Inspiring stories of Financial Freedom

4/5/2009

Three times the Lord has led through listening to your broadcasts. The first was in 1992 as I was contemplating becoming a stay-at-home mom and wasn't sure that we could afford it. I heard Larry Burkett's 3-minute radio program and a caller was wondering that same thing. He said if your housing expenses (including taxes, house payment, insurance and utilities) were 40% or less of your take-home pay, you could afford it. I knew it would be tight, but I am still home. Then in 1993, I learned about refinancing our home, and in 2005, I learned about saving for retirement. I wonder what's next?! Thank you!

Joy, KS

4/10/2009

My husband and I first heard of Christian Financial Concepts (now Crown Financial Ministries) when we went to a series of workshops offered by our Christian employer back in 1982. We were young, newly married, and financially broke. So broke, we didn't have a car. We rode our bikes to work, walked to church, and borrowed my sister's car when we needed to go anywhere a great distance away from home.

We took the godly advice from the workshops, cassette tapes, and the workbook materials, then applied the knowledge gained to our situation. After all these years, God has proven to be faithful beyond our imagination. The Biblical principles guided us to stick to the budget plan. Today, we are happily married, have raised three children, and are debt free. I am currently going through the self-study Money Map Coach material so maybe one day I too can help another couple. May God continue to bless your ministry. Thank You!

Gail, AL

4/12/2009

What I learned from the Crown Biblical Financial Study, February – April 2009:

The more I hear myself and others in the Crown group, the more I am convinced that we are not struggling with financial issues but spiritual matters. Basically we keep coming to the crux of the matter -- will I let God really provide for me, obey and serve Him, trusting that everything for life and godliness is provided?

If God provides everything I need, I have nothing to fear. He owns everything, and I am only a steward, and money is a servant and an instrument for His use. Therefore I am honest with myself and others; I am humble, seeking and giving counsel; I give generously in a regular way and as a lifestyle, sharing my time and talents as the Lord directs; I work heartily and seek excellence in my calling, regularly resting and living life in a balanced way, keeping my life in line with God’s word and having an eternal perspective.

So we must endeavor to recognize not our poverty of money, but more our poverty of spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

Seymour, GA

4/23/2009

Hello!

I have been listening to your program in the car on my way to work for a lot of years. I actually started listening to Larry Burkett. God, through you and His Spirit, gave me wisdom about how to handle my family’s finances and gave me the grace to do something about our situation. We began giving to God out of our extra money, which wasn't much. We had a mortgage of about $86K, credit card debit around $8K, no savings and were actually living paycheck to paycheck. Well, thank God for you folks, we are now able to give to God’s kingdom as He leads us. We are debt free—no mortgage or credit card debt, and we have over $50K in savings and over $160K in our 401K. Praise His mighty name!

I have just been notified by my employer of 29 years that my company is moving out of state and we are all being let go as of end of June. Almost all of the other people at my work are in great fear, but I now know where my strength and help comes from. Thank you. My wife and I feel that we are now free to search out what God would have us do with the rest of our lives—maybe some mission trips? We don't know yet, but we are free from the bondage and fear of debt. Again, thank you for your faithfulness to your call and helping me to understand what God would have for my life in these troubled times. God Bless you and your families at Crown. “Keep on keeping on” in God’s mighty name.

Dave, MA

4/26/2009

First, I want to say, thank you for following God's call on your lives.

I had not realized how often the Bible talked about personal finances until I started listening to your program (i.e., Prov. 22:7). I was convicted by the waste of my spending and how I had not put God's will first in my life concerning my earnings. I had known God is the giver of blessings but did not do my part by being a blessing to others.

I felt God calling me to join the Gideons International. Since joining, I have found a new way to contribute both my time and finances to His work. My wife and I also have paid off all credit card debt, two cars, and have put back several months of emergency fund monies. We are now looking at paying off our mortgage earlier than expected. I meet the 401(k) match at work and contribute to our child's (age 9) college fund. My wife is a school teacher, so she has a retirement fund growing each year of service.

We still have much to learn, especially about the best way to build for retirement and live by a budget. We thank God for His many blessing He has given to our family. In conclussion I want to say, thank you for sharing Biblical principles in a positive and constructive way.

Sincerely,
Joel, AR