Money Adventures. Mine, Anyway.

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."   --- Proverbs 11:24, 25

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Sometimes women tell me, " My husband and I can't afford to tithe."

To which I reply, "Oh wow, really? With Tom and me, we can't afford not to tithe."

Or it's like when--after a Youtube comment mentioning tithing--someone wrote, "Tithing? That's from those stupid prosperity gospel teachings. It's Old Testament, not New."

Good gracious.

All I know? For our 46 years together, Tom and I have always tithed. Always. Even during the lean years, even when wrong financial decisions cost us deeply, we tithed our ten percent.

And always, God provided for us, as well as, helped us make wiser decisions next time and even (I believe) made some of our stuff last longer than normal.

Some Christians toss away those 'bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse' verses and perhaps I can understand not taking them seriously in an obscure-ish book called Malachi. 

But. How do you toss away these verses from Proverbs, the much-read, respected, and wisdom-filled book?

"Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine."

---Proverbs 3:9, 10

Wow. Honor God, give your first fruits, then your barns will be filled to overflowing? Sounds like a terrific promise to me!

And what's ramping up our reaping since 2022? Two things. I arranged for our tithe to be automatically given via my credit card. Too often months would pass since giving(!), then I'd have to go back, do some complicated math problems, then mail it in.

I'm thinking, God wanted more excellence in that area, as opposed to sloppy, I'll-get-to-it-when-I-can-ness. Yeah, most likely.

And the second thing? After viewing those long lines of hungry people on TV in 2020, we began giving to a local (dependable) charity that feeds folks in our community. A specific, hefty-to-me monthly sum that I felt God nudging me to give.

And that's when crazy and wild things began happening. It's as though God secretly poured money into our checking account, like, five extra paychecks(!) 

And ever since, when things 'round Hobbit Cottage break or unplanned bills arrive, it's only a blip. Not even worth an eye roll. I just pull out a check and hand it to whatever guy in work boots happens to be standing in our kitchen (or wherever), then move on. 

You know, in assurance that God will keep providing for us as long as we keep giving to Him, first.

Year after year after blessed year.

It's wild how God can multiply what we give Him! But yes, we must first, with faith, give Him something to work with.

Obedience. It matters now and in our far-flung heavenly future. Truly putting God first changes everything.

"Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered."   --- Provers 21:13

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Dave Ramsey's Life Advice. This was cool.

I shared this years ago, but will again since it's still my favorite high school reunion video on Youtube. Helps that it's local to me, but even if you live whole states away, you may enjoy it, especially if you're of a certain age.  シ

When God is About to Give You Something Big. Encouraging, indeed.

Oh, and did I already share this fun movie with Jewel?

I had a lovely birthday! A big thanks to those of you who helped me stretch it over four or five days.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."   --- Malachi 3:10

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. *** "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

"Take the Winter Off," They Said. "You'll Love Resting Like The Trees Do," They Said.

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."   ... Proverbs 31:17

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Debra's story: a cautionary tale. 

 

Back in December, some favorite dreamy-eyed Youtubers encouraged us to take Winter off. To recharge. To relax like God made trees to do and to hibernate like bears. They promised if we lolled around reading books, listening to music, watching inspiring videos and drinking gallons of cocoa, we'd feel refreshed, restored and strong by Springtime.

I thought, "Hey! That makes sense. I'm gonna try it." So I did.

What an idiot.  シ

Maybe those 20 and 30-year-olds can get away with a winter 'slugcation', but not someone in her 60's! Sheesh. By Winter's end, my legs felt like a stranger's. Not mine, but a wimpy someone else's who I had to learn to use, very unsteadily, especially on uneven ground (aka our entire yard).

And then days ago I saw this Youtube video title: 'Death Starts In Your Legs'.  Yikes! Yikes! Soon after, I watched, 'Why I Regret Moving Into a Nursing Home' and really quaked after that horror film.

Basically both those videos stressed that the goal is not to make our lives easier, simpler(!) No, the goal must be to keep ourselves (our legs, especially), strong. 

So much for remaining a follower of Lillian Gilbreth when one reaches 65.

Now yes, of course, there's balance. Making things easier, but not too easy. And there are times of surgeries and sickness when one needs weeks off on the couch. I totally get that.

But the normal, everyday times or even winters where our streets have an ice skating rink sheen? We can still keep our legs strong at home. Oh, the ideas one finds online for indoor exercise!

So there you go. Another example of something I experienced so that, hopefully, you won't have to. You can still create a dreamy, peaceful life, but--

Keep moving.

Keep moving.

Keep moving--

--for as long as you can. Your independence and health depend upon it.

And yes, I'm slowly regaining my leg strength, one day at a time. (Fortunately over winter I ate healthy for other annoying reasons, so I didn't gain weight, just lost core and leg strength, that's all. ha!) 

Are we having fun yet?

Oh and tomorrow I'm turning 66, but you know? I'm feeling grateful to be aging into a new, different year. Sixty-five was oh so rough, Honey, so I'm anticipating a clean, lovelier slate.  (Weeks ago I put in an early order with God for a warm, sunny birthday weekend and He came through--woo hoo!)

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This felt like a birthday present from God: a favorite movie reacted to by favorite reviewers! (Hey, it's the small things ...)

Cleaning Tips for Limited Mobility

Winter Like When We Were Kids

How I Romanticize Life When I'm Not Feeling Well

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Ha! Talk about making Life too easy sometimes ....

... and gotta love this encouraging idea!

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

When You Can't Move Forward Without First Saying Good-bye

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Gracious. Who pressed Life's fast-forward button?   

Anyway, before I move on, please read this:

Where was I these past weeks? Working on the first part. The acceptance stuff. (I also twisted my ankle, which I'll skip, lest my blog become even more Old Lady Debra's Woes-ish.)

Last time I mentioned taking weeks off to heal from 2024. But you know? It turned into more.

It became a time for this middle-sixties lady (who's got a birthday on Sunday, some cabin fever and feels like she's stepped into Elderly Land) to say good-bye to her younger self.

Good-bye to walking quickly. 

To vacuuming, then dusting, washing dishes, then laundry; all in a half hour.

To driving around, running errands, then returning to paint a bedroom.

To friends who vanished and those who departed this Life.

To faraway vacations, real coffee and sugar-infused desserts.

To buying one more house, a blank canvas, upon which to splash around my creativity.

To released dreams not sampled for their validity.

And yet? God and His blessed sense of balance! He sprinkled down vital hello's, as well.

Hello to yet-undiscovered books I'll read and love. To as-of-now unwritten movies and tv series, also.

To wonderful friends I've, as of today, not yet met.

To people I'll help and encourage.

To creative ideas, seeds I'll plant and projects I will imagine. To words I'll someday write.

To lovely things I'll learn, see, experience and miracles God will do in this Earth. To healthy habits I'll form.

To new dreams some year to be born.

And to Heaven. Someday there will be a glorious Heaven.

So what I'm thinking matters much? That I release the good-bye's. Let them fade, not crowd my head, so that I'll gain arm-spreading room in which to skip and travel forward--

-- while rejoicing. Weightless.

Acceptance is not an admittance of defeat, but rather, an acknowledgement that God's created a new thing for us in the road ahead.

(And I'm thinking this post may be one only those who have 'been there' will understand.)

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This felt like a present from God:  Lincoln Highway Road Trip Part 1. (I'd hoped for a video like this at least 4 years.) And here is Part 2.

Anyone else feeling like they've complained too much lately? This may help: Quit Yer Bellyachin'.  シ

Want a Nancy Meyers Home?

And this was beyond awesome.

And did I already recommend this movie? Fly Me To The Moon. (Some language, not a lot.)

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."   from Isaiah 43

And let's end this with a fitting smile.

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15