Christian Finance Blog
Spiritually Prosperous, Financially Rich!

You can download a free copy of TaxCut Premium software here. (Edit: this no longer works. It was for the 2006 edition but here are six ways to file for free.)
So if you haven’t started your taxes yet or don’t want to buy some tax software, just download this free version! When you [...]

    
Continue as you read with me through the book of Proverbs for March Madness! Today’s chapter is chapter 18! Read it, then come back for some commentary!
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 8: It is as hard to refuse to listen to gossip as it is to turn down a delicious dessert. Taking just [...]

      
Read Proverbs chapter 17, then come back here!
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 3: It takes intense heat to purify gold and silver. Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for the Christian to be purified. Through trials, God shows us what is in us and clears out anything that gets in [...]

I just got my federal income tax refund direct deposited today! I got a “whopping” $202, which is pretty small compared to the average tax refund this year of $2,423, according to the IRS! I’m still waiting for my state refund, which is supposed to be $179.
If you haven’t already started on your 2006 taxes, [...]

      
Read Proverbs chapter 16 and then come back here for the commentary!
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 1: This verse can be understood to mean that the final outcome of plans we make is in God’s hands. If this is so, why make plans? In doing God’s will, there must be partnership between [...]

      
You guys know the drill. Read Proverbs chapter 15 with me today!
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 1: Have you ever tried to argue in a whisper? It is equally hard to argue with someone who insists on answering gently. On the other hand, a rising voice and harsh words almost always trigger [...]

     
Today’s March Madness chapter is Proverbs chapter 14!
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 4: When a farmer has no oxen, the stable will be clean, but he will be unable to make a living. The only way to keep your life free of people problems is to keep it free of people. But [...]

      
Read Proverbs chapter 13 for today!
From the Life Application Bible :
Verse 3: You have not mastered self-control if you do not control what you say. Words can cut and destroy. James recognized this truth when he stated, “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do” (James 3:5). [...]

      
Today’s chapter is Proverbs chapter 12.
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 1: If you don’t want to learn, years schooling will teach you very little. But if you want to be taught, there is no end to what you can learn. This includes being willing to accept discipline and correction and to learn [...]

I ran across an interesting CNN article on emergency savings.
Here are the vital statistics:
Only 40% of Americans have a separate savings for emergencies
Only 19% of those aged 18-24 have separate emergency funds
Only 23% of people with less than $25,000 in annual household income have them
31% of African Americans and 32 percent of Hispanics have them
58% [...]

      
Read Proverbs chapter 11 for today!
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 4: “The day of judgment” refers to when we die or to the time when God settles accounts with all people. On judgment day, each of us will stand alone, accountable for all our deeds. At that time, no amount of riches [...]

Don’t forget. Daylight Savings starts tonight! Make sure you remember to push your clocks forward one hour so you won’t be late for church! An easy way to remember whether or not to go forward or backwards: spring forward, fall back.

      
Today’s reading is Proverbs chapter 10.
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 2: Some people bring unhappiness on themselves by choosing ill-gotten gain. For example, craving satisfaction, they may do something that destroys their chances of ever achieving happiness. God’s principles for right living bring lasting happiness, because they guide us into long-term right [...]

    
Today’s chapter is Proverbs chapter 9! Read it!
From the Life Application Bible:
Verse 1: The seven pillars are figurative; they do not represent seven principles of wisdom. In the Bible, the number seven represents completeness and perfection. This verse poetically states that wisdom lacks nothing – it is complete and perfect.
Verse 1ff: Wisdom and [...]