner, speakers, keyboards, and more. I once purchased a 12 foot

HDMI cable for a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

Groupon

Groupon partners with companies and offers special limited time "coupons" for great deals on

services, getaways, and products. They may be offering a 50% off deal to your local nail salon

one day, and the next day they have a cheap coupon for 5 free movie rentals from Redbox. My

wife and I once purchased a coupon for 50% off a Segway tour on the beach.

LivingSocial

LivingSocial is just like Groupon in that it offers limited time deals for local attractions. They

often have deals on things that Groupon does not, so it's worth checking both out from time to

time. Coupons from both of these sites make great affordable gifts for birthdays or Christmas.

Jason Balmet

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Chapter 7: Faith Regarding Finances in Marriage

I'd like to share a few thoughts on trusting God during difficult financial times and how that

applies to the marriage relationship. I have no leg to stand on when it comes to talking about

tips for financial planning, or ideas for investing or long-term financial goals as a couple. I'll

leave that to someone else to address. But I do have a lot of experience in the faith category.

If you've heard of George Mueller and his life of faith - trusting God for all provision for the

orphanage he started - you will catch a glimpse of great faith, and great courage. I happened to

marry a George Mueller type, and though I now am very grateful at first I was in shock. Sam

would say things like, "In Africa they just put a plank of wood on two huge rocks to sit on. So,

why do we need a couch?" Or, "When it comes to investing, I like to invest in Heavenly stock

rather than earthly markets." Or, "Maybe we should just give all our excess funds away and

trust God to provide for our future."

Needless to say, these comments didn't sit well with me. We argued. We pulled out our Bibles

and prepared lengthy sermons for each other on different perspectives of financial planning

throughout Scripture. Want a glimpse of that? Okay, here goes:

"Abraham left his country with no idea where he was going - all because He was trusting God to

lead and provide."

"Yeah, but he was the richest guy in his vicinity. He took bucket loads of his stuff and had a

mini-empire to caravan with him."

OR:

"Proverbs talks about the ant - go study his ways and be wise - he stores for the winter, so

shouldn't we store away for our future years?"

"Look at the context - it's talking about lazy people - do you think I'll ever be lazy? No. So it

isn't specifically commanding us to save for retirement, or college, or whatever."

OR:

"Jesus didn't even have a place to lay his head. Do you think we should have more/better than

He did?!"

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"Well, yes, actually, I do. Did you notice he was hosted many times by people who must've had

a guest room - and provided a place for Him to lay His head - did you ever think of that? I'd like

to be one of those hospitable types who provides places for people to lay their heads!"

And on, and on, ad nauseum - it went - back and forth between us.

At some point, however, I became convicted of a few things I tended to fail to mention to Sam

in these debates. Because in all our arguing, God the Holy Spirit was working in my heart to

change me from the inside. I came to realize that we could argue our whole life long about

finances and how they should be run, and we could exhaust every nuance of Scripture, down to

chapter, verse and Greek translation to support our view. I had to concede that Scripture isn't

specific as to exactly how each home should run its finances. I had to see that there was

potential for diversity in these matters. And, painful as it was, I had to see that my specific view

of things wasn't necessarily the only right way. Oh, how it hurt to admit it.

Because while we can go back and forth on planning versus giving versus planning to give

versus throw-caution-to-the-wind and live radical lives - we cannot fail in seeing what is plainly

clear in Scripture. I was led to these verses in 1 Peter:

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the

word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see

your respectful and pure conduct...

For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to

their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if

you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. ~ 1 Peter 3:1-6

I didn't have much to argue about when I looked at Sarah. She submitted her will to her

husband - not out of trust of him, but out of trust in God. The temptation for her, and for me

many times, is to fear. If we give way to fear we stand on slippery ground. The call in all these

matters - whether from saving or giving or living high or low - is a call to faith - to trust God for

all we need.

For wives, this may mean putting our opinions and desires carefully aside. I believe it is right to

voice our concerns, and to live with circumspect wisdom. But beyond that (of course barring

extreme situations involving abuse and such), we are to trust in God to oversee not only our

finances but the heart of our husbands.

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For husbands, this may mean listening to your wife's concerns and seeking God to lead you

with the thought in mind that your call is to self-sacrificial love for her - even if it means living in

a way different to what you would selfishly prefer. If a wife has been so noble as to give up her

way, her preferences, her ideas, her opinions - out of respect for her husband - don't you think

you, as a husband, could graciously give her more room for her desires, more grace, more care,

more of yourself? Selfless love wins in the end. Your marriage will be the better for it, if you

honor your wife and see that her thoughts and ideas are heard, respected and worth your time

and interest.

And in our case, that is exactly what happened. I saw that Scripture was clear in it's directive to

wives. And I told Sam I would be willing to follow his lead, even if it wasn't my first choice. And

initially I was tempted to fear. But I prayed and told God my trust was in Him, not in my

husband. And as time went on, Sam changed too. He saw the wisdom in a measure of

planning. And in that process, I changed! Here we are 13 years later and I often find myself

arguing from Sam's initial perspective of 'give more, live radically' and he is giving more thought

to the future!

I know it doesn't work out that way in every case. Each couple has different dynamics. But

there is joy in the journey to unity and putting your spouse above your financial ideals goes a

long way to bringing stability and wholeness in the relationship. In the midst of many

arguments we would sometimes have to remind ourselves that we're married first and financial

gurus second (or not at all! :) )

As you look at finances in marriage, just be reminded simply that:

God is in control.

You can trust Him.

He is far wiser than you realize.

He is faithful.

He listens and answers prayer.

You don't need to have it your way.

And then, go from there to pursuing oneness in all things in your marriage!

Sarah Logan

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Chapter 8: Finances and a New Baby Welcoming a new baby into your home is an exciting time! But often, after the initial

excitement, reality starts to set in and men especially begin worrying about the cost.

Future thoughts of cars and college expenses quickly become replaced by thoughts and stress

over the cost of clothing, diapers, swings, cribs, and more! It can feel overwhelming, and the joy

at the thought of your new baby quickly diminishes in the light of this new financial panic.

When Jason and I found out we were pregnant for the first time, we were ecstatic. But I knew

in the back of his mind he was secretly adding up the costs of me quitting my full time job in

order to be a stay at home mom, the cost of hundreds of diapers, and everything else that goes

along with a new baby. And I admit, I was a bit stressed as well.

Fast forward 10 weeks and we found out instead of one beautiful blessing, we were getting

two! We were pregnant with twins! The phone calls were made to our family, the shock started

wearing off, and I demanded asked nicely to go to Babies R’ Us that night. You see, thus far I

had held off on going to any baby stores because I knew we had months left and didn’t even

know the gender yet. But the thought of twins was so exciting that I just needed to go look at

baby stuff {ladies do you know what I mean??}.

So we made our first trip to the baby store. As we walked around overwhelmed at the sheer

number of products and options, we started sweating at the thought of two of everything! Two

cribs, two car seats, thousands of diapers, and dozens of outfits just to name a few. We left the

store that night in complete sticker shock. How would we pay for all of this?

Thankfully I still had months ahead of me to plan and to figure out how we would pay for all of

this. And this soon to be mama is frugal, so I knew we would figure things out. I rarely pay full

price for anything, except maybe my weekly Starbucks treat. Thus began the Balmet family

adventure into all things baby. Now with two infants, we are continually finding ways to save

money. I hope to encourage you and share a few things we have learned from one set of frugal

parents to another!

7 Simple Ways to Save Money with a New Baby 1) Buy Used

Does the thought of buying used gross you out? Get over it. If you are going to be a frugal

mama and papa then you need to get used to buying used. Because babies grow so quickly and

use items for a relatively short amount of time, used baby items are usually in excellent

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condition! All those newborn clothes that people just have to have are used for only a few short

weeks (or even days), never to be worn again!

There are so many places to get used baby clothes, toys, and items! See the list below and try

and get creative where you can find baby stuff. My biggest suggestion: Ask, ask, ask! You never

know who might be selling (or giving away) used baby stuff. So spread the word and let people

know you are in the market.

Caution: You should be careful when buying some things used. You should never buy a used car

seat because you never know if it’s working properly or has been in an accident before. And

always check to make sure the items you are purchasing have not been recalled. You can check

if items have been recalled here: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/. You can search by name,

sort by date, and search within categories such as “babies and kids” or “toys”.

Great places to find used baby items:

Thrift Stores: Search through all your local thrift stores. Find the best ones and find out

when they get new shipments. Search often because you never know what great item

might be waiting there. Great items usually go fast so search often!

Second hand stores: We have a great little shop in town where you can sell your used

baby items. Their shop is full of gently used baby items for usually 50% off the list price.

We got a great swing in excellent condition for our twins there when we realized having

two swings was essential for us!

Online: If you are comfortable shopping online (which I suggest you become

comfortable with if you are not, because often the best deals on everything are online),

then you can find great used baby items! My mom ordered a huge set of gently used

baby boy clothes on Ebay.com. Craigslist.com is also another great site for finding used

local items.

Friends: Like I said above, ask, ask, ask! You never know who is giving away or selling

used baby items. We got both of our cribs for the twins from a friend of a friend of my

Mother-in-Law who had a crib and her sister had a matching one! We got a fantastic

deal on the two cribs and a matching changing table because we put the word out there

that we were looking.

2) Cloth Diaper

Eeew! Does this gross you out? That was my husband’s first reaction when I told him that I

wanted to use cloth diapers. But modern cloth diapers are super easy to use! They all have

snaps or Velcro and essentially function the same as disposables, except you have to throw

them in the wash.

It takes a little more time, but the cost difference is amazing! For anyone on a budget, cloth

diapering is definitely something you should consider! For $200-300 (or less if you are frugal

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about getting them) you can get all the cloth diapers you need for the entire time your baby is

in diapers. One blogger estimated that to diaper 1 child in disposable diapers until they are

potty trained costs about $2,000. Now the real beauty comes from the fact that you can use

that stash of cloth diapers for all subsequent kids! You may need to replace a diaper every now

and then but saving $1500 (a conservative estimate) per child on diapers is amazing!

You can find out more about cloth diapering here:

Confessions of a Cloth Diapering Convert – The Humbled Homemaker

Tips and Tricks with Cloth Diapering – Stacy Makes Cents

Cloth Diapering How To {Part one} – Christian Mommy Blogger

Different Types of Cloth Diapers and What I personally Use- Creating Naturally

3) Stick to the Necessities

The baby industry wants us to believe that we need every gadget and toy in the world before

our babies are born. We must be fully stocked with everything. But in reality there is very little

that you actually need for a newborn baby! And sadly, that fancy new swing, bouncer, walker,

and endless other baby gadgets you bought might not be loved or even liked by your baby! So

don’t rush out and buy everything because you “need” it in order to bring your new baby home.

Really you only need a few things:

Car seat to bring baby home

A pack n’ Play, Bassinet, or crib for baby to sleep

A few blankets

A few outfits

Some diapers

That’s about it! Everything else you can figure out as the time comes. Stacy explains why she

gave away a bunch of her baby stuff when she found out she didn’t need it in: Bye Bye Baby

Gadgets!

4) Make Your Own Baby Food

When your baby starts eating solid food around 4-6 months, many new parents rush out and

buy the expensive baby food in a jar. Oh it might not seem expensive at first, but add that up

over the time your baby is eating solid food and subsequent babies, and it gets expensive!

Instead make your own baby food!

Making your own baby food is simple. Just steam some carrots and then puree it! Mash up

some avocados! Take the food your family is already eating and mash it up for baby. Hilary from

Accidently Green offers a GREAT resource on learning how to make your own baby food and

knowing what to feed baby during their first year in her book First Bites.

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5) Finding Deals on Diapers

Does using cloth diapers just freak you out a little too much? Or you want to use disposables for

those days that cloth are not as convenient? You can still save money on diapers.

Join Amazon Mom and regularly save money by buying your diapers on Amazon! I’ve never

used this but I know some people who swear by this and only buy their diapers on Amazon.

Learn how to shop at drug stores and play the coupon game! By combining manufacturer

coupons, store coupons, and store sales you can get products for a fraction of the cost! Here

are some great guides on how to do this at CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.

Money Saving Mom also has a section on her website devoted to diaper deals. If you follow

along and regularly check this part of her site, you can often find great diaper deals!

Being frugal with your new baby is all about taking the time to do the research and doing the

work. Talk to as many moms as you can and find out what their necessities are! Every mom is

different but you can get a good idea of what is really essential and what isn’t by talking to

other parents.

And when family and friends want to know what to get you as presents, don’t be afraid to tell

them what you really need! Maybe you don’t need any more newborn clothing but could really

use a couple cloth diapers to build your stash! Let them know how they can help!

Jami Balmet

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Chapter 9: Growing Together as a Young Couple

I want to stop and take a chapter to address the other young married couples. If you got

married later in life then feel free to skip this chapter. But if you have kids who may one day get

married young then please read this. And who knows, maybe you will pick up a little

encouragement as well!

Many people we meet, feel that getting married at 19 and becoming pregnant with our first

baby at 22 is ridiculous. Even within the church, many don’t understand why we would get

married so young and choose to start a family at young ages. They think we need to experience

the world more, travel, or start a solid career first.

Let me just stop right here and say that I firmly believe that God appoints the time you meet

and marry your spouse. Some meet him at 16 and some are 30. I fully believe that its God’s

timing and it will be different for everyone. Getting married young is not for everyone, but I do

believe it is for some. Moving on.

For those that God does call to marriage at a young age, there are a number of benefits that

help establish marriage on a firm foundation. I know it has for my marriage.

We have been able to grow up together with regard to money. We formed habits together as a

couple rather than separately, we developed our free time together, and we have learned what

it means to grow in the Lord together.

Our Financial Journey My husband and I had nothing when we got married. We had both completed one year at a

Christian University and had paid for everything ourselves. We both worked around our school

schedule and full time during the summer. We rented a great little one bed room

apartment. We didn’t have a lot, but we didn’t need a whole lot.

Eating out at fast food was a luxury for us. Mostly we ate rice and beans and loved every

minute of it! Of course there were stressful times when we weren’t sure if we would make rent,

but ultimately God provided every time.

A year later my husband graduated college and got a fantastic job that has turned into his

career. A year after that I graduated college and got a full time job at a Christian University. We

finally were building a savings, dreaming of buying a home, and paying off some student loans.

Fast forward 2 more years and my husband was offered a promotion and a job he can be in for

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the next 10 years with plenty of room to grow. I am now a stay at home mom to two adorable

twin boys.

Why do I tell you this? Because we have grown into our money together. We were together

when we both made minimum wage and had to scrape together money for a grocery budget.

But then we had the excitement of saving up to by our first flat screen tv. We had some

financially tight spots where a dollar couldn’t go uncounted. But we have grown and we have

had the freedom to walk into the grocery store and be able to throw some extra things into the

cart without worry.

We have learned how to deal with money together. We learned what it means to make a

budget and stick to it! We learned what it means to finally have some extra money and blow it

all on eating out and to get to the end of the month with nothing to show for it.

And most importantly, we always knew that money was both of ours. I have never felt that

money was mine or his. We have always been very transparent with money with each other.

We don’t have fights about money (usually). We share it very easily (usually, there are of course

occasional off days ;)).

I think the difference is that, since we both made minimum wage at our first job (where we

met), we have looked at money as both of ours. We never had money of our own to spend. We

didn’t live for five years by ourselves making all of the decisions on our own about money. I

wasn’t used to taking my own money and going clothing shopping whenever I wanted to with

no one to answer to.

We make money decisions together and we always have.

Even four years later, with more money coming in, it is rare to make a purchase larger than $20

without the other knowing about it before. We would never dream of spending $50 before

checking with the other first.

This has created a beautiful environment of accountability and trust. Because we are always

honest with each other, it is easier to allow each other the occasional treat without getting

jealous or uptight over the money.

They say that money is the biggest cause of strife in a marriage, and I can certainly see why this

would be the case. When we have been tight with money, tensions can run high and we get

stressed. But the beautiful thing is that we can always rely on each other to get through the

tough times and we do not have fights over who spent what money, because in reality all

money decisions are always made by the both of us. Do we have slight disagreements

sometimes about how to spend the money? Naturally. But we also know that we have to work

through it, so we always move forward and find a resolution.

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I am not saying that those who lived on their own for 10 years and had a great career with

money to spend how they want won’t have a good marriage when it comes to money. I just

know that, for us, it has made life easier. It makes me sad to hear of married couples who

have separate bank accounts and don’t discuss money together. If we are to be one within

marriage, why doesn’t that extend to money?

Jami Balmet

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Chapter 10: What Does it Mean to be a Good Steward of God’s Money? What does it meant to be a good stewards of god’s money? To be a good steward of the money

the Lord provides us with, we need to get (and keep) our finances under control.

“The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.” ~ Proverbs

14:8

This also includes getting out of debt.

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the

law.” ~ Romans 13:8

God is allowing us to use His money. Finances are to be managed properly (and invested) so

they will bear fruit and grow.

“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” ~ Proverbs

21:20

We must develop a budget.

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether

he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to

finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to

finish.’” ~ Luke 14:28:30

A proper budget allows for planning and awareness of what is currently occurring with our

finances. In addition to being aware of what is going on with our finances, a budget allows us to

be better stewards of the money the Lord has provide us with.

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“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows

bountifullywill also reap bountifully.” ~ 2 Corinthians 9:6

Being a good steward of finances will allow for you to save (1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the

first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may

prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come”.)

Being a good steward of finances will allow for you to pay off debt (Psalms 37:21 “The

wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;”.

Matthew 5:25-26 “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with

him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard,

and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid

the last penny.”)

Being a good steward of finances will allow for you to invest (maybe in retirement? Or a

down payment for a new home or car?). Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead

surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Being a good steward of finances will allow for you to give (2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one

must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God

loves a cheerful giver.

Now that we understand why we are to be good stewards of our finances we need to find a

tangible way to keep on top of all of this. How and what is the best tool to use in order to

manage finances?

Enter Mint.com

There are several programs that are out there but we can only recommend ones we’ve used

and have had success using. We transitioned to Mint.com early last year and love it. On

occasion we will use a spread sheet to give us a future reference if we are playing around with

different potential scenarios, but for the most part we just use Mint.com.

Without getting into too overwhelming detail here are some basics:

Free to use

Secure with the same 128-bit encryption and security that banks use. Verified by

TRUSTe and VeriSign, and they are supported by RSA Security.

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You can set up a budget for everything. Kind of like the envelope system but all virtual

and online. How can this work in your favor? Well let’s say you set a budget of 100$ per

month for clothing. If you go over it you will get an instant notification. You can also

choose to receive a notification if you are close to it. So if you want to know when you

hit the 80$ mark, you can set it up to alert you at that point.

You can also set up custom alerts to know when your account reaches an amount

defined by you.

Lists your transactions (they pull this from your bank account). These transactions are

classified in categories (food, paycheck, transfer, books, groceries, ect.). If you want to

rename the category you can if needed.

Trends is a great part of Mint.com. We love it because we can visually see in a graph

what is eating up most of our money. They make this graph based on your categories, so

make sure you have them set up to your personal preferences.

If you have a mortgage, credit card, or debt you can track it’s pay off in Mint.com too.

We think that can be kind of fun because you can see how much you have left, and that

can prove to be motivating.

So definitely go check out Mint.com if you’re looking for an easy, efficient and customizable

method to manage your finances and be better stewards of His provisions to you and your

family.

Michael & Marlene Griffith

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Chapter 11: 5 Steps to Managing Finances Together

Few of us were left unchanged by the economics of the last four years. Recession, recovery,

unemployment, housing prices...

Does the simple act of reading those words raise your blood pressure a little?

Now let's add toddlers, dinnertime, teenagers, weight gain, and dirty laundry. Is it really any

wonder that money can be one of the most difficult areas for couples to manage together? We

cannot ignore our finances in a Biblical Marriage.

If you and your spouse agree on how to manage your finances, have a complete understanding

of your goals, and work well as a team to accomplish those dreams - I am genuinely thrilled for

you! Now, kindly stop reading this chapter to go mentor someone in your life who has not

achieved those milestones.

For the rest of us, I'd like to suggest five steps to begin managing your finances together.

Pray. 2 Chronicles 6:28-30 says, "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew

or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever

plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all

your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his

hands toward this house, then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to

each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the

children of mankind."

I cannot stress this enough, pray before you move forward. Pray for a patient spirit, for a

graceful heart, and for honesty. Remember, God knows your heart.

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Bring it all together. Luke 16:11 asks, "If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust

to you the true riches?"

Gather up all the statements, checkbooks, and insurance documents to one place. If you are

not joint on your accounts, make it so. If you have a debt your spouse does not know about, be

completely clear about it. If you are the one receiving this surprising news, commit to being

completely involved from this day forward.

Total it up. This might be painful. List all of your debts. Yes, all of them. Do the same for your assets. What

are your cars worth? How much is in savings?

Consider what you have. Read Matthew 25:14-30 - remember the parable of the master who left his money in the charge

of three different servants? 29, "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an

abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Do you both have life insurance policies? Can you understand the statements on your

investments? How much are you paying in interest on your current loans? Does your cash flow

well or do all of your bills seem to be due on one day of the month?

Agree on a plan. Again, see Mathew 25 - God gave us examples of handling the finances He entrusted to our

care.

Maybe you can only agree to put all receipts and bills next to the computer this week. This

might be the month you agree to a budget (making a plan for how to spend your money before

it arrives in your account). This could be the time to schedule an appointment with a financial

representative to understand those mutual funds or research life insurance prices. Whether

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you can agree on a plan for the next 24 hours or the next 24 months, determine what your next

steps are before you walk away.

These steps may be harder than anything you've faced as a couple. You may experience a

wide range of feelings, but they will not change the truth. The truth about your current financial

standing or the truth about what God can do through your marriage as you seek His Word for

wisdom in managing it. When we manage our resources well, we can meet the needs of those

God puts in our lives.

I am not a professional financial counselor and share only what has worked for us to date.

Tammy Skipper

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Chapter 12: Preparing for Holiday Shopping PayPal provides an excellent service which I have used for years. All you have to do is put in

your name, debit/credit card information, and then create a PayPal account. This then allows

you to enjoy the ease of online shopping without having to tediously enter all that information

into every single website you purchase from.

The other day however, I received an email advertisement from PayPal promoting their new

"bill me later" feature. The email went like this: "The holidays are coming! Be ready with bill me

later!" As I read this advertisement this thought came to mind: "Is having to "bill me later"

really being "prepared" for Christmas shopping?" The answer to this question is clearly no.

Unfortunately however, many people operate with this mindset. Last Christmas season,

I received a different advertisement saying: "Need fast cash for the holidays? Take out a title

loan!" Again, if you need to put your car up as collateral for a loan in order to buy Christmas

gifts, you are not prepared for Christmas shopping.

Christmas shopping has the potential to be a very stressful event. Here are some ways to

minimize the stress as a couple while shopping for loved ones this Christmas season.

1) Don't get into debt!

There is nothing that will make Christmas shopping more stressful than to having to pay off

debt after the gifts are given. In addition to the many biblical principles advising against getting

into debt, it has been the cause of many marital fights, as well as the stated reason for why

many marriages end in divorce.

Using credit cards is like playing with fire if you don't know what you are doing. If you cannot

make a purchase otherwise, you cannot afford it. They should ONLY be used if you KNOW that

you will be able to pay them off at the end of the month.

2) Budget for it!

Instead of getting into debt for Christmas gifts, figure out about how much you will need well in

advance, and then set aside a little more than that. When you go shopping, make sure you stick

to the budget.

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3) Plan how you will meet the budget

After figuring out how much you will need, ($1,000 for example) figure out how much you will

need to set aside out of each paycheck in order to have the money in hand when you are ready

to start shopping. For example, if you need $1,000 in 2 months, you will need to set aside $250

out of each paycheck if you get paid on a biweekly basis.

4) Make decisions together

Just as in EVERY area of marriage, it is so important that couples make decisions about

Christmas shopping together (i.e. how much to spend, who to buy for, what to buy, etc.). This

will reduce the level of stress because it minimizes the opportunity for one spouse to go behind

the other's back. This also helps to build teamwork.

5) Learn to differentiate between wants and needs

Because of the high cultural expectations place upon the exchange of Christmas gifts, it is easy

to feel obligated to buy gifts for people even when you cannot afford it. Christmas gifts are

wants, not needs. Even though there are high expectations, if a couple is going through a tight

financial time, it may be wise to either go really simple this year, or find a creative alternative.

We certainly don't want to offend or hurt our loved ones, but if using debt is the only way to

buy gifts, it may be a good idea to sit this year out.

6) Let the spouse who enjoys shopping handle it

Typically in a marriage, one spouse enjoys shopping more than the other, and is better at

finding bargains. While it is usually the wife who is more of a shopper, there are exceptions to

this rule. Once the budget has been decided on, the decisions have been made together about

who to buy for, and the money has been saved, then it is a good idea to let the spouse who

actually enjoys shopping take care of it.

Christmas shopping has the potential to be a stressful ordeal. However, as we have seen, by

following a few simple principles, the stress can be drastically reduced. But you know what?

Christmas shopping isn't the only area where financial wisdom applies. It is so important to

learn how to live within your means in every area. You can read more about this in a four part

series I wrote on that very topic by clicking here.

Chris Cartwright

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Chapter 13: Avoiding Financial Stress This Christmas

The holiday season-- that wonderful time of year (cue sappy violin music) when families gather;

peace and goodwill abound; misty watercolor memories are made; lovely parties are hosted

using your best linens and china in your perfectly-decorated, HGTV-worthy house; adorable

children in angel costumes can't wait to go to one last performance of the Christmas pageant--

What?... That doesn't sound like the holidays at your house? (Cue gigantic trainwreck sound!)

The holiday season can be the setup for the perfect storm of stress, exhaustion,

overindulgence, and disappointment that can make the best of marriages a minefield ripe for

explosions. Hidden landmines are all over the place, just waiting to detonate and maim

everyone within range: Mines of unrealistic expectations. Traditions. Financial bombs!

Exhaustion. Over-commitment. Add perfectionism or hormonal tripwires that get more and

more unstable as all the other bombs begin to get closer and closer together, and you have a

recipe that can spell disaster for your marriage.

Sound familiar? The holidays, which are ideally a time for wonderful family memories to be

made, can be the most painful time of year for many people, and making them great takes a

battle plan and serious follow-through. So let's get on our boots and battle gear, and get

started.

If you haven't already read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, I highly recommend it! He

presents simple steps in an entertaining fashion. There are lots of free resources on his

website as well. If you've been practicing Dave's principles very long, you have no debt besides

your mortgage, and you have money set aside for all the extra costs associated with the

holidays. However, if you haven't, don't despair! You still have some time. I suggest two basic

guiding principles here: Save up, and spend less. (And starting at the beginning of next month,

start a Christmas club account, and set aside a fixed amount in another account as often as you

choose.)

Tips for Avoiding Financial Stress Don't put holiday extras on a credit card unless you can pay it ALL off when the bill comes.

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Piling on debt will only make the Holiday Minefield stretch out into the new year! Dave

preaches using no credit cards at all, but we use them for convenience and pay the balance

monthly. We also like the cash-back bonus! However, if you have trouble limiting what you

charge, don't use them!

Decide ahead of time how much money you can spend for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If you normally host the family gathering and provide all the food, and especially if you buy

paper plates and utensils, the cost can add up! Delegate others to bring food and paper goods,

or use real dishes. Be creative about how you can save money-- think outside the box! (Ask a

question or give your suggestions in the comments; there are some brilliant minds in our

community!)

Christmas can be more difficult, but you have a few more weeks to plan and put aside a bit of

money. My husband has two siblings, their spouses, his parents, and a nephew and niece.

Christmas got expensive buying gifts for all eight of them! Pretty quickly we began drawing

names, and as our kids grew up, we started doing a "Chinese auction," where everyone brings a

gift; we draw numbers, choose a gift, then the next person chooses or can steal from someone

else. It's great fun and not nearly as expensive as buying for everyone. Some families buy only

for the children, and some families don't buy gifts at all. If its a financial burden for you,

swallow your pride and have an honest conversation with your parents or whoever is

involved. I bet they will understand, and chances are, it will be a relief to others in your family

too.

Don't measure your worth as a parent or spouse by the amount of Christmas presents you

can buy.

Some children prefer a lot of boxes under the tree; others would rather have one or two more

expensive gifts. Know your kids. When mine were younger, especially, I bought toys and dress-

up clothes at garage sales. Now they make lists for me, complete with internet links to Amazon

or the store, of items in various price ranges.

Don't feel obligated to spend the same amount of money or have the same number of gifts

for every child. A 3-year old doesn't have the same concept of gifts as a 10-year old does. I

would often use the age of the child as a guideline for quantity or amount of money- $60 for

the 6-year old, $40 for the 4-year old.

So here are the rules of engagement to negotiate the Holiday Minefield without detonations:

1. No credit cards.

2. Get creative about how to adapt your holiday traditions to cost less.

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3. Calmly and unemotionally, plan a holiday budget.

4. Calmly and unemotionally, have discussions with relatives if you need to make a change.

5. Don't tie up the amount of money you spend with your success as a parent.

6. Set aside money between now and Christmas.

With a little planning ahead and conversation with your spouse, you can be on the same side in

the battle of the Holiday Minefield and come out victorious!

Melinda Stanton “Auntie Em”

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Chapter 14: For Richer or For Poorer Can the words of the Bible, penned to a society without master bathrooms and high speed

internet, define rich and poor for us? The federal government can define poor, middle, and

upper income households based on census data. Suburbanites might describe a neighbor as

rich, if they have more than the average household on their street. Maybe when you think of

wealth, you think of having investments or a second home.

Let’s flip the coin. Many families have experienced a time when they felt poor. Whether or not

you’re intimately familiar with the phrase living paycheck to paycheck, it is still likely you

understand the implications. Wondering how you are going to pay an electric bill or buy diapers

next week burns emotion into the memory centers of your brain. Having only one car for your

family or needing government assistance to buy food would be considered poor by many. If

you’ve experienced foreclosure or short sale on a home, you may believe you failed to achieve

the American Dream. These experiences can leave you reeling, maybe even resentful towards

those who never seem to struggle. That feeling may define poor more than your pay stub ever

could.

Do you believe that Jesus knows your exact financial situation?

He knows if you’re struggling to pay your bills and He knows if you failed to write a check to the

charity He placed on your heart. When the stories of the rich young ruler and the poor widow

were written down for us, Jesus knew what our circumstances would be today.

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor

widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in

more than all of them.

When the proverbs were first uttered, God knew that many of us would be ‘slave to the lender.’

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Credit cards, anyone?

There are financial experts who can provide excellent advice on paying off debt, factors to

consider when buying a home, or investment strategies. What few address is the heart issue.

What emotions do you experience when you think about money and how do they influence

your definition of rich and poor?

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The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

Instead of depending on our feelings then, let’s look to the scripture for the definitions. Job is

an excellent example to study when evaluating our attitudes about money. When we first meet

him, he has everything a man could want: a large family, vast resources, and good health.

God allows Job to lose everything. Consider the level of his grief, pain, and confusion. Job

experiences the loss of a child. He sees his wealth disappear into thin air. Ultimately, even his

health deteriorates to the point where he yearns for death. Where does all of this loss, this

poverty, take Job? Yes, he questions God, but we do not read of one instance where Job

condemns others for having large flocks or celebrations with their families. His lack was not

justification for passing judgment on others, any more than his wealth was a basis for others to

pass judgment on him.

Did your retirement disappear with the downturn in the stock market?

Are you struggling to hold your marriage together after losing a child?

Will you meet the staff at a cancer treatment ward this year?

Does it feel like you are the only one experiencing these trials?

God knows you are facing these obstacles. God knows that these things affect how you manage

your money. God knows your spirit is just as involved in your management of your finances as it

is in your Bible study or your family.

How do we trust God with our money the way Job did? I Samuel 2:6-8 reads,

“The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor

and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the

needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the

pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.”

According to a recent article, “even the poorest 5% of Americans are better off financially than two

thirds of the entire world1.” Knowing that there are literally billions of people surviving on less than $2

per day2 doesn’t make us feel rich when we have difficulty paying our bills, so why would we believe we

are justified in passing judgment on those who have more than us?

When we had children, we knew we wanted to provide the best possible education for them.

This meant when we prepared to buy our first home, we considered what school they would

attend. This influenced which neighborhoods we considered. We believed providing a good

education was important. This belief influenced our use of money. How others prioritize their

decisions about work, spending, and charity is ultimately an issue between themselves and

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God. We are called to make these decisions with our spouse under the wisdom and leading of

God’s Word.

There are thousands of verses in the Bible addressing money or its management. If you are

looking for verses to support the belief that God financially blesses individuals who are

obedient to Him, You can find them. If you are looking for verses that condemn those who are

rich, you will find them. What I challenge you to consider is how you define those terms at all. If

you could view your life through the eyes of a sponsored child, would you be rich or poor? If

you have $100,000 in the bank but have no love for your wife and children, are you rich or

poor? If your credit cards all have a zero balance but you don’t serve the body of Christ, are you

rich or poor?

Are we ready to cast aside the people and things of this earth as Ruth did so we can hear these

words from our Redeemer?

“All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully

told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people

that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be

given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” ~

Ruth 2:11-12

Consider the following questions to follow-up on this topic. Discuss with your spouse and

consider seeking the mentorship of another couple in your church if you don’t see eye to eye.

1. What makes a person rich? 2. If you had $100,000 extra at your disposal tomorrow, what would you do with it? 3. When have you felt poor? 4. What makes you mad when you think about money? 5. What makes you happy when you think about money? 6. Name one belief about money or its use that you share with your parents. 7. Name one belief about money or its use that you do not share with your parents.

Notes:

1. link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/04/news/economy/world_richest/index.htm

2. see Poverty Statistics under Resources http://www.theholeinourgospel.com/resource-

links/

Tammy Skipper

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Suggested Resources Blog & Website Resources A Biblical Marriage – Encouraging Couples to Form a Christ Centered Union

Saving Money by Freezer Cooking – Young Wife’s Guide

Feed Your Family – Healthy Eating on a Budget – Young Wife’s Guide

Living Within One’s Means: A Lost Concept? Series by Striving for Wisdom

10 Ways to Deal with Your Attitude When Faced with Financial Concerns – The Alabaster Jar

How to Obtain Financial Security – The Alabaster Jar

Are You Living in Financial Uncertainty? – The Alabaster Jar

Got Financial Concerns in Your Life? – The Alabaster Jar

Dave Ramsey {He has all kinds of great articles, a radio program, & terrific tools and resources}

John MacArthur {Respected pastor and Bible teacher} has several helpful sermons and articles

on finances:

Investing Earthly Finances with an Eternal Focus

The Christian and His Finances

God’s Plan for Giving sermon series

Mastering Your Money sermon series

The Danger of Loving Money sermon series

Whose Money Is It, Anyway? Sermon series

Biblical Principles for Handling Money

List PlanIt has some great budgeting forms and lists that are really helpful!

Money Saving Mom – An excellent online tool that is packed full of great articles, practical tips,

coupons, and more!

Christian Personal Finance – A website by Christians and for Christians on the subject of finance

Crown Financial Ministries – Another wonderful Christian ministry dedicated to finance

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Book Resources My Total Money Makeover & Workbook by Dave Ramsey

EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey

More Than Enough by Dave Ramsey

The Money Answer Book by Dave Ramsey

From Debtor to Better by Barry Myers

How to Manage Your Money by Larry Burkett

The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples by Larry Burkett

Debt-Free Living by Larry Burkett

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About the Authors Jami Balmet

Jami is passionate about Biblical Homemaking and striving to be a woman of God. Jami and her loving husband Jason, have been married for 3 years and have just welcomed twin bundles of joy into their home. She has a heart for hospitality and making her home an inviting place that reflects Christ. She blogs about this passion at Young Wife’s Guide. Jami and Jason are also launching a joint vision to encourage couples to form Christ centered unions at A Biblical Marriage.

Jason Balmet Jason is driven to display Christ in all aspects of his life. He is particularly

passionate about marriage, and strives to encourage others to improve their marriage relationships and grow closer to each other and to God in the process. He is an avid reader and caffeine addict, which often combine to keep him up later than he’d like. He has been married to his better half Jami for about 3 and a half years, and has 2 brand new twin boys. He blogs his thoughts and beliefs on marriage at A Biblical Marriage.

Shari Miller Shari has been married to her best friend Bill for twenty years. They have two

children who are their precious gifts from God. Shari is a

stage IV breast cancer survivor who lives each day striving to

give God the glory for all that He has done in her life. Shari

has a passion for drawing others closer to Christ, being a

homemaker, helping others, writing and baking. You can find

Shari blogging about leaving a Godly legacy, hope and

encouragment in Jesus and her life’s journey at Leaving A

Legacy. You can also find her blogging at Woman to Woman Ministires.

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Scott Morefield Scott and Kim Morefield have been married for over ten years. They live in East

Tennessee with their four children (one boy and three girls),

ages 7, 6, 4, and 2, all of whom make excellent fodder for

their blog at A Morefield Life (connect with them on

Facebook at www.facebook.com/amorefieldlife), where

parenting is just one of the topics covered. They also enjoy

writing about marriage, nutrition & recipes, healthy lifestyle,

homesteading, and other topics, all from a Christian

perspective. Scott has also written over 20 articles for the natural health

website www.naturalnews.com.

Jolene Engle Jolene Engle was once a feminist who denied the existence of God until the Lord

transformed her life in 1996. In 1998 she married the man that God chose for her; her Beloved Solomon, also known as her husband, Eric. For 10 years of her marriage she battled chronic and debilitating illnesses at the onset of motherhood. For the past 5 years of her life, Jolene and her husband have faced financial ruin and they have lost their home not just once, but twice. Even though her tiara is broken and her gown is tattered, she still lives as a daughter

of the King. As a broken vessel herself, she serves her Savior through her on-line writing ministry of The Alabaster Jar where she loves to encourage, equip, and inspire other women to learn how to pour out their lives at the feet of Jesus like the perfume from an Alabaster Jar.

Sarah Logan Sarah has been married to Sam for 12 years during which time their family grew

to include 5 delightful children from 11 down to 1, and an equally delightful mother-in-law who returned from 46 years of missionary life in Africa. Both Sam and Sarah rejoice in encouraging other couples to grow closer together and to

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God and seeing strong homes emerge as a result of this spiritual union. She blogs at Bees in My Bonnet.

Michael Griffith Michael is married to Marlene, and they have three kids. He has a huge love and

passion for the Lord and seeks to live out His will each day. Michael is a computer geek and enjoys all things technology. He is about to get his blog up and going and hopes it will serve as an encouragement to men and husbands to lead a life in Christ.

Marlene Griffith Marlene is married to Michael and she is a stay at home mom/wife. She spends

her days taking care of their three kiddos and

homeschooling their oldest. Marlene enjoys crafting,

cooking, baking and a good chick flick. When she’s not

homeschooling or taking care of their home, she is blogging

over at A Diligent Heart. She loves the Lord and is

continually studying His word to gain a better understanding

of His will for her in life

Tammy Skipper Tammy has been around the world as an Air Force spouse, is happily married to

her high school sweetheart, and is navigating the teenage

years with their two kids. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business

Management and Leadership and is self employed as

a Beauty Consultant. When she makes time for the hobbies

she enjoys reading, photography and whatever adventure

her husband wants to try next. Her goal at Skipper Clan is to

encourage and empower women with practical strategies for life.

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Chris Cartwright Chris is a Flight Instructor at a major Christian University in Central Virginia. He

enjoys allowing God to use his gifts and abilities to not only

teach others how to fly, but also teach principles from God’s

Word. As a young man in his mid-twenties, Chris is seeking

wisdom in many areas of life from men who are older and

wiser than him. You can read more about what Chris is

learning at www.strivingforwisdom.com.

Melinda Stanton – Auntie Em Auntie Em is the bloggy alter ego of Melinda Stanton, who is wife to 1, mom to 3,

mom-in-law to 2, and choir teacher to hundreds over the

past 20 years. New to and very excited about the blogging

world, she feels like the old chaperone of the bunch, but

she’s just glad the “young-uns” invited her to the dance!

With a 30+ year marriage, a paid-off house, no debt, and

independent adult children who really like their family,

Auntie Em has learned some things along the way and is happy to help others

learn from her experience. She blogs at Auntie Em’s Guide to Life.