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Walking in God’s Favor:  A righteous man walks in his integrity; How blessed are his sons after him. Proverbs 20:7 (NASB)

You are either a faithful steward or an unfaithful steward;  a  good example or a poor example. There is no in between. I clearly remember speaking at a  Community Empowerment Session for a church on the topic of stewardship.  When I completed my presentation I sat down next to Ardella and whispered “How did I do honey?”

She looked dead to my eyes and asked, “Why are you talking about  something you are not doing yourself”?  Ouch! Yeah that hurt, but I made up my mind that day not to stand in front of God’s people and talk about something I was not practicing in my own life.

Just like the 70′s R&B group, The Dramatics,  sang in one of their many hit songs,  “What You See is What You Get”,  I’m committed, with the help of Jesus, to being a person of integrity.  What you see is what you get.

I heard one of my spiritual mentors, Pastor Benjamin Jones say, “Your career ends when you die, but your character goes on for eternity.”  Gods truly wants to develop our character.

He sent his son Jesus Christ to be our earthly example. When Jesus Christ returned to heaven to be with His father, He sent  a Comforter to empower us to overcome selfishness, lust, greed, deceitfulness, and covetousness so we can walk in our God-given purpose.

Level 4 Stewards are people of integrity. They follow through with what they say they’re going to do. Level 4 Stewards are people whose word is their bond. Level 4 Stewards are good examples and good leaders. They are an extremely positive witness to those who are in their circle of influence.

How we spend and relate to money has more to say about our character than anything else. Have you ever spent money you didn’t have, for a gift that someone didn’t need, so that person wouldn’t become disappointed with you?  Many times, money will reveal our inner selves; our true character. Our desire to make everyone happy during the holiday season, can give your finances the holiday blues.

We encourage you this holiday season to spend wisely. Overcoming an American culture that encourages spending at the end of the year takes planning and discipline. Setting boundaries for the amount of money you are going to spend during the holiday season can bring joy and peace to your life.

Prayer of Blessing: Thank  Y0u Heavenly Father, for the peace, joy, and love the Holy Spirit provides for us.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking In God’s Favor:  Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.”   Psalm 1:1-2 AMP

If you are really ready to become a better steward of your wealth you must be willing to go through the process of increasing your financial IQ. It’s been said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over, expecting a different result”.

We challenge you to open your mind to raising your financial intelligence.  We recommend attending a Financial Peace University Class ( www.fpu.com )  a 9 week class that teaches biblical principles for handling money.  We promise you, your financial life will never be the same.

Ardella and I are helping meaningful others learn how to manage their money wisely by facilitating the Financial Peace University curriculum . Ardella and I personally were able to pay off over $70,000 of debt in 48 months by learning to use the debt snowball. We experience a three-step process of becoming dedicated, disciplined and diligent in order to receive our financial deliverance from the bondage of debt.

The first step was becoming dedicated in desiring to get out of the bondage of debt. We made becoming debt free a priority in our  prayer life. We asked God to renew our hearts and minds so the we could have a desire to live debt free.

The second step was disciplining our money habits, we give our money a mission. We began spending our money on paper, on purpose before the month begin by making a cash flow plan and using the debt snow ball.

The third step was diligence in working our financial plan. It took us 48 months of faithful diligence, discipline and dedication before we begin to experience  deliverance from financial bondage. The journey out of our financial mess didn’t happen over night and neither was the trip into it.

We thank God for answering our prayers and bringing us to this place of deliverance and healing. There are many married couples who cannot agree on how to handle their money who argue with one another, manipulate one another or just avoid one another. Unfortunately, many of these  couples end up destroying their marriage because of money.

Practicing biblical principles for handling money has empowered us financially and spiritually. We have no desire to spend money in order to prove to the world we have arrived. More importantly we are free to serve and give to God cheerfully without the financially bondage of debt in our lives. There is financial peace in our home.

Prayer of Blessing: Omniscient God, we thank you for giving us the desire and will to become better stewards of our wealth.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking In God’s Favor:  In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Act 20:35

Why does it feel so good deep down inside when we give? The Word of God says it is better to give than to receive. Giving is optional. You choose to give or not to give. When we choose to give, it touches the very essence of our soul and pleases God.

Level 4 stewards give wisely of their time, talents or spiritual gifts and their financial resources so that their choices will honor God.  They are so connected to the Source, that they have learned to set boundaries that helps them grow spiritually.

Is it possible to give too much time and energy pursuing material riches? Jesus the CEO of the universe tells the story of a business man who was prospering financially.

All his time and energies were preoccupied with how to manage his overflow. Can you imagine having so much wealth that you, your children,  your grandchildren, your great grandchildren and your great great grandchildren could not spend it all in a lifetime?

Jesus calls this business man a fool because he did not recognize his soul was bankrupt and his spiritual life was in debt. This obviously successful entrepreneur was blinded by his addiction for more and more wealth.

I believe Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and Warren Buffet all recognize that stewardship is a matter of the soul. Where you spend your time, share your talents or spiritual gifts,  and give your financial support, tells the world what is important to you.

I personally believe that God blesses you so that you can be a blessing to others. I want to encourage you to make giving a part of your spiritual DNA today. You will be amazed at what God will grow in your life when you sow into the lives of meaningful  others. It’s a matter of the soul.

Prayer of Blessing: Thank you Father God, for the ability and the desire to give to others.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking In God’s Favor: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18 NIV

How serious are you about becoming the person God designed you to be? Many times we say words with our lips that are inconsistent with our actions. Why is there so often a disconnect between what we say and what we do?

The answer to this questions is not the same for everyone. For some,  its just lip service, but for so many others it has sincerely been a struggle to do the things we know to do. We can relate to Paul when he says in the bible “For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:19  (KJV)

Ardella and I journey out of financial bondage has been a long, tedious one and we believe is the best path for our lives. There have been times when we felt like we were treading water, making no progress at all. Then there times in which we would take one step forward and one or two steps backwards. What is it, that motivates us to keep going, even when we could not see the light at the end of the tunnel? We have two answers for that question; prayer and bible promises.

Prayer has given us strength, power and wisdom to make tough decisions and change our lifestyle. God’s spirit has given us hope when we felt weak or discouraged. We stayed faithful even when it looked like it was impossible to remain faithful.

Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, find a promise that you can use for whatever situation you find yourself in. The bible contains over 3,000 promises concerning your financial victory and one has been tailor  made for you at this moment in your life.

We serve a God who is bigger than our problems. He knows the beginning and the end. He is personally concerned about our needs. How can we not succeed? There is no limit to what God can do in the lives of faithful stewards.

When you begin to experience success and victory,  remember to give  God the glory.  Resist the tendency to feel like you did it by yourself. Remember the words of  Wernher von Braun  rocket scientist and chief architect of the Saturn V booster rocket that helped land the first men on the moon.” I have learned to used the word impossible with the greatest caution.”

Prayer of Blessings: Mighty and Awesome God, we thank you in advance for great things You performing in our lives.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club. A global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking in God’s Favor:  Solomon, the richest man who ever lived on the planet, said, “Do not wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. ” Proverbs 23:4,5 (NLT)

We have personally experienced family and friends who have become really excited about a business opportunity that enlightened their minds to the great wealth potential we enjoy here in America. We enjoy encouraging individuals  who have a plan, passion, and a purpose for creating wealth.  We can be in the middle of a recession and these individuals will continue to seek creative ways to realize their financial dreams.

Deciding to become a better steward of your wealth takes wisdom, diligence and prayer. If you are seeking the spiritual power that God gives to get wealth, you are going to have to think differently and make choices that will move you toward your financial destiny.

You will be surprised to discover the profile of those who accumulate financial prosperity in America.  Thomas J. Stanley & Williams D. Danko, authors of the The Millionaire Next Door, researched Americans that have a net worth of $1 million, or more.

Their findings are interesting. Usually the person is an entrepreneur, who has lived in the same city all their adult life. They own either a service company, small factory, or chain of stores. They remain in a lifetime relationship and have married once. They live next door to people with a fraction of their wealth. They earned their money on they own and 80%  are first generation rich.

Here are seven common traits found in people who successfully create wealth: (Adapted from the The Millionaire Next Door)

1. They live well below their means.

2. They balance and integrate their time, energy, and money efficiently in ways that create wealth.

3. They believe that financial independence is more important that displaying high social status.

4. Their parents did not give them their wealth.

5. Their adult children are economically self-sufficient.

6. They are good at finding and targeting marketing opportunities.

7. They chose the right occupation

Jesse Jackson says in his book,It’s About Money, ” Income without wealth, is just flash without cash.” Always remember,  income is based on your paycheck and wealth is based on your assets. (What you own)

Prayer of Blessings: Dear God we are thankful to live in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vances have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking in God’s Favor: If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field. Deuteronomy 28:1-3 ( AMP)

Living a  life of surplus is a great place to be. Ardella and I have journeyed through the process of learning how to put our faith in God and not the blessings He provides..ie (Wealth, Education, Social Capital and Good Health)

We have learned how to walk in faith when experiencing life’s struggles and the storms of life. Faith is the ability to walk past your current reality, while anticipating a fabulous future.  Our family faced several life storms this year. Our 1 months old granddaughter underwent open heart surgery,  and while she was in hospital Ardella’s 86-year-old mom was admitted to hospital for 10 days.

We prayed  through the storm and surrendered the out come to God. God found favor with us and blessed. Seeing our granddaughter smile today is worth all the money in the world. Ardella’s mom is doing fine. She is back to living  a vibrant life;  traveling and visiting family.

To walk in God’s favor you must develop the inner discipline it takes to delay immediate gratification by surrendering lordship of your life to God. The faithful stewards can say “no” to the person in the mirror and “yes” to the will of God. Faithful stewards first seek and desire God’s blessings to shower down over their lives.

You can count on a faithful steward to give generously from a place of love. You can not stop a faithful steward from giving.  Giving is a part of their lifestyle.  It is in their spiritual DNA.  I heard someone say,  “Old stewards never die. They just give themselves away”.  He, who is forgiven much, loves much. He, who loves much, gives much.

Ardella and I have learned how to wisely look around the corner and plan for the storms of life or 5D’s (Disaster, Disability, Downsizing, Deployment and Death). We openly share how to prepare for the storms of life  or the 5D’s at our community  financial empowerment sessions. http://stewardshipofwealth.com/ourservices.html  Faithful stewards must learn how to forecast and plan for their financial future 5, 10, and 20 years down the road.

Faithful stewards constantly strive to improve and enjoy a higher relationship with the Creator each year, each month, each week, each day, each hour, each minute and each second of their lives. They truly understand that God is the  Creator/Owner and we are only stewards/caretakers.

Ardella and I know who has brought us financially to this point in our lives and we remember where we were in the years past.  Our daily prayer is ” O Mighty God, teach us to be your faithful servants”.  We encourage your faithfulness to God and to walk in his favor. Your life can become a great example to the world of what a Mighty God can do in the lives of his people.

Prayer of Blessings: Loving God, thank You for blessing us with Your favor.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking in God’s Favor: And the seeds that fell on good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it and patiently produce a huge harvest. Luke 8:15 (NLT)

After raising four successful children of our own. Ardella and I understand the power of patience and prayer when you have teenagers in your home. When your authority is challenged, your sanity is questioned, finances stretched and your energy level is depleted, it takes patience to love the blessings of parenthood.

There are no short cuts to Level 4 Stewardship. You must be willing to go through the process. Gospel music icon James Cleveland wrote a song that says “Please be patient with me. God is not through with me yet.” Level 4 Stewardship is a lifelong journey; not a destination.

I believe there is a higher power working in our lives even when we can’t see it or don’t believe it. One of my favorite biblical leaders is Joseph. Reading his life story is absolutely incredible.

Joseph’s own brothers threw him in a pit to die, then decided it was smarter to sell him into slavery for money. He served 14 years in prison. He was falsely accused of sexual harassment by his boss’s wife. His partners in prison forgot their promises to help him when they received a early release from prison.

With all this history, at the young age of 32 Joseph became one of the most powerful and wealthiest men in Egypt; second only to Pharaoh. Joseph shows us the power of patience when you have purpose in your life. Inside of Joseph ‘s heart the seeds of greatness were planted when he was only 17 years old. He didn’t know when or how long it would take to mature. So when the storms of life came upon Joseph, he kept his confidence in the Higher Power working on his behalf.

Growth is often a painful and scary process. When the Creator calls us to level 4 Stewardship, we sometimes feel uneasy and uncomfortable with ourselves. Like Joseph we can trust in the Higher Power in our lives. Our Creator will do whatever is best for our good and will ultimately give Him glory. Like Joseph we can ultimately say “what others meant for evil, God meant for Good.

Remember if the Creator calls you to Level 4 Stewardship, he has already equipped you to handle going thorough the process. The process is not graded on the speed of your growth as much as is it on how strong you become. God will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for eternity. As you travel this spiritual discovery of Level 4 stewardship keep in mind masterpieces takes time.

Prayer of Blessings: Dear Lord, help us us to sustain our patience and positive attitudes for  life challenges.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club. A global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking in God’s Favor: For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. Luke 14:27-29

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to spend the time with our wonderful daughter and two beautiful grand daughters at Balboa Park in San Diego, California. We experienced amazing weather, incredible museums, international food tasting from several countries and the world largest outdoor pipe organ. Days like today seem to naturally increase my energy level.

Let’s face it, as we gracefully age we generally have less energy and our health slowly begins to decline. As a result, we need to limit the amount of physical activities we perform, so we don’t injure ourselves or prematurely end our lives.  In other words, we have to live smarter and wiser.

Each of us must begin with the end in mind. If we plan to become faithful stewards of our wealth in this life we must be willing to pay the price. You are going to have to develop the habit of saving and investing your money.  While you are young and healthy you must develop the practice of saving for your golden years.

Otherwise, your golden years will not be so golden.   Many employers are no longer contributing to or providing retirement plans for their employees. Therefore you must become personally proactive in saving and investing money for your golden years.

With that in mind, what is your plan? Do you have an emergency fund for the storms of life that are sure to come if you live long enough? Have you begun setting aside money for your golden years?

Years ago, Ardella and I began the practice of saving a certain amount of money from our income so that we could have the flexibility to follow our dreams,  passions and opportunities in life during our golden years.

The Joseph principle is the ability to look around the corner and anticipate life’s challenges you may or may not face one day.  In the bible Joseph wisely counseled Pharaoh in the book of Genesis.  “And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of  Pharaoh  and let them keep food in the cities. Then the food shall be as a reserve for the land for seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt that the land may not perish during the famine.” Genesis 41:35,36  (NKJV)

Joseph was divinely given the principle of saving for the storms of life and saved the entire Egyptian nation and his family.   There are many lessons we can learn and practice in our lives from the Joseph principle.

Prayer of Blessings: Lord helps us to look around the corner to anticipate life’s challenges.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club. A global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking In God’s Favor: But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth that He may establish His covenant which He sware unto thy fathers as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)

Level 4 Stewards humbly recognize the awesome power of God’s favor in their lives. They  can feel God’s protection covering their lives and they have personally experienced over and over again God opening doors for them.  They know, that they know, that they know they know,  God has given them the power to have surplus in their lives.

They cheerfully give their first fruit off the top and then some. They have moved beyond the 10% tithe and generously give a love offering out of their surplus. Level 4 Stewards have a personal covenant with God and are living examples of what faithfulness is all about.

I agree with Antonio McGinnis when he  says in his book The Game Is Deep  “There is no greater feeling than being prepared for every opportunity when it comes your way”.  The Level 4 Stewards live each day as if  it is their last day, but plan as if they are going to live forever.

Most of us know instinctively, that we should have a will and last testament, living health directive and power of  attorney in the invent of a major accident or accidental death.  But how many of us invest in the time to secure these valuable life documents. We spending more time planning for a vacation then we do planning for our lives.

When Ardella and I invested in the time to plan our future lives together it was very enlightening. We begin to think about our financial assets  and the kind of legacy we desired to leave  to our children and grand children. We considered the physical and medical challenges of aging together gracefully.  More importantly,  we shared our deepest thoughts of how we each wanted to  live our last days and hours of life on this planet.

Many faithful stewards will never experience Level 4 Stewardship in their life time. The will never feel the peace of  God  in this area of financial maturity and responsibility.  They have no desire to move past the known life of stability into the unknown life of surplus.

The Level 4 Steward’s life has become a reservoir of God’s bountiful blessings.  Blessing seems to overflow in the Level 4 Steward’s  life.  I heard someone say it like this, ” I am drinking from my saucer because my cup is overflowing”.  When  God showers His blessing down on the faithful in Level 4 Stewardship, they wisely store some of their surplus for their future, their legacy, and for the storms of life.

Prayer of  Blessings: Heavenly Father, our life is in Your hands.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club. A global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Walking in God’s Favor: I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to Prosper you and not harm you; plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Level 4 Stewards realize the importance of time and manage their time wisely.  Staying connected to the Source is always their first priority. Level 4 stewards are aware that the choices they make today will impact future generations.  So staying connecting to the Source is critical to the success of their life mission.

I agree with what President Barack Obama says  “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential”.

I have discovered in my spiritual life when I allow God lordship over my will, dreams and ambitions I experience more peace, love and happiness in my world. God’s blessings in the life of  the Level 4 Steward will also be a blessing in the life of others. I believe God blesses the lives of Level 4 Stewards so they can be an example of  what He can do in a life that is connected to the Source.

I have developed the daily practice of investing time in prayer.  This allows me to say no to the good in order  to say yes to the great.  For example, in order for me to live a healthy life style I say no to certain foods that may taste good and yes to foods that gives me proper nutrition to support my goal of healthy living.

Here’s another example, in order for me to live a debt free life style I say no to financing my desires with debt and yes to saving and investing to support my goal of wealth creation. The challenge for Level 4 Stewardship is the ability of staying connected to the Source when you can have, do, and be anything you desire.

Connectivity to God is the source of all blessings.  Connectivity to people is the how the blessings flow from the Source into our lives. I love what Mary Kay Ash  said “Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far a your mind lets you. What  you believe,  remember you can achieve”.  Level 4 Stewards are determined to stay connect to the  Source and practices the process of connectivity.

Prayer of blessings: Creator God we are determined to stay connected to You.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club. A global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.