Latest / Becoming Financially Confident / Celebrating Everything Except the Real Reason?

Transcript

Celebrating Everything Except the Real Reason? · Becoming Financially Confident

• 0:37
  Do
• 0:37
  you
• 0:37
  know
• 0:38
  the
• 0:38
  real
• 0:38
  reason
• 0:38
  for
• 0:38
  Christmas?
• 0:39
  You
• 0:39
  might
• 0:40
  be
• 0:40
  thinking,
• 0:40
  Ralph,
• 0:40
  wait
• 0:40
  a
• 0:40
  minute.
• 0:40
  This
• 0:41
  is
• 0:41
  a
• 0:41
  Christian
• 0:41
  finance
• 0:41
  show.
• 0:42
  Of
• 0:42
  course
• 0:42
  I
• 0:42
  know
• 0:42
  the
• 0:42
  real
• 0:42
  reason
• 0:43
  for
• 0:43
  Christmas.
• 0:43
  But
• 0:43
  listen
• 0:43
  to
• 0:43
  this.
• 0:44
  Here's
• 0:44
  some
• 0:44
  statistics
• 0:44
  that
• 0:45
  we
• 0:45
  found
• 0:45
  preparing
• 0:46
  for
• 0:46
  today's
• 0:46
  show.
• 0:47
  The
• 0:47
  Pew
• 0:47
  Research
• 0:48
  Center,
• 0:48
  a
• 0:48
  big
• 0:49
  research
• 0:49
  think
• 0:50
  tank,
• 0:51
  found
• 0:51
  that
• 0:51
  46%
• 0:52
  of
• 0:52
  Americans
• 0:53
  say
• 0:53
  they
• 0:53
  celebrate
• 0:53
  Christmas
• 0:54
  as
• 0:54
  primarily
• 0:55
  a
• 0:55
  religious
• 0:55
  holiday.
• 0:56
  But
• 0:56
  here's
• 0:57
  the
• 0:57
  problem.
• 0:58
  That
• 0:59
  means
• 0:59
  that
• 0:59
  54%
• 1:01
  don't.
• 1:02
  And
• 1:02
  here's
• 1:02
  the
• 1:03
  other
• 1:03
  problem.
• 1:03
  That's
• 1:04
  down
• 1:04
  from
• 1:04
  51%
• 1:05
  back
• 1:05
  in
• 1:06
  2013.
• 1:07
  And
• 1:07
  the
• 1:07
  Ipso
• 1:08
  survey,
• 1:08
  another
• 1:08
  big
• 1:09
  survey
• 1:10
  house,
• 1:10
  said
• 1:10
  75%
• 1:11
  of
• 1:11
  Americans
• 1:11
  agree.
• 1:12
  Listen
• 1:13
  to
• 1:13
  this
• 1:13
  one.
• 1:13
  They
• 1:14
  agree
• 1:14
  that
• 1:14
  people
• 1:14
  have
• 1:14
  forgotten
• 1:15
  the
• 1:15
  real
• 1:15
  meaning
• 1:16
  of
• 1:16
  Christmas.
• 1:17
  We
• 1:17
  got
• 1:17
  a
• 1:17
  problem
• 1:18
  here,
• 1:18
  don't
• 1:18
  we?
• 1:19
  Which
• 1:19
  leads
• 1:19
  me
• 1:19
  to
• 1:19
  today's
• 1:20
  listener
• 1:20
  question.
• 1:20
  And
• 1:20
  I
• 1:21
  love
• 1:21
  this.
• 1:21
  When
• 1:21
  I
• 1:21
  got
• 1:21
  this
• 1:21
  one,
• 1:22
  I
• 1:22
  said,
• 1:22
  we're
• 1:22
  doing
• 1:23
  a
• 1:23
  show
• 1:23
  about
• 1:23
  this,
• 1:24
  Ralph.
• 1:25
  Every
• 1:25
  year
• 1:25
  I
• 1:26
  say
• 1:26
  I'll
• 1:26
  slow
• 1:26
  down
• 1:27
  and
• 1:27
  focus
• 1:27
  on
• 1:27
  the
• 1:28
  real
• 1:28
  meaning
• 1:28
  of
• 1:28
  Christmas.
• 1:29
  But
• 1:30
  between
• 1:30
  shopping,
• 1:31
  bills
• 1:31
  and
• 1:31
  travel,
• 1:32
  it
• 1:32
  always
• 1:32
  slips
• 1:33
  away.
• 1:33
  Ralph,
• 1:34
  how
• 1:34
  can
• 1:34
  I
• 1:35
  actually
• 1:35
  prepare
• 1:35
  my
• 1:35
  heart
• 1:35
  to
• 1:36
  celebrate
• 1:36
  Jesus
• 1:37
  instead
• 1:38
  of
• 1:38
  just
• 1:38
  surviving
• 1:39
  December?
• 1:41
  There's
• 1:41
  so
• 1:42
  much
• 1:42
  emotion
• 1:42
  in
• 1:42
  that.
• 1:44
  But
• 1:44
  I
• 1:44
  get
• 1:44
  it.
• 1:44
  Because
• 1:44
  everywhere
• 1:45
  you
• 1:45
  look,
• 1:45
  the
• 1:46
  stores,
• 1:46
  the
• 1:46
  ads,
• 1:47
  even
• 1:47
  our
• 1:47
  own
• 1:47
  calendars,
• 1:49
  Christmas
• 1:50
  has
• 1:50
  become
• 1:50
  for
• 1:50
  so
• 1:51
  many
• 1:51
  of
• 1:51
  us,
• 1:51
  a
• 1:51
  season
• 1:52
  of
• 1:52
  stress,
• 1:53
  a
• 1:53
  season
• 1:54
  of
• 1:54
  anxiety,
• 1:55
  a
• 1:55
  season
• 1:55
  of
• 1:56
  just
• 1:56
  financial
• 1:57
  woe.
• 1:58
  And
• 1:58
  there's
• 1:58
  no
• 1:58
  peace
• 1:59
  to
• 1:59
  it
• 1:59
  anymore.
• 2:00
  But
• 2:01
  there
• 2:01
  is
• 2:01
  a
• 2:01
  solution
• 2:01
  to
• 2:02
  this.
• 2:02
  If
• 2:02
  we
• 2:02
  prepare
• 2:02
  our
• 2:02
  hearts
• 2:03
  differently,
• 2:03
  I
• 2:03
  really
• 2:03
  believe
• 2:04
  this,
• 2:05
  we
• 2:05
  can
• 2:05
  recover
• 2:06
  the
• 2:06
  joy
• 2:06
  that
• 2:06
  started
• 2:07
  in
• 2:07
  a
• 2:07
  humble
• 2:07
  manger.
• 2:08
  Let's
• 2:08
  just
• 2:08
  go
• 2:08
  back
• 2:09
  and
• 2:09
  think
• 2:09
  about
• 2:09
  that.
• 2:10
  So
• 2:10
  let's
• 2:10
  talk
• 2:11
  today
• 2:11
  on
• 2:11
  the
• 2:11
  show
• 2:11
  about
• 2:12
  the
• 2:12
  real
• 2:12
  reason
• 2:13
  for
• 2:13
  this
• 2:13
  season
• 2:14
  and
• 2:14
  how
• 2:14
  we
• 2:15
  can
• 2:15
  get
• 2:15
  back
• 2:15
  to
• 2:15
  that
• 2:16
  humble
• 2:16
  manger.
• 2:19
  This
• 2:19
  is
• 2:19
  Financially
• 2:20
  Confident
• 2:20
  Christian,
• 2:21
  your
• 2:21
  daily
• 2:22
  dose
• 2:22
  of
• 2:22
  gospel,
• 2:22
  grounded
• 2:23
  insight
• 2:23
  and
• 2:24
  faith
• 2:24
  driven
• 2:24
  tips
• 2:25
  to
• 2:25
  to
• 2:25
  help
• 2:25
  you
• 2:25
  break
• 2:26
  the
• 2:26
  cycle
• 2:26
  of
• 2:26
  financial
• 2:27
  shame
• 2:27
  with
• 2:27
  confidence.
• 2:30
  Hello
• 2:31
  and
• 2:31
  welcome
• 2:31
  to
• 2:31
  the
• 2:31
  show.
• 2:32
  My
• 2:32
  name
• 2:32
  is
• 2:32
  Ralph.
• 2:33
  I'm
• 2:33
  so
• 2:33
  happy
• 2:33
  you
• 2:34
  chose
• 2:34
  to
• 2:34
  join
• 2:34
  me.
• 2:34
  You
• 2:34
  landed
• 2:35
  today
• 2:35
  in
• 2:35
  the
• 2:35
  middle
• 2:36
  of
• 2:36
  our
• 2:36
  series
• 2:36
  of
• 2:37
  how
• 2:37
  to
• 2:37
  find
• 2:37
  joy
• 2:38
  in
• 2:38
  Christmas
• 2:38
  without
• 2:39
  going
• 2:39
  broke.
• 2:39
  And
• 2:40
  my
• 2:40
  goal
• 2:40
  every
• 2:40
  day
• 2:41
  on
• 2:41
  the
• 2:41
  show
• 2:41
  is
• 2:42
  to
• 2:42
  help
• 2:42
  you
• 2:42
  break
• 2:42
  that
• 2:43
  cycle
• 2:43
  of
• 2:43
  financial
• 2:44
  shame
• 2:44
  and
• 2:44
  do
• 2:44
  it
• 2:44
  with
• 2:45
  confidence.
• 2:46
  And
• 2:46
  the
• 2:46
  holidays
• 2:47
  it
• 2:47
  brings
• 2:47
  on.
• 2:47
  So
• 2:47
  many
• 2:48
  people
• 2:48
  are
• 2:48
  dealing
• 2:49
  anxiety
• 2:50
  and
• 2:50
  fear
• 2:50
  and
• 2:51
  shame.
• 2:52
  And
• 2:52
  I
• 2:52
  hate
• 2:52
  to
• 2:53
  say
• 2:53
  this,
• 2:54
  but
• 2:54
  the
• 2:54
  statistics
• 2:55
  today
• 2:55
  said
• 2:55
  something
• 2:55
  deep.
• 2:57
  So
• 2:57
  many
• 2:57
  of
• 2:57
  us
• 2:57
  have
• 2:57
  lost
• 2:58
  a
• 2:58
  real
• 2:58
  reason
• 2:58
  for
• 2:59
  the
• 2:59
  season.
• 2:59
  I've
• 2:59
  seen
• 2:59
  this.
• 3:00
  I'm
• 3:00
  a
• 3:00
  Christian,
• 3:00
  I'm
• 3:01
  an
• 3:01
  accountant,
• 3:01
  and
• 3:01
  I'm
• 3:01
  a
• 3:02
  father.
• 3:03
  And
• 3:03
  I've
• 3:03
  seen
• 3:03
  how
• 3:04
  finances
• 3:04
  and
• 3:05
  schedules
• 3:05
  can
• 3:05
  steal
• 3:05
  the
• 3:06
  focus
• 3:06
  away
• 3:06
  from
• 3:07
  Faith
• 3:07
  during
• 3:07
  the
• 3:07
  holidays.
• 3:08
  I'm
• 3:08
  going
• 3:08
  to
• 3:08
  tell
• 3:08
  you
• 3:08
  a
• 3:08
  funny
• 3:09
  story
• 3:09
  about
• 3:09
  my
• 3:09
  youngest,
• 3:10
  and
• 3:10
  I
• 3:10
  talk
• 3:10
  about
• 3:10
  him
• 3:10
  on
• 3:11
  the
• 3:11
  show
• 3:11
  sometimes.
• 3:12
  Now
• 3:12
  I
• 3:12
  say,
• 3:12
  youngest,
• 3:13
  this
• 3:13
  dude
• 3:13
  is
• 3:13
  6,
• 3:14
  7.
• 3:14
  He's
• 3:14
  a
• 3:14
  big
• 3:14
  guy,
• 3:15
  full
• 3:15
  beard.
• 3:16
  But
• 3:16
  anyway,
• 3:16
  I'll
• 3:16
  tell
• 3:16
  you
• 3:16
  a
• 3:17
  funny
• 3:17
  story.
• 3:17
  When
• 3:17
  he
• 3:17
  was
• 3:17
  a
• 3:17
  kid,
• 3:19
  we
• 3:19
  had
• 3:19
  celebrated
• 3:20
  this
• 3:20
  thing
• 3:20
  called
• 3:20
  Advent.
• 3:20
  Now,
• 3:21
  if
• 3:21
  you're
• 3:21
  a
• 3:21
  Catholic,
• 3:21
  you
• 3:21
  understand
• 3:22
  Advent.
• 3:22
  As
• 3:23
  a
• 3:23
  Protestant,
• 3:23
  it's
• 3:24
  not
• 3:24
  a
• 3:24
  big
• 3:24
  thing
• 3:24
  for
• 3:24
  me,
• 3:24
  but
• 3:25
  it's
• 3:25
  a
• 3:25
  cool
• 3:25
  thing.
• 3:25
  Anyway.
• 3:26
  Basically,
• 3:26
  Advent
• 3:26
  works
• 3:27
  like
• 3:27
  this.
• 3:27
  You
• 3:27
  celebrate
• 3:28
  several
• 3:29
  days
• 3:29
  of.
• 3:29
  They
• 3:30
  call
• 3:30
  it
• 3:30
  an
• 3:30
  Advent
• 3:30
  calendar.
• 3:31
  And
• 3:31
  so
• 3:32
  my
• 3:32
  wife
• 3:32
  wanted
• 3:32
  to
• 3:32
  get
• 3:32
  the
• 3:32
  kids
• 3:33
  something
• 3:33
  cool.
• 3:33
  She
• 3:33
  went
• 3:33
  out
• 3:33
  and
• 3:33
  bought
• 3:34
  this
• 3:34
  wooden
• 3:34
  box,
• 3:34
  and
• 3:34
  it
• 3:35
  was
• 3:35
  basically
• 3:35
  a
• 3:35
  wooden
• 3:36
  Advent
• 3:37
  calendar.
• 3:37
  And
• 3:37
  here's
• 3:38
  what
• 3:38
  she
• 3:38
  would
• 3:38
  do.
• 3:38
  It
• 3:39
  had
• 3:39
  a
• 3:39
  little
• 3:39
  door
• 3:39
  for
• 3:40
  each
• 3:40
  day,
• 3:40
  and
• 3:40
  she
• 3:40
  would
• 3:40
  put
• 3:41
  little
• 3:41
  gifts
• 3:41
  in
• 3:41
  there.
• 3:42
  And
• 3:42
  let
• 3:42
  me
• 3:42
  tell
• 3:42
  you
• 3:42
  right
• 3:42
  now,
• 3:43
  my
• 3:43
  youngest
• 3:43
  son,
• 3:43
  man,
• 3:44
  he
• 3:44
  was
• 3:44
  like,
• 3:44
  I
• 3:44
  love
• 3:45
  this.
• 3:45
  This
• 3:45
  is
• 3:45
  the
• 3:45
  coolest
• 3:46
  thing
• 3:46
  ever.
• 3:47
  But
• 3:47
  here's
• 3:47
  the
• 3:47
  problem.
• 3:48
  When
• 3:48
  he's
• 3:48
  22
• 3:49
  years
• 3:49
  old,
• 3:49
  he
• 3:50
  still
• 3:50
  thinks
• 3:50
  this
• 3:51
  is
• 3:51
  the
• 3:51
  coolest
• 3:51
  thing
• 3:51
  ever.
• 3:52
  And
• 3:53
  I
• 3:53
  guess
• 3:53
  it
• 3:53
  was
• 3:53
  last
• 3:53
  year
• 3:54
  at
• 3:54
  Christmas.
• 3:54
  We
• 3:55
  were
• 3:55
  putting
• 3:55
  out
• 3:55
  the
• 3:55
  Christmas
• 3:56
  gifts,
• 3:57
  and
• 3:57
  he
• 3:57
  said
• 3:57
  to
• 3:57
  his
• 3:58
  mom,
• 3:58
  he
• 3:58
  said,
• 3:58
  mom,
• 3:58
  where's
• 3:59
  the
• 3:59
  wooden
• 3:59
  Advent
• 3:59
  box?
• 4:00
  And
• 4:00
  she
• 4:01
  goes,
• 4:01
  son,
• 4:01
  wait
• 4:02
  a
• 4:02
  minute.
• 4:02
  That
• 4:03
  was
• 4:03
  cool
• 4:03
  when
• 4:03
  you
• 4:03
  were
• 4:03
  a
• 4:03
  kid.
• 4:04
  He
• 4:04
  goes,
• 4:04
  oh,
• 4:04
  no,
• 4:04
  this
• 4:04
  is
• 4:05
  part
• 4:05
  of
• 4:05
  the
• 4:05
  Christmas
• 4:05
  tradition,
• 4:06
  Mom,
• 4:06
  I
• 4:06
  want
• 4:06
  to
• 4:07
  see
• 4:07
  it.
• 4:07
  She
• 4:07
  goes,
• 4:07
  oh,
• 4:07
  okay.
• 4:07
  Okay,
• 4:08
  fine.
• 4:08
  So
• 4:08
  she
• 4:08
  went
• 4:09
  to
• 4:09
  the
• 4:09
  basement.
• 4:09
  We
• 4:10
  weren't
• 4:10
  even
• 4:10
  going
• 4:10
  to
• 4:10
  put
• 4:10
  it
• 4:10
  out
• 4:10
  this
• 4:11
  year.
• 4:11
  We're
• 4:11
  kind
• 4:11
  of
• 4:11
  putting.
• 4:11
  This
• 4:12
  particular
• 4:12
  year
• 4:12
  we're
• 4:12
  going
• 4:12
  to
• 4:13
  put
• 4:13
  out
• 4:13
  just
• 4:13
  a
• 4:13
  couple
• 4:13
  things.
• 4:14
  We're
• 4:14
  doing
• 4:14
  some
• 4:14
  travel
• 4:15
  during
• 4:15
  Christmas,
• 4:16
  but
• 4:16
  he
• 4:16
  insisted.
• 4:17
  So
• 4:18
  my
• 4:18
  wife
• 4:18
  put
• 4:18
  out
• 4:18
  this.
• 4:19
  And
• 4:19
  it's
• 4:19
  a
• 4:19
  cool
• 4:19
  thing.
• 4:19
  It's
• 4:20
  a
• 4:20
  little
• 4:20
  wooden
• 4:20
  box.
• 4:20
  It's.
• 4:21
  Somebody
• 4:21
  made
• 4:21
  a
• 4:21
  beautiful
• 4:22
  piece,
• 4:22
  like
• 4:22
  an
• 4:22
  artwork,
• 4:23
  basically,
• 4:23
  is
• 4:23
  the
• 4:23
  best
• 4:23
  way
• 4:24
  to
• 4:24
  explain
• 4:24
  it.
• 4:24
  So
• 4:25
  she
• 4:25
  put
• 4:25
  it
• 4:25
  out.
• 4:26
  And
• 4:26
  he
• 4:26
  looks
• 4:27
  over
• 4:27
  and
• 4:27
  he
• 4:27
  says,
• 4:27
  but,
• 4:28
  mom,
• 4:29
  there's
• 4:29
  nothing
• 4:29
  behind
• 4:29
  each
• 4:30
  one
• 4:30
  of
• 4:30
  these
• 4:30
  doors.
• 4:32
  And
• 4:33
  I
• 4:33
  said,
• 4:33
  that's
• 4:33
  hilarious.
• 4:35
  And
• 4:35
  so
• 4:35
  it
• 4:36
  leads
• 4:36
  me
• 4:36
  to
• 4:36
  today's
• 4:37
  quote.
• 4:37
  And
• 4:37
  this
• 4:37
  comes
• 4:37
  from
• 4:38
  a
• 4:38
  woman
• 4:38
  named
• 4:38
  Janice.
• 4:39
  My
• 4:39
  dear
• 4:40
  Maida
• 4:40
  Terry,
• 4:42
  Christmas
• 4:42
  is
• 4:42
  not
• 4:43
  as
• 4:43
  much
• 4:43
  about
• 4:43
  opening
• 4:44
  our
• 4:44
  presents
• 4:45
  as
• 4:45
  opening
• 4:45
  our
• 4:46
  hearts.
• 4:47
  And
• 4:47
  think
• 4:47
  about
• 4:47
  that's
• 4:47
  a
• 4:48
  simple,
• 4:48
  profound
• 4:48
  reminder
• 4:49
  of
• 4:49
  the
• 4:49
  real
• 4:49
  reason
• 4:49
  for
• 4:50
  Christmas.
• 4:51
  My
• 4:51
  son
• 4:51
  didn't
• 4:52
  get
• 4:52
  it
• 4:52
  at
• 4:52
  the
• 4:52
  time.
• 4:52
  He
• 4:52
  since
• 4:53
  figured
• 4:53
  it
• 4:53
  out.
• 4:54
  It's
• 4:54
  not
• 4:54
  what's
• 4:55
  under
• 4:55
  the
• 4:55
  tree.
• 4:55
  It's
• 4:55
  not
• 4:55
  what's
• 4:56
  in
• 4:56
  that
• 4:56
  Advent
• 4:57
  calendar.
• 4:57
  It's
• 4:57
  not
• 4:57
  those
• 4:57
  little
• 4:58
  gifts,
• 4:59
  but
• 4:59
  it's
• 4:59
  really
• 4:59
  the
• 5:00
  presence
• 5:00
  of
• 5:00
  Christ
• 5:01
  in
• 5:01
  our
• 5:01
  hearts.
• 5:01
  And
• 5:01
  I
• 5:01
  just
• 5:02
  want
• 5:02
  you
• 5:02
  to
• 5:02
  lean
• 5:02
  into
• 5:02
  that
• 5:02
  today
• 5:03
  as
• 5:03
  we
• 5:03
  talk
• 5:03
  about
• 5:04
  how
• 5:04
  do
• 5:04
  we
• 5:04
  celebrate
• 5:05
  the
• 5:05
  real
• 5:05
  reason
• 5:06
  for
• 5:06
  this
• 5:07
  particular
• 5:07
  Christmas
• 5:08
  season?
• 5:08
  First
• 5:08
  thing
• 5:08
  I'm
• 5:09
  going
• 5:09
  to
• 5:09
  encourage
• 5:09
  you
• 5:09
  to
• 5:09
  do,
• 5:10
  simplify
• 5:11
  your
• 5:11
  calendar.
• 5:13
  Sometimes
• 5:13
  you
• 5:14
  just
• 5:14
  got
• 5:14
  to
• 5:14
  say
• 5:14
  no
• 5:16
  because
• 5:16
  those
• 5:16
  things
• 5:16
  that
• 5:17
  you're
• 5:17
  doing
• 5:17
  dates
• 5:17
  are
• 5:17
  draining
• 5:18
  you.
• 5:19
  So
• 5:19
  many
• 5:20
  people
• 5:20
  are
• 5:20
  running
• 5:20
  themselves
• 5:21
  ragged
• 5:21
  during
• 5:21
  the
• 5:22
  Christmas
• 5:22
  season.
• 5:22
  I
• 5:23
  got
• 5:23
  to
• 5:23
  go
• 5:23
  do
• 5:23
  this.
• 5:23
  I
• 5:23
  got
• 5:23
  to
• 5:23
  go
• 5:24
  this.
• 5:24
  I
• 5:24
  got
• 5:24
  this
• 5:24
  work
• 5:24
  party.
• 5:24
  I
• 5:25
  got
• 5:25
  to
• 5:25
  go
• 5:25
  do
• 5:25
  this.
• 5:25
  And
• 5:25
  they
• 5:25
  drive
• 5:26
  themselves
• 5:26
  crazy.
• 5:28
  But
• 5:28
  when
• 5:29
  you
• 5:29
  say
• 5:29
  yes
• 5:30
  to
• 5:30
  peace,
• 5:30
  when
• 5:31
  you
• 5:31
  say
• 5:31
  yes
• 5:31
  to
• 5:31
  rest,
• 5:33
  that's
• 5:33
  what
• 5:33
  brings
• 5:33
  your
• 5:33
  family
• 5:34
  closer
• 5:34
  to
• 5:34
  Christ.
• 5:35
  If
• 5:35
  you
• 5:35
  want
• 5:35
  to
• 5:35
  get
• 5:35
  back
• 5:35
  into
• 5:36
  the
• 5:36
  reason
• 5:36
  for
• 5:36
  the
• 5:37
  season,
• 5:38
  bring
• 5:38
  your
• 5:38
  family
• 5:38
  closer
• 5:39
  to
• 5:39
  Christ.
• 5:39
  Second
• 5:40
  thing,
• 5:41
  a
• 5:41
  little
• 5:41
  bit
• 5:41
  of
• 5:42
  financial
• 5:42
  talk
• 5:42
  here.
• 5:44
  Avoid
• 5:44
  that
• 5:45
  Christmas
• 5:45
  creep.
• 5:45
  Now,
• 5:46
  this
• 5:46
  isn't
• 5:46
  the
• 5:46
  creep
• 5:46
  that
• 5:46
  sneaks
• 5:47
  up
• 5:47
  and
• 5:47
  steals
• 5:47
  your
• 5:47
  presence.
• 5:48
  This
• 5:49
  is
• 5:49
  that
• 5:49
  financial
• 5:50
  creep.
• 5:51
  You
• 5:51
  might
• 5:51
  be
• 5:51
  saying,
• 5:51
  ralph,
• 5:52
  how
• 5:52
  do
• 5:52
  I
• 5:52
  do
• 5:52
  that?
• 5:52
  Well,
• 5:52
  I'm
• 5:52
  a
• 5:53
  big
• 5:53
  believer
• 5:53
  in
• 5:53
  intentional
• 5:54
  spending,
• 5:55
  so
• 5:55
  decide
• 5:56
  ahead
• 5:56
  of
• 5:56
  time.
• 5:56
  This
• 5:57
  is
• 5:57
  a
• 5:57
  great
• 5:57
  time
• 5:57
  to
• 5:57
  do
• 5:57
  it.
• 5:57
  We're
• 5:58
  in
• 5:58
  November.
• 5:58
  That's
• 5:59
  why
• 5:59
  I'm
• 5:59
  doing
• 5:59
  this
• 5:59
  series.
• 6:00
  Decide
• 6:00
  ahead
• 6:00
  of
• 6:00
  time
• 6:00
  how
• 6:01
  much
• 6:01
  you're
• 6:01
  going
• 6:01
  to
• 6:01
  spend,
• 6:01
  how
• 6:02
  much
• 6:02
  you're
• 6:02
  going
• 6:02
  to
• 6:02
  give.
• 6:02
  Don't
• 6:03
  forget
• 6:03
  to
• 6:03
  giving.
• 6:03
  That's
• 6:03
  a
• 6:04
  big
• 6:04
  part
• 6:04
  of
• 6:04
  this.
• 6:05
  But
• 6:05
  be
• 6:05
  intentional
• 6:06
  in
• 6:06
  it.
• 6:06
  That
• 6:06
  will
• 6:07
  help
• 6:07
  you
• 6:07
  remember
• 6:08
  the
• 6:08
  reason
• 6:08
  for
• 6:09
  the
• 6:09
  season.
• 6:10
  Here's
• 6:11
  another
• 6:11
  big
• 6:11
  thing
• 6:11
  you
• 6:12
  can
• 6:12
  do,
• 6:12
  and
• 6:12
  I'm
• 6:12
  embracing
• 6:12
  this
• 6:13
  myself.
• 6:14
  Read
• 6:14
  one
• 6:15
  verse
• 6:15
  or
• 6:15
  devotional
• 6:16
  every
• 6:16
  morning.
• 6:17
  Those
• 6:18
  small
• 6:18
  moments
• 6:19
  can
• 6:19
  help
• 6:19
  you
• 6:19
  focus
• 6:20
  and
• 6:20
  keep
• 6:20
  your
• 6:20
  heart
• 6:20
  alive
• 6:21
  because
• 6:21
  it's
• 6:21
  so.
• 6:21
  Listen,
• 6:22
  we
• 6:22
  all
• 6:22
  are
• 6:22
  surrounded
• 6:23
  by
• 6:23
  noise
• 6:23
  from
• 6:24
  all
• 6:24
  directions
• 6:24
  this
• 6:25
  holiday
• 6:25
  season.
• 6:26
  The
• 6:26
  buy
• 6:26
  one,
• 6:26
  get
• 6:26
  one
• 6:27
  free
• 6:27
  sales
• 6:27
  that
• 6:27
  you
• 6:28
  got
• 6:28
  to
• 6:28
  have
• 6:28
  this
• 6:28
  sale
• 6:28
  and
• 6:29
  the
• 6:29
  social
• 6:29
  media,
• 6:29
  the
• 6:30
  glitter
• 6:30
  and
• 6:30
  all
• 6:30
  that
• 6:30
  stuff.
• 6:32
  But
• 6:32
  man,
• 6:32
  how
• 6:33
  many
• 6:33
  times
• 6:33
  do
• 6:33
  we
• 6:33
  just
• 6:33
  reflect
• 6:34
  on
• 6:34
  the
• 6:34
  real
• 6:34
  reason
• 6:35
  Christ
• 6:36
  being
• 6:36
  given
• 6:36
  to
• 6:37
  us?
• 6:37
  A
• 6:37
  baby
• 6:38
  laying
• 6:38
  in
• 6:38
  a
• 6:38
  manger.
• 6:40
  Which
• 6:40
  leads
• 6:40
  me
• 6:41
  to
• 6:41
  this.
• 6:41
  If
• 6:42
  you're
• 6:42
  going
• 6:42
  to
• 6:42
  give,
• 6:42
  and
• 6:43
  I'm
• 6:43
  not
• 6:43
  saying
• 6:43
  don't
• 6:43
  give,
• 6:44
  but
• 6:45
  think
• 6:45
  about
• 6:45
  relational
• 6:46
  giving.
• 6:46
  What
• 6:47
  are
• 6:47
  you
• 6:47
  talking
• 6:47
  about,
• 6:47
  Ralph?
• 6:48
  Write
• 6:49
  letters
• 6:49
  to
• 6:49
  other
• 6:49
  people.
• 6:50
  I
• 6:50
  mentioned
• 6:51
  this
• 6:51
  on
• 6:51
  the
• 6:51
  show
• 6:51
  a
• 6:51
  couple
• 6:51
  weeks
• 6:51
  ago.
• 6:52
  That
• 6:52
  gift
• 6:52
  box
• 6:53
  that
• 6:53
  my
• 6:53
  wife
• 6:53
  did
• 6:53
  where
• 6:53
  she
• 6:54
  wrote
• 6:54
  a
• 6:54
  letter
• 6:55
  to
• 6:55
  each
• 6:55
  one
• 6:55
  of
• 6:55
  us
• 6:57
  that
• 6:57
  made
• 6:57
  a
• 6:57
  mark
• 6:57
  on
• 6:58
  our
• 6:58
  hearts.
• 6:59
  Share
• 7:00
  meals
• 7:00
  with
• 7:00
  other
• 7:00
  people.
• 7:01
  Give
• 7:01
  your
• 7:01
  time.
• 7:03
  Because
• 7:03
  the
• 7:03
  truth
• 7:03
  is
• 7:03
  those
• 7:04
  gifts
• 7:04
  are
• 7:04
  going
• 7:04
  to
• 7:04
  last
• 7:05
  longer
• 7:05
  than
• 7:05
  anything
• 7:06
  that's
• 7:06
  wrapped
• 7:07
  anything
• 7:07
  that
• 7:07
  you're
• 7:07
  going
• 7:07
  to
• 7:07
  buy
• 7:08
  in
• 7:08
  a
• 7:08
  store,
• 7:08
  those
• 7:08
  things
• 7:08
  are
• 7:08
  going
• 7:09
  to
• 7:09
  last
• 7:09
  a
• 7:09
  lifetime.
• 7:11
  And
• 7:11
  last
• 7:12
  but
• 7:12
  not
• 7:12
  least,
• 7:12
  and
• 7:12
  I've
• 7:12
  leaned
• 7:13
  into
• 7:13
  this
• 7:13
  so
• 7:13
  many
• 7:13
  times,
• 7:13
  you're
• 7:13
  probably
• 7:14
  Ralph,
• 7:14
  if
• 7:14
  I
• 7:14
  hear
• 7:14
  it
• 7:14
  again,
• 7:15
  I'm
• 7:15
  going
• 7:15
  to
• 7:15
  snap.
• 7:16
  It's
• 7:17
  all
• 7:17
  about
• 7:17
  your
• 7:17
  presence
• 7:18
  over
• 7:18
  those
• 7:18
  presents.
• 7:19
  See,
• 7:19
  the
• 7:20
  most
• 7:20
  memorable
• 7:20
  Christmas
• 7:21
  moments
• 7:22
  are
• 7:22
  the
• 7:23
  simplest
• 7:23
  ones
• 7:23
  that
• 7:24
  you
• 7:24
  share
• 7:24
  in
• 7:25
  love.
• 7:26
  Which
• 7:26
  leads
• 7:27
  us
• 7:27
  to
• 7:27
  our
• 7:27
  Bible
• 7:27
  verses.
• 7:28
  I
• 7:28
  actually
• 7:28
  got
• 7:28
  two
• 7:28
  again
• 7:28
  today.
• 7:29
  You're
• 7:29
  like
• 7:29
  Ralph,
• 7:29
  you
• 7:29
  get
• 7:29
  a
• 7:29
  lot
• 7:29
  of
• 7:30
  two
• 7:30
  day
• 7:30
  Bible
• 7:30
  verses.
• 7:31
  But
• 7:31
  listen,
• 7:31
  this
• 7:31
  is
• 7:31
  the
• 7:31
  season,
• 7:32
  right?
• 7:32
  First
• 7:33
  one
• 7:33
  comes
• 7:33
  to
• 7:33
  us
• 7:33
  from
• 7:33
  the
• 7:34
  book
• 7:34
  of
• 7:34
  Luke,
• 7:35
  chapter
• 7:35
  2,
• 7:35
  verse
• 7:36
  10.
• 7:38
  This
• 7:38
  is
• 7:38
  the
• 7:38
  Bible
• 7:38
  birth
• 7:39
  story.
• 7:39
  You're
• 7:39
  going
• 7:39
  to
• 7:40
  recognize
• 7:40
  it.
• 7:40
  But
• 7:40
  the
• 7:40
  angel
• 7:41
  said
• 7:41
  to
• 7:41
  them,
• 7:41
  do
• 7:41
  not
• 7:42
  be
• 7:42
  afraid.
• 7:43
  I
• 7:43
  bring
• 7:43
  you
• 7:43
  good
• 7:43
  news
• 7:44
  that
• 7:44
  will
• 7:44
  cause
• 7:44
  great
• 7:45
  joy
• 7:45
  for
• 7:45
  all
• 7:45
  the
• 7:45
  people.
• 7:46
  Today
• 7:47
  in
• 7:47
  a
• 7:47
  town
• 7:47
  of
• 7:47
  David,
• 7:48
  a
• 7:48
  savior
• 7:48
  has
• 7:48
  been
• 7:48
  born
• 7:49
  to
• 7:49
  you.
• 7:50
  He
• 7:50
  is
• 7:50
  the
• 7:50
  Messiah,
• 7:51
  the
• 7:51
  Lord.
• 7:51
  See,
• 7:52
  that's
• 7:52
  the
• 7:52
  reason
• 7:53
  for
• 7:53
  the
• 7:53
  season.
• 7:54
  You
• 7:55
  want
• 7:55
  to
• 7:55
  focus
• 7:55
  on
• 7:55
  the
• 7:55
  reason
• 7:56
  for
• 7:56
  season?
• 7:56
  Read
• 7:56
  the
• 7:57
  book
• 7:57
  of
• 7:57
  Luke.
• 7:57
  Read
• 7:58
  the
• 7:58
  birth
• 7:58
  of
• 7:58
  Jesus.
• 8:00
  I
• 8:00
  get
• 8:00
  so
• 8:01
  frustrated
• 8:01
  when
• 8:01
  I
• 8:01
  hear
• 8:02
  happy
• 8:02
  holidays
• 8:02
  all
• 8:03
  over
• 8:03
  the
• 8:03
  place.
• 8:04
  I
• 8:04
  almost
• 8:04
  feel
• 8:05
  like
• 8:05
  this
• 8:05
  is
• 8:05
  a
• 8:05
  happy
• 8:05
  Christ.
• 8:06
  Sounds
• 8:06
  kind
• 8:06
  of
• 8:07
  silly,
• 8:07
  right?
• 8:07
  But
• 8:07
  it's
• 8:07
  truth.
• 8:08
  That's
• 8:08
  the
• 8:08
  point
• 8:08
  of
• 8:09
  Christmas.
• 8:09
  Celebrate
• 8:10
  what
• 8:10
  you
• 8:10
  want.
• 8:10
  You
• 8:10
  can
• 8:11
  celebrate
• 8:11
  all
• 8:11
  the
• 8:11
  other
• 8:11
  holidays.
• 8:12
  Great,
• 8:13
  enjoy.
• 8:14
  But
• 8:14
  if
• 8:14
  you
• 8:14
  celebrate
• 8:15
  Christmas,
• 8:16
  read
• 8:16
  Luke
• 8:16
  2:10.
• 8:17
  And
• 8:18
  this
• 8:18
  is
• 8:18
  our
• 8:18
  other
• 8:18
  Bible
• 8:18
  verse
• 8:19
  for
• 8:19
  day.
• 8:19
  Matthew
• 8:19
  6:21.
• 8:20
  For
• 8:20
  where
• 8:21
  your
• 8:21
  treasure
• 8:21
  is,
• 8:23
  there
• 8:23
  your
• 8:23
  heart
• 8:23
  will
• 8:24
  be
• 8:24
  also.
• 8:24
  What
• 8:24
  are
• 8:24
  you
• 8:24
  treasuring
• 8:25
  this
• 8:25
  holiday?
• 8:26
  Are
• 8:27
  you
• 8:27
  treasuring
• 8:27
  the
• 8:27
  gifts?
• 8:28
  Are
• 8:28
  you
• 8:28
  treasuring
• 8:29
  the
• 8:29
  decorations?
• 8:29
  Are
• 8:30
  you
• 8:30
  treasuring
• 8:30
  all
• 8:31
  the
• 8:31
  nonsense
• 8:31
  around
• 8:32
  Christmas?
• 8:32
  Are
• 8:33
  you
• 8:33
  treasuring
• 8:33
  Christ?
• 8:35
  I'm
• 8:35
  going
• 8:35
  to
• 8:35
  challenge
• 8:35
  you
• 8:36
  today.
• 8:36
  Where
• 8:37
  your
• 8:37
  treasure
• 8:37
  is,
• 8:38
  there
• 8:39
  your
• 8:39
  heart
• 8:39
  will
• 8:39
  be
• 8:39
  also.
• 8:39
  How
• 8:40
  about
• 8:40
  we
• 8:40
  pray
• 8:40
  together
• 8:40
  right
• 8:40
  now?
• 8:41
  Because
• 8:41
  we
• 8:41
  need
• 8:41
  to
• 8:41
  pray
• 8:41
  today,
• 8:43
  Lord,
• 8:43
  we
• 8:43
  just
• 8:43
  thank
• 8:43
  you
• 8:44
  and
• 8:44
  help
• 8:44
  us
• 8:45
  to
• 8:45
  see
• 8:45
  that
• 8:45
  our
• 8:46
  heart
• 8:46
  needs
• 8:46
  to
• 8:46
  be
• 8:46
  focused
• 8:47
  on
• 8:47
  the
• 8:47
  gift
• 8:47
  of
• 8:48
  Jesus,
• 8:49
  not
• 8:49
  the
• 8:49
  pressure
• 8:50
  of
• 8:50
  the
• 8:50
  season.
• 8:50
  It's
• 8:51
  so
• 8:51
  easy
• 8:51
  to
• 8:51
  get
• 8:51
  caught
• 8:52
  up
• 8:52
  in
• 8:52
  the
• 8:52
  busyness
• 8:53
  of
• 8:53
  the
• 8:53
  holidays,
• 8:53
  Lord.
• 8:54
  So
• 8:54
  give
• 8:54
  us
• 8:54
  wisdom
• 8:55
  to
• 8:55
  manage
• 8:55
  our
• 8:55
  time
• 8:56
  and
• 8:56
  manage
• 8:56
  our
• 8:57
  money
• 8:57
  with
• 8:57
  peace
• 8:57
  and
• 8:57
  with
• 8:58
  purpose,
• 8:58
  understanding
• 8:59
  the
• 8:59
  real
• 8:59
  reason
• 9:00
  for
• 9:00
  the
• 9:00
  holiday.
• 9:00
  And
• 9:01
  Lord,
• 9:01
  we
• 9:01
  just
• 9:01
  want
• 9:01
  you
• 9:02
  to
• 9:02
  help
• 9:02
  us
• 9:02
  to
• 9:02
  have
• 9:02
  gratitude
• 9:03
  for
• 9:03
  the
• 9:04
  greatest
• 9:04
  gift
• 9:04
  that
• 9:04
  we
• 9:04
  could
• 9:05
  have
• 9:05
  ever
• 9:05
  received.
• 9:05
  There's
• 9:06
  no
• 9:06
  one
• 9:06
  going
• 9:06
  to
• 9:06
  ever
• 9:06
  outdo
• 9:07
  you,
• 9:07
  Lord,
• 9:07
  and
• 9:08
  that's
• 9:08
  your
• 9:08
  son,
• 9:08
  Jesus
• 9:08
  Christ.
• 9:09
  So
• 9:09
  help
• 9:09
  us
• 9:09
  to
• 9:10
  lean
• 9:10
  into
• 9:10
  that
• 9:10
  today
• 9:11
  and
• 9:11
  through
• 9:11
  all
• 9:11
  the
• 9:11
  holiday
• 9:12
  season
• 9:13
  that
• 9:13
  it's
• 9:13
  all
• 9:13
  about
• 9:13
  that
• 9:14
  birth
• 9:14
  of
• 9:14
  Christ.
• 9:15
  And
• 9:15
  we
• 9:16
  ask
• 9:16
  this
• 9:16
  in
• 9:16
  the
• 9:16
  name
• 9:17
  of
• 9:17
  Christ.
• 9:17
  Amen.
• 9:18
  So
• 9:18
  here's
• 9:18
  my
• 9:19
  action
• 9:19
  item
• 9:19
  for
• 9:19
  you
• 9:19
  today.
• 9:20
  I
• 9:20
  want
• 9:20
  you
• 9:21
  to
• 9:21
  block
• 9:21
  all
• 9:21
  15
• 9:21
  minutes
• 9:22
  tonight
• 9:22
  or
• 9:23
  later
• 9:23
  today
• 9:23
  and
• 9:24
  I
• 9:24
  want
• 9:24
  you
• 9:24
  to
• 9:24
  just
• 9:24
  sit
• 9:25
  down
• 9:25
  quietly
• 9:26
  and
• 9:26
  pray
• 9:26
  and
• 9:26
  ask
• 9:26
  this
• 9:27
  to
• 9:27
  the
• 9:27
  Lord.
• 9:27
  Say,
• 9:28
  Lord,
• 9:29
  what
• 9:29
  would
• 9:29
  you
• 9:29
  have
• 9:29
  me
• 9:29
  to
• 9:30
  focus
• 9:30
  on
• 9:30
  this
• 9:30
  Christmas,
• 9:32
  just
• 9:32
  think
• 9:33
  about
• 9:33
  that.
• 9:33
  Just
• 9:33
  pray
• 9:34
  to
• 9:34
  that
• 9:34
  Lord.
• 9:34
  What
• 9:35
  would
• 9:35
  you
• 9:35
  have
• 9:35
  me
• 9:35
  to
• 9:35
  focus
• 9:36
  on
• 9:36
  this
• 9:36
  Christmas?
• 9:36
  And
• 9:37
  write
• 9:37
  down
• 9:37
  your
• 9:37
  answers.
• 9:39
  Commit
• 9:39
  to
• 9:39
  it.
• 9:40
  Just
• 9:41
  lean
• 9:41
  into
• 9:41
  that.
• 9:42
  But
• 9:42
  ask
• 9:43
  him
• 9:43
  what
• 9:43
  he
• 9:44
  wants
• 9:44
  you
• 9:44
  to
• 9:44
  focus
• 9:44
  on.
• 9:45
  Because
• 9:45
  listen.
• 9:46
  When
• 9:46
  you're
• 9:46
  quiet
• 9:46
  and
• 9:47
  you
• 9:47
  listen,
• 9:47
  he'll
• 9:48
  tell
• 9:48
  you
• 9:48
  what
• 9:48
  this
• 9:49
  is
• 9:49
  and
• 9:49
  what
• 9:49
  you
• 9:50
  should
• 9:50
  listen
• 9:50
  to
• 9:50
  this
• 9:50
  holiday
• 9:51
  season.
• 9:51
  And
• 9:52
  listen.
• 9:52
  If
• 9:52
  this
• 9:52
  episode
• 9:53
  has
• 9:53
  reminded
• 9:53
  you
• 9:53
  of
• 9:54
  the
• 9:54
  real
• 9:54
  reason
• 9:54
  for
• 9:54
  Christmas,
• 9:55
  I
• 9:55
  would
• 9:55
  like
• 9:55
  to
• 9:55
  encourage
• 9:56
  you
• 9:56
  to
• 9:56
  share
• 9:56
  with
• 9:56
  somebody
• 9:57
  else.
• 9:58
  We
• 9:58
  see
• 9:58
  from
• 9:58
  the
• 9:59
  statistics
• 10:00
  that
• 10:00
  50
• 10:01
  plus
• 10:01
  percent
• 10:01
  people
• 10:02
  don't
• 10:02
  understand
• 10:03
  the
• 10:03
  real
• 10:03
  reason
• 10:03
  for
• 10:03
  Christmas.
• 10:04
  And
• 10:04
  this
• 10:04
  show
• 10:04
  can
• 10:05
  help
• 10:05
  them
• 10:05
  understand
• 10:05
  that.
• 10:06
  And
• 10:07
  you
• 10:07
  may
• 10:07
  never
• 10:07
  know
• 10:07
  whose
• 10:08
  heart
• 10:08
  might
• 10:08
  have
• 10:08
  been
• 10:08
  reminded
• 10:09
  that
• 10:09
  Christmas
• 10:10
  isn't
• 10:10
  about
• 10:10
  that
• 10:10
  rush,
• 10:11
  but
• 10:11
  about
• 10:12
  the
• 10:12
  redeemer.
• 10:13
  Just
• 10:13
  send
• 10:13
  them
• 10:13
  to
• 10:13
  our
• 10:13
  website.
• 10:14
  You
• 10:14
  can
• 10:14
  send
• 10:14
  them
• 10:14
  to
• 10:14
  financiallyconfidentchristian.com,
• 10:17
  have
• 10:18
  them
• 10:18
  listen
• 10:18
  to
• 10:18
  this
• 10:18
  again.
• 10:19
  Send
• 10:19
  a
• 10:19
  link
• 10:19
  to
• 10:19
  a
• 10:19
  friend,
• 10:20
  send
• 10:20
  them
• 10:21
  a
• 10:21
  text,
• 10:21
  send
• 10:21
  them
• 10:21
  an
• 10:21
  email,
• 10:21
  call
• 10:22
  them
• 10:22
  and
• 10:22
  say,
• 10:22
  hey,
• 10:22
  listen,
• 10:23
  I
• 10:23
  want
• 10:23
  you
• 10:23
  to
• 10:23
  listen
• 10:23
  to
• 10:24
  this
• 10:24
  because
• 10:25
  here's
• 10:25
  the
• 10:25
  thing.
• 10:25
  Christmas
• 10:26
  isn't
• 10:26
  something
• 10:27
  we've
• 10:27
  got
• 10:27
  to
• 10:27
  endure
• 10:28
  that's
• 10:28
  terrible.
• 10:29
  It's
• 10:30
  something
• 10:30
  we
• 10:30
  gotta
• 10:30
  celebrate.
• 10:31
  And
• 10:31
  when
• 10:31
  we
• 10:31
  clear
• 10:31
  the
• 10:31
  clutter
• 10:32
  from
• 10:32
  our
• 10:32
  hearts,
• 10:34
  peace
• 10:34
  will
• 10:34
  take
• 10:34
  its
• 10:34
  rightful
• 10:35
  place.
• 10:35
  Remember,
• 10:35
  the
• 10:36
  best
• 10:36
  give
• 10:36
  you
• 10:36
  can
• 10:36
  give
• 10:37
  is
• 10:37
  your
• 10:37
  presence
• 10:38
  rooted
• 10:39
  in
• 10:39
  his
• 10:39
  presence.
• 10:40
  So
• 10:40
  look
• 10:41
  upward,
• 10:41
  not
• 10:41
  to
• 10:41
  the
• 10:41
  sides.
• 10:42
  Be
• 10:42
  a
• 10:42
  financially
• 10:43
  confident
• 10:43
  Christian
• 10:44
  today.
• 10:44
  Stay
• 10:44
  financially
• 10:45
  savvy,
• 10:45
  God
• 10:45
  bless
• 10:46
  you,
• 10:46
  and
• 10:46
  you
• 10:46
  have
• 10:47
  a
• 10:47
  great
• 10:47
  day
• 10:47
  today.