the 7th year

Happy Anniversary to BJ & I! It was seven years ago today on a beach in Florida we exchanged our vows and committed to spend our lives together. It’s been a crazy ride, full of valleys & mountain peaks and three kiddos to testify to it all. I, and I don’t think he, would change a thing (except for maybe the balding, gray hair & weight gain…but besides that 🙂

On to a little more serious note–those of you who knows us well already know this. Those of you who don’t, I just ask you to respect my vulnerability and not judge. Over our seven years, we have accumulated some debt and it has weighed heavily on us, especially BJ as the provider. Through Dave Ramsey and Jim Sammons dvd seminar, Financial Freedom, it was made extremely clear to us a couple of years ago we need to be completely out of debt–when we say completely, we mean completely. No house loan, no car loan–NOTHING! I’ll be honest and say I’m not sure if this is for everyone, although Jim Sammons provides some strong biblical evidence to support that–but none the less, for us, this is the case.

This commitment to not borrow and pay down debts has been tested at our every turn. Especially when BJ’s truck broke down and we were left asking, “What now, God?” There’s a lot to this story, but to sum it up, here is the breakdown.

conversation between bj & I:

“So, BJ, I just want to be clear…we’re waiting on a miracle?”

“Yes.”

(miracle to us meant big tax refund, significant side job, etc.)

5 minutes later while on the phone with my dad

dad: “BJ, I’ve got a deal for you. Dad (my grandpa) left his truck to me (he just went into the nursing home)–do you want it?”

bj: “Wow. Yes, I do. Let me pay you for it, do something.”

dad: “Nope. I don’t need it. I already have two trucks. What am I going to do with the money.”

bj: “Paul, I don’t know what to say. We appreciate it more than we could ever say.”

dad: “That’s why you got it.”

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!! Amazing–God is amazing!! A 2004 extended cab PICKUP–I’ve prayed for years BJ could have a truck (you remember the years of him driving the firebird as his “work truck”. Beyond our wildest dreams.

Rewind a couple of months before that. I was praying one morning and this is the verse God led me to:

Deut. 15:1-2

1At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed.

Then God showed me–this is our SEVENTH year of marriage! He’s going to help us pay off our debts. We are NOT expecting cancellation, though we’d take it in a heartbeat. We want to be faithful with our money and believe God will provide the funds to do that.

TODAY, on our anniversary, I was able to tell BJ we are able to pay off one of our debts, the most burdensome one to him–PAY IT OFF!! On the 7th year morning!!! Even cooler, monies to pay off the debt were supposed to come in a few days ago, but they didn’t. I was frustrated, discouraged. But GOD KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING! He waited until this morning–our anniversary–for me to be able to surprise BJ with this news. He is so faithful!!

So, happy anniversary to us. You are a good, good God.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True” Rev. 19:11

links to dave ramsey & jim sammons stuff:

http://www.daveramsey.com http://www.visionforum.com/search/productdetail.aspx?search=financial+freedom&productid=41860