This passage came up in my daily Bible reading last week. I am being challenged from many different angles to be more generous, to give more sacrificially, not wait until I can “afford” it. Experiencing the generosity of friends giving me so many baby clothes and gear, for example, when they could be selling it for cash in their pocket is a testimony to me. I’ve felt somewhat obligated to save or sell things, make some money back to help our financial situation, or hang onto it because I might need it again, when I have been missing out on blessing others! In some ways it is smart to set aside things you may very well need in the near future, but I’m convicted more than ever to give away – or at the very least lend out – what I’m not using right this minute. Now I have car seats that have expired and are worthless, clothes that are the wrong season and gender for this baby that is finally on its way, and swings and bouncy seats that have been damaged from move to move and from being stuffed into storage. Thinking about others who might have really benefited from having these items just sitting there taking up space in our overcrowded basement over the years makes me sad. I couldn’t predict how God would’ve met and exceeded all our needs for this baby through the generosity of friends, but I should’ve guessed it. That’s His character, right? Now I need to reflect it too!

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

(2 Corinthians 9:6-15, emphasis mine)

I’m excited to direct you to a new blog started by a friend of mine who knows what she’s blogging about! Sarah writes about why and how their family saves money. She does this in California where it can be particularly challenging, I found, so extra props there. Check it out for some ideas and inspiration:

Living the Life… on a Budget

P.S. I’m not even the Lindsay she mentions as her one fan in yesterday’s post. She has loads of fans and doesn’t even know it!

I posted in July with a set of DIY custom T-shirts for kids. Earlier this month I purchased long-sleeved T-shirts for the boys when I could combine a sale and two coupons at Old Navy (Have I mentioned I LOVE the deals I get at that store?) and had the idea for this “play button” design. Pull some masking tape and a sharpie out of your drawer and you’re all set!

I am really happy to be back in the groove of planning dinner more than 15 min in advance, thanks to a brilliant Moms of Munchkins talk a couple weeks ago by a certain “not just another pretty face” friend. Taking a few minutes to think through the upcoming weeks and slot dinner plans into the schedule has made dinner more fun for me. Shopping and preparing are a breeze, I’m saving money, and it’s somehow really rewarding to plan ahead and follow through. We are eating more healthy and well-balanced meals too, which is a bonus! No promises as to what the post-baby weeks will hold, but for now I have most of October already scheduled and rather than feeling restricted, I feel liberated!

I input my meal plans into my google calendar, but sometimes it’s helpful to see it all at once. I like the downloads available through vertex: Meal Planner Template (download for free). Our speaker’s advice to schedule in every single dinner (because you eat every single night), even if it means “pizza,” or “leftovers” was particularly helpful to me. I’ve incorporated a leftover day and a couple super cheap & easy days (e.g., hot dogs, canned soup) each week. Planning for it rather than getting stuck with it seems so much more appealing! Also knowing that if I buy all the ingredients for the meals in advance (sometimes freezing meats) I can switch days around to suit our mood or our schedule is helpful too. Too often I was short on ingredients and short on time and fresh out of creativity, but planning ahead essentially eliminates that frustration. Ahhh, now what to do with my new “zen” self?

1. Having money in itself is not wrong (1 Sam. 2:7).

2. We ought to recognize that money is a gift from God and comes to us through His providence (Deut. 9:11-18).

3. We must be willing to lose our money, if that’s God’s will for us (Job 1:21).

4. We must not be partial toward those who have lots of money (James 2:1-10).

5. We must not arrogantly seek security from money (Prov. 11:28; 1 Tim. 6:17).

6. Money-making pursuits should never be our highest priorities in life (Matt. 6:33).

7. We ought to use money for eternal purposes, namely, leading others to the Lord (Luke 16:9).

8. We must not selfishly hoard or foolishly spend money. On the contrary, true generosity should characterize every believer (Prov. 11:24-25; Luke 6:38).

(John MacArthur, Strength for Today, 8/2)