The" M" Word

For the past year or two, Aaron and I have been working hard to figure out our finances.  In fact, we are still in the process of trying to work out a loan modification on our house.  It seems like money is the root of so many obstacles. 

However, I am here to attest that we have found a solution to our money problems.  What is the magical solution you ask?  Well, it's a combination of things: faith, tithing, and giving.

Yep - I just went there and I'm glad I did!  Here's a bit of our story ...

Many years ago when Aaron and I were first married, we were attending Central Christian Church of the East Valley.  We were young and just starting our careers.  The pastor had a series on finances and Aaron and I decided to give this "tithing" thing a chance.  Aaron was only working part time while he finished school, and I was student teaching.  Needless to say, money was not abundant.  It was very scary to give 10% of the little amount we had.  However, we took a leap of faith and God blessed us.  We somehow managed to have the money we needed and then some ... it seriously felt like money was just falling into our lap at times.

We then moved to the West Valley.  I got a full time teaching position.  Aaron was still finishing school and working part time.  We were so occupied with starting our new lives and never found our church home.  I could make all of the excuses in the world, but the truth is that we pushed God aside and didn't make him a priority in our lives.

Skip ahead to this past summer.  As many of you know, Aaron and I finally found our church home and we recommitted ourselves to God and decided to make Him a priority in our lives.  With that, we made the decision to start tithing again.  Once again, this was very difficult because we were really struggling financially.  However, we knew this is what we were supposed to be doing.

With me not returning to work in January, we were really worried about how we would pay our bills, especially in the long run.  Let's be honest, we still are worried about this.  However, we've put our faith in God and His plan for our family.  We have continued to tithe and give to our wonderful church. 

This week, I received a phone call from the company that is handling my short-term disability.  (With Talan, my short-term disability was a joke.  I was paid nothing when put onto bed rest and only received one check, which also included my maternity leave.  Needless to say, we weren't expecting much this go around.)  I am happy to say we were very pleasantly surprised.  I will be receiving a monthly check up until the time that Kenton is born.  This check is a little less than I would take home in a month.  If you take away our childcare costs that we aren't spending right now, then we actually break even.  This is an amazing blessing and truly helps lesson the burden and worry.

I'm not going to lie and say that we have absolutely no worries or fears about our finances.  However, this was yet another reminder that God will and does provide for us.  

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”


It is truly amazing what God can do in your life.  As I sit, I reflect upon my beautiful family, the fact that I was able to buy things at the store today, came home to a roof over our heads, had the money to pay for a doctor's visit, listened to our unborn miracle's heartbeat, and spent the evening with my family and support system.  

It is so easy to get wrapped up on the things that go wrong in a day.  It's much more difficult sometimes to remember how lucky we are.  Put your trust in God ... you'll be amazed in what he can do!