Queen of the Land

If "Living With Out a Primary Source of Income" were a place, I would be the Queen of the Land. I do not accept this title willingly, but God has repeatedly given me the opportunity to learn how to manage our household on an irregular, minimal budget. I keep thinking that if I learn whatever it is that he trying to teach me through these episodes of unemployment, I will never have to face another. In the mean time, I've picked up some great tips:

PRAY
That should be a no brainer. But, it isn't always. When it comes to practical things like how to pay the mortgage and how to choose new health insurance, I tend to dive in thinking I can fix it all on my own. After I start hitting my head against the wall, I remember that God is ready and waiting to help. All I have to do is ask. I'm His girl and he loves me. He wants to take care of me. But, always the gentlemen, He is just waiting for my invitation to participate in the details.

BE HUMBLE
Instead of only asking for help from God, you need to allow yourself to accept help from other people and ministries or agencies that are equipped to help in times of need. I joke that the food bank at my church is my new favorite grocery store, but the truth is I actually do more "shopping" there lately than I do anywhere else and it doesn't cost a dime. Sometimes I feel a bit selfconcious and even embarrassed about relying on charity until I start bagging my goods and I realize that God knew I was going to be there that day so He put special items on the shelf just for me. If I didn't already know He's omniscient, I would wonder if God read over my shoulder while I was writing out my grocery list! It's the little stuff, like the one remaining bag of organic coffee beans (the only kind my stomach will tolerate) and the exact brand of body wash that I prefer to use when the budget allows, that reassure me that I am being good steward by using the help that is available.

TAKE INVENTORY
Make a list of your assets before deciding if panic is really the most apropriate reaction to your new found income situation. After taking a good look at your budget, determine how long you can live on your savings. It might be a day and half, but still don't panic. There are plenty of ways to generate some quick cash with things around your house. Make a list of all the things that you could sell on EBay or at garage sale and add up their values. How long can you live on that money? Have any extra vehicles that you could sell? An RV or a boat? How long could your family live on that money? Go through the house and find all of the things that could be returned to the store. I've never heard of anyone that couldn't find at least one item. I have a girl friend that took all of the canned goods out of the pantry and back to the grocery store in exchange for credit to use on perishables. I have another friend who returned over $600 worth unworn shoes and and unopened power tools. Get creative, you may be suprised at what you come up with.

PRAY SOME MORE

Thank God in advance for the great plans He has for you, for how He will carry you through this rough patch, and for the lessons that you will learn along the way.

Phillipians 4:6-7 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.