Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:3
Linear thinking on Sunday afternoon at 4:03pm: I don’t need a new car. I want a new car. I miss my BMW. Honda’s aren’t cool. [Insert long sigh here.]
I realized this small fact as I sat in Santa Monica, ate at a vegan restaurant, and watched young Hollywood drive by with their convertible tops down. Thoughts began to run through my head and desire seeped through my pores. But I want it. I sighed, ate my tofu burger, and recalculated my finances in attempts to convince myself that I can once again drive a depreciating luxury good with a convertible top. [Insert long sigh here.]
Because God is hilarious and drops reminders that He’s all I need, I get a love-note from God in my morning devotions.
Keep your lives free from the love of money…
Me: Check! God, you know I totally I don’t love money, right?
God: Bianca, have you tithed this month yet?
Me: Well, um, [cough, cough], you see God, I’ve been really busy and I… okay, no I haven’t.
Be content with all you have…
Me: I’m totally content, right God?
God: Every day you ask for something that you promise me you can’t live without. Do you think you’re content?
Me: Well, um, [cough, cough], you see God, I really want… okay, I’ll own it! No, I’m not content in all areas of my life.
God has said, “Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you.”
God: Do you believe me? Do you believe I will never leave you? I know what you need. I won’t let you down.
Once again the vortex of Want sucked me in. Instead of recalculating my finances, I need to recalibrate my thinking. God has never let me down. I’ve written about it here, journaled about it, spoke about to groups of people about it, but I needed a reminder. Sometimes I think we all do…
Me: God, you are have never left me. Thank you for my Honda. [Insert long sigh here.] But just so know, I think I might die if I never have a Louis Vuitton purse. Just kidding! Well, half kidding.
I needed this reminder. Thank you.
Another reminder …
there are many people who would LOVE to drive a Honda, but it is far out of their reach.
Hugs!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I happen to think that Hondas are cool, but yep, I have this type of conversation way too often. This is why I stay away from the mall and Apple store!
As a Honda family… yes, they are cool. But maybe that just shows how cool Bianca is. Her cool scale starts with a Honda at the bottom and moves up from there. 😉
I totally feel this post. We spent yesterday looking at real estate. Seriously… looking. And as much as I think I *need* it… well, I don’t. But I do want it. 😉
I think just being honest with myself on the wants vs needs is the most important part. When I start convincing myself that wants ARE needs that’s where the real trouble starts! 😉
As a Honda family… yes, they are cool. But maybe that just shows how cool Bianca is. Her cool scale starts with a Honda at the bottom and moves up from there. 😉
I totally feel this post. We spent yesterday looking at real estate. Seriously… looking. And as much as I think I *need* it… well, I don’t. But I do want it. 😉
I think just being honest with myself on the wants vs needs is the most important part. When I start convincing myself that wants ARE needs that’s where the real trouble starts! 😉
I often need the reminder to “recalibrate” my thinking… Thanks for sharing B!
<3 Epinephrine 8-)
okay so my reminder was in the form of God never letting me down. Thanks for that side note. Needed it today.
yep….insert long sigh here…
i can look back on my walk and see the various “themes” of different spiritual seasons…and right now is the season to know, taste, see, hear, dwell, live in God’s provision. Thank you for this awesome scripture…We are desparately holding on to our “honda” and it’s leather seats and wood trim and 5 cd disc changer and “open doors presto chango” features. Holding on with all our might but realizing that we just can’t afford it at this time…ahhhh….
But God gave me a promise this weekend: Psalms 37:25, “I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread.” Imagine to live a life so complete and to say with confidence, God has always provided. To say, I have never gone without. It’s a hard lesson we are learning…especially coming from a person who NEVER checked the bank account and spent, spent, spent! 🙂 Now I am learning that spending is a spiritual descision because everything I have is God’s and His alone. I’m just the manager of the books, the steward of His wealth. Am I going to the store and praying, “Dear God, which head of lettuce is for me???” Um, not so much…but just about! If am asking God to provide for us, I need to be willing to treat his money like it’s His…and for now, it means walking past the doors of anthropologie…
Yes, insert sigh here! Feel your pain, sister!
As usual, great timing. I often sit and wrestle with the things I know I wanted out of life and the things that I’ve been given. I’ve not been given bad things, mind you. Just not the things I planned on. It’s honestly a daily struggle for me (mask slowly being removed) and I don’t like that I’m STILL working through it. Thankfully, my Daddy has patience with me and will always be there to remind me that He really is all I need, but that He’s going to still work in some of the desires of my heart too. Just ‘cuz He loves me! :0) So, bring on the NCAA (for me!) and bring on the Louis V (for my BB!)!!
I came to read your blog today just after I posted a blog about being inconvenienced earlier and my frustrations for not getting what I thought I should get!
This is a great post and I love your honesty about this. I needed to read it today!
pretty cool B! Not bad at all….and incase you ever wonder again….you are driviing my beloved dream car…yes a honda [insert long sigh here*].
Could not imagine living in So-Cal and not eventually feeling the tug of lust for more. I can’t even stay with my family for a week without starting to feel its lure. But way to stay in check w/the Spirit. And obeying! Staying on a short leash is so crucial! Thanks for your post!
Oooh, good! I find if I spend less time with my nose in a fashion mag or my feet in a dept store and more time on blogs like Compassion Int, Kisses from Katie, or LOve Without Boundaries, I am better able to distinguish between necessities and luxuries. And recently I learned that, for me, a modern, brushed nickel dishsponge holder for my kitchen was indeed a LUXURY even at just $14!!!! God is so gooooood!
I totally needed this reminder. Why is being content so hard?…probably because we keep forgetting God’s amazing provision and how much we actually have! Thank you God!
OUCH!!! I’m totally spanked by truth.
Okay, okay, it’s true. Honda’s are GREAT cars, durable cars, efficient cars. All true!
But living in LA is the worst kind of life game: Envy&Want (deluxe edition)!
Just to let you all know, I’m not buying a new car anytime soon 🙂 I’ve gotta pay off school loans, create a roth IRA, continue with my retirement fund, and buy a house. Maybe I’ll revisit the car issue then. But as for now, humble living rocks.
Loving your humor and your honesty. It is so easy to see the “wealth” that others may have and sometimes hard to see the wealth in our own lives.
Great post Bianca!
Yes!! Can you say Land Rover LR3. Reality, Xterra. Awesome reminder because getting sucked in is super easy. To responsible living, well trying to be responsible. 🙂
Bianca, is there something wrong with your blog? Or It could just be my computer. I’m just wondering because your videos to the left of the screen go over your blog post so i can’t read it.
Lindsey
I’m so happy to find this blog!
I still drive an old 12 year old car that barely fits a family of 5! I too work on God’s salary, meaning I get paid nothing. I volunteer speak to my and nearby churches, mostly to the youth.
You are truly blessed because I have about 5 tops and 5 jeans. I pretty much give every penny I make back to my church. I’m still young but my kids tell me I dress like I’m an old lady :). Maybe an article on how even God’s servants can get an IRA….would be great!
Love your blog!
No such incidences occurred in patients receiving dosages of 34 mg to 67 mg daily. ,
Consequently, a starting dose of 5 mg is recommended for patients with moderate hepatic impairment, and the maximum dose should not exceed 10 mg (see PRECAUTIONS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION). ,
Your blog is top-notch I will have to read it all, thank you for the diversion from my homework! I really have to say thank you
Hello, I found your blog inside a new directory of blogs. I don’t recognize how your blog came up, have to have been a typo. Your blog looks good, employ a nice day.
I became just browsing in some places and got you just read this post. I have to admit that I am in the hand of luck today or maybe getting this kind of excellent post to read wouldn’t happen to be achievable personally, at least. Really appreciate your content.
Hey, I ran into this website from stumbleupon. It is not an article I would normally read, but I loved your perspective on it. Thanx for creating an article worth reading!
amoxicillin ratiopharm 750 bedeutung ,
MusculoskeletalWhile not reported for citalopram, in one study using the healthcare data from the province of Ontario, Canada reviewing 8,239 patients treated for hip fractures, the adjusted odds ratio for hip fracture was 2. ,