Extreme Couponing - Hebrew Style

I love budgeting, the cold hard accuracy and predictability of numbers really appeals to my personality. You can always count on numbers. 

'We' paid off 30,000 dollars in student loans in a year and a half, it made no sense, we lived off less then we paid off, and I'll be honest, I 'gave' the glory to God, but I felt like a rock star. Maybe I could have my own reality show?

Pride.

When we moved to Montenegro, everything was different. EVERYTHING. I had no reference for cheap, things that are cheap there are expensive here. I struggled to make it all work on our missionary budget. Finally, I had to tell our organization. I could not crunch these numbers, we needed at least 150.00 more Euros a month to make it through the winter. we needed more money....

I was crushed. CRUSHED.

Failure. 

It's was awful feeling.Vulnerability, humiliation, shame, weakness, yuck. One of the worst weeks ever.

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Weird thing is...

I still PRIDE myself with my home economics, you should see my grocery spreadsheet, it's a thing of beauty, It even have a pie chart showing how much we spend on the various healthy food groups and which store each thing is cheapest. 

Basically I am an extreme coupon-er, Montenegrin style. 

My pie charts are the bomb-digity. 

Then something happened...I picked up my Bible today.

I was reading about the Israelites in the desert. They can't make it, there is not enough provision, they freak out and complain (sound familiar see above?). God provides them a fresh tasty breakfast in the form of Manna. Moses tells them GOD will provide every morning, don't save the bread. 

Then some of the 'Godly housewives' decide to get wise. What if the Mana doesn't come, what if there is  storm, what  if their baby gets hungry in the middle of the night. The keep some just in case.

This was rebellion. 

That spoke to me.

God turned the His provision to maggots the next morning. God is out for His Glory.

 Sometimes he makes us vulnerable and hungry so we must rely on Him. We don't like the Vulnerability. So we make other plans. What if I keep extra savings, Coupons, clean eating meal list, (insert awesome housewife activity here) and forget that IN HIM all things are held together. (col. 1:17)

My clean eating, budget cautious, gardener missionary self or the 5 Big Macs a week mother, same standing before the father...REDEMED

I am not saying that good stewardship is bad. I am saying that if THAT speaks louder then Jesus in your life. ..

its all the 'bad' stuff' they warned us about in the new testament...

It's self righteousness, false teaching, heresy, Boasting, Desiring the Praise of Men, Emulations: Ambition to excel, Greediness, Idolatry (Loving someone or something more than God.) Inventors of Evil Things (Those who contrive evil ways to satisfy their carnal lusts).  Laying Up Treasures on Earth (Pursuing material success at the expense of spiritual things).  Puffed Up (Overestimating of one's ability or knowledge)  Trusting in Riches,  False humility. 

God HATES it.

 Satan will use ANYTHING to take our eyes of Jesus perfect provision. 

I want to be the Israelite chick who gathers her Manna everyday with a song of thanksgiving 

"Jehovah Jireh, my provider. Your grace is sufficient for me"

There is one thing I desire
One thing I seek
To hide in You, abide in You
I'm Yours for You to keep

You prepare a table for me
You're my portion and my cup
You are the source of strength
Lord, You have filled me up

Song Here