Calculate the costs

                 “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, 

                                                          doesn't first sit down and figure the cost…?” Luke 14:28 msg

As I sit in the beautiful cabin surrounded by trees, visions of the *A.T. dance in my head. The thoughts have little to do with the cabin or even the trees, but rather the assistance I gave my husband today.

The place is Ponca State Park in northeast Nebraska. The spring event was outdoor cooking. At other state park events my husband has taught Dutch oven, foil, fuel stove, and about every kind of outdoor cooking. He says, “If you can cook in the kitchen, you can cook it outdoors.” For this event, they asked him to teach trail or backpack cooking and I assisted.

He presented cooking choices—stoves, pots, and food items. Overall backpacking is all about going lightweight but can become expensive. Every ounce matters. Every penny is counted.

The class was stupendous but it took me back to the poor choices we made on our first trek and the lessons we learned. I’d always understood the difference between wants and needs, but my overloaded pack taught me the difference between needs and essentials—how less is more when you make smarter choices.

Teach Your Children

“…when you are at home....on the road...going to bed...getting up.” Deut. 6:7 nlt

Dog food, potatoes, and toilet paper lay on the bottom rack. Bread, eggs, and chips fill the child-seat section. Frozen corn, peas, mixed vegetables, and a bag of strawberries almost toppled from the heap.  My teenage son pushed the cart while my preteen guided the wheeled contraption to the check out.

The oldest unloaded our bounty onto the moving belt and the younger took his station at the end to bag it. The clerk scanned the merchandise as I sorted coupons and prepared my check.

It was a typical Friday at Harvest Home Academy.

Home Manager: The War of Numbers

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength…

and this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches…” 

Philippians 4:13, 19 nlt

I pulled the 2”x4” green and white four page leaflet from the envelope Crown Financial Ministries mailed to us. My chest heaved. We can do this. With renewed certainty, I opened a fresh notebook, found a pencil with a good eraser, pulled out my calculator, and took the plunge to pursue a debt-free lifestyle.

The Home Manager: Part 1

“If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches?” 

Luke 16:11 NCV

Among my roles as homemaker, I am the manager of time, activities, and money. In the work world, I could be called office manager, bookkeeper, and my favorite, travel agent. The vacation itinerary falls on my shoulders. I am keeper of the household calendar and schedules. And, the checkbook fits neatly into my hands. But it wasn’t always this way.

Let’s talk about money
When we were married some thirty-five years ago, our income was small and our expenses little, but as our family enlarged and our income increased, so did our expenses. Arguments over money also rose.

There were disagreements over fun money; you know, the selfish pleasure spending stuff. The credit/debit/ATM cards brought on a flurry of new squabbles. We even fought over whose responsibility it was to actually keep track of our money.

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise

(reprinted from MerrieHansen.com January 14, 2011)

“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5 NLT

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?

Most people resolve to live healthier, be wiser money managers, or to become spiritually disciplined. (Losing weight, saving money, or reading the Bible through in a year would be more specific.)

I’ve declared them all. Failed at all of them, too. Although, that depends upon the definition of failure. I’ve lost lots of weight, lived on a budget, and read the Bible all the way through. Only recently, my struggle with weight was been a lifetime battle. Debt creeps in and out of my life.

However…