$0 - Rich

I like to spend money. In fact, I love having a regular income now because it enables me to buy all sorts of wonderful things, not only for myself but also for friends and family.

Yesterday for instance I picked up this amazing little book called "this little piggy went to Prada" with nursery rhymes for the fashion minded - I love it - and it was over half price off! Not to mention the fact that my tea and tin collection is growing again, and little things like the cost of petrol - $70 to fill up my car!!!

While I've worked out a small giving portfolio, I've been struggling to pay off a few debts to people, and save money... yes, no prizes for why that's the case!

So yesterday when my eye was caught by the book $0 to Rich in Mary Ryan I decided to give it a go. It has the most practical advice for saving (even on a government pension) and once you've reached certain goals, how to invest that money to make it work for you.

In light of all of this, I'm going to start following her advice. Little by little actually saving, and then getting that money to work for me. It's a bit different to how I have been thinking: Get money, give to people, pay off home loan, have nothing left over!

It's quite exciting, and I believe very biblical in terms of stewardship. It doesn't mean that the money you save is yours, it's all still God's, but you've got it there to bless and you're not frittering it away.

The following steps are basically my interpretation of what she's saying in terms of a budget (with a biblical slant):

Payday - Money comes in
10% tithe (no, she doesn't cover this!)
of the remainder
- 33% savings (put directly into a savings account) - she states that if you're starting out work off 10% and then each year work up to 1/3 of your income
- 33% Bills
- 33% for yourself. So out of this money would come things like personal spending, gifts, holidays and yes, for me, giving portfolio

And from there... allocate your savings to make it work. Highly recommended. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to fair with this lifestyle/thinking change especially with overseas trips I need to make this year and getting more into the expensive equine world but I'm very keen to try. It's also quite a different mindset considering in some parts she's talking 30 YEARS! I'm more a month by month, day by day kinda girl so the switch will be interesting, but I'm certain more beneficial.

Should I be worried??

We were watching t.v. and mom suggested I apply for the TV show "the farmer wants a wife"... oh my goodness... I'm not desperate but perhaps I should be if my parents are!!!

(for the record, Dad is firmly against it, not because of the t.v. show but because he thinks I wouldn't survive in the middle of no where without people to talk to and my internet!!!!!!)

The Difference of a Name

While watching the local news I heard about a lady whose three children were in a car with her which crashed, two of them dying at the scene and the third of whom was in a critical condition.

While watching the National news I heard the same story but the additional details of a familiar family name of the grand father, and the name of the mother. How horrified I was that this family which I had heard about 20 minutes earlier with little regard was known to me. It was just another news story, now it is incredibly sad news.

After speaking a family member who is more known to me, I ask for your prayers this evening for Carmen (4 years old) the little girl who has survived her brother Elliot (1) and sister Lydia (6), as she fights for her life in a hospital in Brisbane, and of course for their mother Megan as she recovers in Toowoomba. I'd also ask for you to lift up the extended family, my friend Merrin in particular who has lost her niece and nephew, and her parents Allan and Colleen.

May you all tuck your children in extra tight tonight.

Quick Update

After a wonderful short break at the Gold Coast on Friday night, Lynda and I came home yesterday via Tamborine Mountain.

Have just come home from an AMAZING two hour set from Jars of Clay at Easterfest!!! Stunning, especially following the Open Air Combined Churches Service with 10,000 people and the QLD Symphony Pop Orchestra.

Heading down to the farm now to spend the night, wean a foal and then back up the hill to help pack up Easterfest.

It's been a busy 3 days :)

Blessed Be Your Name

Mom told me on the way to the markets this morning that at Church today would be an american boyfriend of a recent missionary. They, like Ian and I, had broken up, but now he has come over to Australia to visit her and her family for 6 months to see if they could work things out.

Oh the pain. And the joy. And the tears. And the questions.

I'm happy for her as I know something of how hard the journey has been, but oh I'm so selfish. Yes, I am content in my single life, but not a day goes by in which I don't miss Ian and the relationship which we had.

So as I sat in church, seeing out of the corner of my eye his arm around her, with his hand gently stroking her shoulder, feeling the pain of what has been lost from my life, I asked God to help me through this time, yet again. That I, and others who are also in pain because they can't be with someone they love, will be able to sing out loud "blessed be your name".

New Life

The koru is the Māori name given to the new unfurling fern frond and symbolizes new life, growth, strength and peace.

I thank my brother for this symbolic, and beautiful gift.

Bliss

I'm planning my holidays for Easter... yes, I am leaving it late but for the moment my best mate and I are going to stay at Sea World Resort and go to the Outback Spectacular. Ohhh... I'm feeling relaxed just thinking about it!

So looking forward to this, and the possibility of Hong Kong mid year and the UK at the end of the year!!! (not to mention a weekend sometime in NZ to visit my Nan and brother and a weekend sometime to visit my family in Canberra!!!).

Yes, my life is good. And not just because of holidays. I do grumble a lot, but I have SO much to be thankful for.

Life is bliss. I get discouraged easily, but at the end of the week, I have much more to be thankful for than disappointed about.

Disappoint This

How do you manage disappointment? Big ones, little ones and others that are just inconveniencing to our plans.

Today I had some news that just offset me a little bit. Something that I've been planning for a little while now and one of the variables changed on me. At this relatively minor news I had all sorts of crazy ideas, going back to university, leaving the country, and generally just flaking.

How sad it is that I think of the easy options when disappointment confronts me. I've been battling to think positively, and yet, I still feel let down - even when there is so much that is good in my life. At the heart of the issue, I think I'm disappointed in myself for a range of reasons.

So, my question to the empty space is this: When disappointment strikes, are we more often disappointed with the situation/circumstances or ourselves?

"What's mine is yours"

St Benedict said that we should welcome every stranger as if they were Christ himself... based upon the scripture: what you do for the least of these you do for me.

This ethos has lead me to consider in a deeper way what it means, not only to be hospitable, but also think in a more practical way about possessions. I've said to a few friends recently "what's mine is yours", but if what we have (life, time, money, energy, items etc.) is not ours at all (instead they are just given to us as to a steward to take care of by God) and we are to treat everyone as if they were Christ, the true owner, then should we take this thought to it's end conclusion that what we have is everyone's?

Does "my" money belong to the Jehovah's Witness that knocks on the front door? How should we be proper stewards in responsibly dealing with possessions, and yet open handed towards the needs of others? If someone takes something from me (again: time, life, money, energy or items) should I accept it as if it were Christ taking? IS it Christ?

The most important "things" in my life are my parents. What if Christ takes them? How would I deal with the pain and yet be open handed in my acceptance that they belong to Him?

In taking steps of faith, in living by faith, in trusting God on a daily basis - acknowledging that it IS him who provides all we need (job, air, food etc.) how much more do I want to continue in being open handed - a good steward - but do we go to the extreme? Is there a middle ground that is biblical, or is the "extreme" how it should be and we only consider it extreme because of what we are told in our consumerist western world?

News of the Hour...

I have a job... I have PERMANENT job.... I have a PERMANENT job WHICH I REALLY LIKE!

Other than that, have really appreciated the process of seeking God's will in which job to take etc. through this time I've been so blessed with more direction, a bit more passion, and some really big plans - so stay tuned - maybe some more big news soon :)

"God Bless"

After paying for my purchase this afternoon at a local catholic bookstore, the assistant simply said "God Bless" as I walked away. I was astounded by the depth of emotion that gushed through me and the wave of thankfulness that someone said "God Bless".

In an instant recognising the bond we have, as strangers yet sisters. In an instant praying a blessing. In a moment seeking to give and not to receive. In eternity, giving glory to the only one that can really bless us.

God Bless