Author of “Learning to Live Financially Free”
“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
Be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”
Lord, you saw that list of layoffs my company is talking about. I don’t know what the future holds and I am worried about what that could mean for my family. I know that we should have had some savings built up for times like these… but we just never did. Lord, help me to make changes in the future so I am not faced with this situation ever again.
“How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.”
Lord, I admit that I once sought the false god of money. I looked to it as a means of security, identity, and status. As I have watched my financial house crumble in these tough times, I know now that I was foolish. I know that I should have placed my trust in You and You alone. Thank You for not giving up on me and for still listening when I call to You. It is a great comfort to know that You are sovereign and that Your promises will stand.
“In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.”
Lord, when all the dreary financial forecasts first started coming in, I admit it: I was angry. I wanted to blame someone—anyone—even You, Lord. I wanted to shake my fist and say, “How could You let this happen?” And yet, deep down I knew that this situation grieves you. That you wanted us to make smart financial choices but we just… didn’t. I know now that I need to live differently than I have been all these years. I want to start tithing regularly and trust You fully with my finances.
“Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’ Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Lord, everyone around me keeps talking like our country is going to collapse. And yet, I know that no matter what, You will take care of me and my family. Instead of wringing my hands and pacing the floor, I am going to turn over my worries about the economy to You. I am going to lay my burdens in Your hands and rest peacefully. Through You I can still have joy no matter how tough things get. Because Your joy outlasts anything money can buy.
(Passages quoted from Psalm 4, New International Version)
Don’t you just love this Psalm 4 Tough Times!?. I was so glad Marybeth let me share it here with you. This is something we can all relate to. I also love how it shows us the power of reading God’s Word and then relating it to our lives, our stories, and our struggles.
I wanted to share this with you and also tell you about Marybeth’s new book Learning to Live Financially Free. It was just released, and I’m giving away a copy! Here’s a little bit about it:
In this timely new book based on their own financial challenges, Marybeth and Curt Whalen offer hard-earned wisdom and hope to families who struggle with debt and the consequences of financial mistakes. What makes this book different is that it’s not just advice; it’s one family’s experience. The Whalens draw from their first twelve years of marriage and financial struggles to create a resource that provides a helpful hand and a hopeful word for couples who need to get and keep their finances in order and nurture their marriage at the same time.
After reviewing the book, Denise Joiner in Willis, TX wrote, “I won this book on a blog giveaway, and read it rather quickly. I couldn’t get enough of the VERY helpful tips that are mentioned. I usually feel guilty when talking about money, but this book helps you to realize money is a tool NOT a problem. I loved it. I’ve passed it on to a friend, and plan on passing it on to MANY more. I plan to buy a few morefor some friends that are getting married this year. I loved it! Thanks Curt and Marybeth.
To win a copy of Learning to Live Financially Free, just leave a comment below this post today with your email. I”ll be announcing the winner Monday.
And for more chances to win you can take a financial quiz here and find out your score here where two more copies are being given away.
Spring Blessings,
Beautiful post. Thanks for offering the giveaway too!
Diane
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I feel as though I am hopeless in this area. I can keep it together for a week or so and then something major goes wrong like a car repair or the stove breaks. I heard Marybeth speak at the A Women Inspired webinar and I am in awe!
Have a happy day!
Oh, have mercy! I just took the test at Lysa’s. Apparently I need this book. 🙂
Hope you have had a great Spring Break, Renee! And I love your Facebook picture. 🙂 If I was on Facebook (which I’m not, because I struggle enough as it is with computer time!), I would totally ask you to be my friend. 😉
Blessings,
K
This has been a prayer on our hearts in the past 2 years specifically…to get out of debt and quit living beyond our means. And learning to be “givers” with our money when the Holy SPirit prods. I would love to share this book with my hubby!
Thank you for sharing…you are always such a blessing!
I can’t wait to read this book. If I don’t win it, I’m definitely going to buy it!
Thanks.
Kim
This is an area that I struggle with – both the worry of finances and being faithful in good stewardship. The book sounds like a great tool to get some very practical help in faithful money management.
Mary Lynn
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Thank you for offering the book. Please include me in the drawing.
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I took the test over on Lysa’s blog and scored a 3!! I have always felt like such a failure with money (and my score reflects that!) and I so much want to be victorious in this area. I would love to have this book, and to actually be able to put it into practice and make some changes. Thanks so much for the give-away, Renee! Happy Easter! [email protected]
What a very timely release of Marybeth’s boook! Thank you for sharing and for the opportunity for a free copy. My husband has been out of work since December and it has been extremely tough living on just my income and his unemployment. But we are making it. We rededicated our commitment to pay our tithes and offerings, and the credit card bills are being paid on time (instead of always late when we were both employed…go figure). The Lord is truly blessing us for our efforts. I could certainly use any advice I can get.
I took the test with the hubby and that was fun. We both scored a 3 but we answered a little differently. We are really broke right now so I can’t afford the book but I may put a little aside each week to purchase it. He doesn’t much care for Dave Ramsey but he seemed interested in this one. We are a remodeler/new home construction family so you can imagine how tough things are. We have really learned to walk by faith and rely on Him each day. WHEW!!
I sure could use this book! It really struck me when you said how we tend to put our trust in money and I realized that I do that so often instead of really trusting God. This is hard! Lord, help me to trust you more! Thanks for your words of wisdom!
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I wonder what the LORD has in store for me today???? Hmmm…I was reading Leviticus 25 this morning and wondering why HE had them to not work every 7th year. As I read Matthew Henry’s commentary, it really stuck out to me. He was talking about how it drew them back to dependence on GOD, to let HIM provide, to recognize that HE IS the provider, to plan wisely knowing these “tough times” are ahead (every 7th year). I was blogging about how it would change us Americans if we adopted such an attitude. Then I came over here… I have to tell you, Renee, the little voice in my head is going, “We just had our 7th year last year, and the other year, and the other year…” ;o)
Julie
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I’ve always been a little smug about my finances, but reading that our entire country could collapse reminds me that we are all in this together. When one weeps, we all weep. This sounds like such a great book for the times we are in.
Money was a dirty word growing up. It was always connected with a disagreement. I would love to read this book!
would love this
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What a timely post, Renee. This book sounds like an excellent resource for such a time as this.
Happy Easter!
Would love a copy of this book!
I can hardly wait to read this book. My husband and I have taken Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Since then, I have been eager to learn from others and their jouney to financial freedom. Thanks for sharing!
Stephenie
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I am so excited about this book.
Leigh
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I have read about this book on and am very interested in reading it! I check into your blog frequently and enjoy reading your entries. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us and for your devotion to our Lord and Savior. God Bless you and your family this Easter season.
Emily
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I loved the Psalm 4 today, it was like a breath of peace and fresh air, compared to the tension and stress I feel after an hour of news in the morning. I have been reading Dave Ramsey’s books, hoping that it will help me and my husband. I am kind of paralyzed on the subject of making a budget, because I have never had one, and I did not grow up in a family where there was a budget or money plan of any kind. I would love to read this new book by Marybeth and Curt, hopefully it will offer me a next step. It sounds like they have been in many of our shoes before, and have forged a new path. with love and hopes for struggling couples everywhere, AngelaDawn
I have taken the quiz already! 🙂 I think the topic is a good one. I know for us we are working on it. We aren’t “bad” but we aren’t good yet but I have seen such a huge difference then when we first started out!
Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts. Personally this is something me and my husband struggle with and have turned it totally over to God… but it’s a daily thing.
This book sounds like a very good resource.
Angie
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This book sounds so good! I’ve heard Marybeth talk about it a bit, and I really want to read it. This is something my husband and I are working on now … and this sounds like a great resource.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It is so encouraging. God has given an insight to me abt the wise man who built his house on the rock. The rock is God. When we place our faith and trust in God, though the storms of life may come and it’s harsh waves crash upon us, we will stand firm. But if our faith is based on the things of this world, like money, shares, fame and fortune, when the storms of life come..we crumble. God bless.
Maria
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