the title might seem to say it all but it couldn’t be any more shallow I preached on it last week when I covered James 5 on our series through James. I had no idea when I was preparing how intense the message would be–okay, I did have an idea, but it was even more than I expected lol Someone asked me today if I held back a few times and I explained that, yes, I did, but it was because God was putting heavy things on my heart that were convicting to me but would have been condemning to a lot of people who aren’t already being worked on by God in this area. God kept telling me, “No, Crystal, that is for you–I’m talking to you.”

Ever since God has been increasing our financial situation I’ve felt a very heavy burden (not in a bad way, but a strong conviction) to make sure that every penny we spend is spent how God wants. And we are starting savings, and planning for the future, etc. I even blurted out during the message, “May God not ‘bless’ me with anything that will testify against me at the final judgment!” Did you know that is in James 5? It doesn’t condemn the rich like some people try to make it–but it says that the money not paid to the workers who labor in the fields will testify against them on the final judgment. Our money doesn’t just say something about us if someone were to look at our checking account, it will actually testify about us at the final judgment. That’s heavy!

But what God is really burdening me with is that it’s not supposed to be an either/or. It’s not as much about *what* we buy as *how*. I mean, the issue is whether we worship God or mammon. I can buy things that I enjoy and not be worshiping mammon. For instance, this week he led me to www.saintscoffee.com. This is a ministry that for every pound of coffee you purchase they donate money to feed 1 child in a third world country for a month! I can have my coffee AND feed a child. I don’t have to choose. God isn’t asking me to be self-flagellating as I strive to be responsible with what he is blessing us with.

I also got a call this week from dd’s dance school leader. For the past year or so dh has done the groundskeeping for the school to pay for the bulk of our cost for her dance classes. His parents have blessed us with the rest. As it turns out there is a new family at the school who has more children taking classes and is in financial need so they will be taking over the groundskeeping. I didn’t even have a moment of anxiety–that’s good. The blessing should go to someone who needs it just as it went to us and we are so grateful! We are now in a position to pay for the courses and we are willing to do that.

And I’m also talking with dd about putting part of her allowance towards her dance classes. We’re haggling about the amount, but she very much wants to make sure she can tithe each week as do the boys. So far we haven’t had *cash* each week so their money has been going into the Bank of Mom and I’ve explained they are investing in our family but the funds will be available soon for withdrawel They are planning what things they want to get and this has been good because rather than spending it every week as it flows through their hands they have been able to build up pretty substantial amounts.

We are also looking into World Vision and adopting a child–we just can’t decide yet what part of the world we want to support. Jewish Voice also has a ministry to Jews in Ethiopia that I am wanting to learn more about. There are so many things we really believe in. I also am going to get the information from a friend on an organization she’s mentioned that supports Jews making aliyah from Russia and Europe.

So I’m looking for more things like Saints Coffee. Ways that I can support others while I buy the things we use. I’d love info if anyone knows of other sites.