It's Giving Time! The Prayer We Pray

I am a big believer in a God that favours people. And especially when they first Him "first place" and obey Him.

Every couple of months we pray this prayer at Westlife as we give. It builds faith and expectancy... and lifts our spirits to be aware f God's possible blessing in our lives.

Since we prayed the prayer last Sunday... in our family.... we found $2 in a coffee shop and then found a $20 note in a carpark. What a week!

As we give our tithes and offerings today, we trust the Lord for :
• Opportunities to be an effective witness
• Wisdom, diligence, and trustworthiness
• Jobs and better jobs
• Raises, bonuses, and increased benefits
• God-Ideas
• Strategies and insights that produce wealth
• Record-breaking sales
• Profitable customers
• Favourable settlements
• Estates and inheritances
• Bills paid off
• Money found
• Cheques in the mail
• Prosperous relationships

It’s giving time!!!!

Financial Literacy Course - Local High School

I spoke yesterday to a bunch of year 11 students at a local high school about "financial literacy." They have paid me to develop a 4 part module which I have called, Biifit Financially. I got the title from a message in the Get Fit series we did in Jan 09. Tracy came up with the concept.

Here is a picture of me doing the part 1 keynote address. I had a blast doing it.

I reckon speaking to and keeping the attention of high school students tests your ability as a real speaker!

Where's My Bailout Highlights - Perry Noble

Tracy organised this to be shown yesterday at Westlife.

It is a collection of great Perry Noble quotes from his recent series, "Where's My Bailout?"

Some good insights here. Enjoy!

Get Financially Fit

I have really enjoyed our current Sunday AM teaching series - Get Fit.

Tomorrow is our final part and Tracy will be doing Get Financially Fit... or a slightly rebadged "Bii Fit Financially" - clever!!!

I have included a collection of useful downloads and financial tools in recent blog posts to help you.


Here they are:


1. Stewardship Resources - click here.

2. Managing Debt - click here.

Managing Debt - Solutions

I did a message in July 2008 as part of the Solutions series called Managing Debt. It was very popular.

Click here for a copy of the basic Resource Book that I handed out.

Click here for copy of Common Errors and Expenses That Lead to Debt.

Click here for copy of Personal Financial Profile (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet)

Click here for useful article Living Without Plastic (Credit Cards).

Here are some of the main points of the message.

Debt is a real issue.
Debt is borrowing from future income to buy now what we cannot afford with current income.

Proverbs 22:7. - “The borrower is a servant to the lender.”

Danger Signs, the Bondage of Debt:

1. Living on credit instead of paying cash.
2. You’re delaying payment or paying the minimum due.
3. Unable to tithe or save.
4. Unable to pay taxes.
5. Extravagant spending.
6. Constantly looking for get rich quick ideas.

Proverbs 21:5. It says, “Hasty speculation brings about poverty, among other things.”

9 steps out of debt bondage.

You didn’t get into debt quickly. You can’t get out of debt quickly.
So as God lowers your debt, He has to raise your character.

1. Commit to becoming debt free now.
Psalm 37:21. “The wicked borrow and never repay.”
“God, I want to do Your will and I need Your power.”
The key is two words - delayed gratification.

2. Start paying God and yourself first.
Deuteronomy 14:23. “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.”

One of the ways to make this happen is to “control your spending”

3. List all that I own and all that I owe.

Proverbs 24:3. It says, “A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.”

4. Have a sale.

Ezekiel 20 “Get rid of all of your idols.”

5. Set up a repayment plan.

Pay Off Your Smallest Debt First Plan
Pay Off the Debt that Makes You the Maddest Plan
The Envelope Plan.

6. Decide to do it in half the time.

Luke 18:27 “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.”

7. Add no new debt.
“Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be satisfied with what you have. ..” Hebrews 13:5 (MSG)

8. Share my plan with my creditors.

Proverbs 16:7.
“When your ways please the Lord, He will make your enemies into friends.”

9. Stick to it and trust God.

Galatians 6:9 “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up. We will reap a harvest of blessings at the appropriate time.”
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

The two common errors that lead to unmanageable debt are allowing a get-rich-quick mentality to govern decisions and ignoring the advisor that God has given.

The three common expenses that lead to debt are: home purchases, car purchases, and scheduled disasters.