G.R.A.C.E. MINISTRY

We are coming to the end of 2020.  In a few weeks, we will be entering the final quarter for the year.  We are in an election year,  Much of 2020 has been focused on the pandemic, called COVID-19, or the corona virus.  Many families have been quarantined in their homes for months.  Schools have had to adjust to the restrictions caused by the virus and develop a new approach to teaching their students.  Many people have lost their jobs, or have had their hours drastically reduced because of the State directive to stay home, and practice social distancing.  We call it the "New Normal"!  I'm not sure I like that term, but it's sticking.  Many people struggle with financial challenges, loss of family and friends to the virus, loss of the way things used to be, social gatherings, even churches are holding their services virtually!.  We have to adapt to Zoom meetings instead of in-person meetings.  Businesses struggle to survive by coming...

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2

Do you know the origin of Black Friday?   It’s the retailers trying to get out of the red.   In accounting terms, being in the ‘red’ means you have a negative balance, or a negative cash flow.   Being in the ‘black’ means you have a positive balance, or a positive cash flow.   Retailers seemingly mark down the prices on their big-ticket items, like cell phones, flat screen TV’s or other technology, to entice you to purchase them so that they can end the year in the black.   Especially if their 3 rd quarter sales were not that great.      Not a bad idea, but is that really your problem?   Consider this, according to an article by Aaron Tilly a former staff member of Apple in Forbes magazine , the average cost to make an Apple watch was $89.70 in 2017.   This same watch is sold for anywhere from $350 to over $900.   That’s a 25% to a 98% mark up or more.     Considering technology changes rapidly, this ...

John 2:13-17 (NIV) - 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money . 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts , both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables . 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market !” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” Some people use these verses to justify their anger at one thing or another.   In some cases, it’s used correctly, as it was intended, but in other cases, it’s not.   I’d like to take a stab at how we should think about these verses, and in what context.    Verse 17 gives us a clue, the reference made “Zeal for your house will consume me” comes from Psalms 69:9.   The rest of t...

It's payday, time to pay bills.  This can be a frustrating day.  Which bills do you pay first, how much can you spend on the things you want?  Well, the answer is simple IF you have a budget. Budgeting your paycheck is a matter of planning how to distribute your money.  You determine what expenses you have, and what things you want to plan for in the future.  Where many of us get lost is, not know where the money is actually going.  We spend money unconscientiously aware of how much those little things add up. But, if you have a budget, you know exactly where every dollar goes.  For example; if you are paid weekly and your check is $1000.  That's $4,000 a month.  If your household expenses; rent/mortgage, utilities, insurances etc. total $2500, that leaves you $1500 for other expenses, and savings.  However, if you spend blindly, say in vending machines, eating out on the run, you can overextend yourself without realizin...

I’ve completed the first of what I hope to be several financial money management books; Whose Money Is It?   In this book, what I tried to accomplish was identify some of the reasons we have trouble with managing money.   Instead of focusing on the obvious: the economy, job loss, unexpected expenses etc, I turned my attention inward.   To the individual, and the causes of our misstep in finances.   Isn’t it funny how we have money to do the things we want to do, but when it comes to tithing or paying bills, we’re broke.   No money to be found.   I see men and women wearing designer items, but are deep in debt, and have nothing left over for God.   The thing is, God doesn’t want our left overs.   He wants our first, our hearts, our minds, our focus.   God wants all of us, period.   But, we have other ideas, don’t we? In my book, I explore the areas of our heart, our focus, our idols, yes we do have idols.   The car, or house, ...

When writing my latest book Whose Money Is It?, I tried to explore the possibility of there being a root cause to why we have so many challenges handling our finances.  As human beings, we are basically selfish people.  We want what we want, when we want it.  When you look at a photo you're in, who is the first person you look for?  If you guessed, yourself, you're correct.  Then if you don't like your picture, don't you want a do over?  We handle our finances in the same way.  We think we should have complete control over what we spend, and how we spend it.  But is that what God wants?  If you get a change, take a look at the preview of Whose Money Is It? and share your thoughts on the subject, and the material.  Book Preview