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Don't Throw your $$$ Away    ( Are you Wasting God's Money? )
 
How many things did you receive last Christmas season that are things you really didn't NEED or in all likelihood, will wind up at a garage sale or at Goodwill in 5 years?
 
I had this conversation with my wife the other day.  We were on the couch looking at all the STUFF on the walls and knick knacks on the coffee table. Junk that we couldn't remember why we had purchased. Counting the stuff up in my head, it was worth about the same as a Nice week Vacation somewhere (Or better yet, money for missions) and that was just the STUFF in the Living room!!!
 
Everyone does it and I am not saying "Pinch every penny" but there is so much JUNK we buy especially in the U.S. It just ends up being stuff. Things we end up giving away, selling, or just collecting dust.
 
If you have kids or your friends have kids, just look at ALL their toys. They open a present with BIG WIDE EYES and play with it for a while.  If it is a GREAT toy they may get a year out of it before you find it in the back of the closet. But in most cases, that toy will be back there buried within a month or two. WHAT A WASTE!!
 
Again I am not saying "Don't buy your kids toys." But there is SO MUCH MORE THEY CAN USE! Maybe give them, if they are the right age, a book or tape series about how to handle/manage their money. Even if they are getting a small allowance, it can add up to a whole lot!! There are LOTS of great books on the subject of finances and kids. From Toddlers (YES, TODDLERS) through college students and parents as well. A great resource is http://www.crown.org

Here is a link to their Children's section. http://www.crown.org/cart/children.asp

 
CONSIDERING WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT $$$$ AND LIFE NOW, WHAT IF YOU HAD THIS KNOWLEDGE  WHEN YOU WERE A KID? HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE HAD ON YOUR LIFE?
 
IT WOULD BE HUGE!!!!
 
What would you have done with that $100 or $1000 back when you were 10-13 years old if you knew how to use it? Give your kids or your friends' kids the Gift of Financial freedom!
 
Or instead of giving presents that no one will remember in a year, take a trip instead.
 
Answer the following question Honestly please. Do you remember all that you received last year for Christmas or your birthday? Unless it really meant something BIG, more than likely you don't.
 
I will tell you as I am writing this that I do remember our family Christmas gift last year. We spent a couple of nights at a hotel that had an indoor water park in it. (In Michigan you need an indoor water park in December. LOL) All of our family members pitched in got 2 big rooms for a couple of nights. There were 17 of us, including 8 kids 10 years old or younger, so it was LOUD!  It was a great time together that I will remember for a long time.
 
But I can also tell you I have NO IDEA what my wife got me last year for Christmas or even what she got me for my birthday which was only 4 months ago. (Probably a set of clothes or something I don't recall). The point is that it wasn't something that more than likely I needed or  it was just more STUFF! I will have to ask her when she gets home from work today what she got me.
 
I asked my nephews and nieces this fall if they would rather go to that Hotel with the water park this year for Christmas or get presents? Kids being kids, a couple of them said they wanted BOTH. But when I pinned them down (Not literally), they all said they wanted to go back to the hotel. Even though we will not end up going back to the hotel this year they enjoyed those 2 days of fun rather than some toys.  We aren't doing presents this year though either. We all chipped in and gave the money that we normally spend on presents to one of my sisters who is adopting a 10 year old boy from Russia. So I guess we are getting them a new brother for Christmas. :>  My sister and brother in law are actually in Russia now picking up their new son and will hopefully be home for the holidays.
 
The point of this money section is to say there is more than just hustling around to get presents this year. Spend your money wisely this holiday season and don't overspend especially for junk that will end up in the back of someone's closet in a month.
 

Most of our gifts we give now are books and CDs of the Christian variety to help people in their walks.   Check out our book section on this website for some books that I recommend.
 
We are here on earth for 1 reason: To bring glory and honor to God. 

Romans 11:36 (Living Bible) "For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore." Amen.

Steve Hoven

Dec. 2004

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