If money were no object...

I read a study this week about how about a third of Christian families consider adoption but only 1-2% actually do it.  I believe those numbers just based on my personal experience talking to my Christian friends. So many of them tell me they would love to adopt someday but usually a handful of reasons hold them back. Sometimes they tell me that their spouse is not on board but the biggest reason I hear is financial.  I believe that God doesn't want us to live lives pushing off His calling because of financial provision.  Not everyone is called to adopt but I believe that there is a distinct call on each life that we might miss if we are not faithful with our finances.

This morning one of our pastors preached on money and how God wants to use our finances to walk out His will in our lives. He talked about how we need to get help from experts and budget with our spouse.  He announced that our church was about to launch a new Financial Peace University class.  All I could think as I watched people leave is that there are so many people that want to walk out God's will, want to have financial peace but aren't willing to do the work.  I know because I used to be one of them. I didn't want to do a budget or change my lifestyle. Our church in St. Louis offered FPU for years and we didn't go because I wasn't ready to change.  I knew God had great things for us but I kept hoping the money would magically appear to do His call.

But it didn't just appear.  We made more money and yet never had any left at the end of the month. I finally got fed up with the cycle of frustration and said enough.  I can tell you this with absolute certainty: We would not be adopting without getting control of our finances.  I would not have gone to China last year.  We would not have the peace in our marriage we have regarding money without FPU.  All of this started with getting tired of wondering where our money went every month and wishing we could do what God was calling us to.

It still blows my mind that I keep a budget every month because it is so not "me"!  It has become so natural that it is just something I do.  Every month we have a plan and we just follow it out.  If something comes up, we consult our budget and make a decision with no fear or stress. We have not had an argument about money in our marriage since FPU.

It has given us such amazing freedom!  When my cousin asked me if I wanted to go to China, I knew that the money was there for the first time in my life. When we started to adopt, we knew that if we could pay off $39k in 18 months that between our contributions and asking others to help, we could come up with approximately the same in less time. We knew it would take staying in "gazelle intensity mode" but we had already done it so we could just keep at it.

It takes work but it is so worth it.  If you want us to pray with you about it or answer questions about FPU and our journey, please email us at info@jeffandsarah.com.  But think about this today: What would you do for the Kingdom if money were no object?
Adopt?
Stay home with your kids?
Start a new career God is calling you to?
Go on a short mission trip?
Become a missionary?
Financially bless those in ministry?
Start a ministry?
He is calling you to something. You are here for a purpose. Don't let money stop you.