January 30, 2025 • 30 mins
Discover how faith and finance can become your guiding light on the path to financial freedom. Join Shay Cook, alongside her insightful guest, Janessa Siegel from Crusaders for Change, as they unravel the profound impact of setting clear financial goals through a faith-based perspective. Together, they explore the transformative journey from financial stress to empowerment, emphasizing the critical role of stewardship and divine guidance in crafting a solid financial plan. Janessa's insights offer practical steps to financial planning, as personal stories illustrate the remarkable shift from mere dreaming to purposeful action.
The episode doesn't stop there; it digs into the heart of financial planning and goal-setting as essential tools for lasting stability. Budgeting emerges as a powerful ally, bringing clarity to spending habits and encouraging honest dialogues about what we all can truly afford. They reflect on the significance of maintaining an emergency fund, highlighting the role of faith and patience as you work towards financial abundance. By sharing personal experiences and biblical wisdom, we're reminded of the limitless possibilities that arise when dreams are nurtured with faith and diligent preparation. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that equips you with the tools to align your financial aspirations with your spiritual journey.
💸⛪🕍📿💵
Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Shay (00:02):
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money
come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an AccreditedFinancial Counselor and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
(00:24):
saving, and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Hey everyone.
Welcome back to another episodeof Yahweh's Money.
I have a special guest herewith us today, Ms.
Janessa Siegel, one of ourCrusaders for Change financial
counselors.
How are you today, Janessa?
Janessa (00:44):
I am doing well, can't complain, trying to stay warm.
Shay (00:49):
Amen, same here.
I did not go outside todaybecause I was in Annapolis.
Yesterday it was nine degreeshere in Maryland and my feet
were frozen because I was notlike everyone else had boots on.
I put flats on so I could becomfortable, I know, and then my
feet, as soon as I stepped outof the car, I was frozen.
So but you know, it's all good,I'm here.
So God is good.
So it's a new year and aperfect time to take control of
(01:14):
your finances.
Today we're diving into thepower of planning and how
setting clear financial goalscan make this your most
successful year yet.
So stick around as we explorehow budgeting can transfer your
financial stress into financialfreedom.
So in Proverbs 16 (01:29):
9, it says "The heart of a man plans his
way, but the Lord establisheshis steps.
" So amen to that.
I think this really shows usthat planning is essential, but
we have to remain open to God'sguidance.
I mean, what do you mean,Janessa?
Really?
Janessa (01:47):
Right, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Always be open to the guidanceand the clarity on where to go
and how to be a good steward ofyour money?
Shay (01:59):
Exactly, yeah, cause God owns all of this right.
We're just stewards.
And I remember when I wasworking for Walter Reed years
ago and an army base former armybase here and one of my
colleagues at the time he keptusing in our blogs and articles
to the service members stewardsand I don't know something about
that word kind of drove me likecrazy.
(02:20):
I remember actually because Iwas his supervisor at the time
and I was like we need to getrid of that, that's too churchy,
right.
But then as I got older Istarted to understand
stewardship and how we're justmanaging things Like God is here
, he's the author, he is theprovider, he is where it comes
from, he owns this.
So I love that word.
Steward had to add that inthere?
Janessa (02:42):
Yes, indeed, I love it.
Shay (02:44):
So why does planning matter?
So really, planning createscontrol in your life, right?
I mean it helps you understandthat discipline, that
self-control I always say thatsacrifice around the planning so
you can really understand wherethings are going and how your
money's coming in, how yourmoney's going out.
I mean planning is key.
Janessa (03:04):
Absolutely Without having some form of a plan, it's
very easy for things to kind ofget chaotic and to feel out of
control, and so having a plancan help you one feel in control
, of course, but also give you aclear picture of where you want
to go and help you accomplishyour goals, because it's hard to
accomplish something when youdon't know the steps to you know
(03:26):
get there.
Shay (03:27):
So and how many people have you met that you're like,
uh, I'm like I don't want tolook a year beyond.
I don't want to look beyond ayear.
I don't.
What are you talking about?
I just want to focus on today,you know, and I don't want to
even think about year, two years, five years 10 years with
(03:52):
planning.
Do you deal with those kind ofclients?
Janessa (03:53):
Oh, all the time, all the time.
It is pretty interesting howmuch um many people want to
avoid planning, because I thinkit becomes overwhelming
sometimes.
And I, what I try to tellpeople is like well, planning
allows you to um, have a clearpicture of what you want to do
and put it into reality.
Because we have Ms.
, we want to do something, wewant to accomplish things, but
without an actual, clear path,it's going to be very difficult
(04:17):
to accomplish that.
And there's just a lot ofpeople who want to dream, but to
make the dream a reality,they're like oh, I don't know, I
don't want to look at this, Idon't want to check this, or
this Ms.
like too much and I'm like itdoesn't have to be.
Shay (04:34):
It doesn't have to be.
Janessa (04:35):
Yeah, let's see where we want to go.
Let's make a plan and then takeit step by step.
Shay (04:40):
I remember, when I was in my twenties, my mom and dad
actually it was my mom andhusband, boyfriend, I think at a
time we were sitting at ourtable at my parents' house and
they're like she's such adreamer.
I remember coming back yearslater like I was dreaming.
But look at all them things Iaccomplished, because not only
was I a dreamer, I had a plan, Ihad goals and I was working
towards it.
(05:01):
I always seem to surpass all ofmy goals within a time that I,
you know, I'd be like oh, I'mgoing to accomplish this in five
years.
I accomplished it in two years,thank God, you know.
But I always had a plan.
So I used to hate on me being adreamer, but I was not only a
dreamer, I was a doer, right?
So I would get things done anda lot of people are stuck in the
dream state and not moving intothe doer state people are stuck
(05:25):
in the dream state and notmoving into the doer state.
Janessa (05:28):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Shay (05:28):
And I think a lot of people don't know where to start
with the planning either.
Janessa (05:31):
It's like, okay, I want to do this, but what do I do
next?
Like how do I even write downthe steps?
Where do I look?
Where do I go.
So yeah, being a dreamer isgreat.
Shay (05:40):
It is, but you know.
But planning helps reducestress and freeze that mental
energy from other priorities,you know yeah, you're sitting
there and I love the right.
You know I like to brainstormand dream, but you've got to put
those clear, concrete goalsdown.
Smart goals, smart what is it?
Specific, measurable,attainable, realistic, timely.
(06:01):
They have all these differentMs.
for goal planning, but justmaking it to bite-sized pieces,
right.
Where you can accomplish those.
Janessa (06:08):
I think it's exciting.
Actually, I'm someone who getsexcited when I see the details,
because once you finish and yousee where you started and where
you came from seeing thoselittle bitty details, it's just
like wow, I really did that.
At this point.
I did this.
It gives you milestones to comeback to.
I really did that.
Yeah, at this point, I did this.
It gives you like milestones tocome back to, like I really
accomplished something that wasreally big.
Shay (06:31):
It's that statement of the elephant, you know, and only
the way to eat an elephant isone, one bite at a time.
I have a colleague thatconstantly says that to me at
meetings, at the chambers.
She's like how do we eatelephant shay?
I'm like, oh yeah one bite at atime.
Janessa (06:48):
I was talking to somebody about that metaphor and
I was like I would love for usto use less violent metaphors on
animals.
Like there's more than one wayto skin a cat, I'm like.
Shay (06:58):
So you're so right.
There's so many like why are weattacking the animals?
Man, that's crazy.
Janessa (07:02):
Yes but yes, you can.
You, you can build the pyramidsone brick at a time.
There you go.
Shay (07:10):
And it takes a lot of hands to help with that too.
Janessa (07:12):
It ain't just yourself right.
Shay (07:13):
You have to reach out to those people in your circle that
really can help you as well.
You shouldn't be doing this.
All you can't do life alone.
Janessa (07:21):
No, no, not at all.
Can't do life alone?
No, no, not at all.
That also, I think, leads me tothink about why it's important
to with the planning andincorporating, like stewardship
and financial wellness andfinancial literacy, like
planning, going into budgeting,and why that's important is
(07:41):
something that I think needs tobe talked about more, because
when an individual is at thepoint of wanting to like change
their lives, oftentimes,especially in now times, money
is a big factor, and so whenyou're looking at what you're
(08:02):
wanting to accomplish, whatyou're wanting to change or
shift, and you incorporate moneyinto that, of course, the
biggest plan with money would beyour budget, and if you're
someone who doesn't know whereto start, having that help,
having someone to possiblybounce ideas off of and thinking
of strategies with, is veryimportant so that you can
(08:23):
understand, from a budgetstandpoint, what makes sense for
what you're trying to do andfor what you currently have,
exactly Because that budget isreally just a roadmap to you
achieving your goals and helpsyou handle life's surprises
right, especially when you havethose unexpected expenses right.
Shay (08:39):
And a lot of the clients that I help, that we help, they
have those unexpected expenses.
They're like how am I going topay for this broken refrigerator
?
I mean, how am I going to payfor these tires this month?
All this stuff I wasn'tplanning for unexpected and
that's why we got to get intothe budgeting emergency savings
and stuff which we'll talk aboutin a minute.
But it really is a roadmap.
It really is.
Janessa (08:59):
You're literally telling the money where to go
Exactly.
You're like this isspecifically what it's for, this
is where you need to go, thisis what you need to do, and it
creates a very strong foundation.
I think, because I'm surprisedhow many people don't know how
much money they bring home.
Shay (09:21):
That part.
Janessa (09:22):
And how much money their bills and expenses add up
to being Like we pay it everymonth we bring home.
Well, for the most part, a lotof people bring home similar
amounts every month but becausethey don't sit down and look at
the numbers, things can reallyfeel overwhelming.
They can feel like I don't sitdown and look at the numbers.
Things can really feeloverwhelming.
They can feel like I don't makeenough money.
(09:44):
But honestly, if you're able tojust sit down and look at it,
maybe you do make enough money.
It's just you buy a door, dasha lot, or maybe majority of your
bills come out of the secondcheck and not a lot come out
your first check.
And so it feels like you don'tmake enough, and so having that
roadmap, having that foundationof where everything is going,
(10:06):
can really help get an idea ofwhat could change or should
change, but also give you a,like, long term stability.
Shay (10:15):
Exactly, and that's what God wants us.
He wants us to be responsiblefor what he gives us, and so we
can't be out here willy nillyand like he's giving you all
these blessings and you're justoverspending or you're not
planning or whatever.
You're mismanaging, beingirresponsible.
That's not what he wants fromus.
He gives us, our children, hischildren, what we need, and then
(10:37):
we're out here acting crazy andhe's like you know, and at him,
can you give us more?
He's like I'm giving you enough, but you don't know how to use
it.
So what's wrong with you?
Ain't nothing wrong with me, soyou know people are like lord.
Help me, lord, like I'm helpingyou.
You need to help yourself.
I love that.
Janessa (10:59):
I mean it's real though it is it really is like.
I think it also reminds me oflike a story of someone who
wanted to be saved and they'relike God, save me.
And then there was a plane sentand they're like no, I'm
waiting for God.
And a boat was sent.
No, I'm waiting for God.
And then they went on to gloryand then they saw God and was
(11:21):
like why didn't you sendanything?
God was like I sent you a boat,I sent you a whale, I sent you
a plane.
Shay (11:28):
I use that parable all the time, Janessa.
My daddy uses that too.
He'd be like I sent youeverything you need and you're
in heaven now, hopefully, andyou're like why you didn't save
me, like come yes, absolutely so.
Janessa (11:40):
It's also recognizing when resources are given and
when opportunities are given,use them like widen your
horizons in Ms.
of receiving the help that youneed to get to where you need to
be, and with budgeting, whoknows?
You may get some budgetingadvice from the least expected
(12:01):
person, but it could besomething that could help you a
lot.
Or working with someone who youmight not have expected would
have been a great resource, butthey actually was a phenomenal
resource.
So it's using the resourcesavailable to help you be most
successful.
Shay (12:18):
Exactly, so why?
Does budgeting matter.
Let's talk about that.
Janessa (12:22):
Yes, I mean budgeting.
I think it matters a lotbecause it gives you a visual
representation of what'simportant to you, but it also
gives you a visualrepresentation of where your
money needs to go and where ithas been going and what needs to
(12:45):
change.
It allows us to focus onsomething that is very important
, which is our resources, ourincome, and gives us more
control over it.
Especially in a society liketoday, a lot of stuff feels out
of control and it may feeloverwhelming at times, and so
(13:05):
having a budget does give youthat opportunity to control your
spending and also see if thereis lag somewhere or if you know
your life changes and you needto adjust your spending.
Your budget can help you a lotwith that.
Shay (13:22):
Yeah, exactly.
I mean and, like you said, itprovides that clarity, and I
know a lot of people just outhere they have no clue.
I mean, the money in is thatthat you know just your income
and people not knowing that.
That throws me like how do younot know how much you're getting
paid?
I'm not trying to have no shameor judgment, but it's like you
(13:43):
at least should know that, right.
But then, but you're right, andyou mentioned earlier the
doordash and uber eats, the grubhub, like all of that man, that
food budget right, especiallyduring the pandemic, and now
after, like people seem to can'tget that back under control and
maybe they never had it incontrol, but that food is out of
, and entertainment, alcohol,marijuana.
Janessa (14:04):
Now everything's free out there and everything you
know, and it's the stuff thatused to be cheaper.
It's not like people think, ifyou get fast food all the time,
you're not spending a lot ofmoney, but now, like, average
fast food meals are between fiveto ten dollars, or what?
Shay (14:23):
maybe down where you're at it's like, it's like 10 to 20
here.
I remember when a big bag waslike two, three dollars.
Now it's like I went tomcdonald's months ago or
whatever, and it was like, oh mygod, it was like 15 for a meal.
I remember back in the day it'dbe like six or seven.
Right, that's panera prices,and Panera is thirty dollars
exactly exactly it's like it'snot cheap anymore not cheap
(14:50):
anymore.
Janessa (14:51):
I'm always the type of person that likes to um, know my
options, know what I'm gettinginto and, um, when it comes to
your budget, I feel like abudget can show you your options
.
So we're talking about, like astrong financial foundation and
long-term stability.
(15:12):
Something as simple as knowinghow much you can afford in an
apartment or in rent before yousign the lease is so important,
like how many people have youworked with, moved into a new
facility and was like, well, webought a house or we just moved
into a new apartment, and now itjust Ms.
(15:34):
like we can't afford this andthat and it's just like, well,
your housing is a whole paycheck.
Yeah, exactly that wasn't lookedat before you know, signing the
lease or buying the house.
But unfortunately, when peopleare at the point of their
(15:56):
needing to move or they'rerushing or they're excited
sitting down and looking atthose things they don't really
think about as much.
So, already having a budgetestablished beforehand, you
don't have to start from scratchand making a decision, then you
already see what you haveavailable.
Shay (16:13):
And I would apply that same concept to loans for school
If you can't afford the school.
We need to have a realconversation with our kids with
ourselves, cars, all those bigpurchases where I see so many
people like well, I want to goto the Ivy League, well, I want
to go to this school, I want togo to school.
You might only can afford acommunity college or you might
(16:35):
have to work full time and go toschool.
We need to be having these realconversations.
Yeah, school is out of control.
The pricing of school is crazy.
I'm sure Lord doesn't want itto be like that.
The government, all of thatstuff is all jacked up right now
.
But what we can control is howmuch we're putting out at these
schools.
And if you can't afford that$60,000 a year school which my
(16:56):
daughter was looking at one itwas NYU and Duke and we're here
in Maryland and I was like girlgirl.
And then she was looking atHoward and that was like $45,000
.
She got in, got a scholarship.
We were really happy about thatand we were actually like, all
right, we're going to try tomake this work.
But then she chose UMBC,university of Maryland,
baltimore County.
That was $20,000-some-thousanda year and I was like, thank you
(17:19):
, jason.
Even though I wanted her to goto Howard and represent for the
HBCUs, I was like, girl, that'sexpensive, like that was $20,000
more a year and so, yeah, it'slike really sitting her down.
I was like, what can you affordLike I know you're looking at
unless you're going to get ascholarship which they don't
give out, like they used to.
(17:39):
Man, it's expensive.
And so we need to have thoseconversations about our budgets
around these long-term expensesor these bigger expenses.
Janessa (17:48):
Yes, what can you afford is such a major question
to ask that not a lot of peoplewant to ask, or they ask but
they're not actually doing thecalculations.
And the unfortunate part iswhen you do live in a society
(18:12):
where a lot of material thingsare important to people, having
to ask what can you afford cangive you a sense of shame,
possibly because it's like Ishould be able to afford
whatever I want, but you mightnot be able to, and that is okay
.
Most of the time you can't.
Shay (18:28):
Yes, it is okay, it is okay, absolutely.
Get off that social mediathinking you know all about
these, these man, let me go downthat road.
Social media be informingpeople to think I'm going to get
that big old house in.
Everybody's got to take avacation on the water with the
big old Airbnb.
Like really that's the key wordAirbnb.
(18:50):
People don't own these homes.
They don't own these cars.
They don't own this jewelryLike it's real out here.
Janessa (18:55):
Yeah, it's expensive how would you suggest that
someone actually starts theirbudget?
Shay (19:01):
Exactly like we were talking earlier those goals,
defining what you want toachieve, right, setting those
goals.
I love a good goal session.
Actually, one of our classes docrusades for changes.
Money goals matter istrademarked because we really
sit down and go into like, moneygoals matter.
Let's sit down and talk aboutthese goals short term, long
term, middle term, all inmidterm in between there and see
(19:24):
, like, and just really open upyour mind and dream.
Right, because I feel like wewere talking about earlier with
dreaming it's important to dream, but then we can put it on
paper and actually set thosereal, realistic goals, whether
it's like in the next 12 months,I want to pay off some debt, I
want to save $500 or a thousandtowards emergency funds, I want
to go on a small vacation, orthe next year to five years, I
(19:47):
want to go back to Hawaii.
I want to go to Australia,africa, I want to buy another
house, another car I don't know,there's so many big goals there
.
Or a long-term goal I want toretire before I'm 60.
Right, or you know.
Or I want to go rent.
I want to rent a personal plane.
Yeah, okay, that's really big,right.
I was at a meeting with someguys the other day and it was
(20:09):
like, yeah, I'm going to take ayou know my private plane
somewhere.
And I was like, yeah, that'slike $25,000 for just one trip,
right?
So?
But hey, I ain't knocking yourMs.
.
You got a dream, but you got toset clear goals and realistic,
because not everybody can affordto fly private and actually
it's not really great for theearth.
I'm just saying, but yeah, so Iwould definitely start with
(20:32):
setting clear goals.
Janessa (20:34):
Absolutely, and I also think with after you're setting
the clear goals, how you'resaying, um working toward those
major purchases like emergencyfund or a private jet, like
those types of things areabsolutely a reality, but until
you're able to actualize thecost, you know it can be
(20:56):
difficult and and you hadmentioned something in Ms.
of building towards theemergency fund I think that part
, from my perspective, isprobably one of the biggest,
most important things that aperson should initially work
toward, and that is becauseoftentimes those one-off
(21:18):
emergencies, that's what causesus to accrue a lot of debt.
We have to use credit cardsbecause we don't have enough
money to cover things.
Covid really showed us whathappens if you only have one
stream of income and if thatthing is taken away, what do you
do Exactly?
So building towards somethinglike that can already start that
(21:41):
financial stability that manyindividuals want but have such a
difficult time to work toward.
And it's almost like you knowhow, at the beginning of the
year, a lot of people havevision board parties and stuff,
because many of us are realizing, you know, write the vision,
make it plain.
When you're able to see it andyou write it down, you can
(22:02):
accomplish it.
Your budget is kind of like avision board for your money.
It's telling you where it cango, it's showing you your
possibilities and it's alsoshowing you what if you're
wanting something different.
It is showing you where thatlack could potentially be, so
(22:23):
that you can put things intoaction to change it.
So there's so many things thatit can help show, and starting
out with setting those cleargoals, showing where you clearly
want to go that makes thehugest difference.
Shay (22:39):
Yeah, cause seeing is believing, right.
So if you can write it down,you can see how much money you
got coming in.
You might not, you might have adeficit, so then we might have
to cut back expenses Was one ofthe first things we learned as
Accredited Financial Counselor.
You might have to make more,you might spend less, right.
It's kind of the same thingthat going on and I've been
doing this for a very long timeand I have to sit down and tell
people either you're going tohave to cut back on something or
(23:00):
we might have to find anotherstream of income.
So hoping to see all right, doI have a surplus, do I have a
deficit, or is it zero-basedbudget, which is ultimately the
goal, is really helpful for alot of people.
You were saying with theiremergency fund after the
pandemic, or actually during thepandemic, I was telling a lot
of people you know, three to sixmonths is a great goal, but at
this point, six to nine months,because you don't know how long
(23:22):
you might be, or longer, youknow.
Of course you want to startsmall.
I know when I was working withthe military, even now, it's
like start with the $500, sixmonth thousand but then start to
grow as you can, because younever know, if you don't have
that long-term insurance or thesmall, what is it?
The short-term insurance tocover your income when something
(23:43):
happens, unfortunately, you'resick, oh man, you're a world of
hurt unless you have family tohelp out and stuff, and a lot of
us don't have that.
It's just us.
Yes.
Janessa (23:53):
And I think, with saving three to six months, six
to nine months, a lot of peoplecan get very intimidated from
those large amounts and so Ilove how you're saying just
start at 500, like startsomewhere, start small, yeah,
give yourself like milestoneamounts to save toward and
eventually you're going to savethe full amount and eventually
(24:33):
you're going to save the fullamount.
I'd also say, with looking atthose goals and setting goals,
and 30, 40, 50, $100,000.
And they're just like I don'tknow if I can do that.
That's a lot of money.
But no, you can, it'sabsolutely possible.
I don't believe that we wereput on this earth to live
extremely struggling lives and Ido believe the abundance that
(24:57):
God has given us.
God wants us to experience that.
But also there's a certain formof abundance that we won't be
able to experience until we canappreciate it and know how to
not take it for granted, if thatmakes sense.
Yeah, it does not take it forgranted, if that makes sense,
yeah, and so when I think ofabundance, when I see dollars, I
(25:20):
recognize like one moneydoesn't make me or you, or it
doesn't.
It's an inanimate object, so itdoesn't really make anybody,
it's a resource, but it's alsorecognizing, like I, I know who
supports me.
I know that I have the abilityto save up to this or build up
(25:41):
to this.
While this may be a largenumber, it is still possible.
So also recognize when you'resetting goals.
You can absolutely set largegoals.
Just like Shay said, make themrealistic.
So if you want to buy a house.
That's a half a million dollarsyou may not be able to buy it
next year exactly, but thatcould be a house you work
(26:03):
towards down the line and that'sokay.
Everything isn't going tohappen instantly exactly so so,
yeah, I would say, like withthose goals, to try not to let
um the fear of certain numbersbeing too large stop you from
working toward those goals too.
Shay (26:23):
And I would add, god don't want us putting limitations on
him so you know what?
If he puts it in your mind,it's there for a reason for real
.
this ain't man I.
I serve an amazing God.
So he's putting something in mymind.
It's because he's puttingsomething in my mind.
It ain't me, it's him.
He's like I and I will provide.
(26:44):
And so if you really trust andbelieve and remove that fear
which I know is hard, guys, Ireally know I deal with it but
you remove that fear and youreally believe, I'm telling you.
I mean, I saved for 10 yearsfor Hawaii.
That was the best trip I everhad.
Like I saved for a long timeand it wasn't about no instant
gratification.
When I went to Hawaii I wasliving my best life 10 years.
(27:07):
And guess what?
There is something about thatLike waiting, waiting on the
Lord, waiting for the money tosave up.
I mean all of that, the weightis worth it.
God, he provides and he allowedme to enjoy that and be so
grateful.
Janessa (27:24):
And, man, I'm telling you so much happens during that
weight that when you look backyou're like whoa and when you
honestly accomplish it.
The accomplishment is the prize, but also recognizing what you
learned and grew through andgrew through and experienced
through that way.
Shay (27:39):
Cause there's some great things that happened through
that during that weight too.
Oh, the journey.
Yes, I appreciate every step inthat journey.
It's not always about the end.
Janessa (27:47):
Yeah, it's not always a very sad wilderness in the
weight we were often told of thewilderness, but sometimes the
weight isn't a devastatingweight.
You can wait in a spa and enjoyevery moment, amen, amen.
Shay (28:06):
And Proverbs 24
everything ready for yourself inthe field and after that build
your house.
" So it kind of goes back towhat we're saying like get out
in that field, work it out,enjoy the journey of plowing and
plucking and just getting your,your field together, and then
God was going to be there tohelp you build that house.
(28:27):
So I mean, wow, any last words?
Janessa (28:31):
yeah, I would just say um, allow yourself to dream and
allow yourself to believe thatthe steps you're putting forth
to accomplish those Ms.
are going to happen, like, likeyou said, god.
God is a limitless God, andwhen you have someone that is
(28:56):
backing you, like that, all yougot to do write the vision, make
it plain and take your stepsstep by step, and that's all you
need to do.
But write it.
That's the first step.
Write the vision and make itplain with that budget, so that
you can have a clear path to go,that you can have a clear path
(29:23):
to go because, um, you're notgoing to be trusted with
something very valuable if theperson doesn't believe, you
understand the value.
Shay (29:28):
So make it plain and keep going and believe right.
Keep the faith and sometimesyou gotta.
Faith it till you make it.
Okay, you ain't gotta fake, youcan fake it.
Faith it till you make it andyou will make it.
Okay, you ain't got to fake,you can fake it till you make it
and you will make it.
Janessa (29:41):
Yes, yes, yes.
Yes.
Shay (29:43):
All right everyone.
Thank you for joining us todayand we hope all is well.
A big thank you for listeningto this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Hit that subscribe button orfollow the podcast and please
feel free to leave us a review.
(30:04):
For the latest Yahweh's Moneycontent, visit us at www.
crusaders4change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired and remember it'salways better Yahweh's way.
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money
come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an AccreditedFinancial Counselor and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
(00:24):
saving, and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Hey everyone.
Welcome back to another episodeof Yahweh's Money.
I have a special guest herewith us today, Ms.
Janessa Siegel, one of ourCrusaders for Change financial
counselors.
How are you today, Janessa?
Janessa (00:44):
I am doing well, can't complain, trying to stay warm.
Shay (00:49):
Amen, same here.
I did not go outside todaybecause I was in Annapolis.
Yesterday it was nine degreeshere in Maryland and my feet
were frozen because I was notlike everyone else had boots on.
I put flats on so I could becomfortable, I know, and then my
feet, as soon as I stepped outof the car, I was frozen.
So but you know, it's all good,I'm here.
So God is good.
So it's a new year and aperfect time to take control of
(01:14):
your finances.
Today we're diving into thepower of planning and how
setting clear financial goalscan make this your most
successful year yet.
So stick around as we explorehow budgeting can transfer your
financial stress into financialfreedom.
So in Proverbs 16 (01:29):
9, it says "The heart of a man plans his
way, but the Lord establisheshis steps.
" So amen to that.
I think this really shows usthat planning is essential, but
we have to remain open to God'sguidance.
I mean, what do you mean,Janessa?
Really?
Janessa (01:47):
Right, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Always be open to the guidanceand the clarity on where to go
and how to be a good steward ofyour money?
Shay (01:59):
Exactly, yeah, cause God owns all of this right.
We're just stewards.
And I remember when I wasworking for Walter Reed years
ago and an army base former armybase here and one of my
colleagues at the time he keptusing in our blogs and articles
to the service members stewardsand I don't know something about
that word kind of drove me likecrazy.
(02:20):
I remember actually because Iwas his supervisor at the time
and I was like we need to getrid of that, that's too churchy,
right.
But then as I got older Istarted to understand
stewardship and how we're justmanaging things Like God is here
, he's the author, he is theprovider, he is where it comes
from, he owns this.
So I love that word.
Steward had to add that inthere?
Janessa (02:42):
Yes, indeed, I love it.
Shay (02:44):
So why does planning matter?
So really, planning createscontrol in your life, right?
I mean it helps you understandthat discipline, that
self-control I always say thatsacrifice around the planning so
you can really understand wherethings are going and how your
money's coming in, how yourmoney's going out.
I mean planning is key.
Janessa (03:04):
Absolutely Without having some form of a plan, it's
very easy for things to kind ofget chaotic and to feel out of
control, and so having a plancan help you one feel in control
, of course, but also give you aclear picture of where you want
to go and help you accomplishyour goals, because it's hard to
accomplish something when youdon't know the steps to you know
(03:26):
get there.
Shay (03:27):
So and how many people have you met that you're like,
uh, I'm like I don't want tolook a year beyond.
I don't want to look beyond ayear.
I don't.
What are you talking about?
I just want to focus on today,you know, and I don't want to
even think about year, two years, five years 10 years with
(03:52):
planning.
Do you deal with those kind ofclients?
Janessa (03:53):
Oh, all the time, all the time.
It is pretty interesting howmuch um many people want to
avoid planning, because I thinkit becomes overwhelming
sometimes.
And I, what I try to tellpeople is like well, planning
allows you to um, have a clearpicture of what you want to do
and put it into reality.
Because we have Ms.
, we want to do something, wewant to accomplish things, but
without an actual, clear path,it's going to be very difficult
(04:17):
to accomplish that.
And there's just a lot ofpeople who want to dream, but to
make the dream a reality,they're like oh, I don't know, I
don't want to look at this, Idon't want to check this, or
this Ms.
like too much and I'm like itdoesn't have to be.
Shay (04:34):
It doesn't have to be.
Janessa (04:35):
Yeah, let's see where we want to go.
Let's make a plan and then takeit step by step.
Shay (04:40):
I remember, when I was in my twenties, my mom and dad
actually it was my mom andhusband, boyfriend, I think at a
time we were sitting at ourtable at my parents' house and
they're like she's such adreamer.
I remember coming back yearslater like I was dreaming.
But look at all them things Iaccomplished, because not only
was I a dreamer, I had a plan, Ihad goals and I was working
towards it.
(05:01):
I always seem to surpass all ofmy goals within a time that I,
you know, I'd be like oh, I'mgoing to accomplish this in five
years.
I accomplished it in two years,thank God, you know.
But I always had a plan.
So I used to hate on me being adreamer, but I was not only a
dreamer, I was a doer, right?
So I would get things done anda lot of people are stuck in the
dream state and not moving intothe doer state people are stuck
(05:25):
in the dream state and notmoving into the doer state.
Janessa (05:28):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Shay (05:28):
And I think a lot of people don't know where to start
with the planning either.
Janessa (05:31):
It's like, okay, I want to do this, but what do I do
next?
Like how do I even write downthe steps?
Where do I look?
Where do I go.
So yeah, being a dreamer isgreat.
Shay (05:40):
It is, but you know.
But planning helps reducestress and freeze that mental
energy from other priorities,you know yeah, you're sitting
there and I love the right.
You know I like to brainstormand dream, but you've got to put
those clear, concrete goalsdown.
Smart goals, smart what is it?
Specific, measurable,attainable, realistic, timely.
(06:01):
They have all these differentMs.
for goal planning, but justmaking it to bite-sized pieces,
right.
Where you can accomplish those.
Janessa (06:08):
I think it's exciting.
Actually, I'm someone who getsexcited when I see the details,
because once you finish and yousee where you started and where
you came from seeing thoselittle bitty details, it's just
like wow, I really did that.
At this point.
I did this.
It gives you milestones to comeback to.
I really did that.
Yeah, at this point, I did this.
It gives you like milestones tocome back to, like I really
accomplished something that wasreally big.
Shay (06:31):
It's that statement of the elephant, you know, and only
the way to eat an elephant isone, one bite at a time.
I have a colleague thatconstantly says that to me at
meetings, at the chambers.
She's like how do we eatelephant shay?
I'm like, oh yeah one bite at atime.
Janessa (06:48):
I was talking to somebody about that metaphor and
I was like I would love for usto use less violent metaphors on
animals.
Like there's more than one wayto skin a cat, I'm like.
Shay (06:58):
So you're so right.
There's so many like why are weattacking the animals?
Man, that's crazy.
Janessa (07:02):
Yes but yes, you can.
You, you can build the pyramidsone brick at a time.
There you go.
Shay (07:10):
And it takes a lot of hands to help with that too.
Janessa (07:12):
It ain't just yourself right.
Shay (07:13):
You have to reach out to those people in your circle that
really can help you as well.
You shouldn't be doing this.
All you can't do life alone.
Janessa (07:21):
No, no, not at all.
Can't do life alone?
No, no, not at all.
That also, I think, leads me tothink about why it's important
to with the planning andincorporating, like stewardship
and financial wellness andfinancial literacy, like
planning, going into budgeting,and why that's important is
(07:41):
something that I think needs tobe talked about more, because
when an individual is at thepoint of wanting to like change
their lives, oftentimes,especially in now times, money
is a big factor, and so whenyou're looking at what you're
(08:02):
wanting to accomplish, whatyou're wanting to change or
shift, and you incorporate moneyinto that, of course, the
biggest plan with money would beyour budget, and if you're
someone who doesn't know whereto start, having that help,
having someone to possiblybounce ideas off of and thinking
of strategies with, is veryimportant so that you can
(08:23):
understand, from a budgetstandpoint, what makes sense for
what you're trying to do andfor what you currently have,
exactly Because that budget isreally just a roadmap to you
achieving your goals and helpsyou handle life's surprises
right, especially when you havethose unexpected expenses right.
Shay (08:39):
And a lot of the clients that I help, that we help, they
have those unexpected expenses.
They're like how am I going topay for this broken refrigerator
?
I mean, how am I going to payfor these tires this month?
All this stuff I wasn'tplanning for unexpected and
that's why we got to get intothe budgeting emergency savings
and stuff which we'll talk aboutin a minute.
But it really is a roadmap.
It really is.
Janessa (08:59):
You're literally telling the money where to go
Exactly.
You're like this isspecifically what it's for, this
is where you need to go, thisis what you need to do, and it
creates a very strong foundation.
I think, because I'm surprisedhow many people don't know how
much money they bring home.
Shay (09:21):
That part.
Janessa (09:22):
And how much money their bills and expenses add up
to being Like we pay it everymonth we bring home.
Well, for the most part, a lotof people bring home similar
amounts every month but becausethey don't sit down and look at
the numbers, things can reallyfeel overwhelming.
They can feel like I don't sitdown and look at the numbers.
Things can really feeloverwhelming.
They can feel like I don't makeenough money.
(09:44):
But honestly, if you're able tojust sit down and look at it,
maybe you do make enough money.
It's just you buy a door, dasha lot, or maybe majority of your
bills come out of the secondcheck and not a lot come out
your first check.
And so it feels like you don'tmake enough, and so having that
roadmap, having that foundationof where everything is going,
(10:06):
can really help get an idea ofwhat could change or should
change, but also give you a,like, long term stability.
Shay (10:15):
Exactly, and that's what God wants us.
He wants us to be responsiblefor what he gives us, and so we
can't be out here willy nillyand like he's giving you all
these blessings and you're justoverspending or you're not
planning or whatever.
You're mismanaging, beingirresponsible.
That's not what he wants fromus.
He gives us, our children, hischildren, what we need, and then
(10:37):
we're out here acting crazy andhe's like you know, and at him,
can you give us more?
He's like I'm giving you enough, but you don't know how to use
it.
So what's wrong with you?
Ain't nothing wrong with me, soyou know people are like lord.
Help me, lord, like I'm helpingyou.
You need to help yourself.
I love that.
Janessa (10:59):
I mean it's real though it is it really is like.
I think it also reminds me oflike a story of someone who
wanted to be saved and they'relike God, save me.
And then there was a plane sentand they're like no, I'm
waiting for God.
And a boat was sent.
No, I'm waiting for God.
And then they went on to gloryand then they saw God and was
(11:21):
like why didn't you sendanything?
God was like I sent you a boat,I sent you a whale, I sent you
a plane.
Shay (11:28):
I use that parable all the time, Janessa.
My daddy uses that too.
He'd be like I sent youeverything you need and you're
in heaven now, hopefully, andyou're like why you didn't save
me, like come yes, absolutely so.
Janessa (11:40):
It's also recognizing when resources are given and
when opportunities are given,use them like widen your
horizons in Ms.
of receiving the help that youneed to get to where you need to
be, and with budgeting, whoknows?
You may get some budgetingadvice from the least expected
(12:01):
person, but it could besomething that could help you a
lot.
Or working with someone who youmight not have expected would
have been a great resource, butthey actually was a phenomenal
resource.
So it's using the resourcesavailable to help you be most
successful.
Shay (12:18):
Exactly, so why?
Does budgeting matter.
Let's talk about that.
Janessa (12:22):
Yes, I mean budgeting.
I think it matters a lotbecause it gives you a visual
representation of what'simportant to you, but it also
gives you a visualrepresentation of where your
money needs to go and where ithas been going and what needs to
(12:45):
change.
It allows us to focus onsomething that is very important
, which is our resources, ourincome, and gives us more
control over it.
Especially in a society liketoday, a lot of stuff feels out
of control and it may feeloverwhelming at times, and so
(13:05):
having a budget does give youthat opportunity to control your
spending and also see if thereis lag somewhere or if you know
your life changes and you needto adjust your spending.
Your budget can help you a lotwith that.
Shay (13:22):
Yeah, exactly.
I mean and, like you said, itprovides that clarity, and I
know a lot of people just outhere they have no clue.
I mean, the money in is thatthat you know just your income
and people not knowing that.
That throws me like how do younot know how much you're getting
paid?
I'm not trying to have no shameor judgment, but it's like you
(13:43):
at least should know that, right.
But then, but you're right, andyou mentioned earlier the
doordash and uber eats, the grubhub, like all of that man, that
food budget right, especiallyduring the pandemic, and now
after, like people seem to can'tget that back under control and
maybe they never had it incontrol, but that food is out of
, and entertainment, alcohol,marijuana.
Janessa (14:04):
Now everything's free out there and everything you
know, and it's the stuff thatused to be cheaper.
It's not like people think, ifyou get fast food all the time,
you're not spending a lot ofmoney, but now, like, average
fast food meals are between fiveto ten dollars, or what?
Shay (14:23):
maybe down where you're at it's like, it's like 10 to 20
here.
I remember when a big bag waslike two, three dollars.
Now it's like I went tomcdonald's months ago or
whatever, and it was like, oh mygod, it was like 15 for a meal.
I remember back in the day it'dbe like six or seven.
Right, that's panera prices,and Panera is thirty dollars
exactly exactly it's like it'snot cheap anymore not cheap
(14:50):
anymore.
Janessa (14:51):
I'm always the type of person that likes to um, know my
options, know what I'm gettinginto and, um, when it comes to
your budget, I feel like abudget can show you your options
.
So we're talking about, like astrong financial foundation and
long-term stability.
(15:12):
Something as simple as knowinghow much you can afford in an
apartment or in rent before yousign the lease is so important,
like how many people have youworked with, moved into a new
facility and was like, well, webought a house or we just moved
into a new apartment, and now itjust Ms.
(15:34):
like we can't afford this andthat and it's just like, well,
your housing is a whole paycheck.
Yeah, exactly that wasn't lookedat before you know, signing the
lease or buying the house.
But unfortunately, when peopleare at the point of their
(15:56):
needing to move or they'rerushing or they're excited
sitting down and looking atthose things they don't really
think about as much.
So, already having a budgetestablished beforehand, you
don't have to start from scratchand making a decision, then you
already see what you haveavailable.
Shay (16:13):
And I would apply that same concept to loans for school
If you can't afford the school.
We need to have a realconversation with our kids with
ourselves, cars, all those bigpurchases where I see so many
people like well, I want to goto the Ivy League, well, I want
to go to this school, I want togo to school.
You might only can afford acommunity college or you might
(16:35):
have to work full time and go toschool.
We need to be having these realconversations.
Yeah, school is out of control.
The pricing of school is crazy.
I'm sure Lord doesn't want itto be like that.
The government, all of thatstuff is all jacked up right now
.
But what we can control is howmuch we're putting out at these
schools.
And if you can't afford that$60,000 a year school which my
(16:56):
daughter was looking at one itwas NYU and Duke and we're here
in Maryland and I was like girlgirl.
And then she was looking atHoward and that was like $45,000
.
She got in, got a scholarship.
We were really happy about thatand we were actually like, all
right, we're going to try tomake this work.
But then she chose UMBC,university of Maryland,
baltimore County.
That was $20,000-some-thousanda year and I was like, thank you
(17:19):
, jason.
Even though I wanted her to goto Howard and represent for the
HBCUs, I was like, girl, that'sexpensive, like that was $20,000
more a year and so, yeah, it'slike really sitting her down.
I was like, what can you affordLike I know you're looking at
unless you're going to get ascholarship which they don't
give out, like they used to.
(17:39):
Man, it's expensive.
And so we need to have thoseconversations about our budgets
around these long-term expensesor these bigger expenses.
Janessa (17:48):
Yes, what can you afford is such a major question
to ask that not a lot of peoplewant to ask, or they ask but
they're not actually doing thecalculations.
And the unfortunate part iswhen you do live in a society
(18:12):
where a lot of material thingsare important to people, having
to ask what can you afford cangive you a sense of shame,
possibly because it's like Ishould be able to afford
whatever I want, but you mightnot be able to, and that is okay
.
Most of the time you can't.
Shay (18:28):
Yes, it is okay, it is okay, absolutely.
Get off that social mediathinking you know all about
these, these man, let me go downthat road.
Social media be informingpeople to think I'm going to get
that big old house in.
Everybody's got to take avacation on the water with the
big old Airbnb.
Like really that's the key wordAirbnb.
(18:50):
People don't own these homes.
They don't own these cars.
They don't own this jewelryLike it's real out here.
Janessa (18:55):
Yeah, it's expensive how would you suggest that
someone actually starts theirbudget?
Shay (19:01):
Exactly like we were talking earlier those goals,
defining what you want toachieve, right, setting those
goals.
I love a good goal session.
Actually, one of our classes docrusades for changes.
Money goals matter istrademarked because we really
sit down and go into like, moneygoals matter.
Let's sit down and talk aboutthese goals short term, long
term, middle term, all inmidterm in between there and see
(19:24):
, like, and just really open upyour mind and dream.
Right, because I feel like wewere talking about earlier with
dreaming it's important to dream, but then we can put it on
paper and actually set thosereal, realistic goals, whether
it's like in the next 12 months,I want to pay off some debt, I
want to save $500 or a thousandtowards emergency funds, I want
to go on a small vacation, orthe next year to five years, I
(19:47):
want to go back to Hawaii.
I want to go to Australia,africa, I want to buy another
house, another car I don't know,there's so many big goals there
.
Or a long-term goal I want toretire before I'm 60.
Right, or you know.
Or I want to go rent.
I want to rent a personal plane.
Yeah, okay, that's really big,right.
I was at a meeting with someguys the other day and it was
(20:09):
like, yeah, I'm going to take ayou know my private plane
somewhere.
And I was like, yeah, that'slike $25,000 for just one trip,
right?
So?
But hey, I ain't knocking yourMs.
.
You got a dream, but you got toset clear goals and realistic,
because not everybody can affordto fly private and actually
it's not really great for theearth.
I'm just saying, but yeah, so Iwould definitely start with
(20:32):
setting clear goals.
Janessa (20:34):
Absolutely, and I also think with after you're setting
the clear goals, how you'resaying, um working toward those
major purchases like emergencyfund or a private jet, like
those types of things areabsolutely a reality, but until
you're able to actualize thecost, you know it can be
(20:56):
difficult and and you hadmentioned something in Ms.
of building towards theemergency fund I think that part
, from my perspective, isprobably one of the biggest,
most important things that aperson should initially work
toward, and that is becauseoftentimes those one-off
(21:18):
emergencies, that's what causesus to accrue a lot of debt.
We have to use credit cardsbecause we don't have enough
money to cover things.
Covid really showed us whathappens if you only have one
stream of income and if thatthing is taken away, what do you
do Exactly?
So building towards somethinglike that can already start that
(21:41):
financial stability that manyindividuals want but have such a
difficult time to work toward.
And it's almost like you knowhow, at the beginning of the
year, a lot of people havevision board parties and stuff,
because many of us are realizing, you know, write the vision,
make it plain.
When you're able to see it andyou write it down, you can
(22:02):
accomplish it.
Your budget is kind of like avision board for your money.
It's telling you where it cango, it's showing you your
possibilities and it's alsoshowing you what if you're
wanting something different.
It is showing you where thatlack could potentially be, so
(22:23):
that you can put things intoaction to change it.
So there's so many things thatit can help show, and starting
out with setting those cleargoals, showing where you clearly
want to go that makes thehugest difference.
Shay (22:39):
Yeah, cause seeing is believing, right.
So if you can write it down,you can see how much money you
got coming in.
You might not, you might have adeficit, so then we might have
to cut back expenses Was one ofthe first things we learned as
Accredited Financial Counselor.
You might have to make more,you might spend less, right.
It's kind of the same thingthat going on and I've been
doing this for a very long timeand I have to sit down and tell
people either you're going tohave to cut back on something or
(23:00):
we might have to find anotherstream of income.
So hoping to see all right, doI have a surplus, do I have a
deficit, or is it zero-basedbudget, which is ultimately the
goal, is really helpful for alot of people.
You were saying with theiremergency fund after the
pandemic, or actually during thepandemic, I was telling a lot
of people you know, three to sixmonths is a great goal, but at
this point, six to nine months,because you don't know how long
(23:22):
you might be, or longer, youknow.
Of course you want to startsmall.
I know when I was working withthe military, even now, it's
like start with the $500, sixmonth thousand but then start to
grow as you can, because younever know, if you don't have
that long-term insurance or thesmall, what is it?
The short-term insurance tocover your income when something
(23:43):
happens, unfortunately, you'resick, oh man, you're a world of
hurt unless you have family tohelp out and stuff, and a lot of
us don't have that.
It's just us.
Yes.
Janessa (23:53):
And I think, with saving three to six months, six
to nine months, a lot of peoplecan get very intimidated from
those large amounts and so Ilove how you're saying just
start at 500, like startsomewhere, start small, yeah,
give yourself like milestoneamounts to save toward and
eventually you're going to savethe full amount and eventually
(24:33):
you're going to save the fullamount.
I'd also say, with looking atthose goals and setting goals,
and 30, 40, 50, $100,000.
And they're just like I don'tknow if I can do that.
That's a lot of money.
But no, you can, it'sabsolutely possible.
I don't believe that we wereput on this earth to live
extremely struggling lives and Ido believe the abundance that
(24:57):
God has given us.
God wants us to experience that.
But also there's a certain formof abundance that we won't be
able to experience until we canappreciate it and know how to
not take it for granted, if thatmakes sense.
Yeah, it does not take it forgranted, if that makes sense,
yeah, and so when I think ofabundance, when I see dollars, I
(25:20):
recognize like one moneydoesn't make me or you, or it
doesn't.
It's an inanimate object, so itdoesn't really make anybody,
it's a resource, but it's alsorecognizing, like I, I know who
supports me.
I know that I have the abilityto save up to this or build up
(25:41):
to this.
While this may be a largenumber, it is still possible.
So also recognize when you'resetting goals.
You can absolutely set largegoals.
Just like Shay said, make themrealistic.
So if you want to buy a house.
That's a half a million dollarsyou may not be able to buy it
next year exactly, but thatcould be a house you work
(26:03):
towards down the line and that'sokay.
Everything isn't going tohappen instantly exactly so so,
yeah, I would say, like withthose goals, to try not to let
um the fear of certain numbersbeing too large stop you from
working toward those goals too.
Shay (26:23):
And I would add, god don't want us putting limitations on
him so you know what?
If he puts it in your mind,it's there for a reason for real
.
this ain't man I.
I serve an amazing God.
So he's putting something in mymind.
It's because he's puttingsomething in my mind.
It ain't me, it's him.
He's like I and I will provide.
(26:44):
And so if you really trust andbelieve and remove that fear
which I know is hard, guys, Ireally know I deal with it but
you remove that fear and youreally believe, I'm telling you.
I mean, I saved for 10 yearsfor Hawaii.
That was the best trip I everhad.
Like I saved for a long timeand it wasn't about no instant
gratification.
When I went to Hawaii I wasliving my best life 10 years.
(27:07):
And guess what?
There is something about thatLike waiting, waiting on the
Lord, waiting for the money tosave up.
I mean all of that, the weightis worth it.
God, he provides and he allowedme to enjoy that and be so
grateful.
Janessa (27:24):
And, man, I'm telling you so much happens during that
weight that when you look backyou're like whoa and when you
honestly accomplish it.
The accomplishment is the prize, but also recognizing what you
learned and grew through andgrew through and experienced
through that way.
Shay (27:39):
Cause there's some great things that happened through
that during that weight too.
Oh, the journey.
Yes, I appreciate every step inthat journey.
It's not always about the end.
Janessa (27:47):
Yeah, it's not always a very sad wilderness in the
weight we were often told of thewilderness, but sometimes the
weight isn't a devastatingweight.
You can wait in a spa and enjoyevery moment, amen, amen.
Shay (28:06):
And Proverbs 24
everything ready for yourself inthe field and after that build
your house.
" So it kind of goes back towhat we're saying like get out
in that field, work it out,enjoy the journey of plowing and
plucking and just getting your,your field together, and then
God was going to be there tohelp you build that house.
(28:27):
So I mean, wow, any last words?
Janessa (28:31):
yeah, I would just say um, allow yourself to dream and
allow yourself to believe thatthe steps you're putting forth
to accomplish those Ms.
are going to happen, like, likeyou said, god.
God is a limitless God, andwhen you have someone that is
(28:56):
backing you, like that, all yougot to do write the vision, make
it plain and take your stepsstep by step, and that's all you
need to do.
But write it.
That's the first step.
Write the vision and make itplain with that budget, so that
you can have a clear path to go,that you can have a clear path
(29:23):
to go because, um, you're notgoing to be trusted with
something very valuable if theperson doesn't believe, you
understand the value.
Shay (29:28):
So make it plain and keep going and believe right.
Keep the faith and sometimesyou gotta.
Faith it till you make it.
Okay, you ain't gotta fake, youcan fake it.
Faith it till you make it andyou will make it.
Okay, you ain't got to fake,you can fake it till you make it
and you will make it.
Janessa (29:41):
Yes, yes, yes.
Yes.
Shay (29:43):
All right everyone.
Thank you for joining us todayand we hope all is well.
A big thank you for listeningto this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Hit that subscribe button orfollow the podcast and please
feel free to leave us a review.
(30:04):
For the latest Yahweh's Moneycontent, visit us at www.
crusaders4change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired and remember it'salways better Yahweh's way.
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