I have been thinking a lot about budgets.  I never used to be good at them, and then every expense seemed like a major problem: "The car insurance is due! Oh no!"  And at the grocery store checkout counter, I would worry if I had enough. 

In those days it seemed as if there was no end to the expenses.  My finances created unnecessary fear.  It would always seem like I just made out a rent check and now another one was due. 

With reports recently of a major earthquake in Asia and mudslides in Guatemala, I am thinking like a lot of other people that we just wrote checks to help out with hurricane relief and with our dollars we also sent food and money and water and relief workers. 

Is there no end to the things to which I am asked to respond?  Is there no end to the needs of this world?

If I don't budget for things they do seem much more relentless and never-ending.  If I don't budget for my car insurance it becomes a burden every month, or quarter, or whenever it comes up.  If I don't budget for food (and even sometimes when I do) then it is a lot harder to face the check out register.

Giving is as much a necessity of life as food or clothing or car insurance.  If we budget our giving then it will be so much easier to do and to be joyful about.

I don't rejoice over the suffering in Asia or in Guatemala, but I rejoice that I have money set aside for giving to such a cause as this for this month and the next.

Even when I was really poor at budgeting I relied on the goodness of God for everything.  And I trust that God's goodness never ends. God always makes me feel like a top priority.

So now that I have it all better organized and know what money I have to work with, how could I not put the needs of God's people at the top of my list?

Lord,  As we continue to give thanks for your goodness and generosity to us, may we reflect in all the areas of our lives.  Amen