January | 2016 | Shannon Vaut

Most of my life I have been surrounded by individuals that lie. It started when I was a child. I grew up watching people I loved lie in order to get what they wanted. Every time I witnessed someone lying, I knew I never wanted to be one of those people because they were constantly hurting others.

I wasn’t perfect and I can remember very clearly the times I lied to avoid the consequences of my own choices. In the moment it seemed like a good idea but the Holy Spirit would quickly remind me that it was wrong and needed to be made right.

Now, as I reflect on my past, I realize that a long time ago I made the conscious effort to be an honest person. I always felt this was an honorable trait until it dawned on me that I had become a coward.

A few months ago as I was studying God’s word and trying to heal from some of the damages done to my soul by the liars in my life, God revealed to me that when you find a liar you will find someone close to them that is a coward.

Having no clue what he was trying to teach me, I started digging a little deeper. I discovered that a coward is defined as one who is too afraid to do what is right or expected: one who is not brave: one who fears many things. I then went straight to scripture to see what the Bible has to say about cowards.

From the moment I was saved, I knew it was a sin to lie but until God shared this revelation with me, it never dawned on me that being afraid was seen in the same light. Revelation 21:7-8 says, “He who overcomes the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior will inherit these things, and I will be His God and he will by My son. But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality, and murderers, and sorcerers with intoxicating drugs, and idolaters and occultists who practice and teach false religions, and all the liars who knowingly deceive and twist truth, their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” As a coward, my fate was the same fate as the liars whom I had spent my life trying to run away from and disassociate myself with.

It then became crystal clear that I spent a huge portion of my life being a coward. I hid behind the lies and deceit, afraid of so many things. What would the liar do to me if I confronted them? Would they convince others that I was actually the one lying in order to take the focus off of themselves? Would they make up lies about me to look superior by comparison? The answer was yes but God says it doesn’t matter. My trust in Him is not based on the actions of others. I trust because He is faithful and He will protect me.

We live in a day and age where the enemy is convincing the multitudes that there is no such thing as absolute truth. It is watered down and leading many down a path of destruction. As Christ followers we are called to speak the truth in love and if we sit back afraid to do so, we are no better than the liars.

God is preparing us for a battle. A battle that can only be won through faith, without fear, and based on truth that can only be found in His word. We can either choose to put on His armor and be brave warriors or sit on the sidelines as a cowards.

Dear God,

Thank you for your wisdom. Please give those of us that struggle with fear the courage to step out in faith, ready to fight the good fight. Give us a sense of peace and lead us to the battlefield if the is your will.

In Your Sweet & Precious Name,

Amen!

Save

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to start living on a budget, save money and spend less? Here are a few things you can do/stop doing to ensure success.

1. Stop window shopping! This includes opening emails from retailers that fill your inbox every day. UNSUBSCRIBE!!! Their is nothing more damaging to a budget than spending money on things we never needed until we saw they were on sale. We aren’t really saving if we are still spending!

2. Make a list before going to the store and stick to it. I am horrible at this when I step into Target. I can go in for three items and leave spending over $75 every single time. Not wise! Making a list will help you stay focused on what you need so you can get in and get out without getting sidetracked.

3. Cook meals at home versus eating out. Eating out will kill a budget! If you do eat out, order water and split a meal. Most restaurants have portions large enough to share!

4. Use coupons! If you don’t have a coupon, retailers are always offering deals to get customers in the door, so ask what they have available. You would be shocked at how many times you can get up to 25% off just by asking!

5. Shop around and compare prices. Just last Christmas, I was shopping for a specific video game for one of my sons. At one store it was $59.99 and out of stock, so I went online. They were selling the same exact game for $39.99 with free shipping and their big competitor had it on sale for $39.97. Had I not compared, I would have spent $20 more than necessary. Most stores will also price match if you find it cheaper somewhere else within 30 days of receipt of purchase.

6. Never buy at full retail price. Everything goes on sale at some point, you just might have to wait a little longer. But waiting a week to save money is always wise!

7. When it come to shopping for groceries and household items, I have found that buying store brands vs. name brands can save me hundreds of dollars each month. Did you know that name brand companies often repackage the same exact product for specific stores, just changing the labels? Look at the ingredients. More often than not, they are the exact same. So why pay several dollars more for a flashy version when the content is the same?

8. Shop around for insurance rate comparisons at least twice a year. I use to think that staying with the same company for years would ensure that I had the best rate because of my loyalty. Wrong! And you don’t have to wait until your policy is up. Companies like you to think you are locked in for 6-12 months because it ensures that they keep your business for that period of time. That is not always true. Shop around!

9. Same goes for rates with electric companies, compare!

10. Contact companies you do business with and request cheaper rates. This includes your cable/satellite provider, cell phone provider, home phone provider, internet provider, etc. You can simply ask if they have any specials going on that you can take advantage of for being a loyal customer. If they say they don’t have anything, mention that you saw an ad or commercial for a promotion they had going on and ask what the details are. They will most likely honor that promo or give you free services such as three months of free movie channels. All you have to do is ask!

11. And last, but certainly not least. This may be the most important tip. Never, never, never go into debt to buy something you haven’t saved for. I am a huge fan of Dave Ramsey and I have learned that debt is the dumbest things we do as Americans. Debt has become the norm, but it is not wise. If there is something you want, safe up for it until you can pay cash. Don’t use someone else’s money. You can’t be money wise if you are willing to pay a creditor a ridiculous amount of interest just so you can have what you want when you want it.