struggling

The last month or so has been tough. We are having a hard time finding the balance between life right now, knowing it may not be here tomorrow, and applying all our energy to paying off our debt.

We have been seeing our pastor for about a year now, just to help us with typical (and some not so typical) issues we have been going through. At one of our meetings, we laid out our entire financial situation. One question we struggle with is how much to be giving as our offering. Even though we have given more this year than all other years we have been married combined, it's still very small in comparison to what we put out each month on bills and debt. His answer was simple and complicated at the same time. He said we needed to evaluate our heart and pray about it, making sure we were giving for the right reasons and putting God first. He also reminded us that we WOULD eventually get out of debt, but that in the 2 or 3 years it will take us, our offerings could be helping to spread the gosple and save souls.

This process has been about so much more then just math. It's forcing us to evaluate our entire life and to be honest, we are struggling with it. I want to do it all RIGHT NOW. I want to give to church, I want to get out of debt, I want to enjoy life with the kids and I hate having to say no to so many family events. So where do you draw the line? What should your money go to first and how much? These are questions we will continue to pray about and with the Lord guiding us, we will find the right answers.
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