I have done some awful things.

chippajones · Dec 28, 2005

Do you know the motive behind your action you took to try to improve business and make your life better? "The love of money is the root of all evil." We have to remember what our intentions are in the things that we do. If we have a desire to love God, pay our tithes, and give our loved ones the lives they deserve, then "Count it all joy," when you are going through affliction. I never made it to the top like you did as far as finances. But I'm looking forward to getting there, because I'm "forgetting those things which are behind me, and press towards the mark of the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ." This is a starting over period for you, which makes you no different from us po' folk who are already at bottom. Look forward to working hard to getting things back on track. You have plenty of time.

JohnGalt · Dec 28, 2005

Thanks everyone. True I must trust in God, and not so much in myself, for I can do nothing without him.

To be clear, I don't mind at all being poor. I was poor most of my life, so I'm used to it. The problem is the crushing debt with no means of paying it back, the loss of trust, and the way I wasted so many years of hard work, not just by myself, but also by my wife.

Evee · Dec 28, 2005

JohnGalt said:
Thanks everyone. True I must trust in God, and not so much in myself, for I can do nothing without him.

To be clear, I don't mind at all being poor. I was poor most of my life, so I'm used to it. The problem is the crushing debt with no means of paying it back, the loss of trust, and the way I wasted so many years of hard work, not just by myself, but also by my wife.

Just press forward and if worse come to worse you may have to work out some payment plan.
If they think it is not enough it is better than none at all.
The main concern now is your wife and children.
Concentrate on that situation.

KristiLee · Dec 28, 2005

All those years were not lost John. You have had all that time to learn and grow. This time of trouble is part of that. Focus on the good that God can do by using this situation. It seems to you that so much is lost right now, but in time you will see that there is so much here to gain. God bless your heart. You have a desire for God and a need for Him. Be the instrument he would have you be, and hold down the fort. If you are a mess, your family too will be a mess. If you show yourself trusting in God and with a humble spirit, your wife and kids will feel that and trust in God too and also in you.

Keep striving brother.

JohnGalt · Dec 29, 2005

Update...

Thanks for your prayers everyone!

Already today I found out that a small part of my large debt has been deferred...I have a little more time to pay it. We're still in WAY over our heads, but this little blessing certainly helps by giving us a little more time. Right now we will take any help we can get!

I know this is a result of generous prayers. My spirits have been lifted a great deal by this small reprieve.

Thank you all, and thank the Lord!

Evee · Dec 29, 2005

Great I am still praying.

Anti Existance · Dec 29, 2005

Maby this wil help?

http://www.praize.com/finance/debt.html

UnitynLove · Dec 30, 2005

To tell you the truth right now I am smiling at you. Because now the Glory of God shall be seen. God uses these circumstances in our lives to show us that he is still in control. If I were you I would be jumping for joy because when you are at your worst that is when the Lord give you his best. Please John lean on him and trust him, stop blaming yourself, and shall see what the lord will do for you.

The Power of Hope

I define hope as "the happy anticipation of good things." Are you aggressively hoping for something good to happen to you? Do you wake up in the morning excited and expectant about life? You can do that by learning how to celebrate and enjoy this journey called life.

Everything in life is a process in motion. Without movement, advancement, and progression, there is no life. Once a thing has ceased to progress, it is dead. In other words, as long as we live, you and I are always going to be heading somewhere, and we should be enjoying ourselves on the way. God created us to be goal-oriented visionaries. Without a vision, we become bored and hopeless. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, according to Proverbs 13:12, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

There's something about hope that makes people lighthearted and happy. You're not going to be happy if you don't have hope. The more hope you have in God, the happier you become. Biblical hope is a close relative to faith. I don't see how you can have faith without hope because hope is the foundation on which faith stands. Hope believes everything is going to turn out all right-hope is positive! To enjoy life, you must maintain a good, positive attitude. God is positive, and He wants positive things to happen to each of us, but that isn't likely to happen if we're not filled with hope and faith.

Some people are afraid to hope because they have experienced so much hurt and disappointment that they don't think they can face any more pain. They refuse to hope so they won't be disappointed. Disappointment is painful! Rather than being hurt again, they simply refuse to hope that anything good will ever happen to them. This type of behavior sets up a negative lifestyle. Everything becomes negative because their thoughts are negative. Proverbs 23:7 says, For as he (a person) thinks in his heart, so is he....

YOUR FUTURE HAS NO ROOM FOR YOUR PAST!

Many years ago, I was extremely negative because of the devastating abuse that had taken place in my past. The result was that I expected people to hurt me, and they did. I expected people to be dishonest, and they were. I was afraid to believe that anything good might happen. I thought I was protecting myself from being hurt by not expecting anything good to happen. When I really began to study the Word and trust God to restore me, I began to realize that all of my negativism had to go. In Matthew 8:13, Jesus says that it will be done for us as we have believed. I believed everything was negative, so naturally many negative things happened to me.

I needed to let go of the past and move into the future with hope, faith, and trust in God. I had to get rid of the heaviness of despair, depression, and discouragement. And I did, once I dug into the truth of God's Word! I found out that God is ...a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head (Psalm 3:3). I began to turn my negative thoughts and words into positive ones! Now, I am not saying that you and I can get whatever we want by just thinking about it. God has a perfect plan for each of us, and we can't control Him with our thoughts and words. But we can think and speak in agreement with His will and plan for us. We can practice being positive in every situation that arises. Even if what is taking place in your life at the moment seems negative, expect God to bring good out of it, as He has promised in His Word. You must understand that before your life can change, your attitude must change.

Hope is a powerful spiritual force that is activated through our positive attitude. Then, we are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose (Romans 8:28). What Satan means for harm, God intends for good. All things work together for good for those who love God. Satan wants to hurt you and have you spend your life distrusting everyone because somebody hurt you when you were a child, while you were in school, in your marriage, on your job-the list of who, what, where, and how you can be hurt is endless. You have to say, "No! That is subject to change! I am a child of the living God! Something good is going to happen to me!"

[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). What this means is that after all the painful things that have happened in your past have come and gone, God still wants you to enjoy every single day of your life. This won't happen, however, until you make up your mind to take hold of the abundant life that Jesus' death and resurrection purchased for you. Until then, the devil will always try to take it away. Jesus said, The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) [John 10:10].

You are a new creation. You don't have to allow the old things that happened to you to keep on affecting your new life in Christ. As a new creature in Christ Jesus, you can have your mind renewed according to the Word of God: And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:23,24). Things will change for the better when you keep your thoughts filled with hope.

REJOICE IN HOPE

The Bible is full of hope-filled promises for you and me. Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God (Romans 5:2). Good things begin to happen to you when you rejoice in the hope of experiencing God's favor on a regular basis. Luke 2:52 tells us that ...Jesus increased in ...favor with God and man. You and I are introduced to the favor of God by faith. All of God's promises are activated by faith. We shortchange ourselves when we believe in Jesus but don't believe in His blessings. Believe that you walk in holiness and righteousness (see Ephesians 4:24), believe that you are anointed (see 2 Corinthians 1:21), and believe that you are blessed with every spiritual blessing as promised in Ephesians 1:3. Believe Romans 8:37 when it says you are more than a conqueror!

Everything that is promised in the Bible is for us to rejoice in now. Be glad! Raise your expectancy level. Rejoice in the hope of experiencing God's glory right now. My husband and I believe for many things, but beyond them all, we believe in Someone-that Someone is Jesus. We don't always know what is going to happen. We just know that it will always work out for our good! The more positive and hopeful we are, the more we will be in the flow of God. In Ephesians 1:17,18, the apostle Paul prayed, [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones).

This glorious inheritance is for you and me! Second Peter 1:3 tells us, For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

THE HOPE OF SEEING CHANGE

If there is anything in this world that you can be sure of it is change. Something is always changing. Why is it, then, that we find ourselves thinking, "Nothing will ever change... I'm always going to be like this... my situation will never change... he'll never change... she'll never change... I'm never going to be as good as so-and-so?" The only thing that will never change is God. For I am the Lord, I do not change... (Malachi 3:6). Everything else can change. If you have no hope of seeing change in your situation, change probably isn't going to come. We endure so many things emotionally that we really wouldn't have to suffer if we put our hope in God and stopped looking at all of the circumstances we can't control. We will never enjoy life unless we decide to! In order to live as God intends for us to live, we must truly believe that it is God's will for us to experience continual joy. Then we must decide to enter into that joy, which is essential to our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Proverbs 17:22 says, A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Hope makes joy available, just as a lack of hope produces misery. We can choose to enjoy righteousness and peace or to stay in the midst of condemnation and turmoil. There are blessings or curses available, and that is why Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us to choose life and blessings. What do you do while you wait for change? You pray, believe, and expect to receive. Maintain a positive attitude, knowing that God is working on bringing your change and that you will see it. Throughout your waiting time, the devil will scream, "It's not going to change, it's going to get worse!" Don't listen to this and become discouraged. Instead, wake up in the morning and say out loud, "This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad! Something good is going to happen to me today! Everything in my life that is not right is subject to change! The One Who never changes is changing my situation. And while He's doing it, I'm going to enjoy my life!" Put your confidence in God and stop wearing yourself out trying to make things happen. The decision to have a good attitude while your change is coming can change you! Now is the time to decide to enter into the full and abundant life that God wants you to have.

GOD IS WORKING RIGHT NOW!

Most of us have a hard time believing that God is working on our behalf until we see something happening with our natural eyes. This usually isn't the way God works. He works behind the scenes much of the time. Right now He is changing hearts and drawing sinners unto Him. Right now He is working in our government. Right now God has a plan for your promotion-He may be speaking to your boss about giving you a raise. God is busy working in your life as long as you believe. Hebrews 11:1 says, Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. This scripture begins with the word now. Although the Greek word from which it is translated actually means but, and, etc., rather than at this point in time, I still believe the term can be used to describe faith and hope. Faith and hope operate right now! Without them, life isn't enjoyable. Every time I lay aside faith and hope, I stop believing and I lose my peace and as soon as I lose my peace, my joy goes with it. Make a decision to be a now person. God has a good plan for your life right now. Trust Him today. Believing God brings you into His rest and puts an end to the torment caused by impatience and anxiety while you're waiting. No matter how hopeless your situation seems to be or how long it has been that way, I know you can change because I did. It took time and heaping helpings of the Holy Spirit, but it was worth it. It will be worth it to you, too. Whatever happens, trust in the Lord and trust in the power of hope! My hope is in God who never changes. Nothing is impossible with Him. He is a big God, and I'm believing Him for big things. How about you?

JohnGalt · Dec 30, 2005

One thing I have to be careful is not to become complacent.

When I looked back on my failures that led me to go into debt, I see that complacency hurt me a lot. Oftentimes, when I had a string of successes, I would sort of "sit back" and think everything would go well all by itself.

I've prayed and God is motivating me not to become complacent. We can never let up, not even for a moment, in the struggle. Pray unceasingly and live the word of God as best we can.

woobadooba · Dec 31, 2005

JohnGalt said:
One thing I have to be careful is not to become complacent.

When I looked back on my failures that led me to go into debt, I see that complacency hurt me a lot. Oftentimes, when I had a string of successes, I would sort of "sit back" and think everything would go well all by itself.

I've prayed and God is motivating me not to become complacent. We can never let up, not even for a moment, in the struggle. Pray unceasingly and live the word of God as best we can.

Perhaps if you own your own home you can borrow from your equity to help pay off the debt.

And then my advice to you is to invest in real estate if you are going to invest at all.

In a few years, if you do it right, you could make a substantial amount of money on a regular basis.

JohnGalt · Jan 4, 2006

woobadooba said:
Perhaps if you own your own home you can borrow from your equity to help pay off the debt.

And then my advice to you is to invest in real estate if you are going to invest at all.

In a few years, if you do it right, you could make a substantial amount of money on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, due to my poor income over the last year or so and the large level of debt, I haven't been able to refinance or borrow against my home with anyone. I am still applying at several places in case someone wants to take a chance on us.

I am looking for any kind of hope right now. We are about 3 weeks from losing our house. I've found no job opportunities that will even make a tiny dent in the debt. I am afraid my marriage is nearly over. I find myself praying and begging God for some type of relief almost every minute of the day. I know he can get us out of this, if it is his will. Of course his will may be for us to experience all the consequences of my actions. I've resigned myself to that possibility, even though I pray for him to show mercy. He is always just and good, and even if we must suffer the worst consequences of my own choices in order for his will to be done. All things that happen, good and bad, occur so that his will be done. I know that even if the worst happens to us now because of my horrible choices, that someday good will come of it.

KristiLee · Jan 4, 2006

Sorrows in our lives are an opportunity for God's glory to be shown. He can deliver you from all these sorrows in His perfect time. The four days that Lazarus was dead did not interfere with Jesus' resurrection power... why think our circumstance could? Glorify God and let Him shine in this experience. Let no glory go to the harsh experience and terrible sorrow that has resulted from it. God can make blind see, heal leprosy, dead walk (make my in-laws' chickens' lay eggs after years of not doing so) and so he can get you through this. Continue to pray for His will and also for your desires as well. I have been blessed by your outlook and by seeing that even in your hardest circumstance you are still seeing the good that will come of it.

God bless John!

JohnGalt · Jan 4, 2006

Thanks Kristi. I posted what I did here so I can keep repeating (for myself, especially) that all will happen for the best. Deep down I know that's true. However, I feel as if I've been badly beaten, and I feel extremely weak right now. I do not want to lose sight of the fact that all is God's will. So I hope you all will forgive me if I seem repetitive posting here. It helps me keep my head straight and helps me to not give up hope and perspective while I'm down.

KristiLee · Jan 4, 2006

Don't worry John, post away and we will keep encouraging you.
God bless you.
Matthew 6:25-34

Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I have done some awful things.

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