Rubber hits the road when believers begin discussing faith and finances. We trust the Lord in many areas, but with our pocket book too? Time has not changed the thinking of man much since Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler in Mark 10. We are willing to teach Sunday school, yet can we trust God with our finances to the point of tithing and giving from the first-fruits of our income?  Is the God of the universe really powerful enough to meet the needs of my family?  I can give Him my soul, but can I trust Him to provide for the doctor bill, too?
  Statistics say world-wide believers give 1.8 percent of their income to church and para-church organizations. In the U.S., the percentage of income tithed is lower, just 1.78%. This is a sad reality when America is considered the wealthiest nation on earth. The enemy has distracted and deceived us into thinking our prosperity is of our own making for our own pleasures.
   I have to admit that tithing is not something I've always understood or practiced. If you do not understand it,  allow God  to teach you. God asks us  to trust Him with 10% of our income and in turn this opens the door for Him to bless the 90% left in our hands. Tithing is about God's lordship in our lives. When His lordship is recognized we begin giving Him our first fruits of anything, including money.
  Mike Hayes in his book God's Law of First Things gives a wonderful demonstration of first fruits and tithing in this word picture:   
  Lay 10 dimes in a row on a table in front of you. Hayes says, "Ask two questions. First, if these coins represented my income this week, how many coins do I owe God as my tithe? One, correct. Every Christian knows that, but the revelation is contained in the answer to the next question. Which coin represents my tithe?"
  The answer is the first dime. The remaining coins are blessed by God because of what is done with the first one. 
  This month we look at faith and finances not from the point of view of bankers or analysts. We are just women who have made financial mistakes and know God's powerful hand in our lives when He has complete control. We share with you our struggles and wisdom learned from hard experiences. And, we believe the words of Jesus, "nothing is impossible with God."
  We want to hear your testimonies of tithing and God's faithfulness at our new blog, Mentoring Moments Chat.   If you have questions, come on over and ask those too!
  Blessings,
  Kellie
  Kellie Renfroe

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Contentment
Molly Evert
  Paul taught that "godliness with contentment is great gain." Yet, Christian women often struggle to be content. In this challenging and encouraging podcast, Molly shares about her journey to contentment in several areas which women will identify: marriage, children, homemaking, body image, and finances. Contentment.

Save Money When Eating Out
Kellie Renfroe
  As a mother of four, eating out can be costly for my family. Here are tips to saving money. Save Money When Eating Out.

The Grocery Game
Molly Evert
  Would you like to cut your grocery bill in half? That's what Molly has done and in this article she shares exactly how you can too! The Grocery Game.

Do You Wear the Hat of Hospitality?
Laura Leathers
  Everyday a woman wears many different hats but under all of the many hats she may wear, is the beautiful hidden hat of hospitality. Have you discovered your grandest hat of all? Do You Wear the Hat of Hospitality?

No Fuss Easter Menu
Loi Palmer
  Make this Easter dinner as easy as possible on yourself. Several of these recipes can be made ahead so less time is spent in the kitchen cooking on Easter.
  Ham or Fried Chicken. For easy clean-up and a juicy ham, use baking bags found on the isle with the plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Fried chicken from Wal-Mart is always a great option. Call on Saturday to reserve a box of chicken; they often sell out. If your family will only eat white meat, the chicken fingers work great. Plan on two to three chicken fingers for each person.

   Peach Delight  This can be made a day in advance.

   String Beans     The string beans can be cooking while you are at church.

   Twice-Baked Potato Casserole  This wonderful casserole can be made in advance.

   Spinach Salad

   Biscuits  Mrs. B's biscuits are fantastic and found in the freezer section of the grocery store.

  Caramel Cake

Preparing for the Storm
Beba Schlottmann
  How do we prepare for financial storms in our lives? Beba shares how the Lord led her family to tackle debt in preparation for 'such a time as this.' Her advice and a look at what scripture has to say will be an encouragement to anyone going through a financial storm. Preparing for the Storm

Tithing? My Husband is an Unbeliever
Lori Lauth
  How does a woman married to an unsaved husband tithe to God and honor her husband? Lori explains how she tithes with an unbelieving husband. Tithing and an Unbelieving Husband.

February Book Reviews
  Looking for a good book? MMCW reviews three books on the subject of finances, tithing, and giving this month:
Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach
God's Law of First Things by Mike Hayes
As You Sow: The Adventure of Giving by Faith by Bill Bright
Book Reviews

Servant Leadership: A Different Perspective
Diane Hale
  Do you have the heart of a servant in a position of leadership? Diane shares from Genesis 26:12 a picture of servant leadership.
Servant Leadership: A Different Perspective

Spreading the Joy of Easter

Looking for a way to reach out to friends and loved ones who may not know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Here are some easy ideas to introduce the Easter story this holiday:

  * I read about someone who kept a basket of nails by her front door. When someone came to visit, such as a delivery man or a friend, she would give them a nail and point out that they should carry it as a reminder of the nails Jesus took for us. ~ Stephanie Little

  * Prepare an Easter basket with baked goodies for work and place in the break or conference room. Attach a brochure, bookmark, or flyer that tells the Easter story to the basket. ~ Beba Schlottmann

  * Host a neighborhood Easter Egg hunt and hide the resurrection eggs, in with the others. Once the eggs are found, gather the children and have them open the eggs while you tell the Easter story using the resurrection eggs. The parents will often stand around and listen as well. It's a wonderful way to share the Gospel and to reach out to those around us. ~ Stephanie Little

I was wondering if you could recommend any really good Bible studies for the 20ish age group. I am just beginning to mentor a young woman this age and I'm looking for something we can study. Any suggestions? ~ Laurie

Patti Hummel recommends Soul Craving by Joel Warne
Laura Leathers recommends Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock, Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, any books by Elizabeth George, Susan Hunt, and Martha Peace.
Lori Lauth recommends Breaking Free by Beth Moore and The Kings Daughter by Diana Hagee.

My husband's aunt just asked for my opinion on a good Christian women's magazine she could give as a gift. I told her about your e-zine, but the person she has in mind does not have computer access. Is there a magazine in print that you can recommend? ~ Sara

Two great magazines Rita Stone Smith recommends are Spirit-Led Woman and Today's Christian Woman.
Laura Leathers recommends A Woman of Worth, a quarterly journal and cookbook published by Melissa Ringstaff, Proverbs31 Magazine, and Just Between Us magazine with editor Jill Briscoe.
Beba Schlottmann likes both Fresh Outlook and Charisma magazine.

Send your comments and questions to Mentoringmoments@aol.com
Visit our new Mentoring Moments Chat Blog at mentoringblog.mentoringmoments.net

  Budgeting, scheduling, and organizing are essential for making life run smoothly. But, even the most detailed plan means nothing unless it is in the will of the Ultimate Planner, Jesus Christ. God's Word says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He is the One who holds the future. Have you met Him?
  Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and He has always had a plan for your life. His plan included coming to this earth and dying to pay the price for your sin. He loved you even before you were born. He wants you to know Him. All He asks is that you examine your heart, admit that you have sinned and that you need Him as your Savior. Ask Him, through prayer, to come into your life and forgive you of those sins...
  "God, I want to call you my Father and have an eternal relationship with You. I acknowledge that my sin has separated me from You. I understand that Jesus was the supreme sacrafice and shed His blood on the cross for my sin. I am grateful that Jesus conquered Satan and rose from the dead. I am now choosing to put my trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to become one of your children. Thank you for opening my spiritual eyes to my lost condition and drawing me to Yourself."
  The moment you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He opens His loving arms and draws you into the family of God. He accepts you totally and completely. You do not have to understand it all. You are His child. You have started a new life in Christ. Now, go share your good news with your spouse, a friend, or family member and of course us too! We want to rejoice with you!