Security Blanket

Did you ever have a special "security blanket" when you were a child? I did. It was my life-line for many years of my young life -- looking to it for comfort during storms, at bedtime and anytime I needed some reassurance. It was a shredded mess before I gave it to one of our puppies.

The EconoME sermon series this month has impacted me perhaps more than expected. The Lord has shown me that I have problem with misplaced "security." He's been leading me on a journey of discovery for the past month or so -- last week I finally admitted it to Dana and the Lord. I've realized that although it is wise to save and be prepared for emergencies I have been putting my "trust" in our savings account and not the Lord. It started subtly the way most sin starts -- and then snowballed into worry and anxiety that didn't go away, gnawed at my gut and caused me to get cranky for no good reason which effected our family life.

I have a renewed rest in my heart believing in the provision of our Abba God. He's the best security blanket we could ever have! What are you putting your trust in?

Fun Day

This is Sophia and her friend Anna on the carousel & "bumper cars" at Waldameer last week. She's driving already - yikes! Dana's office has a family picnic there every year, and we had a great weather day and a lot of fun.

Car Woes

One of our cars was in the shop AGAIN today. Last week our brake light came on and we started seeing little puddles under the car. I consulted the owners manual - they are very handy - and it said that our brake lines were probably leaking. Yuck! The mechanic agreed and fixed the problem today.

We haven't had to do much maintenance on this car in the past, but this year we've gotten clobbered! Since our cars are 12 & 14 years old, we set aside money every month for car maintenance. That fund has a negative balance right now, so we had to tap the emergency fund. Next week the mirror I ripped off backing out of the garage will get fixed - another $200 or more. It is tough to part with any money we've saved in the ER fund - but we've had to remind ourselves that it is there for times like these.

Please pray our cars will stay relatively healthy the rest of this year 'cause we aren't ready to replace them! Do you have a car story??

Honesty is the Best Policy

Have you ever been shopping and found that the store made an error in your favor? A couple of months ago, we had an uncomfortable decision to make. We bought a wall decoration that we'd be watching for months. It never went on sale, but we decided to buy it anyway due to a 20% off coupon we had. When we went to buy it, the cashier had trouble with the coupon, but it eventually worked. We paid for the item and went home. Then, I looked at the receipt. The price was lower than it was supposed to be! Cool, right?

A couple of thoughts ran through my head: 1. Do nothing and get a good deal; 2. Call and tell the store what happened -- risking the better deal. We talked and decided that we had to be honest about it. I called the store, talked to an employee who said she'd have to ask the manager when she arrived & that she'd call me back. I felt sure that we'd be paying the difference. After several hours, she called and said, "No one ever calls to tell us we made that kind of mistake. Because you were honest, we're going to let it go." Wow!

"Because you were honest..." It felt so good to do the right thing and to be rewarded for it! What kind of God impression did that leave on those women? The next time you wonder if you should be honest, take the risk.

Look for another story or two on this subject in coming posts -- one about my nephew and one about my "old" grocery store habits.

Getting on the Same Page

I thought that Dana and I were doing a better job at tracking together financially. We had a great talk in the car on the way to Boston and wrote down some goals and hopes that we both agreed on. I felt good about where we were headed.

Last week I came to the shocking realization that we are NOT on the same page. We even had an argument. It is very unsettling to me. Somehow we need to carve out time to refocus and start moving in the same direction again.

Dave Ramsey talks about women having a "security gland." I know I have one. When something happens that upsets my feeling of security - watch out. Not being on the same page financially is one of those things.

God left me and everyone else that struggles with security some help in Matthew chapter 6: "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What will we eat? or 'What will we drink?...for your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."