"I Can't Afford to Smoke"

Hey Everybody,

I just saw a news segment about how much money can be saved by giving up smoking! Did you know an average smoker smokes away nearly $2200 each year? That's a LOT of money! As my almost 16-year-old son is well aware, that's a decent used car. Depending on your mortgage or rent, that's 2-3 months of payments. It's paying off a credit card. It's new living room furniture. And on my budget, it's 22+ weeks of groceries--almost half the year!

A lady in the news story said she was giving up her cigarettes because, "I can't afford to smoke." Well, this year, I discovered that I can't afford not to coupon! Back in May, I returned from a trip to the grocery store barely staying within our then budget of $150/week. Prices were really beginning to rise on everything, and as I drove home, I was praying about it. "I need some help with this, Lord," I remember saying. "There's got to be a better way to shop. There's got to be a way to save more money."

When I got home, my husband literally met me at the door with a message that HomeLife magazine wanted me to do a story on money-saving expert, Coupon Gal Kelly Hancock and her ministry, Faithful Provisions. Kelly's heart was to teach people how to save money, primarily at the grocery store, so that they could live generously!

I met up with Kelly a few weeks later, and she began to mentor me in the art of shopping, couponing, and menu-planning in such a way that it all works together. You see, I thought I knew how to shop and menu-plan (in my opinion, I didn't have time to coupon--LOL). But I really didn't know how to incorporate those three aspects in order to really make a difference in my budget, my kitchen, and even in the lives of other people (I've been able to give to two different food ministries this year!). Kelly showed me how, and I count her teaching as well as her friendship among my greatest blessings of 2009!

Recently, I found a bit of confirmation as to just how much I have learned since May. I found a grocery receipt from this past April in a jacket pocket. I had spent around $150 on that trip and saved 21% (around $30, buying store brands and sale items). This week, I spent $92.43 and saved 48% (that's $84.78--$36 of that was coupons). Wow! This is typical for me now! I love it!

So, how hard is it? Well, I follow Kelly's blog daily for coupon match-ups and special freebies, and I spend a couple of hours planning every week. The way I figure it, who wouldn't take a two-hour a week job (working from home!) that netted $200/month? I'm not passing that up. I can't afford not to coupon!

Finding Your Way this Christmas

It was just drizzling that night when Danya, David, and I set out for David's JV basketball game. Rich and Derek had gone in a different direction, to Derek's middle school game, but with my two older kids in tow, and armed with a set of directions, I felt pretty confident that we could find our way. We started heading across Nashville and then out of town, eventually turning off the Interstate and onto winding country roads. We soon came to the "gravel road" listed on the directions that was to take us straight to the school. But it sure seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere.

There were no lights anywhere. No houses, no streetlights-- definitely no lights of a big high school or its parking lot. The unpaved road blended into the night, and I began to inch along as I realized I couldn't see in front of me. Literally. My heart pounded with fear and I got that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Did I take a wrong turn? Where are we? It was like my lights were just staring into thick, inky tar. They did not penetrate the darkness. They did not illuminate the way, and I felt more than lost--I felt hopeless.

I came to a complete stop and asked my kids, "Y'all, I can't see. Do either of you want to drive?" I thought maybe it was just me, because my night vision isn't all that great anyway. But just then, another car came down the road behind us. Wonderful! I'll let them get in front of me and then I'll follow, I thought. Seconds later, they came to a complete stop as well. No vision. No light to see the path.

Danya decided she would take over, so she got in the driver's seat. Just as she did, a Hummer came down the road, lit up like a Christmas tree. Danya followed that vehicle straight to the gym. When we went in the building, the person there said that he had just turned on the outside lights and it took a while for them to warm up. Of course, that wasn't helping all the folks who were out there trying to find their way!

You know, I have been a Christian for most of my life. It is easy to forget what it feels like to be lost. As my family continues to minister at our inner-city church, we have seen a great deal of the lost, hurting, and hopeless in the past year: a woman on the run from an abusive boyfriend, trying to make a new start; a disabled Desert Storm vet trying to shake his addictions and his memories; a 15-year-old gang member whose choices have landed him in juvi for the next four years. The bottom line is that we all come from the same place: lostness. And it's necessary for us Christians to remember that heart-pounding, sick-stomach-feeling of hopelessness that goes with it.

Isn't that what Christmas is all about? Remembering the darkness that was our lot before the gift of His Light? Immanuel. God with us. God. With. Us. It is to this lost, dark world that God sent His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He illuminates the way! He is the Hope of Glory! That's what we celebrate at Christmas. The prophet Isaiah said it this way:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

As you celebrate this holy time with your family, please remember: The darkness is overwhelming when your lights are insufficient. Even the best map is useless when you don't see anywhere to turn. And leaders become obsolete when they give up and park. So turn on your lights! People are out there trying to find their way.

A Coming-of-Age Christmas

Hey Everybody,

I wanted to share a favorite column with you today. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have a daddy like mine and to be sharing another Christmas with him and my wonderful mom. They brought me up in God's Word and His house and they fleshed it out daily--live and in person!

My prayer is that you are rejoicing in our dear Savior's birth this week--would you pray that for me, too? Let's stay focused on what it's all about. Merry Christmas to you!

"Daddy, did you mail my letter to Santa?" It may have sounded like an innocent question, but in 1974, I was a curious 8-year-old, and I have to admit that it was a set-up.The day before, rumors had been floating around my third grade classroom that Santa Claus was a fake, nothing more than a fairy tale. With Christmas approaching, the class was split down the middle between sophisticates who were too grown up to believe such nonsense and truth seekers, such as myself, who found the story so irresistible that we weren't going to let it go without a fight. Of course, at this age, I was beginning to have some questions. But it was so hard to let go of the magic tied to believing! If there were one shred of truth to the fantastic story of Santa Claus, I would hold on to it. The truth, however, seemed difficult to obtain.

"I asked my mother," my friend Lorin said, twirling a long blond strand of hair around her finger. "She just said, 'If you believe in him, he's real.' But that's not an answer! I wish she would just say yes or no."Lorin's comment gave me an idea. My daddy wouldn't have to tell me yes or no. There was another way I could find out. That afternoon I composed a letter to Santa, listing the toys I wanted and promising that I had been good all year. Sealing it, I addressed it to the North Pole. Then I placed it carefully on top of the stack of bills and other correspondence that Daddy would be mailing the next day.

The following evening, my family went out to do some Christmas shopping. I held Daddy's hand as we rode down the escalator of the large Sears & Roebuck department store in downtown Nashville, Tenn. Every December, the store turned its basement into a huge toy land, filled with every doll, game, and plaything imaginable. Twinkling lights and gleaming Christmas trees transformed the concrete basement walls with a soft glow. In the center of the store, a kiosk stood offering fresh candy and hot popcorn for sale by the bag.

On a quiet aisle lined with stuffed animals, I cornered my daddy and asked him the question, "Daddy, did you mail my letter to Santa?" Breathlessly, I waited for his answer. If there really were a Santa, he would have mailed my letter. If there wasn't, then he would not have mailed it, and he would not lie about it. I knew he would not lie. He had never lied to me about anything.

"I took care of it," he answered. My heart sank. He had answered my question. I knew he had not mailed my letter although he, like Lorin's mom, didn't answer yes or no. He didn't have to. My plan had worked. As tears came to my eyes, I pressed on for the details."Daddy, did you mail my letter to Santa?"

"Honey," he smiled gently, "I told you, I took care of it."

"Daddy," my voice began to rise as my tears flowed freely, "did you take my letter to the post office and put a stamp on it and mail it to Santa Claus?" I knew. And he knew that I knew.

"Becky," his six-foot-four-inch frame knelt down beside me, "your letter got to him, honey." The eyes behind his black-rimmed glasses looked concerned. He placed his hands on my shoulders.

Sobbing quietly, I said, "There's no Santa Claus, is there? The gifts have always been from you and Mom."

"Yes," he replied quietly. "You understand now." He patted me tenderly, reaching in his pocket for a handkerchief.

I cried a few more minutes, then reaching again for Daddy's large hand, held on a little more tightly. That evening, I lost the fantasy, but I gained a far greater reality in confirming that there was a person in my life who would always be honest with me. That's what Christmas is all about -- understanding that the real gifts come from a faithful Father who can always be trusted with the truth.

Copyright Dec 24, 2003. Baptist Press. Find the story online HERE.

LOOK WHO'S TALKING ON FAMILYLIFE TODAY!

Hey Everybody,

Can you believe the pic above? I was there and it still seems unbelieveable to me! Wow! If you're a fan of the "FamilyLife Today" radio show, then you know the gentlemen I'm with are Dennis Rainey (right) and Bob Lepine (center). I went to the beautiful FamilyLife headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, last Thursday to tape three shows that will air sometime in late spring. It was quite an incredible experience!

The week before the taping, I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory viral infection (sounds lovely, doesn't it?), and I had no voice, y'all. I was a mess! Thank the Lord for His healing power, and also for my family, friends, and church family who were so faithful to pray me through it! I must say, the enemy was working overtime in my life last week. There was warfare on multiple fronts. Praise God, He is ever at work as well, and His victory is always secure! As Rich and I entered the city of limits of Little Rock last Wednesday night, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace as I realized that with all that the enemy was throwing at me, it could only indicate that great things were in store--things that he was trying to stop! One of my favorite verses, James 1:2, came to mind: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds. . ." And at that point, I began to celebrate! I knew the Lord had great things in store, and there was nothing that could stand in His way!

(L to R) Dennis Rainey, me, Rich, and Bob Lepine

There was a very cool surprise that happened when we were taping the third show. They actually phoned Danya and had her participate when I talking about the dating issue! What a surprise (for both of us!). Unbeknownst to me, they asked Rich for her number, and then they piped her in--how cool is that???

We covered a lot of ground about parenting middle schoolers in those three shows! I am looking forward to its airing in a few months!

A Very Merry Sale!

Hey Everybody!

I'm running a Very Merry Sale and would love for you to check out these low, low prices on my resources!

I received a letter recently from a 13-year-old girl who recently completed my Bible study, Wise Up! Experience the Power of Proverbs! I absolutely love letters like this! Here's what she had to say:

. . .I'm in a Bible study, with some of my best friends. There are eight of us, and we have known each other for a long time. We meet every Wednesday. We all loved your book. But personally for me, I have learned alot about my self. I grew up, born and raised into a Christian Family, I go to church almost every Sunday. . .but the thing that is sad, is I have never officially accepted Christ in my life. The 8th lesson came around, and the prayer about accepting Christ and the signature. . .For a few days, I left it blank. During those days, I prayed, and talked with my leader. On the 4th day, I signed it. I had a moment of Joy, thinking that I finally accepted Christ, and I will go to Heaven. It was a great moment for me! Knowing that no matter what, I will be saved :) I was overjoyed. I enjoyed your book, sooooo much, and dug deeper, into my faith , and finally found the treasure.

The New Year is a great time to get your son or daughter hooked into a Bible study!

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