Opportunity for Joy?

James 1: 2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

I have to hold onto these words very tightly. I remember as a teenager when I felt down and out, God continually brought this passage to my mind. I am reminded again, and it gives me hope. As I am going through a divorce, becoming a single Mom, and completely relying on myself, I feel overwhelmed at times... but I am reminded of this verse, it is my 'Life Verse' that I have always held close.

I have discovered another area of growth that I have been running from for quite some time! As I joined the Crown Financial Course I knew that I would be facing one of my biggest fears: Finances.

Finances are extremely tight. Jill, an amazingly talented woman at church, came over last night and helped me create a fabulous spending plan (budget). She leads the course and has an amazing life story in regards to how God has blessed her financially. Her methods are great, my income... not so great. So, needless to say, I am on a VERY tight budget. I was only able to fit in $40 for diapers a month, which if I was to be realistic it is really about $60 worth of diapers that Madi uses a month. I will have to dip into my Misc/Entertainment fund for the extra diaper cost (which is budgeted at $25 a week).

This is going to be a huge learning process... $25 a week?! That is ALL I get to do with what I want - my Misc/Entertainment fund - everything else goes to bills and neccessities. My income does not cover my debt, so we are going to see about contacting my debtors to negotiate. I am already behind on quite a few things.

Sometimes consequences are not very fun, but as I always say 'Consequences are our best friends' because I will learn from them, and hopefully not make bad financial decisions like these again.

I have been living very frivolously for my income, using my credit Cards to pay for all of my neccessities, not facing the reality of my financial situation. I have decided to cut them all up! It will be hard, but I know that I will survive without them, things just may be a little tough.

I am struggling, it has been somewhat of a rollercoaster. But I am pushing through. I am going to face this battle with God by my side, cheering me on.

Please say a prayer for me as I embark this new journey.

I was encouraged today when I happened upon this blog. It just so happened to be the Blog Of Note today(Click HERE to link to it).
All things are possible!


Looking back at the 100 some odd posts, I am feeling good about where I am. I feel more stable spiritually and emotionally than when I first began blogging. I am even feeling better health wise. The low dose of steroids that I have been on have really helped boost my immune system, it seems as though that is really doing the trick. Things are deffinetly looking up, I am going in a postive direction and it feels wonderful.