A prayer on my father’s birthday…
[Added notes and elaboration are italicized…]
Thursday, February 4th, 2021 8:37a NS4L Office
Jesus,
I just got finished having my skin checked at the dermatologist. All clear. Thank you! It’s been several years since that melanoma and I’m grateful to have been clear since. [Being told I had melanoma several years ago was one of those scary moments in life. You know… the ones where you feel your heart just sink. I’m so grateful it was caught early!]
Today is my dad’s birthday. Bless him. He has been such a huge supporter of mine and I’m so grateful to have a loving father like him.
[My dad is awesome and is truly my hero. A sacrificial servant. He was willing to lay his life on the line for his country by serving in our United States Air Force as a fighter pilot. Today, he serves customers by being a pilot for Southwest Airlines. Above all that, he has served and led our family well. I’m so grateful for ALL of it.]
I listen to horror stories on Dave Ramsey’s podcasts of parents that rely so much on their children for support or parents that guilt their kids into providing for them and I’m so honored to have financially responsible parents that not only take care of themselves, but give to others.
[During this season of my life (February 2021), you know that money and debt were on my mind all the time. I was listening to a lot of The Ramsey Show. I was blown away by the number of phone calls where a young adult is not only trying to support themselves and their own spouse and children, but also trying to support their parents. So many people that never took any step toward saving for retirement or simply preparing for their future. It’s incredibly sad. I’ve also heard heartbreaking stories of parents taking out loans / credit cards out in their child’s name because they had already ruined their own credit and finances, that the only way they could support themselves or fund something (usually something they shouldn’t be spending money on anyway) was by doing it in their child’s name.
So, while reflecting about my father on his birthday, my mind gravitated toward a state of gratitude. It’s not that I wouldn’t work to support my parents if I had to. Of course I would, I love them. I’m just so grateful that they worked so hard and maintained financial disciplines and taught me those disciplines (even if I screwed up once in a while) in order to set their children and grandchildren on a solid foundation.]
Proverbs 13:22 NIV A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
I’m honored to have parents like them and I hope I can be 1/2 the parent they are. I love my dad so much so please bless him on his special day and all year long. No one deserves it more.
LORD - I pray that each step I take is led by you. If the mentors around me are placed in front of me by you, shouldn’t I listen? More than one advisor has said I should list the [commercial] property for sale. Is this what you want me to do? I will if that’s what you want.
Proverbs 15:22 NLT Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
[I would end up doing a “call for offers” (more coming on this soon) on the commercial property to see what offers would come in. When I look back, even though we didn’t sell the property, I know that listening to these advisors helped me gain clarity in direction, which I believe was the Lord’s plan.]
I need more clarity, so as of this moment, I continue to wait. I can’t help [but] think, ponder, and continue to ask you, so I’ll wait. The “what ifs” haunt me, but I take that as a lack of faith… What if the market tanks? What if the virus gets worse and shuts down business? What if I run out of money? What if a buyer is ready out there now and I wait and they buy a different property? What if I could have been debt free and working on my dreams but now I’m a little deeper in liabilities and struggling?
Forgive any lack of faith. I DO BELIEVE YOU ARE IN CONTROL. I can’t screw this up because I know you won’t let me. Let everything be of your spirit. You will guide my path. If I stumble you will pick me up. If I stray off path, you will shepherd me back. I believe this. You know what is best so may any action I take be because you place it on my heart. If I’m your servant, then I’m supposed to do as you instruct. So, I’ll wait. I’ll wait with the appreciation of being alive, being healthy, having a family that loves me, and knowing you love me. I will be at peace knowing you are in control.
I love you.
Collin
Today’s final thoughts…
Be a great steward of your finances. Don’t let them control you. I heard today that the University of Florida is offering a Spring 2024 class on Taylor Swift. I’m sure it’s going to be a fun class (unfortunately, I’m doubtful of much more value than that), but my first thought was, “Some poor kid is going to go into debt for this class.”
We’ve created a monster. We’ve set an expectation that debt is necessary for a child to go to college and we let them take out insanely large loans and then let them spend the rest of their lives (for most) paying that debt off.
To make things worse, we teach little to nothing about personal (or business) finances in schools. I’ve made plenty of my own mistakes when it comes to money, particularly believing the lie that the quickest way to wealth was by using debt in the business world (which just bled into my personal life). The one thing I have always done thanks to my parents is invest and save for the future. Dave Ramsey (and Ramsey Solutions team) helped me realize that I was doing many of the right things, but in the wrong order (see the right order here). Today, I’ve become very passionate about stewarding what belongs to God well, so I’m sure you will get more of my thoughts on this topic in the future.
My recommendations for becoming a great steward of your finances.
Budget: My wife and I use the EveryDollar Budgeting App. Having a budget that I look at regularly has really helped ensure that we live below our means and are putting money away and investing in our future.
Take Financial Peace University or start listening to The Ramsey Show Podcast and do their baby steps. (Side note: if you attend The Family Church and read this, do you think I should facilitate Financial Peace University at the church? This is something I’ve thought about.)
P.S. No matter how you feel about “debt cancellation” conversations that have dominated the political atmosphere the past few years, remember that there is only one that has cancelled the debt of your sins, and that’s Jesus Christ.
Thank your parents. Dad and mom, I love you so much and am so grateful for the foundation you’ve built for our family and I KNOW that it came from strong values that came from my grandparents and their parents, too. Thank you for instilling these values in me.
God. Family. Country.
Have a blessed week ahead my friends! (Quick side note before I sign off. At the time of this post (I say that because you never know God’s will, lol… Maybe I will work there one day), I have no affiliation with Ramsey Solutions. The links are simply to show you examples, lead you to the right resources, and hopefully help you. If you click on one of the links, the only way I would benefit is if you one day reached out to me and let me know that these resources helped you and your family.)
Best wishes,
Collin
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