Looking For 141,137 New Friends

My name is Steve Myers my wife and I reside in Mount Dora, Florida we have 8 children and 3 grandchildren and here is our story.

My wife and I have just completed the most amazing 13 week in our life. The information that we learned while attending FPU will change my family tree forever. Like most of America we were living check by check with more month than money but we we convince that we were living the American dream. After going through bankruptcy we realized that we had mistaken our dream for a nightmare. We soon acquired new credit cards and was determine not to repeat the roller coaster that had made us both so sick a few years later. In 2009 we purchased a new $143000 home with a mortgage that was less than 25% of our take home pay. Our credit card debt was only $5000 on 9 different card and a car payment of $464.00 and about $25000 in other debt. Since going through FPU we paid of 6 of the 9 credit cards returned the car to the bank and for the first time in our 10 years of marriage we our living on a budget and working our way through the baby steps.( See Daveramsey.com ) We have a little under $2000 in our emergency fund, both Janet and I are driving two vehicles with no payments attached to them.

We have a combined income of about $75000 and looking at being debt free excluding the house within 2 years and another 5 years to pay off the house.So I had this idea and I shared it with my wife it was simply this what if 143000 people sent us 1 dollar we could payoff our house and start investing for our retirement. I'm 44 my wife is 43 so retirement is not that far off.

In FPU lesson 13 titled The Great Misunderstanding deal with the most important aspect of life giving. See I was always a giver both time and money. Janet and I ran our previous church food ministry for 7 years. People in our community knew our spirit and would often give us item that we could give to someone else in need. We understood that we just steward over the assets that God had allowed to flow through our hands.

We look forward to the time when our investment are making more for us than we are making from work. Wow! Just the thought makes me smile. Imagine with me for a moment what you and I could do if we had no debt. Are you smiling yet?You have to see it your mind first and then you can achieve it. Janet and I will be rolling out FPU in our church community this June and we cant wait to start.

So hear where I need your help. I want no mortgage this time next year so I'm looking f0r 141,137 people to send 1 dollar not to me but directly to Bank of America or walking to you local branch . The information is here and this blog will be updated monthly to let you know how we are continuing to walk in Financial Peace. For more information on FPU go to daveramsey.com.

My account # is 198042234
Apply toward principal only
BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP
P.O. Box 650070Dallas, TX 75265-0070
One again thank you and God bless

Is You Gate Locked And Guarded?

God is so amazing and his lessons for living a godly life are all around us but our spirits must be in tune to his or we will walk through this life and miss incredible opportunities to be taught by the master himself.


I was in Texas at Lackland Air Force base watching my son graduate from basic training. As we were leaving the base traffic was building up and my GPS was working overtime trying to get us off base but to no avail. Gate after gate was locked, but not only were they locked but someone was standing guard. I was pondering if asking God to lock the gate was simply enough.





Have you ever been in a situation where you have asked God to close a gate or a door in your life? The closing of the gate may signify the end of a chapter or closure of a situation, addition or even a season. Something we did opened the gate and gave the enemy unlimited access though that portal and, until we root out the reason the door was opened we may be tempted to open it again. Now once the root has been saturated with repentance, prayer and fasting and has not only dried up but has been pronouced dead, can we ask God to secure the gate. This is the time when we have to begin to pray and ask God to dispatch warring angel to stand post and guard the gate on our behalf. Why? Because the devil does not play fair. When he tries to pick the lock or climb over the gate, the holy spirit will lift up a standard against any and all unauthorized attempts to gain access. Your gate will not only be closed but guarded.

I Refused to be swayed

In this new era that we are living in everything must be politically correct, you can't speak the word of God without someone crying out about being offended. I refused to be swayed by this worlds ever changing level of sensitivity. To be gay is still an abomination, sin is still sin and God will always be God. To often we are made to feel like we owe the world an apology for our commitment to our faith. I'm not interested in being politically savvy, I just want to spread the full undiluted word of God.

If you are offended then this is not the blog for you and if it an apology you seek again your mistaken. We are at war and there is no room for Christians who want to sugar coat the gospel. America was founded on christian values and God was the center of everything American. Prayer was instilled in school even inmates in jail were given a bible in their cell allowing them to read the word an repent. Only a loving God can take the loneliness of being separated from society and turn it into an awesome opportunity to get close to the Lord. Written on our currency boldly "in God we Trust" not Buddha, Hare Krishna, nor Baal. What a statement to the rest of the world these 4 words represented and truly God would reap all the Glory.

*Many people are surprised to learn that the United States Capitol regularly served as a church building; a practice that began even before Congress officially moved into the building and lasted until well after the Civil War. Our country founders understood the value in a relationship with God. America the great melting pot opened its borders to immigrant looking for freedom from religious persecution. Ellis island was filled with families looking for opportunities that could only be found in America.


Let's fast forward to present time, no prayer in schools, ten commandments taken out of the court rooms, law suits over the word God being used on our money. I will be up front and honest with you America is slipping fast into the portals of hell. Our children are being exposed to filth in the name of entertainment that has now penetrated every aspect of our media. To be Gay today is celebrated in our mainstream society. Virginity is laughed at while being sexually active is not only encourage but deemed popular and accepted practice. Day after day shepherds are abandoning their flocks and the results are Christians are falling by the wayside.


We are not of this world were just vistors passing through. We must hold on to our savior unchanging words. I will not be conformed to this world but with every fiber of my spirit I will do all that God will allow. We must teach the way of our Lord to anyone who wants to listen. He that have an ear let him hear.


Where are the christian, and why are we still sleeping? "If one can chase a thousand and two can put ten thousand to flight then why are losing the war? Could it be that we become so complacent with the things of this world, that we don't feel the shift taken place? Have we simply learned to accept things as they are. The bible gives us this directive (2 Chronicles 7:14) "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.". I ask again where are my brothers and sisters in the Lord? Awake and arise we have work to do.

Footnotes

* Church in the U.S. Capital
written by David Barton - 11/10/2005

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Anyone Can Preach.

Wait! Don't let the title scare you just give me a little time before you hit the escape button on you computer. Why is it that we think the only way we can preach is from a pulpit? As children of God we must understand everything we do and say is on display for the world to see, that being said this opportunity allows us to speak both verbally and non verbally.

I've been in the restaurant business most of my life and one thing I can tell you is that Sunday's were never most restaurant employees favorite day. Why! Because, the christian come on Sunday. They were both demeaning,demanding and never failed to leave little or no tip. Oops! I forgot, If that was not enough they would leave you a tract explaining how good there God was.

Little did they know that they were preaching and God would not be amazed. Most wanted nothing to do with the God these people serve. They had a wonderful opportunity to show who God was and they missed it. As Christin it's not how we act in Church that wins souls for the kingdom but, rather how we interact with the world outside of church.


How we dress also allows us to showcase how God is living and moving in our life. I went to school with a young lady who always carried herself like a lady in every aspect. I was moved by her simple elegance, in a time when so many young people are bankrupt morally her relationship with God propelled her to a status of virtuous. As a teenager there was an obvious presence of God in her life. As an adult I wonder if she even knows how much of an impact she had in my life. She found a way to preach right where she was, no pulpit but yet an audience.

God is calling us to move out of our comfort area and make an impact in the world we reside in. We are called to be atmosphere changers but to often we are the ones that are being transformed to the the world standards. We need to get back to our rightful place with God, by doing this the world becomes our stage to show and tell the awesomeness of the creator.

Relationship With God Through Prayer

Why is prayer essential to a successful walk with God? True prayer establishes a committed kinship between you and God. There is a difference in the characteristic of individuals who are in a committed relationship and those who are in a casual alliance. dedicated people are in it through the good, bad, and the ugly. On the contrary people who are in a casual relationship are always looking for an exit. There is no sense of commitment to one another, they are only participants on the ride, as long as the vehicle moves at a smooth and steady pace everything is okay. But! And we know there is always a but. What happens when we hit the potholes of life and all of a sudden that smooth ride leaves us wanting a barf bag. True kinship is binding its contractual there must be loyalty that is above approach. As children of God we must understand that our life with God must never be casual. You must know him intimately, meaning you want to learn his likes and dislike. You can't do this with a on a off alliance with God. This kind of intimacy comes only from spending time in communication with one another and, the only way to achieve this is through constant prayer with God. Can you imagine a marriage where there is no interchange of meaning, thoughts, or ideas. How long would you last in this situation before you waved the white flag in total surrender. Then why do we expect anything different from our time with God. As children of God the quality of our relationship and the investment of prayer time tells God how important he is to us. Just as the wind separates the chaff from the wheat a lackadaisical prayer life can cause us to be disconnected from God. James 5:16 says " The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" {KJ} The Living Translation says "The earnest prayers of a righteous person has great power to produce wonderful results" Go forth and produce those woderful result in Jesus name. Thanks for reading and may God bless you until we meet again. Next post 7/29/09