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I’m Not Rich – Or Am I? – Debbie Hardy
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Count your blessings.

Count your blessings.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. I Timothy 6:17

Being rich isn’t something I have to worry about. I’ve never had a ton of money and probably never will. I have enough to live on but not much more. Is that enough?

I don’t even know very many rich people. The closest I’ve come to knowing a wealthy person is by association. There’s a high-paid major league baseball player living in my town, but not in my neighborhood. I’ve never seen him at the grocery store or anywhere else, so I can’t claim him as a friend or even an acquaintance.

A man I know checks the stock report several times a day to see how his minimal investments are doing. He can’t do anything to change it, and he probably won’t sell or buy, but he does put a lot of “stock” in the market, even though he’ll never get rich from it.

God doesn’t have a problem with his children being rich. In the parable of the talents (or bags of gold), Jesus describes a king going on a journey and entrusting his wealth to others. He gave three men bags of gold in amounts matching their abilities.

When the king returned from his trip, he found that the men with five bags and two bags each had doubled the amounts. He was pleased, but the one who was given only one bag of gold hid it for fear of losing it. The king rewarded those with the most, but took the gold from the man who did nothing and gave it to one of the others.

Jesus started this parable with, “The kingdom of God will be like a king.” It seems he wants those of us in his kingdom to have money, but only if we are wise in handling it. He gives us money or the ability to earn it, but it’s up to us how we handle and protect it.

There are two ways we can have more money: earn more or spend less. The first requires more work; the second takes wisdom and self-control. Increase your net worth just by spending less of each paycheck. You’ll feel and be richer in the end.

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net and Michael Elliot.

Debbie Hardy Head Shot 1Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at SteppingThruLife.blogspot.com and her website at www.SteppingThroughCancer.com.
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How Can We Lose When We’re So Sincere? – Debbie Hardy
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Mr. Right?

Mr. Right?

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Matthew 15:28

“God will send me the man of my dreams … right to my front door.” At least that’s what a woman I met at the store believed. She was convinced God would send the man of her dreams to her house. Maybe she planned on marrying the mailman, the UPS guy, or someone hanging a lawn care ad on her front door.

I pointed out that God was keeping her healthy to go to her job every day and earn a paycheck. Maybe she’d meet a terrific guy at work or somewhere else while away from home. God loves to provide his children with gifts, but isn’t content to give handouts without us doing our part.

Ever the optimist, Charlie Brown and his Peanuts teammates would lose one ballgame after another, with no hope of ever winning. He often asked, “How can we lose, when we’re so sincere?”

A Canaanite woman approached Jesus after he finished talking to a crowd. She interrupted his down-time and asked for grace, something she didn’t deserve. As a non-Jew, she had no standing with the Lord, and Jesus told her as much. She had everything to lose, but she had to ask, and Christ felt her sincerity.

Her response and her faith ultimately led to her daughter being healed. It wasn’t anything she did – or was it? She stepped out of her comfort zone, traveled to where Jesus was, and risked rejection by asking a favor. She did her part and was rewarded.

Just going to work every day is no guarantee that we’ll keep our jobs, the company will stay in business, or we’ll have a wonderful life with the UPS guy. But it’s a step of faith to do our part and let God do his.

Be sincere about life and your relationships, especially your relationship with God. What step of faith do you need to take to bring your dream to life? Act in faith and accept his grace.

Photo courtesy of trendyhalloween.com.

Debbie Hardy Head Shot 1Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at SteppingThruLife.blogspot.com and her website at www.SteppingThroughCancer.com. Read Debbie’s devotions.


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Am I a Bug? – Debbie Hardy
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Bug or windshield?

Bug or windshield?

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 43: 5

Some days I feel like the windshield on my car. Other days I’m the bug squished on the outside.

It was one of those days. It started when my alarm didn’t go off so I woke up late. The shirt I wanted to wear was in the hamper. I spilled my shampoo in the shower, stubbed my toe making the bed, and dropped an egg on the kitchen floor. Guess it wanted to be scrambled before I was ready.

King David had some of those days, just like I do. He wrote Psalm 43, begging God to vindicate him, plead his case against an unfaithful nation, and rescue him from those who were deceitful and wicked. I hate to admit it, but maybe David’s day was worse than mine. At least I don’t have to rule an unfaithful nation or have wicked people after me.

David eventually realized he had no reason to be negative. All the things on the outside were no match for the God he had on the inside. He finally had a talk with himself and decided to put his hope in God, where it should have been all along.

That’s what it takes to have a positive attitude – decide to do it. I could have complained about all the things that had gone wrong and expected even more bad luck. That’s only natural. Instead, I thanked God that I was given another day to accomplish what he had in mind for me.

I’ve discovered my attitude is totally up to me. Same goes for you. If we just make up our minds each morning to put our trust in God for that day, we can amaze those around us with our positive outlook. And you’ll be surprised  how much better things look from that vantage point. Try it. You’ll like it and you’ll find what an impact you’ll have through Christ Jesus.

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net and Pixomar.

Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at SteppingThruLife.blogspot.com and her website at www.SteppingThroughCancer.com.

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I Want to Get Rich – Quick! – Debbie Hardy
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I want to win the lottery.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. I Timothy 6:9

I want to win the lottery or maybe Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. Even the HGTV Dream Home give-away sounds wonderful. Nothing wrong with any of those dreams. Everyone wants to win at one time or another.

Growing up in the projects, I dreamed of being rich one day. I would live in a big house and wear gorgeous clothes and take fantastic vacations every year or maybe every month. I would be beautiful and people would envy me. It would be wonderful.

But Jesus asked how it would benefit someone to gain the whole world and lose their soul. All the money in the world can buy medicine, but not health. It can buy companionship, but not friends. It can buy transportation, but not motivation to go anywhere. It can buy an audience, but not a relationship. And even the Beatles knew that money can’t buy love.

Then why do I want money? For one thing, I never want to be poor again. I know what it is to be poor and I know what it is to have plenty. I prefer plenty. That’s just human nature. We don’t want to do without if we have a choice.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with money. We need money to support ourselves, especially since the government can’t and shouldn’t do it for us. God wants us to have money. He’s given a lot of instructions on saving and spending wisely. All we have to do is learn his lessons.

But maybe we need to take care of something even more basic first – that soul thing Jesus talked about. We can’t take our money with us when we die, so maybe we should invest differently to reap dividends on the other side. After all, the stock market is fickle and businesses are laying off every day. What we do for Christ, his church, and his children will last far longer than any IRA. That’s where we need to invest our time, our energies, and, yes, our money.

And we won’t have to pay taxes on those dividends.

Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at SteppingThruLife.blogspot.com and her website at www.SteppingThroughCancer.com.
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What Are You Hungry For? – Debbie Hardy
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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

I’d love to have a Big Mac right now. As the McDonalds ad says, “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion on a sesame seed bun.” Add steaming hot fries and an ice-cold soft drink, and I’m in fast food heaven. My mouth waters just thinking of it.

Or perhaps you’d rather have a Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen, a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut, or a San Antonio steak and baked potato from Lone Star. Yum. Can you tell I’ve been on a perpetual diet my whole adult life and I dream about food? Maybe you’re like me—always hungry or thirsty for something.

Jesus talked about a hunger and thirst for righteousness, not food or drink. When you physically feel hunger, your mouth waters and your stomach growls. When you’re thirsty, your tongue is dry. A hunger or thirst for righteousness should have the same sort of reaction. Nothing can satisfy us–nice cars, more clothes, or even the latest electronics. What we really seek is His virtue, His decency and righteousness in our lives.

What are you hungry for today? Is it a physical hunger or an emotional hunger for a relationship? God places that innate desire for Him deep within us. He provides our needs as we seek after Him.

Isaiah tells us, “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.” That’s what I need—my needs satisfied and my frame, the basic “me” made stronger.

Take time to figure out what will satisfy you best—something digested in a few hours or a relationship that lasts for eternity?

For the best return on investment, righteousness is the way to go. If we seek this first, all these things will be added unto you. It’s a promise to quench your thirst.

Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at SteppingThruLife.blogspot.com and her website at www.SteppingThroughCancer.com.
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Learning to be Content – Debbie Hardy
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But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. I TIMOTHY 6:8

Is that all it takes to be content? Just food and clothing? What about the three-bedroom house, two cars in the driveway, flat-screen TVs, all the new gadgets, and yearly vacations? Don’t I need all of those to be content?

Sometimes it seems that way, especially around my birthday or Christmas. I begin to think of all the “stuff” that I could ask friends and family for. There’s always something new that I just can’t live without. That’s strange, since last year I didn’t even know such a thing existed and now I need it to make my life complete. I guess all those ads on TV have the desired effect on me.

But when I look at my desires objectively, I really don’t need all those things. My car runs fine, so I don’t need to buy a new one every two years. My cell phone doesn’t have all the latest bells and whistles, but then I don’t have to pay for all those extras that I won’t use. I combine business trips with visits to friends and family, so I get a mini-vacation at the same time.

As for food and clothing, what I cook at home tastes every bit as good as restaurant fare and is probably healthier for me. My wardrobe doesn’t need to be replaced every year. I can buy just a fashionable piece or two to update my look and continue to wear last year’s styles.

The apostle Paul learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Even though he was born into a wealthy family and had a “proper education,” he never considered himself entitled to anything. In spite of all his traveling, persecution, beatings, and time in jail, he learned to be content. How? He could do everything through God, who gave him strength.

We have the same God today. He’s willing and able to supply whatever we need. But he never promised to give us everything we want.

Maybe if we just take a step back and analyze our desires, we may find we already have all that we need. We don’t have to prove anything to anybody by useless spending. And we’ll have money in our pockets that our friends don’t. Now that’s contentment!
Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at steppingthrulife.blogspot.com and her website at steppingthroughcancer.com.
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God will Provide – Debbie Hardy
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For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. I TIMOTHY 6:7

The first time I saw Carys, she had nothing. No clothing, no food, no money, nothing. She had spent months in a confined space with no light and barely enough room to stretch out. Yet here she was, clad in only a light blanket, utterly content.

For nine months, Carys had all the food, warmth, protection, and love she needed inside my daughter-in-law’s tummy. She didn’t worry about who would take care of her or where her next meal would come from. She had made the short trip to the outside world but her trust didn’t change. God would provide for her; all she had to do was exist.

The Psalmist David knew that a baby doesn’t wonder who will care for him, how she will eat, or if the world is a safe place. Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. Babies trust us — mommies and daddies and all us other big people, to take care of them. And we do. We feed and comfort and protect and teach and play with our children. Why? Because they’re our children and we love them.

God does the same thing. He feeds, comforts, protects, teaches, and entertains us because we’re His children and He loves us. We only need to see His hand in our lives and trust Him.

So how do I trust God to provide for me? Looking back at my life, I see times when God was working in me and other times when I made decisions without consulting Him. What a difference in outcome! But no matter what choices I made, God continued to love me and provide for me. And He loves and provides for you too.

God has given us His handbook for daily living and is eager for us to listen to Him through His Word. It can guide our decisions, even financial ones, and bring us closer to the person He wants us to be. We just need to have a conversation with Him.

Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at steppingthrulife.blogspot.com and her website at steppingthroughcancer.com.
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I Want More – Debbie Hardy
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But godliness with contentment is great gain. I TIMOTHY 6:6

Things could have been a lot worse. I grew up in “the projects” – you know, those subsidized housing developments. There were eight of us crammed into a tiny townhouse with one bathroom and one car. But I never heard my mom complain. She was thankful for what little we had, and that she could feed all those hungry mouths. We had so little.

More! I want more! Sound like a spoiled brat? But we’ve all said it. From the time we’re born, we’re not satisfied with our own things and want what others have. Small children throw temper tantrums just because they want more, more, more!

Unfortunately, some of us carry that attitude into adulthood. Maybe we don’t lie on the floor, screaming and kicking, but we still insist on more. Many struggle to put food on the table, but find it easy to go out to dinner. Why?

Whatever happened to the “good old days” when we played kick ball in the street, ate pot roast on Sunday and leftovers the rest of the week, and got one pair of shoes to hopefully get us through an entire school year?

Contentment. That’s all it is. We haven’t learned to be content with what we have. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. How hard is that? I have food to eat, but can’t afford to eat out much; maybe I need to be satisfied that my belly is full. I have clothing to wear, but not the latest styles; I could be glad that I have choices in my closet. I have a home and a car to drive, but not the biggest, fastest, or coolest of either.

Jesus was like me growing up. He had little too. But what He possessed was the greatest quality of love and sharing…contentment in what the Father had given Him. My mother taught us contentment and joy in the things we had. It would have been nice to have enjoyed more, but the wealth we received by learning what was truly important can’t be replaced.

Mom, you were my role model. Maybe I need to remember and follow your example.

Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, a step-by-step guide for cancer caregivers, and the accompanying Caregiver’s Handbook. A Colorado resident, author, widow, and grandmother, Debbie’s positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing and speaking. Check out her blog at steppingthrulife.blogspot.com and her website at steppingthroughcancer.com. Read Debbie’s devotions.
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Debbie Hardy
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Debbie Hardy Head Shot 1Debbie Hardy is the author of Stepping Through Cancer, A Guide for the Journey, and the upcoming Free to Be Fabulous from 40, 50, and Beyond: 100 Ways to Look, Act, and Feel Younger. A Colorado resident, widow, mother, and grandmother, Debbie is a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, National Speakers Association of Colorado, and several writers groups. Her positive outlook and joy in Christ have helped her transition from corporate America to writing, speaking, and encouraging others. Check out her blog at FreeToBeFabulous.wordpress.com  and her website at SteppingThroughCancer.com.

 

 

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