The first 4 months went fairly well, then something happened. I blame yard sale season. Whatever the case, we’ve been spending fools over the 2nd quarter - spending, LAZY, fools. I managed to skip church for weeks, and then NOT take my checkbook. We are behind in tithing, and giving,  big time.

And guess what? JD’s had no work. Yup. Back when we were giving as fast as we could, his phone rang of the HOOK. Now, not so much.

Isn’t that always the way? You start off strong, then slowly fade away. The flesh is weak. And stingy.

I don’t know what to do, except pray, repent, and start doing what’s right.

So, here we go again.

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Even though I haven’t blogged in weeks and weeks, do not be fooled. We have NOT given up on The Giving Year. But we’re lame. I’ve asked my husband to post his thoughts to this point, and he’s promised to do so very soon.

I’ll be back. With info. Really.

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One of the benefits of analyzing our spending/giving habits, has been finding new and creative ways to save. Recently, I’ve become one of the Coupon Crazy. It really is amazing how much you can save, and how little time it takes.

These are  a few of my good deals this week. I got everything you see pictured below, (PLUS another 16 bottles of Vitamin Water that I couldn’t fit on the table) for 1 cent. Not 1 cent per item, but 1 cent TOTAL.

It only takes  about 30 minutes every Sunday evening to sort through my stash. Then I log on to any one of the numerous coupon blogs to find the deals.  Not only does spending less mean I have more cash to give, but if I find deals on items we don’t use - I can get them for MUST. Sweet!

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Since this is the last day of the 1st quarter of 2009, I thought it would be a good idea to check our progress.

Our family -

Rachel seems to be having a fine time with the whole “spend less - give more” theme. Basically she still wants everything she sees, but when I ask “what’s our goal this year”, she’ll cheerfully concede that we’re only buying things we need, then drop the subject. Occasionally she’ll ask for something for her next birthday. BUT if she’s out with her dad and he offers to buy her something - she doesn’t turn it down! When we get her to the point that she’ll decide for HERSELF that she’d rather give the money than spend it - that will be progress!

Me - I’d say I think of our spending/giving the most, and spend the least. I’ve become a serious coupon clipper and finding deals is the most exciting thing I do all week.  I’ve probably eaten out too many times, but that’s about it. Of course, I want the least, so this is right up my alley. Give me bridge and a yard sale and I’m good.

JD - Hands down the worst offender. He’s used to getting what he wants, WHEN he wants, and does. He works hard for his money so he wants to spend it the way he wants.

Our Spending -

This is BAD. In the 1st 3 months of this year we’ve purchased enough big ticket items for an entire year! A new lens for JD’s camera, a used shotgun, a used CAR, a new mattress, a new coffee maker and a FLAT SCREEN TV. We did NEED a new car and we bought used so we wouldn’t have a car payment. And I mentioned the coffee maker to JD knowing that was all the encouragement he’d need. AND the mattress on our bed was given to us by a friend who had it on HER bed for years.  I’ve got no excuse for the lens, shotgun or tv.

Our Giving -

This is GOOD. Believe it or not, even WITH all of the crazy spending, we’ve still managed to give. If my addition is correct - we are approximately $425.00 short of tithing in THREE months what we did ALL LAST YEAR!! How is that for cool? We’re also on track to give the same amount or more to World Vision and Cobb Pregnancy Services, and we’ve more than DOUBLED our last year’s giving to miscellaneous ministries and missionaries. Unbelievable - just by being deliberate and paying attention and looking for opportunities!

The Testimony -

God is faithful  to do what he says! In the worst of economic times, JD is working like crazy. He came into the living room last week, holding his phone and laughing. It’s crazy but it’s true. I can’t wait to see how this year unfolds. Imagine if we actually get the SPENDING under control…wow!

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At least three years ago, a young counselor from Cobb Pregnancy Services, Lauren Nowiak,  left to work for Student Venture - a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Did you know that people in ministry often have to raise their own support? I had no idea. So she came to our house and talked about her goals, but we weren’t really able to support her. Okay, we weren’t able to support her at all. Still, every month we receive an update. And now, three years later, we’re FINALLY sending a check. You know why? Because she didn’t give up. And we believe in her and what she’s doing. And it’s the giving year and no one else is ASKING. If you’d like to help bring the message of Christ to students around the world - feel free to join me in supporting Lauren.

Donations: Campus Crusade for Christ

PO Box 628222, Orlando, FL 32862-8222  Account# 0518306

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When I first came to Atlanta, I worked for a wealthy photographer in midtown. Yes, they do exist! Anyway, every year we kept a running total of his charitable deductions. He and his accountant had figured out exactly how much he could deduct on his taxes, and that was the exact amount he gave. No more, no less.

So now, when ministries are reporting that giving is down, the new administration has proposed this. If the poor aren’t being helped by local charities, won’t they be MORE dependent on the government.? Oh, never mind.  I get it now.

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I’m determined to give. No matter what. So even though certain members of the household refuse to participate in the BE DETERMINED ABOUT SPENDING portion of this experiment, money will be sent. I’m not naming names, but while I haven’t really sacrificed, I haven’t spent. And neither has Rachel. And Gitzo and Freeda don’t have credit cards. Cause they’re dogs. Just saying.

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1. I need to read Isaiah 23:18 every day.
It still feels the same way it did when I read it back in October…like a personal directive from God.

2. Stay out of the stores.
I’ve never been a big shopper, but suddenly I see something I want everywhere I go! I mean everywhere - Walmart, Kroger, Staples. I’d probably find something at the Post Office.

3. It’s hard to know WHERE to give.
I thought this part would be easy. I had this idea that we’d hear about ministries in trouble or missionaries with needs on a weekly basis. It hasn’t been anything like that. Revelation would make this all so much easier.

4. It’s hard to know WHAT to give.
Generally, if it feels like no big deal, I give more. I think it should hurt just a little bit. I’m not sure why, I just do.

5. I get embarrassed.
Not that anyone is reading this blog, but it still feels strange.

6. It doesn’t all go according to plan.
I’m doing a Beth Moore study on Daniel. In order to save some money, I bought my notebook off ebay. I saved three dollars, waited 4 weeks, then got TWO copies of the Leadership Guide. NOT the actual workbook. I had to go out and buy the workbook anyway.

7. Don’t listen to the news. Listen to God.
Cause I can get really scared otherwise.

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What has mankind come to? We already support Cobb Pregnancy Services, but I’m sending a check this week to The Hope Center, Woodstock and The Atlanta Care Center, Atlanta. Get involved, pick a side, volunteer or  find a CPC near you and send money.

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to talk about giving. At least our OWN giving.  On one hand it is hard to say, “this is what we GAVE”. Cause it’s personal. And low.

On the other hand it’s strange to say “we are giving MORE”. Look at us, look at us!  Big whoop, you’re doing what you’re SUPPOSED to do. Why are we doing this again? Oh yeah, God told us too. And even though it’s strange to talk about money, it would be hard to blog about GIVING without it.

Read an interesting article about Christian Giving. Here’s an excerpt:

Over the next few months or years, as our economy travels down a long road of recovery, our neighbors may need much more assistance than we’ve grown accustomed to providing. And like skyrocketing home prices, the lack of generosity among American Christians is a trend that cannot continue without doing serious harm.

More than one out of four American Protestants give away no money at all—”not even a token $5 per year,” say sociologists Christian Smith, Michael Emerson, and Patricia Snell in a new study on Christian giving, Passing the Plate (Oxford University Press).

I’m trying hard not to be fearful, even though every news program and headline screams bad news. It  seems to me that giving now is more important than ever.

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