"It must be hard living on one income....I don't know how you do it!"

It always mildly surprises me when I get this comment. I'm not sure why. I guess that I don't feel we live an impoverished or mediocre lifestyle, so then it makes me wonder if I'm missing something. Looking around, we definitely live differently than the majority of our society, but I don't believe that we go without having the basic necessities of life either.I'd like to share a few thoughts on how we live on only the income of my husband, and how that has brought joy and peace to our home.

As I put my thoughts together on this, I'm going to share both the heart process as well as the practical process to making this concept work in a home. Hence, it will take me several posts to do all this. I hope you'll stick with me for a couple days. And please, be patient with all the font changes in this post.....I can't figure out what's going with that.

• First of all, I truly believe that to live WELL on one income, you might need a change of heart and mind.

I've learned over the process of time to start asking what is truly of value to my home and to what God has for my life. In our home, we look at EVERYTHING through a Biblical worldview. Meaning....what does the Bible, God's Word, our foundation for everything we do, say about the issue? What is the purpose of possessions? What does God and His Word say to us about accumulating things? What does the Lord see as most valuable for our lives? Do I want what God wants for me and my family? Through the years, I've memorized lots of Scripture verses which speak to this subject, and have found great wisdom and truth.

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11 (KJV)

I need to learn how to be CONTENT. Contentment is being satisfied with what you have, not wanting any more, a kind of resignation.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (KJV)

The Lord seems to indicate here, that we can indeed live a satisfied life with very little in the way of possessions. In fact, the previous verse from 1 Timothy seems to say that having just the basic necessities of food and clothing should be enough. Isn't that a far cry from our society's mindset? Don't get me wrong now, I'm not about to deprive my children of education, proper health care, shelter, and socialization because that verse mentions ONLY food and raiment. But I believe the principle here is that it is better to be content with what you have now and not to follow this wild drive to get stuff that is only temporary anyway. So, is it wrong to like nice things and to want some "toys"?
Follow me now......don't loose me.

"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God,
WHO GIVETH US RICHLY ALL THINGS TO ENJOY." 1 Timothy 6:17 (KJV)

I always ask myself, "Do I really NEED that? REALLY?" Can I justify buying that when I compare that to the insulin that I NEED to buy for my daughter every month? If not, I remember the previous verse which implies that I already HAVE what I need to make me happy. It's a choice I make. I can choose to enjoy what God has already given me, or I can trust in things that won't last to bring me true satisfaction.

"In every thing give thanks: for this is THE WILL OF GOD in Christ Jesus
concerning you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

This verse even tells us what God's will is for our lives. God's will is that we are THANKFUL! In every situation we are to give God thanks. That's hard to do when you barely have enough to buy groceries until the next paycheck. That's really hard to do when you don't know how you're going to make next month's mortgage payment. But I've learned it's a discipline that we must allow to work in our hearts....to learn to be thankful in both the good times and the bad. Are you thankful for what you have already? Have you thanked God today for all the blessings in your life??

"Giving thanks always for ALL things unto God and the Father
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:20

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily LOADETH us with benefits, even the
God of our salvation."
Psalm 68:19

• Second, we rely on the Lord to meet the needs we have that we ourselves are not able to meet.

"Be anxious for nothing,
but in every thing by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING (there it is again...) let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6 (NASB)

"But my God shall supply ALL your need according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

God has assured us in His Word, the Bible, that He WILL meet all of our needs. Not our "greed", but our need. Always when we think we need it?? We NEEDED a new van in January of 2008 after baby #6 arrived, but our van didn't arrive for another several months. But we don't owe anything on it now either. Is it a top of the line, fully loaded 2008 model with video screens in every leather seat? Uhhh...no. Not at all. But it's safe and meets the need we have to travel with 6 children and their friends, and haul lots of groceries. Plus, the A/C is icy cold which we believe is a NEED in Texas!! Praise the Lord!!

"I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread.
Psalm 37:25, 26 (NASB)

• Third, I'm always on guard to fight off the temptation to compare what I have to what others have and desiring what others have.

"...but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are NOT WISE." 2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

God has a special plan for each and every person's life. I don't always know what God is trying to do in my life at the moment, nor do I know what work He is doing in anyone else's life. It is not for me to compare myself to another person because God is working differently in and through that person than He is in my life. God gives me things that I need for that time in my life as He gives other people things for reasons I may not understand. It's not WISE to compare our lives and possessions and accomplishments to other people's. We should compare our life to Jesus Christ. That's where our standard should be.

Please check back soon, as I will be further discussing this idea of living well on one income by sharing some practical ways our family manages this!!