We’re Debt Free!

Two and a half years and over fifty thousand dollars and we are finally debt free except for our mortgage. To some it might sound like no big deal or to others it may seem like bragging, but to Torrey and I, it's the most significant hurdle we have overcome and only by the grace of God.

Three years ago, I was barely able to pay my bills let alone tithe and give to others. I was 34 years old and had almost $25,000 in credit card debt. Not a proud moment in my life but it's the truth. When Torrey and I decided to get married we knew it had to be by God's rules and not our own. That included our finances. What had to happen was a heart transformation that would put my total trust in God for his provision and blessing.

So I sold the car that I loved and started driving an older car that had belonged to my mother but it was paid for. God put this idea on my heart to ask a dear friend if she minded a roommate until I got married 5 months later. I had never had a roommate before so this was new to me but she immediately said yes!! I paid very little rent as Torrey and I saved to pay for our wedding in cash.

While we were engaged, Torrey and I attended the Crown Ministries class at Victory (www.crown.org). This was more than a financial stewardship class. It was a heart transforming lesson on what the word of God says about how he desires for us to handle all that he has given us to manage; time, money, our jobs, future children, investments and so much more. This was the foundation.

First and foremost, we faithfully and cheerfully tithed and put ourselves on a budget and did not stray from it.
We made sacrifices that were sometimes hard but we never went without food, shelter or the basic needs. We sacrificed travel, entertainment, eating out, new clothes and sometimes ate peanut butter and jelly during the last week of the month when the food budget was gone. If something came up and it was not in the budget, we did not buy it.

But God was always there. We have had a lot of fun in these last few years. I have won tickets to concerts and sporting events, and people have given us tickets to events and blessed us in many ways. We were able to have people to our house to eat on many occasions. Our hearts desire was to go on a mission trip to Mexico, a first for both of us. We were left with only 3 weeks to try to raise the money and a few days before the trip, we were blessed with the exact amount we needed to go plus a little spending money. We also found that things were going well for us. Our cars did not break down. We were not sick or things around the house were maintained and in good shape.

Now we are following the sound financial advice of Dave Ramsey from his book "Total Money Makeover". This is a book that provides sound, common sense advice with a Christian value system. A theme in his book is "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else." Our goal is to be "supernatural sowers" in God's Kingdom as my husband says!

We don’t know the plan that God has for our life yet, but we want to be ready to carry it out when we are called. Our journey so far has shown us that God is faithful and being obedient to His calling reaps huge rewards for the greater good.

Amy & Torrey Edwards

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