Get The Best Return With Your Tax-Return

It's that time of year again, time to pay the piper and I've spotted multiple posts in my news feed lately regarding people's anticipation of their recently received or impending tax returns ($$)! Many of them joking about their once again "hood rich" status. For those of you not privy to this term, it's the state of mind when you have a large sum of money just long enough to look the part of nouveau riche to only end up "broke" in no time (at least that's my definition).

For those of you looking to make the most of your tax return in a responsible way, I have some suggestions that I have actually partaken in myself.

Tip 1- For those living Paycheck to Paycheck- Try taking your return and getting ahead on some of your fixed expenses (ie. an expense that costs the same every month) such as rent, car payments or life insurance. You'll see that by eliminating some of the pressure from bills and allocating a set amount you can put to the side monthly you actually end up with more money for the fun stuff.

Tip 2- For those with kiddies- Unfortunately, I know tons of parents out there that see that extra dough (child earned credit) as some form of payment for taking care of their kids throughout the year.  I suggest you do the smart thing and invest it in your child's future. College is only expected to become more expensive and the job market more competitive. Another option is to put it aside for an extracurricular activity that your child may want to engage in. Certain activities like ballet, football and gymnastics can really break your pocketbooks if your not prepared when your little one gives you those puss in boots eyes because she wants to be a "ballerina princess".

Tip 3- Think Long-term- If you've been getting by fine on your paychecks put it towards an asset. Who says you have to be married before you entertain the idea of owning a home or even an apartment. You'd be surprised how fast you could own something in just 4-5 years of stashing those returns. Another option is stock. You don't have to be Jane Wall Street to invest in a brand that you are loyal to, especially with sites like E-Trade. While you probably won't become Warren Buffet you'd be surprised that your money can grow if you make a good choice. If your not the risky kind you could always stick it in a retirement plan, after all who knows where Social Security is bound to end up.

Tip 4- Make it worth the loss- If you must spend your money on something fun I say make it an experience and take that dream vacation.

While I'm no Financial Expert, I do know from experience that these tips definitely won't leave you with buyer's remorse or even have you saying "if I had that money again...I would..." 3 months from now. So spend wisely or don't spend at all and as always...

Be Fruitful!

Grab A Copy!

(Released February 2015)



Our 1st "Must-Have" for Winter 2015 is "For Girls Like You!" Devotional book for Tweens by Wynter Pitts, Founder of "For Girls Like You" Magazine & Resources for Girls.  Pitts' online magazine is a hit with young Christian girls and her new book has been endorsed by both Bible Teacher Priscilla Shirer and Candace Cameron Bure, so far! I'm definitely going to grab a copy for my Young Lady!

For info on "For Girls Like You!" check out http://forgirlslikeyou.com/ and don't forget to suggest it to a young lady in your life!

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Get on Santa's "Good List"



Well, the countdown is officially on! I don't know about many of you but this is usually the time when i begin surfing the web, catalogs, Sunday papers and my e-mails for the best possible deals for last minute Christmas gifts. As I head into the different retail stores there is always my trip to Macy's that gets me the most gitty.

A few weeks ago, my family and I watched the Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade patiently awaiting Santa's arrival to Macy's, officially marking the beginning of their Holiday season. I personally get most excited waiting for little Virginia (the float of the little girl) rushing to Macy's clutching her letter to Santa in her little hands. She is also features in their animated Christmas commercial. For those of you that may have missed the promotional piece, every year Macy's has their Believe Campaign (inspired by the timeless classic Miracle on 34th Street). They set up a mailbox in the store and for every letter to Santa that is put in the box Macy's gives $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

In usual fashion, my children and I sat down to the task of penning their letters to Santa.  Most of my children are under the age of 6, so I used a wonderful template I found on iheartorganizing.blogspot.com and had tons of fun! Writing letters to Santa is wonderful past-time for children of all ages and how much more exhilarating to know that the letters are being used for a philanthropic cause. So as I pick of items here and them at Macy's-Herald Square I'll be sure to drop by that magical mailbox that turns my children's wishes into wishes for so many.

I know that Christmas time can be overwhelming but if you are looking for something philanthropic to do as a family that is also quick and convenient shoot Santa a quick note!(smile)

Merry Christmas & Be Fruitful

Renee

The One Thing I'm most Thankful for...

God has blessed my life so much and there are a million things that I can tell God "Thank you" for, but one of the things this Thanksgiving that I have to say I am most thankful for is God's Forgiveness. I thank God that he is merciful despite that a lot of times, I am not deserving.  I am sure that there are many of you out there that feel the same way! What a mighty God we serve to be able to love us enough to give his only son and then still have us fail often enough at being obedient to his word and still he loves us; still he forgives us and wipes the slate clean as if it never happened. Isaiah 43:25 says:

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

His love for us is so deep that he chooses not to remember our sins.  If that's not saving grace...I am so thankful for God's mercy this year because I have been trying to be more vigilante in those things that the Holy Spirit has convicted me about and many days, have fallen short and gotten down about it, but I know that is exactly what Satan wants. Those are the days I know I need to pray a little harder and read the word a little longer because Satan will try to convince us that all is lost. He will make us feel it is too tough, that you can never measure up, but I guess that's why God is so forgiving.  He knows that we will never measure up.  Jesus said (to paraphrase) that the student can never be greater than the teacher! And there you have it! We can strive and work our hardest but will never reach perfection the best we can do is try! That's all God asks, is that we try, and with that he leaves it up to us to say "yes, I will try or no, I won't try" and if your answer is the latter...all i can say is "how ungrateful"!

Happy Thanksgiving and as always Be Fruitful

Renee

Seasons & Reasons



Recently, the changing season has been a frequent topic of conversation and literature for me.  It seems like every week there is something new in my eye or ear on the changing season.  One conversation I had was about how the changing seasons effect people's moods; another on how to continue healthy living and eating despite the onset of cold weather. Along with the change in weather there has also been a lot of change in my life; a change in friends, a change in responsibility, a change in my personal goals, and change in my ambition. 

As you can imagine, at first, i didn't accept all of these changes with open arms.  I began to wonder just what all these changes meant, what was God trying to say, were they good...were they bad?  So I took to my Bible, but where would I look. So I put it down. And it's funny how God will answer you if you are sincere. I was about to wash the dishes and decided to catch up some episodes of Joni Lamb and as I was searching through the pre-recorded shows there is one within the past couple of weeks called "Seasons". I thought to myself "here we go again with the seasons, let's just go ahead and watch this, God is obviously speaking to me".

Sure enough the message, questions and scriptures were right on point! Before this, I'd been feeling a sense of stagnation in life. As a wife and mother it can get pretty routine and when you throw in the day to day sacrifices we make for our families, we aren't exactly living la vida loca.  The fun times can be few and far between as a night with friends or romance is bumped for a night filled with homework, crying, cleaning and refereeing.  After listening to that broadcast I was able to realize that I myself am in a season of life.  That is season is motherhood, full on motherhood, with 4 under the age of 10, motherhood! 

I never really viewed this as a season of life. Aren't seasons more about personal growth and development?  Boom!!! That's when the Holy Spirit spoke! Every impatient moment and overreaction I ever had with my children began to play in my head and I realized somewhere in my checklist of things to do, I had lost focus that the most important thing I have to do is to help my children grow into the people God wants them to be.  My ambitious entreprenerial tasks that often ended with me upset with one of the kids for "distracting me from something important" didn't seem all that important anymore. I realized that in this season, God is working in me on my patience and faith, that I don't always have to know where it is all headed.  And most importantly enjoy the ride until I get to a new season.  When in doubt it's always wise to consult God in prayer and turn to his word.
I was able to an abundance of scriptures in which seasons of life are mentioned all throughout the bible!
http://www.openbible.info/topics/seasons

Feel Free to indulge and as always Be fruitful!

Renee



Those "Well I've Never..." Thoughts

By Renee Jamerson

(Photo Credit: Scene from the movie Saved!)

Yesterday, our Asst. Pastor preached his sermon on Sin, of course giving examples of sin.  As he spoke one after the other my mind started to say "well that's not me and never has been."  After church I meditated on the message and like a light bulb the Holy Spirit convicted me!  Sure...I wasn't guilty of those sins but did that make me sinless? "Absolutely not", I thought, "no one is sinless" and then it hit me.  How many of my sins do I partake of on a daily basis and never pay attention to.  For example, judgemental thoughts, entertaining gossip, and etc.  The funny part is some of these sins I have endulged in my entire life out of sheer upbringing.

How many of us were raised to be careful of the company we keep, usually coupled with the saying "birds of feather flock together"? What I realized in myself, was that it created in me an introverted attitude, not one created by shyness but one based on my judgements and sometimes, prejudgements of others. This gave way to another thought...am I at times self-righteous? So, I took to the bible. Using the table of content, I found my way to Luke 18.

In this chapter, Jesus gives a parable of two men, one a pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee began to pray saying I thank you Lord that I am not this and that and that I am definitely not like this tax collector (of course this is me paraphrasing but this is the jist of it), while the tax collector silently prayed saying Lord forgive me for I am a sinner. Jesus then states "for he who exalts himself will be humbled and he who is humble will be exalted." Wow! Wow! Wow!  I, in that moment at church and so many others was that Pharisee. I had thanked the lord on my pedestal while half-knowingly condemned others in my pride.

If you find yourself guilty of this fret not!  I am thankful to say that we serve a forgiving and merciful God who allows room for error as long as you repent and work on it.  Therefore, I know where I need work and I hope you can find some too, after all as Christians it is our life-long job to strive to be more like Christ.

Be Blessed!