Tag: christianity

10 Practical Ways to Reflect Christ in Your Business

As a small business owner, you have the opportunity to honor Christ in the way you operate your business.

Honoring God doesn’t necessarily mean sharing the plan of salvation with every customer, vendor, or employee you meet. Instead, it means consistently living out your faith in a way that points others to Christ. A well-known saying expresses this well:
“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

Here are some meaningful ways you can demonstrate your commitment to Christ and Christian values through your business:

1. Treat Everyone with Respect

Whether you’re correcting an employee, handling an unhappy customer, or navigating a disagreement with a competitor, respond with grace and dignity. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” — Colossians 4:6

2. Practice Honesty in Every Transaction

Be truthful in your dealings—whether paying taxes, recording expenses, setting prices, honoring contracts, or communicating expectations. “The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.” — Proverbs 11:1
“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” — Matthew 22:21

3. Keep Your Promises

If you’ve committed to giving an employee a raise, conducting a performance review, or teaching them a new skill, follow through. Failing to keep your word is a form of dishonesty.
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” — Proverbs 12:22

4. Pay Fair Wages

Compensate your employees fairly for the work they perform. Pay them for every hour worked, honor overtime regulations, and ensure your pay rates reflect their contributions.
“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” — Luke 10:7

5. Use Uplifting Language

Avoid speaking harshly, using profane language, or belittling others. Instead, choose words that encourage, empower, and reflect God’s love.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” — Ephesians 4:29

6. Support Charities That Reflect Your Values

Many business owners support local causes. Prayerfully consider which ministries or charities to partner with.
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7

7. Assist Employees in Need

While employment law requires equal pay for equal work, you can personally bless employees facing hardship. Consider ways to quietly help—a single mom with childcare, a financially struggling employee with extra hours, or a stressed team member with a small personal gift.
“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” — Matthew 6:3

8. Model Servant Leadership

Demonstrate that no task is beneath you. Set an example of excellence, humility, and integrity in everything you do.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

9. Seek God’s Wisdom in Decision-Making

Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in your daily operations and major business decisions.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3

10. Cover Your Business in Prayer

Start each day by seeking the Lord, and let employees know you’re praying for them when appropriate.
“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” — Psalm 5:3

Final Thoughts

As you seek God’s guidance and aim to honor Him in your business practices, He will open opportunities for you to share your faith naturally—with your actions, your words, and your example.

How has God allowed you to honor Him through your business?
I’d love to hear your story—feel free to share it in the comments!

Stewarding Well: Exercising Self-Control in Spending and Giving

The final fruit of the Spirit is self-control. When we hear that term, our minds often go straight to resisting temptation — avoiding that extra dessert, holding our tongue in a heated moment, or passing up an impulse purchase.

But self-control runs much deeper than momentary restraint. It’s about aligning our actions with godly wisdom and long-term values. In the financial realm, self-control not only guards against overspending but also ensures our generosity is Spirit-led rather than emotionally driven.

It might surprise you that even our giving requires self-control. While the world often celebrates extravagant generosity, the Bible reminds us that not all giving honors God. Some people find themselves in financial trouble, not because they’ve overspent on themselves, but because they’ve given beyond their means — motivated by guilt, pride, or the desire for approval.

True self-control helps us navigate both sides of the financial equation: when to say “no” to unnecessary spending and when to give thoughtfully, as the Holy Spirit leads.

The Dangers of Unchecked Spending and Impulsive Giving

The Bible is filled with warnings about the consequences of poor financial management:

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
Proverbs 22:7

“He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”
Proverbs 21:17

Whether it’s overspending on pleasures or giving to impress others, a lack of self-control leads to debt, stress, and missed opportunities to use our resources wisely.

Jesus cautioned against performing acts of charity for the wrong reasons:
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1

Generosity should never be a tool to seek validation or soothe a guilty conscience. Spirit-led giving, balanced with financial stewardship, honors God and builds peace in our lives.

Cultivating Financial Self-Control

So how do we grow in self-control? It starts with intentional, Spirit-led living. Self-control is not self-generated discipline alone; it’s a fruit of the Spirit cultivated through prayer, wisdom, and surrender to God’s guidance.

Paul highlights this quality as essential for believers:
“For the grace of God… teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Titus 2:11–12

And Peter reminds us to actively pursue it:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control…”
2 Peter 1:5–6

Here are some practical, biblical steps to develop financial self-control:

  1. Ask God to transform your perspective on money.
    “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
  2. Seek wisdom to establish a spending and giving plan.
    “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” (James 1:5)
  3. Let the Holy Spirit direct your charitable giving beyond your tithe.
    “You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.” (Exodus 25:2)
  4. Pause before making unplanned financial decisions. Ask yourself:
    • Why do I want to spend or give this money?
      • Am I meeting a true need or reacting impulsively?
      • What adjustments will I need to make if I use this money now?
      • Is this Spirit-led or emotionally driven?

If the decision aligns with wisdom and biblical stewardship, adjust your budget accordingly, ensuring you’re not sacrificing long-term stability for a temporary impulse.

The Reward of Self-Control

As you consistently practice self-control in both spending and giving, it will become easier and more natural. The reward isn’t deprivation — it’s peace of mind, financial freedom, and the joy of being a faithful steward of God’s resources.

Self-control guards us against debt, stress, and the temptation to find our identity in material things or the approval of others. And it positions us to give generously in ways that truly honor God.

May we ask the Lord daily to help us exercise self-control, trusting Him to meet our needs and lead us in wise, Spirit-directed generosity.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what areas of your finances do you find it hardest to practice self-control? How can you invite God into those decisions?
  2. Have you ever struggled with giving impulsively or for the wrong reasons? How can you better discern when and how to give?
  3. What practical steps can you take this week to grow in self-control regarding your spending, saving, or giving habits?
  4. Think of a time when practicing financial self-control brought you peace or helped someone else. How did it impact your relationship with God or others?
  5. How might growing in self-control influence other areas of your life, such as your relationships, time management, or health habits?

The Reward of Faithfulness: Trusting God with Your Money

Faithfulness is the seventh fruit of the Spirit. It’s about being reliable, trustworthy, and true to our word. God is faithful to meet our needs when we trust Him, and He expects us to be faithful in return. As Christians, we should be known for our faithfulness—whether in keeping promises, being punctual, or fulfilling our commitments.

When it comes to our finances, we demonstrate faithfulness by using the resources God has entrusted to us in ways that align with His purposes. This includes faithfully supporting the church, helping those in need, and fulfilling our financial obligations.

Faithfulness in Tithing

One of the clearest ways we show financial faithfulness is through tithing. God expects us to give a portion of what He has blessed us with to support the ministry of the local church. This principle is outlined in Malachi 3:8-12, where God says:

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” said the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

In this passage, God makes it clear that withholding our tithes is considered robbery, and the result is lack and hardship. But when we are faithful to bring our tithes into the storehouse, God promises to pour out blessings beyond what we can imagine. Not only that, but He will protect our resources from destruction.

Tithing supports the work of the church, and this was a practice established long ago. In Leviticus 18:21, Moses commanded the Israelites to bring their tithes to support the Levites, who were responsible for the temple work. This principle is reaffirmed in the New Testament in Hebrews 7:5, where it says, “those who are of the sons of Levi…have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law.”

Faithfulness in Doing Charitable Deeds

In addition to tithing, God also calls us to use our resources to help those in need. Throughout Scripture, God commands His people to care for widows, orphans, and the poor. In Deuteronomy 15:11, Moses said:

“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”

This command is echoed in Malachi 3:5, where God promises judgment on those who neglect the poor, widows, and orphans, placing such neglect alongside sins like sorcery and adultery. In the New Testament, James reinforces the importance of caring for those in need when he writes, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Being faithful in our finances means using what we’ve been given to care for those less fortunate, following God’s heart for the needy and reflecting His love in tangible ways.

Faithfulness in Fulfilling Obligations

God also expects us to be faithful in fulfilling our financial obligations. This includes paying our debts, taxes, and wages owed to those who work for us. Scripture is clear about this in several places. Psalm 37:21 warns:

“The wicked borrows and does not repay.”

As Christians, we are called to be trustworthy in all our dealings, including financial ones. Romans 13:7 tells us to “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

We’re also reminded in both the Old and New Testaments to pay those who work for us in a timely manner. Leviticus 19:13 commands:

“You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.”

James 5:4 echoes this principle:

“Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord.”

Being faithful in paying what we owe is not just a matter of legal obligation—it’s a reflection of our integrity and our trust in God’s provision.

Promised Rewards for Faithfulness

Jesus teaches that those who are faithful with what they’ve been given will be rewarded. In Luke 19, He tells a parable about a master who entrusts ten servants with minas (a form of money) and asks them to do business with it while He is away. When the master returns, He rewards the servants based on how they handled the money entrusted to them. The one who earned the greatest return is praised:

“Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17).

When we are faithful with our finances, not only will we be blessed in this life, but God will give us greater opportunities to serve Him and further His kingdom. Financial faithfulness leads to spiritual growth and greater responsibility in God’s work.

Conclusion

Faithfulness in our finances is a reflection of our trust in God and our commitment to His purposes. Whether it’s through tithing, helping those in need, or fulfilling our obligations, God calls us to be faithful stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us. As we demonstrate faithfulness in our finances, we can trust that God will meet our needs and reward our obedience.

Discussion Questions:

  • How have you experienced God’s faithfulness in your finances? Have there been times when you’ve trusted Him with your finances, even in challenging circumstances?
  • What does faithfulness in tithing look like in your life? How can you practice faithful giving to your local church?
  • How can you be more intentional in using your resources to care for those in need?
  • Are there any financial obligations that you need to fulfill more faithfully? How can you prioritize those commitments?

Goodness and Money: How Practicing Goodness Can Transform Your Finances

Goodness is the next fruit of the Spirit. While it includes acts of kindness, goodness goes beyond that—it encompasses honesty, fairness, and always choosing to do the right thing.

We display goodness when we use our financial resources to demonstrate God’s goodness and direct others toward Him. To embody goodness, we must first acknowledge that only God is truly good, and that all goodness flows from Him.

God is Good, and He Provides for Us by His Goodness

God is inherently good, and He blesses His children with good things. Recognizing God’s goodness in our lives is key to understanding how we should use our finances. We must thank Him daily for His faithfulness. Psalm 34:8 reminds us:

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

1 Chronicles 16:34 echoes this truth:

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

Psalm 107 starts with an invitation to give thanks for God’s goodness:

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (verse 1)

The chapter goes on to highlight how God demonstrates His goodness: He redeems us, protects us, provides for us, heals us, and lifts us out of distress. The psalmist concludes with the call to reflect on God’s loving deeds:

“Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” (Psalm 107:43)

Jeremiah 33:9 further illustrates how God’s provision is rooted in His goodness:

“Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.”

God Is Pleased When We Do Good

We honor God when we do good for others, especially by sharing the blessings He has given us. Hebrews 13:16 tells us:

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Demonstrating goodness points others to God’s love. 1 John 3:17-18 challenges us:

“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Loving in deed means that we share what God has entrusted to us, including our finances. Failing to do so, particularly when it comes to caring for those in need, is a missed opportunity to reflect God’s love. James 4:17 says:

“Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

Proverbs 21:13 offers a stern warning:

“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”

Being Good Points Others to God

Jesus taught His followers in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We let our light shine when we share our resources and show goodness to others. Paul also encouraged the Galatians to persist in doing good:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

The harvest we reap by doing good will be souls added to God’s kingdom—a true treasure in Heaven.

Conclusion

God has been incredibly good to us, and He expects us to reflect His goodness by doing good for others, especially when it involves sharing our financial resources. By following God’s example, we can trust that He will meet all our needs.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Recognizing God’s Goodness:
    How have you experienced God’s goodness in your life recently? How does recognizing His goodness impact the way you manage your finances?
  2. The Role of Finances in Showing Goodness:
    In what ways can our financial decisions reflect God’s goodness to others? Can you think of a time when you were able to use your resources to bless someone else?
  3. Sharing and Generosity:
    1 John 3:17-18 challenges us to love in deed and truth. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate God’s love through our financial resources, particularly in times of need?
  4. The Connection Between Goodness and Obedience:
    James 4:17 tells us that failing to do the good we know we should do is a sin. How does this verse challenge you to reconsider your approach to generosity and caring for others?
  5. God’s Provision and Trusting Him:
    Jeremiah 33:9 speaks about God’s goodness leading to prosperity. How does trusting in God’s provision influence your decisions about managing money and sharing with others?
  6. Persevering in Doing Good:
    Galatians 6:9-10 encourages us to continue doing good, especially for those in the faith. How do you stay motivated to keep doing good when you feel weary or discouraged, especially when it comes to financial giving?
  7. A Life That Points Others to God:
    Matthew 5:16 says we should let our good works shine before others to glorify God. How can we intentionally use our finances to point others to Christ, both within and outside the church community?
  8. Reflecting on Personal Action:
    As you reflect on your current financial situation, how can you align your use of money more closely with God’s goodness? Is there a specific change or action God is calling you to make?

Joy and Money: Embracing Contentment Through Generosity

The second fruit of the Spirit listed is joy—a word often associated with gladness and delight. While joy is frequently tied to specific events, such as a parent celebrating their child’s graduation, this type of joy tends to be temporary, fading as circumstances change.

True joy, however, is different. It is internal, unshaken by life’s ups and downs, and is a gift from God. As Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When it comes to finances, joy plays a critical role in how we handle money. Let’s explore a few ways joy connects to our financial lives.

Joy in Knowing God Is Our Provider

Knowing that God is our provider should bring us great joy. Jesus reminded His disciples not to worry about life’s necessities, assuring them that God would meet their needs. As He said in Matthew 6:25-26, “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

During times of financial stress, it’s easy to let worry steal our joy. But in these moments, remembering God’s past faithfulness can restore our peace. I can personally attest to this—when my husband was laid off, and our income dramatically decreased, my first thought was that God would provide. Even in uncertainty, I felt joy and peace knowing He was in control.

When you face financial challenges, take your needs to God in prayer. Jesus promised, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

Joy from Helping Others

There’s also joy in sharing our resources with those in need. Acts 20:35 teaches, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” If you’ve ever helped someone less fortunate—whether providing a meal for the hungry or offering relief after a disaster—you’ve likely experienced the satisfaction and joy that comes from easing someone else’s burden.

God calls us to care for the poor and promises to bless those who obey. Deuteronomy 15:10 says, “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” This promise should fill your heart with joy, knowing that your generosity brings blessings.

Furthermore, God delights in those who give with a cheerful heart. As 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 reminds us, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Future Joy for Faithfulness

We also look forward to the joy of future rewards in heaven for our faithfulness in giving. Jesus taught that we should store up treasures in heaven by being generous on earth. As He said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

When we care for others, we are building treasure in heaven. Jesus further emphasized this in Matthew 25:31-36, explaining that when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and care for prisoners, we are serving Him. These acts of kindness lead to eternal rewards and deepen our joy in Christ.

Finding Joy Through Generosity

As we trust God to provide for our needs and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in giving, we experience true joy. This joy is not found in accumulating wealth, but in living out God’s call to be generous and compassionate. When we honor God with our finances, we discover contentment and peace, no matter our circumstances.

6 Questions to Ask to Identify Your Perfect Job

“I hate my job,” a friend told me recently. Her feelings reached beyond a typical bad day scenario. She dislikes the work that she is doing and the people at work. A study by the Pew Research Center in the spring of last year revealed that half of workers are highly satisfied with their jobs. That means that the other half are not. And 19% of workers reported being miserable in their careers.  My friend fell into that 19% of people who are miserable in their jobs.

For many people, like my friend, their work is just a paycheck to provide for themselves. She can not articulate what she would enjoy doing, complicating her situation. She is not alone. 

If you do the work God has called you to do, you will not be miserable. Of course, you will have stressful days, but generally, you should feel fulfilled by your work. If you are miserable, you can take steps to figure out what God created you to do.

God demonstrates through stories in the Bible that He has a plan for each of us. God created us with unique abilities, temperaments, interests, and talents. In Exodus 31, God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle, and He provided the names of two specific artisans whom He had filled with the knowledge to do specific jobs. The craftsmen had different skills, and they could oversee all the specialized work together. When God set the Levites apart to be priests, He assigned different jobs to different Levite families. In the New Testament, Paul tells us that God created some people to be evangelists, some to be prophets, and some to be teachers, among other callings. 

God also created you to do specific work. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

To help my friend, I turned to “The Purpose Drive Life” by Rick Warren. He suggests several questions that a person should ask themselves to help them determine their purpose. I made a list of the questions from the book to help my friend consider other job options as she prays and seeks the Lord’s guidance.

Here are 6 questions Rick Warren suggests to help you determine your purpose:

  1. What were your favorite family experiences? Favorite memories?
  2. What were your favorite subjects in school?
  3. What jobs have you had that you enjoyed or found meaningful?
  4. What are the most memorable times you have had with God?
  5. What Christian service/ministries have you enjoyed?
  6. What have you learned from your life’s problems, challenges, hurts, and trials?

God wants you to get up excited to face each day. Your job should be more than a way to get a paycheck. It should give you joy and satisfaction knowing that you are where God intended you to be, doing the work He created you to do.

The path to finding your purpose is not an overnight journey. It would help if you took the time to answer the questions and also ask your closest friends and family to help you evaluate what you enjoy. Ultimately, it is for you to decide with God’s help. 

Now is an excellent time to begin searching for a new path. 

Honoring God with Your Money in 2024

The new year will arrive in two days. With a new year, comes a chance for new beginnings and fresh starts.  I encourage you to make a commitment in 2024 to follow the Lord’s leading in all that you do. Obeying the Lord in all things will result in spiritual growth, better mental and physical health, more joy, and less stress, including less financial stress.

Honoring God with Your Money

Plan now to reduce your financial stress in the coming year by honoring God with your money.  Here are some steps to help you.

  1. Acknowledge that all you have has been given to you by God. God gives you the ability to work and earn a living. ”And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:18
  2. Tithe. God asks each of us to return ten percent of what we earn for the work of the church. God promises to bless those who are obedient to tithe. “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.'”  Malachi 3:10
  3. Live below your means. Living below your means will allow you to pay off existing debt and put some money aside for emergencies.
  4. Make a budget and do your best to stick to it.  Include your spouse and children.  Everyone needs to be committed to the budget, or you will not be able to maintain it. Set reasonable amounts of money for entertainment and recreation.
  5. Start saving, even if is only a small amount. Develop a regular habit of putting aside a little bit from each paycheck. Make it automatic by having your savings directly deposited before you get your paycheck.
  6. Designate some money to help out those less fortunate than you.  Don’t try to outgive others, but give within your means as led by the Lord. He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9
  7. Trust in the Lord.  Those who put their trust in money, jobs, or the government will be disappointed. Only God can meet all your needs.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3: 5, 6
  8. Seek guidance from godly financial experts.  Completing my Bible study, Honoring God with Your Money, is a great way to start the year.  There are many other resources available from Crown Financial Ministries (crown.org) and Dave Ramsey (DaveRamsey.com).  Find tools that work for you and use them.