April 10, 2025 • 29 mins
Welcome back to Yahweh's Money, the podcast where faith meets finance!
In this final episode of Season 3 (we will be back with Season 4 and changes, y'all, in June!), I welcome back my special guest Adriana Lopez and together we dive into navigating the stormy seas of inflation.
As prices rise and financial pressures mount, we explore how faith-based strategies can empower you to thrive financially. Drawing inspiration from biblical teachings and personal experiences, Adriana and I discuss practical ways to adjust spending habits, embrace gratitude, and prepare for economic uncertainty.
From switching to generic brands to cutting down on unnecessary expenses, we will share creative tips for maintaining quality of life without breaking the bank while reminding you that God's provision is eternal, even in economically challenging times.
Tune in for an enlightening conversation that centers on trust, stewardship, and the power of preparation. Let's tackle inflation head-on while keeping our spiritual compass aligned!
Here are a few key takeaways:
- Faith Over Fear: Trusting in God's provision can help alleviate financial stress. By focusing on His faithfulness in the past, we can find peace in uncertain times.
- Smart Spending Strategies: Preparing for the future is crucial. Paying down debt and saving during plentiful times ensures you're ready for any unexpected downturns.
- Practice Gratitude and Generosity: Even during financial strain, there's always room for gratitude. Recognizing our blessings and sharing our abundance can help inspire and uplift others.
Episode References:
- Matthew 6:31-33 - Shay opens up with this verse which emphasizes not worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear because God will provide. The focus is on seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first.
- Joseph's Story - Adriana talks about the story of Joseph from the Bible, who prepared for the famine by storing grain. It’s a great example of preparation and trusting God’s guidance.
- Proverbs 22:7 - While not directly quoted, the idea of not being a slave to the lender is mentioned, reflecting this Proverb.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 - Adriana touches on not being given a spirit of fear, which reflects this verse that speaks about power, love, and a sound mind instead of fear.
💸⛪🕍📿💵
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.
Adriana Lopez (00:02):
One of the great stories that I love is Joseph
preparing for the famine.
You know, god gave him that.
Of course, he interpretedPharaoh's dream and he was
diligent, he prepared, he storedgrain and I think for us it's
the same thing saving.
We're not sure what things aregoing to be looking like, but if
we can help it right now andpay things off, like right now,
(00:24):
one of our goals is to pay offour vehicle.
You know, in the time ofplentiful right, that's what he
did, joseph stored grain.
You know the time of plentiful,why things are good and you
feel like you can do it.
Do something to pay off a bill,do something to pay off a debt
that you have.
So that's what one of the goalsthat we're trying to focus on,
because when?
One of the goals that we'retrying to focus on because, when
the time comes, that you knowagain, these times right now are
(00:45):
very unpredictable.
Shay Cook (00:47):
At least you could say well, I'm glad I did that.
I'm glad I'm safe.
I'm glad we put money away.
Ever felt those awkward vibeswhen 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 ShayI'm, an accredited financial
(01:07):
counselor and the CEO andfounder of Crusaders for Change
LLC.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
saving and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Hey everyone, welcome back toanother episode of Yahweh's
(01:28):
Money.
This is actually our finalepisode of season three, which
is crazy.
I'm excited for season four.
We got some exciting newchanges coming, including
amazing graphics by the creativegenius.
Amazing graphics by thecreative genius Sharoline, who
was working with Crackers andSoup, and Bethany and all of her
(01:49):
great production just genius aswell.
I just love being around blackand brown magic.
It's just a gorgeous thing andso being able to work with and
women, all these women-ownedbusinesses and just doing their
things in the name of Jesus andjust in God's grace and glory
and everything I mean.
I'm just excited for seasonfour.
(02:09):
With the new run of show, we'regoing to change up little
things there as well, and thenwe're going to bring in some
family and friends and experts.
I got my husband coming on withthe first episode of season
four, so I'm just super excitedabout that.
But before I get into what thisepisode of talking about
inflation and inspiration, Iwant to welcome back our amazing
(02:30):
guest, Adriana.
What's up, girl?
Adriana Lopez (02:32):
Hey, shay and you you're a great entrepreneur,
woman business, so that group ofgreat women.
Shay Cook (02:42):
I appreciate that.
Yeah, we're doing our thing outhere and I'm just excited about
what season four is going tobring.
But I'm even more excited inthis moment about this episode,
because Inflation Girl is makingeverything more expensive, I
mean.
But God still provides right.
Let's talk about faith-basedstrategies to thrive financially
(03:03):
.
So, starting with our scripture,matthew 6, 31-33 states so do
not worry, saying what shall weeat, what shall we drink or what
shall we wear, but seek firsthis kingdom and righteousness,
and all these things will begiven to you as well.
I mean that right there.
It just says it point blankDon't worry about what you're
(03:25):
eating, don't worry about youdrinking, you're wearing.
God is going to take care ofyou.
And I mean, in these times,right now, that's all we have.
So that's what we're going tobe talking about in a minute.
So, getting into our rapid firequestions, within five minutes
we got three questions thatwe're going to ask each other
and go back and forth, and I'mexcited about what Adriana the
expert, the personal financialexpert, has to say.
(03:48):
Started with number one, what'sone thing you stopped buying
due to rising costs?
Adriana Lopez (03:53):
Ooh small bottles , small bottles of shampoo,
small bottles of conditioner,liquid detergent, because we use
these things in big quantitiessometimes.
There's these cutesy littlebottles yeah, you know, when it
comes to personal care and Irealized that is not going to be
(04:16):
something that's going to beeconomical for us when we run
through it like water yeah so Igotta buy the things in bag, and
so I've had to change somethings that you know I was used
to using, because they don'tcome in like the 32 ounce yeah.
Yeah, I would say small bottlesof things that we use in bulk I
no longer buy, no matter howcute I try.
But I mean, you know somethings you can't like.
(04:38):
Some facial cream they come,you know 32 ounce facial, but
that's it.
Shay Cook (04:44):
What about you?
The first thing that came tomind, which is not the right
answer, but I'm just going toshare it, is white eggs, because
my daughter called me the otherday.
She said Mother, do you know,brown eggs are less expensive
than white eggs.
She's like they out here racingin these eggs.
Man, brown eggs are lessexpensive, up here at least.
I'm only speaking from Maryland, I'm only speaking in Anne
(05:05):
Arundel County, I'm onlyspeaking around where we live.
They are cheaper.
Brown eggs are cheaper thanwhite eggs.
My daughter said these peopleout here racist against brown
eggs, but we gonna eat browneggs and we love brown eggs
that's why.
I stopped buying white eggsbecause brown eggs are cheap.
Adriana Lopez (05:19):
The only time I'll buy white eggs is if
there's no brown eggs, and I'verealized, because you know
everything that's happening witheggs, that there are only white
eggs left.
Shay Cook (05:31):
Yeah, exactly Because everybody's buying the cheaper
brown eggs.
But, like I said, my daughter'slike why are the brown eggs
cheaper when they are actuallymore healthier and usually
organic and whatever?
So how does trusting God changehow we handle financial stress?
Adriana Lopez (05:49):
Good one, that is good.
It's hard.
I'm not going to lie.
I want to always say that I am,you know, calm during the
storms, that I don't freak out.
But that's not the truth.
You know, I do stress out but Itry to remember and look back
how God has always been faithfuland whenever there has been any
(06:09):
trials or tribulations.
You know you can always lookback and see God's hand in
things, but sometimes during ityou're not really seeing
everything that is going to cometo fruition.
So, getting into the word andjust staying mindful that God is
going to see it through, sothey might, you know, if the
stress is going to be somethingthat is going to come, but
you've got to be able to pivotand say, okay, you know what?
(06:32):
I know that God's got a biggerplan.
That's your word.
It looks like you ain't got abigger plan Because you've
always come through.
Shay Cook (06:40):
Always.
He's always coming through.
Yeah, that's the same for me.
Trusting God changes my stressfinancially or any stress by
calming me, by keeping mepeaceful and, like you said, I
am one of those that are justout of mind, just crazy.
Sometimes it's like anxiety,depression.
All of that hits me whenthere's stress especially well
(07:02):
any kind of stress.
There's stress especially well,any kind of stress.
And just even recently, theonly thing that was able to calm
my mind was God and meditationon his word.
That's the only thing thatworked.
And he's like you need to seekme and I did and I had peace and
I went to sleep.
That's the only thing thatworks for me now.
Ain't no alcohol, no other viceout there is helping me with
this stress, only God.
Adriana Lopez (07:23):
So yeah, you know , I heard someone say when
you're going through trials,there's only two choices either
despair or dependence.
Shay Cook (07:32):
I love that.
That's a good quote Okay.
Adriana Lopez (07:36):
Yeah, despair or dependence, it's either one or
the other.
So I'd rather not get into thedespair and dependence on him.
Shay Cook (07:44):
Yeah, I love that.
I have to write that down.
All right, what's one creativeway to save money without
sacrificing quality of life?
Adriana Lopez (07:53):
You know, one thing that I always told clients
but I wasn't really fully doingmyself, was about buying
general brands and not brandnames of food and things.
We want things here and there,but I really have now switched a
lot of things to have morenon-brand things.
For instance, I love goldfishbut not gold turtles.
Shay Cook (08:16):
I didn't even know that existed.
Okay, I told my daughter she'sa goldfish person that gold
turtles.
I didn't even know that existed.
Adriana Lopez (08:19):
okay, I told my daughter she's a goldfish person
, so they're a little hollow,you know, yeah, but it gives me
that cheesy feeling.
So there's some things that youcan definitely try to alternate
.
You know, like things thateither buy in bulk, like maybe
paper towels.
You know, do they always thateither you buy in bulk, like
maybe paper towels, you know, dothey always have to be the
brand name?
There are a lot of things, alot of cereals, that are made in
(08:42):
the same factories.
All they do is just switch.
You know the Walmart, you knowthe great value, you know what I
mean.
That's all they do.
They just change the name onthe front of the box, but a lot
of things are made.
So I've realized that now I can, yeah, perhaps not get the
brand name, so sacrifice that,but I'm still getting good
things.
Yeah, dollar tree's got a lotof good things.
Shay Cook (09:05):
So, yeah, we saw another dollar tree coming up in
the neighborhood and we werelike I guess this time when
you're in inflation, dollartrees start going in and then
when you get out of it theystart closing down.
It's like this whole cycle andI'm like man people gonna be
prouder than that dollar treeover the next few years with
inflation, what about?
you man, I don't know.
(09:25):
I think the number one thingthat comes to my mind about
creative and I know a lot ofpeople don't like to do is
cooking.
I mean, to me that's a man,cooking saves you money.
And then when you cook, like,like, you got to cook leftovers
people you got to ensure thatyou guys, I love eating
leftovers for lunch because Idon't have to worry about, oh,
what I'm going to order or whereI got to go and all that.
(09:45):
No, I got leftovers in therefrigerator and even if I'm out
and about taking it with me,like, to me it ain't the most
creative thing.
But yeah, get creative withthat.
Know, make sure I mean I love ablue apron box, you know, and
all the box, kind of they bring,send everything to you.
Yeah, making sure you have yourbase of potatoes or rice or
something like noodles,something, and then throw some
vegetables and protein on there.
(10:06):
Man, you're good and thatcarries you, like, gives you all
the different nutrients youwant.
It's mostly fresh becauseyou're cooking it, you're buying
it, you're sourcing it locally.
Um, so that's my creative way.
For me it's creative y'all.
For y'all that have beencooking forever, it's not
creative, but for me.
I didn't really like cookinguntil like last year, so I'm
appreciating it more for mytemple that god gave me, um, and
(10:28):
my mind, and that is makingsure I'm cognizant and mindful
of what I'm eating too.
So instead of just grabbing andgoing right, right or just, uh,
like from a store or orderingsomething and I'm like man, I
should have just ate more than arefrigerator, I should have
just cooked something.
So I'm not feeling bad that youknow I ordered something and
I'm like what am I eating this?
(10:48):
Like I should have just cookedsomething.
So, anyway, so that's that.
And wow, that was a great rapidfire.
Yay, we got gotta have a littleching, ching or something there
, like rapid fire, I don't know,some kind of jingle to go.
No, I can't sing y'all allright.
(11:09):
So main discussion oh man, man,inflation and inspiration, you
know, thriving despite risingcosts.
Like adriana said, let's bedependent on God versus being in
despair of everything that'sgoing on with this inflation.
I mean, how biblicalstewardship helps us navigate
inflation, I believe, is key.
(11:30):
It's in the word.
God wants us to be fruitful andmultiply, but he also wants us
to not be what's to the lender.
He doesn't want to be a slaveto the lender.
He wants us to be prosperous.
I'm trying to go back and forthhere, y'all I'm trying to be
like there's a positive, butthere's also a time of sacrifice
and discipline and self-controlthat is needed.
That is spoke about in theBible often, that God wants us
(11:54):
to be great stewards ofeverything he gives us.
Because we don't own anythingand I'm going to keep saying
that on every episode because wedon't until it really sinks in
for me and everybody else.
But how are you a steward andhow is this helping you get
through this inflation?
Adriana Lopez (12:08):
I would say preparation.
One of the great stories that Ilove is Joseph preparing for
the famine.
You know, god came him that.
Of course he interpretedPharaoh's dream and he was
diligent, he prepared, he storedgrain and I think for us it's
the same thing saving.
We're not sure what things aregoing to be looking like, but if
(12:28):
we can help it right now andpay things off like right now,
one of our goals is to pay offour vehicle.
You know, in the time ofplentiful right, that's what he
did Joseph stored green.
You know the time of plentifulwhy things are good and you feel
like you can do it, dosomething to pay off a bill, do
something to pay off a debt thatyou have.
So that's what one of the goalsthat we're trying to focus on,
(12:50):
because when the time comes thatyou know again, these times
right now are very unpredictable.
At least you could say, well,I'm glad I did that, I'm glad we
saved, I'm glad we put moneyaway.
I'll never forget I had a clientwho was doing very well I mean
bringing in like 20,000 plus amonth on his own business and
during those times and thenbusiness slowed down I wasn't
(13:14):
really saving what I could have.
And I, I just I asked him youknow what, why didn't you?
He said because I never thoughtthe flow was going to stop.
You know what I mean, you know.
And then that happens to someof us a lot of us.
The gravy train is always goingto be pouring gravy, you know,
but God will provide.
But he also wants you toprepare, and being a good
(13:35):
steward is to understand that heowns it all.
He wants you to, of course,multiply, but he wants you to be
able to store away, just likethe ants right that, even the
ants, you know, prepare.
Shay Cook (13:46):
Yeah, they do all year around.
Adriana Lopez (13:48):
Yeah, squirrels prepare.
I mean, you know a lot ofspecies prepare for the seasons,
for the winter.
So I think that's a big thing.
You know, that we try to do isjust prepare and see okay, let's
pay off this, let's save, let'sput money away.
Shay Cook (14:03):
I agree, everything is unknown.
I just was thinking about, mymind was like when I was ripped
from the government, even thoughwe're talking about inflation,
you know, but it still goes withthe time.
Not only are we dealing withinflation, we're dealing with
the crazy administration andgovernment and you know, and all
that stuff, and people arelosing their jobs or they're
getting their jobs back becauseit just says you can't be firing
(14:25):
these people.
Whatever the situation may be,we don't tomorrow's not promised
.
Our jobs are not promised.
This business is not promised,even though it's God's business.
God might be like tomorrow Shay, I hope he doesn't say this but
C4C is done.
You ain't getting nothing.
We're good, right, and soyou're right that preparation is
key of saving, of managing yourdebt, paying down your debt.
(14:47):
I mean a form of saving ispaying down your debt because
those interest rates are high.
I was at an event this weekwhere the ladies was like, man,
I got to pay down these creditcards or pay them off because
they're in 20 plus percent.
You know interest rates.
Right now I'm like, yeah, youain't going to get no savings or
investment.
That's going to be 20 percent.
You know interest generating.
So you have to prepare y'all.
(15:07):
I mean it's hard.
I know a lot of people dealwith FOMO, deal with you only
live once here in these streets,yoloing, but yeah, you want to
live in the moment.
But again, tomorrow you mightnot have no job, or your spouse
may not have no job, or your kidmight move back in the house
and you have to pay for them youdon't know what this is or your
parents?
We're in a sandwich generation.
(15:28):
We might have to take care ofour parents, and I know that's a
lot, but we need to be thinkingabout how we can sustain
ourselves but also help others,because, of course, that's what
God wants us to help others aswell.
It's a lot to try to prepare,especially when the costs are
going up.
People ain't paying us more.
I mean it's a lot.
Adriana Lopez (15:49):
Yes, it definitely is, and that's why
you have to do what's best foryour family.
Sit down and analyze, look atyour budget, see what we were
just talking about cooking moreat home or not buying the brand
name stuff.
You have to see what ways that,although you cannot control
what is happening, you trust inGod that things will work out.
But what can we do?
I mean, joseph's still prepared, even though he knew that God
(16:12):
was going to see through, but hestill was diligent in storing
grain.
So we still do what we have todo.
You know, and modify, or justyou know, hey, I'm not going to
use as much gas and just wastingit doing other things.
I'm going to try to knockeverything out.
You know, when I'm out runningerrands, you know, I mean just
even little changes.
Little changes, you're verycost-saving.
Shay Cook (16:33):
Exactly.
Adriana Lopez (16:34):
So, looking at things, alternating, things, you
purchase, you can buy in bulk,buy in bulk.
Shay Cook (16:40):
Yeah, I love the whole buying in bulk man.
I, especially in this time.
You know we go to Costco.
I just told my husband, makesure you get that toilet tissue
and stuff like, especially afterthe pandemic, making sure I
have the toilet tissue stockedup, the Lysol taken from others.
You know I ain't one of thoseto go buy 20 gallons of milk,
which I've seen people do, but Ijust want to make sure that we
(17:10):
have what we can and that thepricing is right too and the
savings.
It makes sense because I docomparison shopping as well.
I'm looking at Costco, lookingat other places, because
sometimes, unfortunately,unfortunately, amazon might have
it for a little cheaper.
So you know, go there just forthe savings aspect of it all.
But yeah, and I love the ideayou're saying like, if you go
(17:32):
out, get your errands out,because the gas, I mean, not
only is it destroying, it'sgetting more expensive, it's
destroying the earth,unfortunately the fumes.
So I'm not going to go intothat whole green stuff, but we
need to be cognizant of that.
I know, when I go to a placeI'm like, oh, if it's just I'm
going to walk around theshopping center, I'm not.
I mean, I know that noteverybody's capable and able to
do that due to disabilities orwhatever, but I know if I can I
(17:54):
will.
So I'm going to walk.
Adriana Lopez (17:56):
I mean it's good for me.
Shay Cook (17:57):
I don't need to be driving everywhere.
Adriana Lopez (18:07):
I, you know, I mean those ways.
I know social media, you knowwell, it's got its.
You know things that could be alittle bit toxic.
It also has really good ideasbecause with this whole egg
thing, you know, with people atthe shortage of eggs not being
able to get eggs, eggs are, youknow, doubled in price.
People are substituting eggs,you know, for with other things,
and I didn't even know that youcould do that in some baking
recipes.
Oh yeah.
So I mean I love the creativeway.
So even going to social mediaand seeing, hey, what else could
(18:29):
I, you know, use instead ofeggs and still get, you know,
quality.
Again, you have to modify andit's not going to be forever,
but just in time.
Exactly that you just have to.
You know, this time oftransition until you can get to
a place again where this is notan issue.
But this time of transitionuntil you can get to a place
again where this is not an issue.
But I've seen people do theseamazing recipes and I'm like, oh
cool, that's really cool.
(18:49):
I mean I, you know, I'm notgoing to be trying to need them,
but you know, because you knowI don't eat eggs.
So for me, this little egghasn't even fazed me.
Shay Cook (18:59):
Oh yeah, no, my family is the egg family.
I don't eat a lot of like eggsfor breakfast because as I've
gotten older they don't sit wellwith my digestive system, but,
um, like once a week I mightcook some eggs on a weekend, um,
but they are part of recipesand I hear people talking about
getting chickens, like in ourcounty in Maryland.
We can.
I think we had two chickens.
(19:20):
I heard in Baltimore City theycan have five.
So I'm gonna have to convincemy mother-in-law to get five
chickens and I'm talking aboutthe way things are going.
We might have to get a cow anda bunch of goats and everything.
Because it's crazy out here.
Adriana Lopez (19:35):
Yeah, I had a chili.
What was it?
Sweet potato chili.
And I thought it was going tobe me with the sweet potato.
No, but the whole chili wasmade from sweet potatoes and
while I was like, okay, theflavors are there, it's
substituting meat, but it wasreally good.
Yeah, sweet potato chili.
And I said who would havethought, but yeah, again
(19:56):
substituting things that youthink, oh no, you know, maybe
toilet paper, you might likeyour brand, you know name, maybe
there's some things you justhave, but there's a lot of other
things that you really couldsubstitute.
Shay Cook (20:09):
Yeah, I mean I used to be an Angel Soft girl and
then I was.
Now I'm a Charmin girl becauseof Costco, but I've tried to go
back to Angel Soft and thenCharmin, charmin.
However you do that, that stuffis working.
That's the high quality toilettissue that I love.
So what are some smart spendingstrategies We've kind of been
(20:30):
talking about it but that alignwith faith, right?
I think we were saying thepreparation, that's the key part
of it.
Obviously we need a budget.
We need to know we're all, allour money needs.
That we were talking about thisin that same meeting this week.
Having a purpose, he'sassigning a goal to every dollar
, down to the penny that you'reusing.
So you, god knows what you'redoing, starting with him, giving
(20:53):
your money, your first fruits,right, but then move into and
making sure you're taking careof yourself.
And then I always say, build ina little bit of fun.
Right now I've been sacrificingthe fun piece because I love
working and trying to grow thebusiness more and everything,
but sometimes that might have tobe the sacrifice.
I mean, you know, what are yousacrificing?
That's part of faith.
You're like Lord.
I mean it's Lent season, youknow, people are fasting, all
(21:15):
the stuff that's going on, andthis time of year, before Easter
, you're aligning.
You're spending your financeswith your faith.
So what are you doing right now, adrienne?
Adriana Lopez (21:25):
One of the things is gratitude.
When Paul said, do not beanxious about anything, of
course, in everything givethanks.
I got a check the other dayunexpectedly.
I overpaid on something.
It was $18.
I just stopped and said, thankyou, god, you know, thank you
for this $18.
I didn't expect it, it was asurprise.
And just having that gratitudethat we're getting paid, that we
(21:47):
have money coming in, I really,really try to focus on
gratitude because that keeps mehumble, not to think that things
are just going to come.
You know what I mean.
I just remember to myself likehey, every time that the check
deposits into our money,deposits into our checking
account, just to say thank youwhen I go in.
(22:07):
So just really being gratefulfor what we have, because you
know it's like he can be trustedwith very little, can be
trusted with a lot.
I feel like God wants to seeyour heart of where you're at
with the things he provides,because everything is a blessing
.
You know, my paid off car is ablessing.
I remember having this period,you know, of almost giving into
(22:29):
my flesh and wanting to buy anewer car because my car is
older but it's been paid off.
God really humbled me and waslike your car is paid off, it's
a blessing.
It's never broken down on me,so why am I trying to replace it
?
Is it all vain?
You know I love Jeeps and that'smy thing.
And I was like, okay, okay, godyou know, again, going back to
(22:49):
being a good steward, he knewthat that wasn't a wise thing to
do.
Why would you do that?
I said okay, so that's out ofme now.
So my husband's just shockedthat I don't even mention it
when we see Jeeps walk.
You know what I mean.
Oh, I like that color.
Oh, that's the one I want.
I'm just good to where I'm at,because what I have is what I
need Exactly.
Shay Cook (23:09):
I agree, and that's great.
I'm the same way.
I paid off my car during thepandemic I hope to get.
I mentioned in a future pastepisode that I hope that car
saves me another five to 10years.
I don't drive a lot.
I'm driving more now becauseI'm out and about in the
business world, but I man, thiscar is what?
Almost 10 years old, yeah, nextyear it'll be 10 years old and
I'm like all right, give meanother five, 10 years, I'll be
(23:31):
happy with that.
You know, and I'm the same way.
I'm out there, I'm looking atthe new Broncos.
I'm like, oh, those Broncos arenice, no-transcript it right
(24:14):
away, thankful that I receivedit and just overall thankful,
right, that man, god is stillproviding, because there's so
many people out there that are.
They're suffering, they don'thave everything, and it might be
because of where they live orchoices, whatever, it doesn't
matter.
People out here are not aslucky, blessed, not even lucky.
(24:35):
I don't even really believe inluck anymore.
It's blessed.
I think we're all blessed indifferent levels, but I think
we're kind of highly favored andblessed out here, you and I and
many that we associate with,because I mean, even though
something that you can pinpointto like well my family's here.
Adriana Lopez (25:08):
We're healthy.
We at least are getting, youknow a meal to eat, or three
meals, exactly those things thatyou might not be getting the
income you were getting.
You might not be.
You know spending what you werespending before because now
everything's gone up in price,but you are able to to separate.
You know needs versus wants andthat's a big thing, I think for
(25:29):
a lot of people.
That you know really taking alook at are a lot of the things
that I was spending money on,where they all you know needs
and I think, focusing on whatwasn't and being able to again,
just for this time of transition, sacrifice for now.
You know a lot of those wants,and it's not forever, it's just
going to be for this time period, but the most important things
are there.
(25:49):
You know your faith, yourfriends and just staying focused
on that.
Shay Cook (25:54):
Yeah, that's very important, like you said, the
importance of gratitude andcontentment, being happy and
content with what we're given,what we have.
We have the basics.
Yeah, we might not be living inmansions and driving the latest
car and eating like gold food.
Whatever it may be.
What was I watching theKardashians?
And they were in India at awedding and they were talking
(26:16):
about how, like I mean, theweddings over there in India are
just oh my God.
And experience.
Some of it seems wasteful in mymind, but you know they were
telling the other story of howthey were feeding, like
thousands of people, groceriesduring their festivities and
stuff doing all this great thing, which is great.
But we ain't them, and that'sfine, because god's still real,
(26:40):
he's still taking care of us andman.
Even with inflation hitting a40 year high in 2023, data shows
that if you keep with yourstrong financial habits, you
adjust better, you do better.
If you continue to do what youknow, stick to what you know
when it comes to doing yourfinances, that works for you.
And guess what?
(27:00):
Inflation is only temporary, so, but God's provision is eternal
.
Well, there's an action stephere of finding one expense to
cut or adjust this week and prayover your finances.
I don't know what that is foreveryone, but think about that.
Everyone.
Find one expense to cut andadjust this week and then pray
over your finances each andevery day.
I know when I'm paying my bills.
(27:21):
I'm thanking God throughoutthat whole process and before I
wrap, I write at the top of mylittle spin pen that I do print
off.
I'm old school.
I print it off because I wantto check it off that
everything's paid off and I putthank you, god in the name of
Jesus, amen.
I literally, for my businessand for my personal, I write on
there because this is all God.
(27:41):
So any last thoughts, adriana?
Adriana Lopez (27:44):
Staying mindful that this is not going to be
forever.
I think that sometimes you knowthat fear could consume people
and definitely God didn't giveus a spirit of fear.
But just also remember that ifyou can give during these times
that generosity because rememberthat even when Joseph stored
(28:05):
away the grain and when thefamine came and they were able
not only to provide for Egyptbut also for the other countries
that were coming, you know tobuy the grain, so you know that
they had that available.
So if you do have the abundance, that can be generous the way
God want us, and I think that'sdefinitely something that that
has spoken a lot to me during us, and I think that's definitely
(28:25):
something that has spoken a lotto me during this time.
Shay Cook (28:28):
I love that.
Yes, giving back is key and ifyou have, like you said, like
Adriana's saying, if you have anabundance, share, give, be
generous, like that's what Godwants us to do.
He doesn't want us to keep itall for ourselves.
He's given it to us to sharewith others.
So thank you, adriana, foranother great episode.
I just want to say the light ofGod is shining on you literally
, like with the light there,like there it's literally and I
(28:52):
loved it, loved that lightshining.
I thank you, god, I see you God, I see you in Adriana, and I
thank you guys for joining ustoday and have a great day.
We'll see you and talk to yousoon.
A big thank you for listening tothis episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
(29:13):
Hit that subscribe button orfollow the podcast and please
feel free to leave us a review.
For the latest Yahweh's Moneycontent, visit us at
crusaders4changeorg or find usanywhere you listen to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired and remember it'salways better Yahweh's way.
One of the great stories that I love is Joseph
preparing for the famine.
You know, god gave him that.
Of course, he interpretedPharaoh's dream and he was
diligent, he prepared, he storedgrain and I think for us it's
the same thing saving.
We're not sure what things aregoing to be looking like, but if
we can help it right now andpay things off, like right now,
(00:24):
one of our goals is to pay offour vehicle.
You know, in the time ofplentiful right, that's what he
did, joseph stored grain.
You know the time of plentiful,why things are good and you
feel like you can do it.
Do something to pay off a bill,do something to pay off a debt
that you have.
So that's what one of the goalsthat we're trying to focus on,
because when?
One of the goals that we'retrying to focus on because, when
the time comes, that you knowagain, these times right now are
(00:45):
very unpredictable.
Shay Cook (00:47):
At least you could say well, I'm glad I did that.
I'm glad I'm safe.
I'm glad we put money away.
Ever felt those awkward vibeswhen 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 ShayI'm, an accredited financial
(01:07):
counselor and the CEO andfounder of Crusaders for Change
LLC.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
saving and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Hey everyone, welcome back toanother episode of Yahweh's
(01:28):
Money.
This is actually our finalepisode of season three, which
is crazy.
I'm excited for season four.
We got some exciting newchanges coming, including
amazing graphics by the creativegenius.
Amazing graphics by thecreative genius Sharoline, who
was working with Crackers andSoup, and Bethany and all of her
(01:49):
great production just genius aswell.
I just love being around blackand brown magic.
It's just a gorgeous thing andso being able to work with and
women, all these women-ownedbusinesses and just doing their
things in the name of Jesus andjust in God's grace and glory
and everything I mean.
I'm just excited for seasonfour.
(02:09):
With the new run of show, we'regoing to change up little
things there as well, and thenwe're going to bring in some
family and friends and experts.
I got my husband coming on withthe first episode of season
four, so I'm just super excitedabout that.
But before I get into what thisepisode of talking about
inflation and inspiration, Iwant to welcome back our amazing
(02:30):
guest, Adriana.
What's up, girl?
Adriana Lopez (02:32):
Hey, shay and you you're a great entrepreneur,
woman business, so that group ofgreat women.
Shay Cook (02:42):
I appreciate that.
Yeah, we're doing our thing outhere and I'm just excited about
what season four is going tobring.
But I'm even more excited inthis moment about this episode,
because Inflation Girl is makingeverything more expensive, I
mean.
But God still provides right.
Let's talk about faith-basedstrategies to thrive financially
(03:03):
.
So, starting with our scripture,matthew 6, 31-33 states so do
not worry, saying what shall weeat, what shall we drink or what
shall we wear, but seek firsthis kingdom and righteousness,
and all these things will begiven to you as well.
I mean that right there.
It just says it point blankDon't worry about what you're
(03:25):
eating, don't worry about youdrinking, you're wearing.
God is going to take care ofyou.
And I mean, in these times,right now, that's all we have.
So that's what we're going tobe talking about in a minute.
So, getting into our rapid firequestions, within five minutes
we got three questions thatwe're going to ask each other
and go back and forth, and I'mexcited about what Adriana the
expert, the personal financialexpert, has to say.
(03:48):
Started with number one, what'sone thing you stopped buying
due to rising costs?
Adriana Lopez (03:53):
Ooh small bottles , small bottles of shampoo,
small bottles of conditioner,liquid detergent, because we use
these things in big quantitiessometimes.
There's these cutesy littlebottles yeah, you know, when it
comes to personal care and Irealized that is not going to be
(04:16):
something that's going to beeconomical for us when we run
through it like water yeah so Igotta buy the things in bag, and
so I've had to change somethings that you know I was used
to using, because they don'tcome in like the 32 ounce yeah.
Yeah, I would say small bottlesof things that we use in bulk I
no longer buy, no matter howcute I try.
But I mean, you know somethings you can't like.
(04:38):
Some facial cream they come,you know 32 ounce facial, but
that's it.
Shay Cook (04:44):
What about you?
The first thing that came tomind, which is not the right
answer, but I'm just going toshare it, is white eggs, because
my daughter called me the otherday.
She said Mother, do you know,brown eggs are less expensive
than white eggs.
She's like they out here racingin these eggs.
Man, brown eggs are lessexpensive, up here at least.
I'm only speaking from Maryland, I'm only speaking in Anne
(05:05):
Arundel County, I'm onlyspeaking around where we live.
They are cheaper.
Brown eggs are cheaper thanwhite eggs.
My daughter said these peopleout here racist against brown
eggs, but we gonna eat browneggs and we love brown eggs
that's why.
I stopped buying white eggsbecause brown eggs are cheap.
Adriana Lopez (05:19):
The only time I'll buy white eggs is if
there's no brown eggs, and I'verealized, because you know
everything that's happening witheggs, that there are only white
eggs left.
Shay Cook (05:31):
Yeah, exactly Because everybody's buying the cheaper
brown eggs.
But, like I said, my daughter'slike why are the brown eggs
cheaper when they are actuallymore healthier and usually
organic and whatever?
So how does trusting God changehow we handle financial stress?
Adriana Lopez (05:49):
Good one, that is good.
It's hard.
I'm not going to lie.
I want to always say that I am,you know, calm during the
storms, that I don't freak out.
But that's not the truth.
You know, I do stress out but Itry to remember and look back
how God has always been faithfuland whenever there has been any
(06:09):
trials or tribulations.
You know you can always lookback and see God's hand in
things, but sometimes during ityou're not really seeing
everything that is going to cometo fruition.
So, getting into the word andjust staying mindful that God is
going to see it through, sothey might, you know, if the
stress is going to be somethingthat is going to come, but
you've got to be able to pivotand say, okay, you know what?
(06:32):
I know that God's got a biggerplan.
That's your word.
It looks like you ain't got abigger plan Because you've
always come through.
Shay Cook (06:40):
Always.
He's always coming through.
Yeah, that's the same for me.
Trusting God changes my stressfinancially or any stress by
calming me, by keeping mepeaceful and, like you said, I
am one of those that are justout of mind, just crazy.
Sometimes it's like anxiety,depression.
All of that hits me whenthere's stress especially well
(07:02):
any kind of stress.
There's stress especially well,any kind of stress.
And just even recently, theonly thing that was able to calm
my mind was God and meditationon his word.
That's the only thing thatworked.
And he's like you need to seekme and I did and I had peace and
I went to sleep.
That's the only thing thatworks for me now.
Ain't no alcohol, no other viceout there is helping me with
this stress, only God.
Adriana Lopez (07:23):
So yeah, you know , I heard someone say when
you're going through trials,there's only two choices either
despair or dependence.
Shay Cook (07:32):
I love that.
That's a good quote Okay.
Adriana Lopez (07:36):
Yeah, despair or dependence, it's either one or
the other.
So I'd rather not get into thedespair and dependence on him.
Shay Cook (07:44):
Yeah, I love that.
I have to write that down.
All right, what's one creativeway to save money without
sacrificing quality of life?
Adriana Lopez (07:53):
You know, one thing that I always told clients
but I wasn't really fully doingmyself, was about buying
general brands and not brandnames of food and things.
We want things here and there,but I really have now switched a
lot of things to have morenon-brand things.
For instance, I love goldfishbut not gold turtles.
Shay Cook (08:16):
I didn't even know that existed.
Okay, I told my daughter she'sa goldfish person that gold
turtles.
I didn't even know that existed.
Adriana Lopez (08:19):
okay, I told my daughter she's a goldfish person
, so they're a little hollow,you know, yeah, but it gives me
that cheesy feeling.
So there's some things that youcan definitely try to alternate
.
You know, like things thateither buy in bulk, like maybe
paper towels.
You know, do they always thateither you buy in bulk, like
maybe paper towels, you know, dothey always have to be the
brand name?
There are a lot of things, alot of cereals, that are made in
(08:42):
the same factories.
All they do is just switch.
You know the Walmart, you knowthe great value, you know what I
mean.
That's all they do.
They just change the name onthe front of the box, but a lot
of things are made.
So I've realized that now I can, yeah, perhaps not get the
brand name, so sacrifice that,but I'm still getting good
things.
Yeah, dollar tree's got a lotof good things.
Shay Cook (09:05):
So, yeah, we saw another dollar tree coming up in
the neighborhood and we werelike I guess this time when
you're in inflation, dollartrees start going in and then
when you get out of it theystart closing down.
It's like this whole cycle andI'm like man people gonna be
prouder than that dollar treeover the next few years with
inflation, what about?
you man, I don't know.
(09:25):
I think the number one thingthat comes to my mind about
creative and I know a lot ofpeople don't like to do is
cooking.
I mean, to me that's a man,cooking saves you money.
And then when you cook, like,like, you got to cook leftovers
people you got to ensure thatyou guys, I love eating
leftovers for lunch because Idon't have to worry about, oh,
what I'm going to order or whereI got to go and all that.
(09:45):
No, I got leftovers in therefrigerator and even if I'm out
and about taking it with me,like, to me it ain't the most
creative thing.
But yeah, get creative withthat.
Know, make sure I mean I love ablue apron box, you know, and
all the box, kind of they bring,send everything to you.
Yeah, making sure you have yourbase of potatoes or rice or
something like noodles,something, and then throw some
vegetables and protein on there.
(10:06):
Man, you're good and thatcarries you, like, gives you all
the different nutrients youwant.
It's mostly fresh becauseyou're cooking it, you're buying
it, you're sourcing it locally.
Um, so that's my creative way.
For me it's creative y'all.
For y'all that have beencooking forever, it's not
creative, but for me.
I didn't really like cookinguntil like last year, so I'm
appreciating it more for mytemple that god gave me, um, and
(10:28):
my mind, and that is makingsure I'm cognizant and mindful
of what I'm eating too.
So instead of just grabbing andgoing right, right or just, uh,
like from a store or orderingsomething and I'm like man, I
should have just ate more than arefrigerator, I should have
just cooked something.
So I'm not feeling bad that youknow I ordered something and
I'm like what am I eating this?
(10:48):
Like I should have just cookedsomething.
So, anyway, so that's that.
And wow, that was a great rapidfire.
Yay, we got gotta have a littleching, ching or something there
, like rapid fire, I don't know,some kind of jingle to go.
No, I can't sing y'all allright.
(11:09):
So main discussion oh man, man,inflation and inspiration, you
know, thriving despite risingcosts.
Like adriana said, let's bedependent on God versus being in
despair of everything that'sgoing on with this inflation.
I mean, how biblicalstewardship helps us navigate
inflation, I believe, is key.
(11:30):
It's in the word.
God wants us to be fruitful andmultiply, but he also wants us
to not be what's to the lender.
He doesn't want to be a slaveto the lender.
He wants us to be prosperous.
I'm trying to go back and forthhere, y'all I'm trying to be
like there's a positive, butthere's also a time of sacrifice
and discipline and self-controlthat is needed.
That is spoke about in theBible often, that God wants us
(11:54):
to be great stewards ofeverything he gives us.
Because we don't own anythingand I'm going to keep saying
that on every episode because wedon't until it really sinks in
for me and everybody else.
But how are you a steward andhow is this helping you get
through this inflation?
Adriana Lopez (12:08):
I would say preparation.
One of the great stories that Ilove is Joseph preparing for
the famine.
You know, god came him that.
Of course he interpretedPharaoh's dream and he was
diligent, he prepared, he storedgrain and I think for us it's
the same thing saving.
We're not sure what things aregoing to be looking like, but if
(12:28):
we can help it right now andpay things off like right now,
one of our goals is to pay offour vehicle.
You know, in the time ofplentiful right, that's what he
did Joseph stored green.
You know the time of plentifulwhy things are good and you feel
like you can do it, dosomething to pay off a bill, do
something to pay off a debt thatyou have.
So that's what one of the goalsthat we're trying to focus on,
(12:50):
because when the time comes thatyou know again, these times
right now are very unpredictable.
At least you could say, well,I'm glad I did that, I'm glad we
saved, I'm glad we put moneyaway.
I'll never forget I had a clientwho was doing very well I mean
bringing in like 20,000 plus amonth on his own business and
during those times and thenbusiness slowed down I wasn't
(13:14):
really saving what I could have.
And I, I just I asked him youknow what, why didn't you?
He said because I never thoughtthe flow was going to stop.
You know what I mean, you know.
And then that happens to someof us a lot of us.
The gravy train is always goingto be pouring gravy, you know,
but God will provide.
But he also wants you toprepare, and being a good
(13:35):
steward is to understand that heowns it all.
He wants you to, of course,multiply, but he wants you to be
able to store away, just likethe ants right that, even the
ants, you know, prepare.
Shay Cook (13:46):
Yeah, they do all year around.
Adriana Lopez (13:48):
Yeah, squirrels prepare.
I mean, you know a lot ofspecies prepare for the seasons,
for the winter.
So I think that's a big thing.
You know, that we try to do isjust prepare and see okay, let's
pay off this, let's save, let'sput money away.
Shay Cook (14:03):
I agree, everything is unknown.
I just was thinking about, mymind was like when I was ripped
from the government, even thoughwe're talking about inflation,
you know, but it still goes withthe time.
Not only are we dealing withinflation, we're dealing with
the crazy administration andgovernment and you know, and all
that stuff, and people arelosing their jobs or they're
getting their jobs back becauseit just says you can't be firing
(14:25):
these people.
Whatever the situation may be,we don't tomorrow's not promised
.
Our jobs are not promised.
This business is not promised,even though it's God's business.
God might be like tomorrow Shay, I hope he doesn't say this but
C4C is done.
You ain't getting nothing.
We're good, right, and soyou're right that preparation is
key of saving, of managing yourdebt, paying down your debt.
(14:47):
I mean a form of saving ispaying down your debt because
those interest rates are high.
I was at an event this weekwhere the ladies was like, man,
I got to pay down these creditcards or pay them off because
they're in 20 plus percent.
You know interest rates.
Right now I'm like, yeah, youain't going to get no savings or
investment.
That's going to be 20 percent.
You know interest generating.
So you have to prepare y'all.
(15:07):
I mean it's hard.
I know a lot of people dealwith FOMO, deal with you only
live once here in these streets,yoloing, but yeah, you want to
live in the moment.
But again, tomorrow you mightnot have no job, or your spouse
may not have no job, or your kidmight move back in the house
and you have to pay for them youdon't know what this is or your
parents?
We're in a sandwich generation.
(15:28):
We might have to take care ofour parents, and I know that's a
lot, but we need to be thinkingabout how we can sustain
ourselves but also help others,because, of course, that's what
God wants us to help others aswell.
It's a lot to try to prepare,especially when the costs are
going up.
People ain't paying us more.
I mean it's a lot.
Adriana Lopez (15:49):
Yes, it definitely is, and that's why
you have to do what's best foryour family.
Sit down and analyze, look atyour budget, see what we were
just talking about cooking moreat home or not buying the brand
name stuff.
You have to see what ways that,although you cannot control
what is happening, you trust inGod that things will work out.
But what can we do?
I mean, joseph's still prepared, even though he knew that God
(16:12):
was going to see through, but hestill was diligent in storing
grain.
So we still do what we have todo.
You know, and modify, or justyou know, hey, I'm not going to
use as much gas and just wastingit doing other things.
I'm going to try to knockeverything out.
You know, when I'm out runningerrands, you know, I mean just
even little changes.
Little changes, you're verycost-saving.
Shay Cook (16:33):
Exactly.
Adriana Lopez (16:34):
So, looking at things, alternating, things, you
purchase, you can buy in bulk,buy in bulk.
Shay Cook (16:40):
Yeah, I love the whole buying in bulk man.
I, especially in this time.
You know we go to Costco.
I just told my husband, makesure you get that toilet tissue
and stuff like, especially afterthe pandemic, making sure I
have the toilet tissue stockedup, the Lysol taken from others.
You know I ain't one of thoseto go buy 20 gallons of milk,
which I've seen people do, but Ijust want to make sure that we
(17:10):
have what we can and that thepricing is right too and the
savings.
It makes sense because I docomparison shopping as well.
I'm looking at Costco, lookingat other places, because
sometimes, unfortunately,unfortunately, amazon might have
it for a little cheaper.
So you know, go there just forthe savings aspect of it all.
But yeah, and I love the ideayou're saying like, if you go
(17:32):
out, get your errands out,because the gas, I mean, not
only is it destroying, it'sgetting more expensive, it's
destroying the earth,unfortunately the fumes.
So I'm not going to go intothat whole green stuff, but we
need to be cognizant of that.
I know, when I go to a placeI'm like, oh, if it's just I'm
going to walk around theshopping center, I'm not.
I mean, I know that noteverybody's capable and able to
do that due to disabilities orwhatever, but I know if I can I
(17:54):
will.
So I'm going to walk.
Adriana Lopez (17:56):
I mean it's good for me.
Shay Cook (17:57):
I don't need to be driving everywhere.
Adriana Lopez (18:07):
I, you know, I mean those ways.
I know social media, you knowwell, it's got its.
You know things that could be alittle bit toxic.
It also has really good ideasbecause with this whole egg
thing, you know, with people atthe shortage of eggs not being
able to get eggs, eggs are, youknow, doubled in price.
People are substituting eggs,you know, for with other things,
and I didn't even know that youcould do that in some baking
recipes.
Oh yeah.
So I mean I love the creativeway.
So even going to social mediaand seeing, hey, what else could
(18:29):
I, you know, use instead ofeggs and still get, you know,
quality.
Again, you have to modify andit's not going to be forever,
but just in time.
Exactly that you just have to.
You know, this time oftransition until you can get to
a place again where this is notan issue.
But this time of transitionuntil you can get to a place
again where this is not an issue.
But I've seen people do theseamazing recipes and I'm like, oh
cool, that's really cool.
(18:49):
I mean I, you know, I'm notgoing to be trying to need them,
but you know, because you knowI don't eat eggs.
So for me, this little egghasn't even fazed me.
Shay Cook (18:59):
Oh yeah, no, my family is the egg family.
I don't eat a lot of like eggsfor breakfast because as I've
gotten older they don't sit wellwith my digestive system, but,
um, like once a week I mightcook some eggs on a weekend, um,
but they are part of recipesand I hear people talking about
getting chickens, like in ourcounty in Maryland.
We can.
I think we had two chickens.
(19:20):
I heard in Baltimore City theycan have five.
So I'm gonna have to convincemy mother-in-law to get five
chickens and I'm talking aboutthe way things are going.
We might have to get a cow anda bunch of goats and everything.
Because it's crazy out here.
Adriana Lopez (19:35):
Yeah, I had a chili.
What was it?
Sweet potato chili.
And I thought it was going tobe me with the sweet potato.
No, but the whole chili wasmade from sweet potatoes and
while I was like, okay, theflavors are there, it's
substituting meat, but it wasreally good.
Yeah, sweet potato chili.
And I said who would havethought, but yeah, again
(19:56):
substituting things that youthink, oh no, you know, maybe
toilet paper, you might likeyour brand, you know name, maybe
there's some things you justhave, but there's a lot of other
things that you really couldsubstitute.
Shay Cook (20:09):
Yeah, I mean I used to be an Angel Soft girl and
then I was.
Now I'm a Charmin girl becauseof Costco, but I've tried to go
back to Angel Soft and thenCharmin, charmin.
However you do that, that stuffis working.
That's the high quality toilettissue that I love.
So what are some smart spendingstrategies We've kind of been
(20:30):
talking about it but that alignwith faith, right?
I think we were saying thepreparation, that's the key part
of it.
Obviously we need a budget.
We need to know we're all, allour money needs.
That we were talking about thisin that same meeting this week.
Having a purpose, he'sassigning a goal to every dollar
, down to the penny that you'reusing.
So you, god knows what you'redoing, starting with him, giving
(20:53):
your money, your first fruits,right, but then move into and
making sure you're taking careof yourself.
And then I always say, build ina little bit of fun.
Right now I've been sacrificingthe fun piece because I love
working and trying to grow thebusiness more and everything,
but sometimes that might have tobe the sacrifice.
I mean, you know, what are yousacrificing?
That's part of faith.
You're like Lord.
I mean it's Lent season, youknow, people are fasting, all
(21:15):
the stuff that's going on, andthis time of year, before Easter
, you're aligning.
You're spending your financeswith your faith.
So what are you doing right now, adrienne?
Adriana Lopez (21:25):
One of the things is gratitude.
When Paul said, do not beanxious about anything, of
course, in everything givethanks.
I got a check the other dayunexpectedly.
I overpaid on something.
It was $18.
I just stopped and said, thankyou, god, you know, thank you
for this $18.
I didn't expect it, it was asurprise.
And just having that gratitudethat we're getting paid, that we
(21:47):
have money coming in, I really,really try to focus on
gratitude because that keeps mehumble, not to think that things
are just going to come.
You know what I mean.
I just remember to myself likehey, every time that the check
deposits into our money,deposits into our checking
account, just to say thank youwhen I go in.
(22:07):
So just really being gratefulfor what we have, because you
know it's like he can be trustedwith very little, can be
trusted with a lot.
I feel like God wants to seeyour heart of where you're at
with the things he provides,because everything is a blessing
.
You know, my paid off car is ablessing.
I remember having this period,you know, of almost giving into
(22:29):
my flesh and wanting to buy anewer car because my car is
older but it's been paid off.
God really humbled me and waslike your car is paid off, it's
a blessing.
It's never broken down on me,so why am I trying to replace it
?
Is it all vain?
You know I love Jeeps and that'smy thing.
And I was like, okay, okay, godyou know, again, going back to
(22:49):
being a good steward, he knewthat that wasn't a wise thing to
do.
Why would you do that?
I said okay, so that's out ofme now.
So my husband's just shockedthat I don't even mention it
when we see Jeeps walk.
You know what I mean.
Oh, I like that color.
Oh, that's the one I want.
I'm just good to where I'm at,because what I have is what I
need Exactly.
Shay Cook (23:09):
I agree, and that's great.
I'm the same way.
I paid off my car during thepandemic I hope to get.
I mentioned in a future pastepisode that I hope that car
saves me another five to 10years.
I don't drive a lot.
I'm driving more now becauseI'm out and about in the
business world, but I man, thiscar is what?
Almost 10 years old, yeah, nextyear it'll be 10 years old and
I'm like all right, give meanother five, 10 years, I'll be
(23:31):
happy with that.
You know, and I'm the same way.
I'm out there, I'm looking atthe new Broncos.
I'm like, oh, those Broncos arenice, no-transcript it right
(24:14):
away, thankful that I receivedit and just overall thankful,
right, that man, god is stillproviding, because there's so
many people out there that are.
They're suffering, they don'thave everything, and it might be
because of where they live orchoices, whatever, it doesn't
matter.
People out here are not aslucky, blessed, not even lucky.
(24:35):
I don't even really believe inluck anymore.
It's blessed.
I think we're all blessed indifferent levels, but I think
we're kind of highly favored andblessed out here, you and I and
many that we associate with,because I mean, even though
something that you can pinpointto like well my family's here.
Adriana Lopez (25:08):
We're healthy.
We at least are getting, youknow a meal to eat, or three
meals, exactly those things thatyou might not be getting the
income you were getting.
You might not be.
You know spending what you werespending before because now
everything's gone up in price,but you are able to to separate.
You know needs versus wants andthat's a big thing, I think for
(25:29):
a lot of people.
That you know really taking alook at are a lot of the things
that I was spending money on,where they all you know needs
and I think, focusing on whatwasn't and being able to again,
just for this time of transition, sacrifice for now.
You know a lot of those wants,and it's not forever, it's just
going to be for this time period, but the most important things
are there.
(25:49):
You know your faith, yourfriends and just staying focused
on that.
Shay Cook (25:54):
Yeah, that's very important, like you said, the
importance of gratitude andcontentment, being happy and
content with what we're given,what we have.
We have the basics.
Yeah, we might not be living inmansions and driving the latest
car and eating like gold food.
Whatever it may be.
What was I watching theKardashians?
And they were in India at awedding and they were talking
(26:16):
about how, like I mean, theweddings over there in India are
just oh my God.
And experience.
Some of it seems wasteful in mymind, but you know they were
telling the other story of howthey were feeding, like
thousands of people, groceriesduring their festivities and
stuff doing all this great thing, which is great.
But we ain't them, and that'sfine, because god's still real,
(26:40):
he's still taking care of us andman.
Even with inflation hitting a40 year high in 2023, data shows
that if you keep with yourstrong financial habits, you
adjust better, you do better.
If you continue to do what youknow, stick to what you know
when it comes to doing yourfinances, that works for you.
And guess what?
(27:00):
Inflation is only temporary, so, but God's provision is eternal
.
Well, there's an action stephere of finding one expense to
cut or adjust this week and prayover your finances.
I don't know what that is foreveryone, but think about that.
Everyone.
Find one expense to cut andadjust this week and then pray
over your finances each andevery day.
I know when I'm paying my bills.
(27:21):
I'm thanking God throughoutthat whole process and before I
wrap, I write at the top of mylittle spin pen that I do print
off.
I'm old school.
I print it off because I wantto check it off that
everything's paid off and I putthank you, god in the name of
Jesus, amen.
I literally, for my businessand for my personal, I write on
there because this is all God.
(27:41):
So any last thoughts, adriana?
Adriana Lopez (27:44):
Staying mindful that this is not going to be
forever.
I think that sometimes you knowthat fear could consume people
and definitely God didn't giveus a spirit of fear.
But just also remember that ifyou can give during these times
that generosity because rememberthat even when Joseph stored
(28:05):
away the grain and when thefamine came and they were able
not only to provide for Egyptbut also for the other countries
that were coming, you know tobuy the grain, so you know that
they had that available.
So if you do have the abundance, that can be generous the way
God want us, and I think that'sdefinitely something that that
has spoken a lot to me during us, and I think that's definitely
(28:25):
something that has spoken a lotto me during this time.
Shay Cook (28:28):
I love that.
Yes, giving back is key and ifyou have, like you said, like
Adriana's saying, if you have anabundance, share, give, be
generous, like that's what Godwants us to do.
He doesn't want us to keep itall for ourselves.
He's given it to us to sharewith others.
So thank you, adriana, foranother great episode.
I just want to say the light ofGod is shining on you literally
, like with the light there,like there it's literally and I
(28:52):
loved it, loved that lightshining.
I thank you, god, I see you God, I see you in Adriana, and I
thank you guys for joining ustoday and have a great day.
We'll see you and talk to yousoon.
A big thank you for listening tothis episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
(29:13):
Hit that subscribe button orfollow the podcast and please
feel free to leave us a review.
For the latest Yahweh's Moneycontent, visit us at
crusaders4changeorg or find usanywhere you listen to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired and remember it'salways better Yahweh's way.
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