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Christina Cook Lee

Media Producer - Author - Blogger - Songwriter

Finances

Being satisfied

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Topic: Finances

Focus: Being satisfied

1 Timothy 6:6
 (NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Easy credit has put a lot of people into bankruptcy. Easy credit and greed, that is. Not many people want to take ownership of greed as being a factor. They want to shift the attention to a bad economy. But, the truth is—a lot of us were all too willing to borrow when money was easy to get. Easy credit made ‘getting more stuff’ easier to do.

Suddenly, it was like somebody pulled the plug and a lot of people got sucked under. ‘Easy credit’ and a lot of people’s homes and businesses went swirling down the drain.

My husband and I were fortunate not to have been among many of those in our town who ‘left in the night’, when the financial strains became more than they could bear. We saw it coming and took some steps ahead of time.

These days, there are some people who believe we are in a slump and they’re waiting for the market to go back up. I’m not so sure it will. I think the peak we saw a few years back was a ‘spike’. I’m convinced we aren’t so much in a slump—as we are ‘back to reality’.

But, how does a person recover from losing everything? How do you cope when your home is financed for more than the market value? Well, I’m not a financial expert, but I can tell you that with God all things are possible. I can also tell you that you don’t need as much stuff as you may think. I am very sure we could all get along with a lot less and be happier.

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

Ask yourself: What am I holding onto? What can I do without? What if I just started over? Those are all valid considerations.

In financial crisis, many people become deeply depressed. In their depression—they run from reality—instead of seeking possible alternatives. They ignore the truth of their condition—and that’s when the real trouble begins.

If you are in a crunch right now, take any steps you can to stabilize your situation. First of all, you need to assess the facts. Take a serious look at exactly what your debts are and total things up—even if it scares you to think about it. Not wanting to think about it won’t make it go away.

Put a ‘freeze’ on spending and using credit cards.

Look at what you can do to lower your costs.

Sell what you can to pay off debt. Get an extra part time job and use the money to pay off debt.

Stop buying anything you don’t absolutely need. When you truly need something—consider buying it second hand and shopping at thrift stores.

Be willing to change. Stop the spiral.

Don’t forget to give God ten percent of your gross income. If you’ve never done that—you should try it. He said, “Test me in this and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that you can’t contain”. I don’t know how it works, but it does. Somehow, what you have just goes further and money comes from unexpected places.

Remember you aren’t alone. Many people are learning to live differently than they did in the past. They are becoming more frugal and thinking more carefully about the purchases they make.

If you are upside down in house payments—try going to your lender and getting them to refinance. Don’t assume they won’t do it. They want to keep you in your house and making payments. You might be able to lower your payment and free up some money to pay off credit debt.

If there is no alternative for you on your mortgage, consider getting out and starting over in a rental. The loss you think you would take might be a myth anyway. People start over everyday. Some of the world’s most wealthy people lost everything several times before they became successful.

Less is more. Let me say it again—less is more.

Declaration: I will find new strength by doing an honest financial inventory of my assets and liabilities. I will do my best to start acting responsibly with money. I will give God what is His and not question His economy. I will be content with what I have and stop thinking I have to have ‘more’.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Believing God for financial needs 

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Topic: Finances

Focus: Believing God for financial needs

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV) Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

The first time I went to summer camp I was six years old. It is a week I will never forget—due to the fact that I was deeply home sick. I cried a lot everyday and scribbled notes to my parents, asking them to come and get me. I wrote on scraps of paper bags or anything else I could find. I gave the notes to my counselor and asked her to mail them to my mom and dad. She probably didn’t…

I vividly remember the awful, awful loneliness I felt that week and how I struggled to remember what my mom and dad even looked like. I watched the gravel road anytime we were outside—thinking maybe I would see our car–and it would be them coming after me. Camp was a couple of hours from where we lived, but it seemed like I was a long, long way from home. You would think after having such a terrible time, that I would never have gone to camp again. But, the next year I was champing at the bit to go back, and I loved going to the same camp every year for seven great years.

(Read more below)

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

The last year I went to camp, my parents had given me twelve dollars to spend. Twelve dollars was quite a bit of money back in those days and I gave a lot of thought to some nice things in the camp store that I might want to buy. There was no big pitch for offerings at the camp, but the last day, I knew I wanted to put the twelve dollars in the collection…so I did. I felt an amazing surge of joy letting go of the crisp bills. I’d never felt more ‘free’.

The camp ran for several weeks in the summer and I heard they had room for a few more campers to come back the last week. The thing is, there would only be two weeks in between to come up with the money. I knew if I wanted to go, I’d have to pay for it myself—since my parents were always very fair with me and my sisters, and I would be the only one of us going back. I was twelve, so I didn’t have a lot of odd jobs at that point.

It was like a miracle, when money started coming to me from unexpected sources. I was able to go back for the extra week and paid for it all by myself. That summer was the first time in my life I had given a significant amount of my own money to God—and the first time I saw God provide a significant amount of money for a desire of my heart. Another first, was experiencing a truly personal relationship with God as my provider.

Not knowing where money will come from to pay bills can overwhelm you–if you let it. There are a few simple things I have learned about finances that I would like to present to you. When I praise God as the One who supplies everything I need—and thank Him for how He has always given me what I needed in the past, things change. I have learned that God always provides when I don’t hold on too tightly to what I have–and when I don’t neglect to give back to Him a generous portion of what He has given me–with a truly joyful heart…

Declaration: My God has never let me down and has always provided for my needs. Everything I have came from Him and belongs to Him. He can always make a way when there seems to be no way. I will find new strength as I continually look for ways I can joyfully give back to Him with childlike faith.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Not worrying about money

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Topic: Finances

Focus: Not worrying about money

1 Timothy 6:8 (NCV) But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.

Some of the teachings of Jesus went ‘against the grain’. He constantly challenged us in the areas of fear and self-sufficiency. In everything Jesus taught, He tried to get us to think about others more than ourselves and to trust God rather than relying on our own abilities.

Isn’t it a common fantasy to want a regular paycheck? Or better yet, someone to just take care of us? Wouldn’t we all love to know that we never had to give another moment’s thought as to how next month’s bills would be met? Or have to wonder about how we’d afford to live when we’re too old to work for a living?

Times have changed a lot since Jesus walked the earth. The cost of living has increased considerably. We have grown accustomed to a much higher standard of living. Yet in spite of all of those things—God has not changed. He still controls the universe. He still owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine. His resources have not run out. He will always be able to supply more than we have the capability of using.

No matter how many times we’ve heard it before, it’s always good to review how Jesus responded to the things He knew His followers were concerned about.

Jesus said, “Don’t worry about the food you need to stay alive, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food and the body is more than clothes.”

(Read more below)

Now, you can listen and/or read!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

Jesus told them to look at the birds. “They don’t plant crops or harvest them. They don’t have storehouses or barns, but God feeds them.” He reminded the people that they are worth much more than birds. Jesus made a profound statement when He said, “You can’t add any time to your life by worrying about things.”

Worrying doesn’t produce anything positive. When we worry, it’s more than likely life will be ‘subtracted’, as opposed to ‘added’.

Jesus scolded His followers by pointing out that they weren’t even capable of doing the little things—so why worry about the big things?

Jesus said, “Consider how the lilies grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So how much more will God clothe you? Don’t have so little faith!”

It must have been hard for Jesus to deal with the kind of cares and concerns we have here on earth compared to what He knew about the vast riches and loving kindness of His Heavenly Father. Yet, His motivation was not to make us feel bad, but to encourage us to trust God instead of being afraid for the future.

Jesus went on to say, “Don’t always think about what you will eat or what you will drink, and don’t keep worrying. All the people in the world are trying to get these things, and your Father knows you need them. But seek God’s kingdom first, and all your other needs will be met as well.”

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy warning him that some people thought of serving God as a way to get rich. Paul went on to explain that serving God does make us very rich, if we’re satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world and we won’t be taking anything out. Considering this, we should be content with food and clothes.

Paul continued instructing Timothy by telling him that people who want to become rich bring temptation upon themselves and they’re caught up in a trap. Some people have even left the faith because they wanted to get more money. In the end, they caused themselves much sorrow.

The best way for us to live is by serving God and having faith, love, patience, and gentleness. We are to fight the good fight of faith and grab hold of the life that will continue forever.

Declaration: I will find new strength by refusing to worry or fear about my future finances. The Lord will take care of me. He will meet all of my needs and provide me with a future and a home.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

What Jesus taught about selfishness

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Topic: Finances

Focus: What Jesus taught about selfishness

Proverbs 11:24-25 (CEB) Those who give generously receive more, but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy. Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.E

Teaching materials and recommendations on ‘how to acquire wealth’ and ‘how to grow to your wealth’ are in high demand. If you are so fortunate as to have wealth, the Bible has clear guidelines about how to use it. If you don’t have wealth, but live in constant pre-occupation about how to get it, the Bible is the first source you should consult on the topic.

In the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, you will find many practical teachings given by Jesus, Himself. There are numerous hints scattered throughout the various stories, about how to handle finances in general. In the book of Luke, chapter 12, we are able to observe a day when Jesus had been teaching on several different topics. At one point, He turned His attention to an important consideration, as the result of a comment made by someone in the crowd.

The person said to Jesus (paraphrased), “Teacher, tell my brother to split the property our father left us.”

Jesus responded, “Who said I should be the one to judge or make the decision between the two of you?” Then Jesus told them, “Be careful to guard against all kinds of greed. The measure of a person’s success in life is not based on how much they own.”

Jesus went on to tell this story: “There was a rich man who had some land which produced a large crop. The crop his land produced was much more than he had room to store.

The man thought to himself, ‘What am I going to do with all of the crops I harvested? I don’t have enough room to store it.’

(Read more below)

Now, you can listen and/or read!

I will find new strength by contemplating selfishness. I will recognize that the extra amount I have, may have been given to me to share with others. --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength
Link to New Strength Devotional, Audio Version
I will find new strength by contemplating selfishness. I will recognize that the extra amount I have, may have been given to me to share with others. --Christina Cook Lee, A Quest For New Strength
New Strength Devotional Inspirational Statement of the Day

 

Then the man said to himself, ‘I know what I will do: I’ll tear down the barns I have and build bigger barns. Then I will have plenty of room to store all of my grain and other things, too. Then I will be able to say to myself, “Now I have enough good things in storage to last for years to come. I can rest, eat, drink, and enjoy my life!”

Jesus continued, “But God said to him, ‘Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So, who will get all of those things you have prepared for yourself?”

Jesus summed up the lesson by adding, “This is how it will be for anyone who stores up things for themselves without being rich toward God.”

There are some sobering observations we can make by looking at the story Jesus told—and the man’s response to the wealth he had obtained because of his bountiful harvest.

It’s interesting that the man with the large crop didn’t stop and think how much God had blessed him. He didn’t give thanks to God, and he didn’t show his gratitude by bringing a tithe of his crops to the house of God. It’s also interesting that he didn’t consider sharing the excess crops that he had no room to store, with others. He never gave a thought toward whether any of his neighbors might have needs that he easily could have helped supply.

The man thought he deserved to keep all of his crops for himself. His thoughts were focused on how he could now make his own life more insulated from want or need through hoarding what he had. He was only interested in knowing that he could finally do whatever he wanted—he could rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life, without having to work anymore.

Isn’t that the same attitude many of us have? Haven’t we adopted the idea that if we make enough money, and store it away, we won’t ever have to worry about ‘going broke’?

Many people who don’t even know the Lord are good ‘givers’. Without having any kind of religion or faith, they still know it’s a good idea to share what they have been able to acquire with others who don’t have as much in order to make the world a better place.

Declaration: I will find new strength by contemplating selfishness. I will recognize that the extra amount I have, may have been given to me to share with others.

Investing in eternity

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Topic: Finances

Focus: Investing in eternity

Isaiah 55: 1-3 (NCV) The Lord says, “All you who are thirsty, come and drink. Those of you who do not have money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend your money on something that is not real food? Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you? Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies. Come to me and listen; listen to me so that you may live.

As you consider your own needs and wonder how they will be met, it’s good to be reminded of the stories in the Bible that are there for the purpose of encouraging you when you need it most.

In Isaiah 55, the Lord is telling us to invest in Him. He tells us to come and buy what will strengthen us and make us feel better—and it’s free. He is saying that what He has to give us is lasting and real—and better than anything that can be bought with money.

(Read more below)

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Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

There is an amazing story about miraculous provision, told in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It is known as the story of the loaves and the fishes. I will paraphrase it:

Jesus had gone by boat to a place where He could be alone. He had been spending a lot of time teaching crowds of people. He had also just heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded. He wanted to get away from everything and just be by Himself for a while. So, He got in a boat and set out for a remote area a few miles away.

However, word spread that Jesus was going somewhere by boat, so people began to track Him from the shore and when He arrived at the coast, a huge crowd was already there waiting for Him. When He saw them, He was filled with compassion for them and He healed the ones who had come seeking His help.

Jesus spent the whole day teaching and healing the people, and toward evening, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “No one lives in this place, and it is already late. Send the people away so they can go to the towns and buy food for themselves.”

Jesus said, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

They answered, “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish.”

Jesus said, “Bring the bread and fish to me.” Then He told the crowds of people to sit down on the grass, in groups of fifty or so. He took the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, gave thanks to God for the food. Jesus then broke the bread into pieces and gave it to His disciples, who gave it to the people. The fish was distributed the same way.

Everyone ate, and all were satisfied. Afterwards, the disciples filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. There were around five thousand men present, not including the women and children. This wasn’t the only time Jesus multiplied food to feed thousands of people.

Since food is a basic necessity of life, some people followed Jesus because they thought they were going to get a free meal. Jesus knew it and told them that they shouldn’t just seek Him for the physical food He was able to give them, but they should recognize that He was the true bread of life that came down from heaven. He told them that His body was real food, also. Besides telling them that His flesh was food, He said that His blood was real drink, and that whoever ate His body and drank His blood would have eternal life. The words He said weren’t understood by very many of the people in the crowd, and from that time on, not as many people followed Him.

A short time later, it was time for the Feast of Passover. Jesus was with His disciples on the night He was betrayed. They had gathered in a special ‘upper room’ where they had come together to celebrate what we know as, ‘the last supper’. Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples saying that it was His body that would be given up for them. He also gave them the wine and said that it was His blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sin. As soon as that was done, the events leading to His crucifixion took place, and what John the Baptist had foretold about Jesus came to pass. Jesus became the Lamb of God, as He offered His body and blood as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Knowing Christ is the best investment a person can possibly make.

Declaration: I will find new strength in the contemplation of Jesus Christ. As I come seeking Him, and I listen to what His Word has to say to me, I will be fed rich food that satisfies, and my soul will live forever.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.

Treasure

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Topic: Finances

Focus: Treasure

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What if you were faced with a decision today about your material possessions? What if you were only able to keep five things? What are your five most treasured possessions? What makes those five things so special to you? Were any of your choices made based on financial value?  Are your favorite things special to you because of your connection with the person who gave them to you? Are they things you couldn’t live without? What would happen, if you no longer had them?

We can say we’re not materialistic until it comes to parting with our treasure.

As I’m going through some things I need to part with, I see that some of it has not stood the test of time so well, from a material sense—but even some of things that are decayed in one way or another, seem no easier to part with—decayed or not—when they came from someone close to you. How do we detach ourselves from material possessions without the feeling of loss and guilt?

(Read more below)

NOW, YOU CAN LISTEN AND/OR READ!

Link to New Strength Audio Version
New Strength Inspirational Statement of the Day

I enjoy looking at certain magazines and catalogs that feature home decorating ideas and furnishings. It’s refreshing to look at pictures of minimalistic rooms with only the barest of necessities. Imagine how easy those rooms would be to keep clean. It would take no time to whisk through the area with a vacuum cleaner and dust cloth—if the area was minus all of the clutter we find so important to have.

I know some of my present excess came about because of former times of lack. When my circumstances became better, and I was able to start collecting things, it gave me the feeling I was putting my life back together. Those items didn’t create the wholeness I was finally able to experience—it was God Who did the healing—but I associate the things I collected during that time with the mending process, and in that context—those items are special.

On the other hand, some depression could come about because of material possessions. Think about some of the things you own and your attachment to them. Some attachment is good, but too much attachment, to too many things—is bondage. Only you can be the judge of which things you own that could be considered healthy, or unhealthy to hold onto. I know it’s a touchy topic, but think about it.

Sometimes when you have way too many possessions, the depressing feelings you have might not necessarily be coming from the fact that you are attached to them. Maybe there is an overwhelming sense of dread, when you think of the responsibility you may someday have to face in knowing what to do with it all.

The Bible tells us not to lay up treasures on earth—but, oh, we do—don’t we? Most of us have more treasures than we know what to do with…and like it or not, there should come a point in time for all of us, when we take stock of what is prudent and necessary and do the responsible thing by getting our life in order.

If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t accumulate so much. However, there is something good thing about having a lot of things and being willing to become detached, in the way that it can allow you to become more of a giver.

The real point Jesus was trying to make in Matthew 6:19-21, was that if we spent less time accumulating and managing our accumulation—we’d have more time for the good things God wants us to do. As we do good works, we are building the kingdom of God. The things we do for God are His possession, and they will never rot or fade away.

Take some time to think about whether your possessions are pulling you down and holding you back.

Jesus probably didn’t own a house. He also didn’t own any of the entertainment devices we have available to us today, and all of the other items we find so fascinating. Jesus lived in a time where there we less distractions, but He still had choices to make, just like we do. He made the right decision and didn’t encumber Himself. He also lived a life that was focused on accomplishing spiritual victories with eternal value.

He wanted us to carry on His work. Are we doing that?

Declaration: I will find new strength by seeing my possessions through the eyes of faith. I am purposing in my heart to detach myself from too many things. Instead, I will think of Jesus and all of the things He was able to do without, as He was here on earth.

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO NEW STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL BELOW, A NEW SEGMENT WILL COME TO YOUR EMAIL EACH DAY.

For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.