Tag Archives: faith

Do You Love God or Only The Blessings God Gives?

Posted on October 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Walking In God’s Favor: For I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. Philippians 4:13 (Message)

The Struggle Is Real; Give People Grace To Grow

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

For Ardella and myself, the journey out of financial bondage has been a long, tedious one, and the struggle is real. 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 two steps backwards.

We Believe Prayer Is The Most Important Conversation Of Your Day

What is it, that motivated 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.

Powerful conversations with God has given us strength, power, and wisdom to make tough decisions and change our lifestyle. Listening to God’s Spirit and reading the Bible has given us hope when we felt hopeless or discouraged. We remained faithful to Bible promises even when it looked like it was impossible.

Wherever you are in your financial journey, find a Bible promise that you can use for whatever situation you find yourself in. The Bible contains over 2,000 promises concerning your financial victory and one has been tailor made for you at this moment in your life.

Invest In Yourself; Do Your Work; Your Time Will Come

You have a God who is bigger than your problems. He knows the beginning and the end. He is personally concerned about your needs. How can you 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,  be sure to recognize God from Who all blessings flow.  Resist the tendency to feel like you did it by yourself. Remember the words of  Wernher von Braun. ” I have learned to use the word “impossible” with the greatest caution.”

You are invited to our LIVE Facebook Empowerment Session, Sunday 5pm November 16, 2025.

Prayer of blessings: Lord help us to stay faithful to You.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host for the Better Husband Father Man Podcast  a hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is the financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency . Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate  about. She 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 30 years and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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Do You Believe It’s Okay for You To Become Wealthy?

Posted on May 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth and be in health. III John 1:2 KJ

Finding Your “Why”

In his book titled The Reallionaire , Farah Gray, a young African-American man who went from public assistance to become a millionaire by the age of 14, says a reallionaire (a word he created) is someone who has discovered that there is more to money than having money. Understanding that stewardship of wealth is not just about being rich in your pocket-book, but realizing you have to be rich inside too.

I believe and agree with Farah Gray that wealth starts on the inside with a certain way of thinking. It begins with the belief system that governs how we relate to money. There are certain ways of thinking that can help you increase your financial wealth.

Three Steps to Financial Wealth

The first way of thinking is to stop trying to act rich. ” Live Within Your Means.” Living to impress others will only cost you. In the long run trying to keep up with the Jones will eventually result in financial pain and bring you down. Some people who appear to be living prosperous lives, in many instances are in debt up to their eyes balls and have mortgaged their future.

The second way of thinking is to start living on a budget. Spend your money on paper and on purpose before the month begins. Give your money a mission. If you dream of becoming wealthy, create a financial plan to get there. Write it down and look at it often. Remember a dream without a plan is just a hallucination.

The third and final way of thinking that can help you increase your financial wealth is to start counting your blessings. You are wonderfully made in God’s image. If you have life and health, you are blessed. If you have a family and friends, you are blessed. If you have a personal relationship with Christ, you truly are blessed. Learn to be thankful for what you have right now.

Until You Give Your Best, You Will Never Know Your Potential

How we plan for our future, take advantage of opportunities and how we spend our money all begin inside with our thinking. What do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to obtain? Remember, our thoughts direct our actions or inaction. You have the ability to become a better steward of your wealth.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord help us to become wise stewards of our time, talents & money.

Michael J. Vance is the financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency . Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate  about. She 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 over 40 years and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. The Vance’s blog from their workbook “Stewardship Of Wealth: 8 Life Lessons That Can Change Your Family Tree”.

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Are You A Generous Giver?

Posted on April 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving. II Corinthians 8:7 NIV

To The Level IV Stewardship Greatness Is In What They Give, Not In What They Have

As we celebrate the life of a Level IV Steward this month, we shine the spotlight on Level IV Stewards who are positive rays of hope by giving their time, encouragement, wisdom and financial resources to others in their communities.

Among my family of orgin (Michael), our sister Vonseal’s life illuminated a spirit of hope. If you had big dreams or goals, she would become your biggest cheerleader. Even when others gave up on you, Vonseal continued to pour love, encouragement, and wisdom into you. She was a generous giver.

It has been ten years, since the passing of our dear sister. I can personally say, having Vonseal as a sibling was a tremendous blessing in my life. She supported and encouraged me (as a young punk kid) to become the first male in our family to graduate high school, the first person in our family to earn a college degree and first person in our family to serve in the the armed forces in United States Navy.

She was a tremendous blessing to our family, to a community of friends, and the world is a better place because she passed through it. Vonseal was a generous giver of her financially resources and time.  She was a generous giver of her love and hope to her family and friends.

When You Give Hope, Anything Is Possible

In our book  “Stewardship of Wealth” we describe Level IV Stewards as generous givers. They are generous in giving of their time, they are generous in sharing of their talents, and they are generous in giving of their financial resources. Many of you have people in your lives or know someone who embodies the spirit of generous giving.

Ardella and I can personally acknowledge, whatever we give generously and cheerfully to God, He multiplies it back to us in so many ways. Jesus said in Luke 6:38 “Give and it will be given to you. A measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap”. We are passionate about sharing our Financial Peace journey with meaningful others.

Give More To The World, Than The World Gives To You

Level IV stewards are not only generous givers, they are motivated out of their love for God and for people. The heart of the faithful steward says, “All that I have is Yours, Lord.” When you choose to give because of your love for God, He pours His favor all over your life. If you are seeking God’s favor all over your life, begin giving generously from a place of love.

As faithful stewards, you are examples all day, everyday, no excuses of God’s sustainable love for you. God loves you so much, He generously gave up His Son. His Son, Jesus Christ, loves you so much, He generously gave up His life. What are you willing to generously give up to make a difference in the lives of others and the world?

Prayer of Blessing: Lord empower us with Your spirit of generous giving.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency  Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the International Pathfinder Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vance’s have been married well over 4 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth

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Have You Forgiven Those Who Have Taken Advantage of You?

Posted on January 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

When Deep Inury Is Done To Us, We Never Recover Until We Forgive

In our society people will take advantage of your trust. They will scheme, swindle and fraudulently go after your wealth. People like Bernard Madoff, who perpetrated over a 50-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme have made money their God. They have no problem ripping you off, if it puts money into their pockets. They knowingly take advantage of their influence, power, and wealth.

Mistakes Are Forgivable If One Has the Courage to Admit Them

We agree with Martin Luther King Jr. “Forgiveness is not a occasional act, it is a constant attitude” Level 4 Stewards practice the spiritual principle of forgiveness.  They have personally experienced the transformational power of forgiveness in their own lives and extend that kind of forgiveness to others.  When someone takes advantage of you, your faith can restore your loss in many ways.

Forgiveness Does Not Change the Past, But it Does Enlarge the Future

Forgiveness is not an option for the Level 4 Steward. They extend grace to others, learn from the experience and move on with their life’s mission. You can only experience this kind of forgiveness when you are connected to the Source of forgiveness. We will close this post with a quote from Billy Graham “Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency  Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the International Pathfinder Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vance’s have been married well over 4 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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Are You Willing To Grow To Your Highest Potential?

Posted on December 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s favor: No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. Ephesians 4:15-16 Message Bible

Step Out On Faith And Walk Into Your Destiny

The truth is, we all have areas in our lives that we need to grow in. Your area of growth is probably different from my area of growth. We must truthfully acknowledge our area of weakness and face it.

My truth is I waste  far too much time watching TV, surfing the internet and on social media.  After reading Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life ” I was motivated to initiate 3 immediate changes in my life.

1. I  would begin to limit the amount of television, internet and social media I consumed.

2. I would spend the best time of my day in prayer, reading my bible or something positive.

3. I would release my spiritual side and invest time growing my inner man.

Discover Who God Says You Are, Become That Person

My purpose was to seek the highest potential for my life. It has made an incredible difference. After making these 3 seemingly small changes, I have been motivated to write this blog, self-published several books with Ardella, and produced 3 Keys To A Healthy Marriage, an 8-Part Web Series for newly married couples. Our purpose is to share the goodness of God in our lives with our family, friends, and meaningful others.  I choose to invest my time and develop my talents wisely.

Level 4 Stewards are willing to do whatever it takes reach their highest potential. Are you willing to do your part? Yes, you have an extremely important role in your spiritual journey.  You are called for a moment like this in time. You are given unique gifts to develop over your lifetime and you have an assignment or  purpose that you have the potential to fulfill.

Prayer of blessing: Lord, teach us to become like Christ.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency  Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the International Pathfinder Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married well over 4 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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Can You Say No To the Person In The Mirror?

Posted on November 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. Phillippians 4:11 NLT

Love Is Your Greatest Gift And Contentment Is Your Greatest Wealth

Queen Latifa stars in a movie titled, Last Holiday. She is mistakenly told by her doctor that she has a terminal illness and has a very short time to live. Believing that she is dying and her days are numbered, she decides to do the one thing on her bucket list that she has dreamed about her entire life; travel to Europe.

She goes to her bank and withdraws all her life savings. She intends for this dream vacation to be an experience of a lifetime. Queen Latifa’s character in the movie books her plane travel first-class in order to feel once in her lifetime, what the rich people enjoy when they travel.

She books her hotel reservation in a five-star hotel where the rich people stay and picks the high-rollers’ penthouse suite, which includes the luxury pamper  package only for the rich people. She dines out every night at the finest five-star restaurants where the rich people eat. She lives on the financial edge as if there is no tomorrow.

Contentment Shines In The Spirit Of Those Who Are Grateful

Many of you live your financial lives pretty much the same way during the holiday season.  You spend as if there is no tomorrow. One of the definitions of  maturity  is learning to delay pleasure. If you struggle in your spending during the holidays like many Americans, here’s 5 tips from Financial Peace University  www.fpu.com to help you make wise choices when buying items over $150:

1) Wait over night before buying. Sleeping on it takes the edge off you.

2) Consider your buying motives; why and why now?

3) Don’t buy things you don’t understand or can’t explain.

4) Consider the opportunity cost. Would the money be better invested or saved?

5) Seek the counsel of your spouse. If single, seek the counsel of a mature Christian you know and respect.

Changing Future Generations Mind-set

If God blessed some of you with money with your current character traits and mind-set, your desire for instant gratification, your impulsive  tendencies that are out of control, and your media-driven consumer mentality would cause many of you to blow most, or all of God’s financial blessings. Our ministry is changing future generations’ mind-set.

When God opens the doors of heaven to pour out financial  blessings on you, spend your money wisely.  Learn to make a plan, give to God, give to yourself, and have some fun. You are invited to our LIVE Stream November 17th & 24th at 3pm. Our SOW team will share financial tips to keep more money in your pockets. Follow link to learn more. https://tinyurl.com/3jve79tb

Prayer of Blessings:  Lord, we will honor You in our finances.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host for the Better Husband Father Man Podcast  a hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is the financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency . Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate  about. She 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 over 40 years and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. The Vance’s blog from their workbook “Stewardship Of Wealth: 8 Life Lessons That Can Change Your Family Tree”.

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Do You Seek Wisdom From Mature Christains Who Are Faithful?

Posted on May 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking In God’s Favor: Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. Psalms 1:1-2 GNT

Knowledge & Wisdom is of no value, unless you put it into practice. 

As Christians you get your instructions and directions in  life from the BIBLE. (Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth). Biblical principles can teach you the following:  How to communicate with God; How to love and forgive yourself as well as others; How to overcome your private struggles; How to have a healthy marriage; and How to relate to wealth.

Its unfortunate that when it comes to making financial decisions, you often seek solutions to your financial struggles from a secular worldview. Regardless of your skin color, the level of your education, or the amount of income you earn, following the popular advice of  American Greed or other secular worldviews, can often lead you away from God’s best version of your life. Think about it; How much faith does it really take to get into debt?

Wisdom is the new wealth. Surround yourself with it.

You don’t sit down and consciously decide to borrow yourselves into financial bondage. Usually you are influenced by listening to others who are in financial bondage themselves and appear to be enjoying it. You know what I mean?

Your friend or family member buys a new car with the leather package, GPS , satellite radio, heated seats and sun roof. They give you a ride…and of course you ask how much they paid for it. They explain how easily the dealership leased the vehicle to them so they could afford the payments. You think to yourself, “I can afford that”  and you run down to the dealership to join the ranks of our consumer driven society that is fueled by consumer debt.

An investment in knowledge, is always profitable.

Bottom line is, you are a generation that has forgotten or never learned how to financially discipline yourselves to save for purchases and avoid debt. I challenge you to raise your financial IQ. Read the word of God and Christian authors who share God’s plan for relating to money. One of my favorite books that I recommend on finances, is by Lee Jenkins entitled, “Taking Care of Business”.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1dNe1hhofgQ%3Fsi%3DnwKHBgI4Xmrrqq2n

Surround yourself with faithful stewards who are givers and savers. As you learn how to become more fiscally wise, share what you learn with family members and others in your sphere of influence. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate results.  Remember, keep praying, keep believing,  with God all things are possible.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord, teach us to live with wisdom.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the Better Husband Father Man Podcast   a hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency . Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate  about. She 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 over 40 years and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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Can You Say No, To The Person In Mirror?

Posted on April 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking In God’s Favor: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 1Corinthians 13:11 NLT

Discipline & self-control helps to develop your character.

Moving from a Level 1 Stewardship life of struggle to Level 2 Stewardship the life of stability is an individual choice. Many of you cannot see yourselves  maturing from Level 1 Stewardship a life of struggle into Level 2 Stewardship a life of  stability; therefore you remain in a life struggle.

Level 2 faithful stewards learn to live on a budget and give their money a mission.  But more importantly, Level 2 faithful stewards are accountable to God. The Level 2 faithful steward has learned to say “no” to the person in the mirror.

Can you say no, to the person in the mirror?

One of the keys that differentiate Level 1 Stewardship the life of struggle from Level 2 Stewardship the life of stability is the will to delay immediate gratification for long-term goals. One sign of spiritual maturity is the will to choose long-term goals over short-term  gain.

I clearly remember our parents teaching us the connection between work and money.  As a kid, they would give my two younger brothers and me money for doing chores like cutting the grass, raking leaves or washing the car.  As soon as I received my money, I would run down to the corner grocery store to spend every penny I had earned on Chinese Sweet & Sours Balls, Red Hots, banana flavored Now & Laters, and my favorite, Hostess Chocolate Twinkies.

My parents would comment how I had holes in my pocket when they observed how quickly I spent my money. They found teachable moments to encourage me to save.  They planted seeds of wisdom like ”Money don’t grow on trees” in my life.  My parents were the first teachers who sowed into my life the importance of work ethics and saving money.

With self-discipline, you increase your possibilities.

My truth is,  even today as an adult I struggle with the desire to spend money I don’t have, to  buy things I don’t  need, to impress people I don’t know.  That desire to spend money grew into an uncontrollable desire to have wealth without going through the process of  developing the discipline necessary to manage wealth.

In order for you to move to Level 2 Stewardship a life of stability you are going to have to go through the process. It’s your choice. You have the ability to become a better steward of your wealth. We are living examples that God will empower your life  to do that which you cannot on your own, do for yourself. Remember keep praying, keep believing, with God all things are possible.

You are invited to listen to our Facebook LIVE Stream Sunday 3pm May 12th. Our discussion will center a round life lessons we learned from our mothers. Our guest panelist is Kia Thornton- Gamble a corporate CPA with 20+ year experience.

Michael J. Vance is the founder of Stewardship Of Wealth.com and a financial & benefit-risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency   Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She 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 over 4 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville Alabama, and blog from their Stewardship Of Wealth financial guide “Changing Your Family Tree”.

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Are You Constantly Connected to the Source?

Posted on February 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  John 15:7  KJ

A Life, If Well Lived, Is Long Enough 

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 you make today will impact future generations.  So staying connecting to the Source is critical to the success of your life legacy.

We 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”.

We have discovered in our spiritual journey, when we allow God lordship over our will, dreams, and ambitions we experience more peace, love and happiness in our world. God’s blessings in the life of  the Level 4 Steward will also be a blessing in the life of others. We 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.

Christ Empowers Your Life More Abundantly Then You Can Think or Imagine

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

Here’s another example, in order for us to live a life style of financial freedom we avoid debt and say yes to investing to support our goal of building generational wealth. The tension for Level 4 Stewardship is the ability to stay connected to the Source when you can have, do, and be anything you desire.

Intimacy With God Is Level IV Stewards Highest Priority

We believe connectivity to God is the source of all blessings.  Connectivity to people is the how the blessings flow from the Source into your life. We 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 faith takes you. What you believe through Christ,  you can achieve.  Level 4 Stewards are determined to stay connected to the Source and intentionally practices the process of connecting to others.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord keep us connected to You our source.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of a weekly podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency  and founder of Stewardshipofwealth.com  Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the Pathfinder Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married well over 3 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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Do You Put People Over Possessions?

Posted on January 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s favor: Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4 (NIV)

The most cherish possessions you can leave someone is your faith in Jesus Christ.

We Christians in America have become so materialistic in our thinking. You have probably heard someone say, ” The one who dies with the most toys wins” or “The one with the gold makes the rules.”

The things in this world are temporal, but the things of God are eternal.  I believe Jesus Christ is returning for a people – not possessions. So, what are you doing to build intimate relationships with those you love? How are you investing your financial resources to better your relationship with God and meaningful others?

Communication is what makes your relationships strong.

When you develop intimate relationships, you do it one-to-one. Your attention is focused on one person. Their needs become your priority. Dr David and Teresa Ferguson, co-authors of Intimate Encounters says, “Intimate relationships takes time and communications.”

Ardella and I have learned to schedule time to be alone with each other to increase our marital intimacy. No children, no grandchildren, we forget about our work, our ministries, we turn off our smart phones and we take time to focus our attention on each other.

This includes sharing one’s feelings, putting one another first, sympathetic listening, and caring for one another. Sharing your heart with family and having meaningful relationships with others is what life is truly about. Life is meant to be shared. Sharing the love of  God with those we care about is priority for the Level 4 Steward.

Fullfilment and satisfaction comes from sharing with others.

There is nothing like the power of your own life story. Everyone has a story to tell.  How are you being blessed today? Sharing your life experiences with others encourages them and gives them hope.  Tell others how you have overcome life’s struggles; how your faith brings stability in your life; how living by biblical principles gives you the wisdom to look around the corner to prepare for the storms of life. And finally tell others of your spiritual discovery for your life’s work.

You are invited to join us next month February 7th at 12 noon at the First Seventh-day Adventist Church Wednesday noon POP (People Praying Over People) I will have the wonderful opportunity to share our journey. Over the years we have been blessed to mentor hundreds of young families in their finances. I will discuss eight life lessons we discovered that can change your family tree.

Prayer of blessing: Lord help me to value relationships.

Michael J. Vance is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency  and president of the Northeast Alabama Chapter of Credit Unions. Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the International Pathfinder Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married over four decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their spritual guide “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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