Good morning, The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. -Psalms 18:2 NLT‬‬ I opened the Bible app recently to find the very first verse I ever highlighted. It was June 5, 2012. Fourteen years ago. Shoutout to YouVersion for keeping the receipts — because I didn't know. I don't know exactly what I was feeling that day. But I know the season. I was a few months away from finishing my master's degree. I was also losing family members during that same stretch of time. Life was heavy. And here's the truth about heavy seasons: the last thing you want to think about is a budget. Saving feels pointless. Making a good financial decision feels impossible when everything else feels like it's falling apart. But I did graduate that year. I actually had a job offer before I even walked across the stage. Was life still hard? Yes. But I was still able to show up for myself. Talking to God consistently helped me hand over the things I couldn't carry or fix — so I could stay focused on being a good student and stepping into that new role. That's what leaning on God actually looks like in practice. You don't stop struggling. You stop carrying it alone. Here's what I share with my clients — stewardship doesn't require perfect circumstances. It requires something steady to hold onto when you aren't. For me, that steady thing is God. Every struggle I face, I want to bring to Him first. He can handle it. This verse is proof — it's full of everything you need in a hard moment. A rock. A fortress. Protection. Safety. The path to financial freedom is not a straight line. There will be up seasons and down seasons. In the down moments, you need something to keep you moving. In the up moments, you need something to keep you from slipping back. God is both. This Week's Action Step​ Talk to God about one thing you are struggling with right now — financial, relational, career, anything. Ask Him to be your support during this season.

Good evening, Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” -Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Have you ever seen those videos on social media comparing what you can do in your 20s versus your 40s or older? They're all pretty much the same. When you're young, you can eat anything, move freely, and run on almost no sleep. The older you get, the less that's true. There's something about being young that makes you feel like you have unlimited time — like your body can handle anything. But just like a car has a limited number of miles before it stops running, so do we. Our time and energy are not unlimited. As we close out the book of Ecclesiastes, two themes keep standing out to me: The older we get, the less energy and time we have to do the things that matter. And everything we do — or don't do — will eventually come to light. That's what today's verse is really saying. Stop waiting. The energy you have right now is a gift. Don't waste it. I don't know what you're waiting on before you make that financial move. But here's what I want you to hear today: you have permission to start now. While you still have the time. While you still have the energy. Move. And just like I mentioned in the payday tip — you don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to take one step this week. That one step could be the key to reaching your goals. A year from now can look one of two ways. Because you didn't wait, you are close to — or have already met — your goal. You're experiencing a freedom and peace you've never had before. Or, because you're still waiting, you have the same stress and the same worry as today. Nothing has changed. The choice is yours. Which version of next year do you want? Reflection Question​ What area of my finances am I not moving on because I think I have more time? This week, take one step toward that financial move you've been putting off. If you're not sure where to start, [book your free consultation here] — let's figure it out together.

Good morning, Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. - Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese Proverb This is one of my favorite times of year — basketball playoffs and major tennis tournaments are happening at the same time. The competition is intense, and this weekend I got to watch both. Happy camper doesn't even cover it. But here's what I kept thinking about: those athletes didn't start out looking that polished. Natural talent helps, but it only goes so far. At some point, every one of them had to decide to do the work — before they felt ready. Today's verse is a reminder about procrastination. If you want a harvest, you have to start planting. Every good decision you make with your money is a seed. And seeds need time to grow. But if you're waiting for the perfect moment to start? It's not coming. We're imperfect people living in an imperfect world. The perfect time is now. I say this often because I know some of you are waiting on that next raise or promotion before you start making better money decisions. That's a risky place to sit. When more money comes, it tends to go toward fixing the problems we put off — instead of building the future we actually want. You don't need more money to start. You need a decision. It's the first of the month. You literally have a fresh 30 days ahead of you. There's no better time to make that one decision. Reflection Question​ What's one financial decision you'll make this month instead of waiting? If you're ready to stop waiting and need help taking that first step, book your free 30-minute consultation. Let's figure out where to start — together. https://calendly.com/pughfc/consult Prayer of the Week​ Dear God, help me stop waiting for the perfect moment to change. Give me the courage to take one step and trust You with the rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Good morning, Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Has anyone ever told you, "You're making this so much harder than it has to be"? I've been there. And honestly? They were right. I was working harder, not smarter — and stressing myself out in the process — all because I wouldn't listen. Here's what I've learned about wisdom: it usually makes things easier, faster, or bigger. But most of us resist it. We get so focused on figuring things out on our own that we miss the more efficient path right in front of us. I know that feeling personally. A lot of times, my resistance isn't really about the advice — it's about wanting to be the one who came up with it. Can you relate? But here's the truth: we are not all-knowing. That's God's territory. When we close ourselves off to feedback or guidance, we're quietly acting like we know more than He does. And that's a dangerous place to stay. God is ready to give you the wisdom you need — through the Holy Spirit, through Scripture, or through someone in your life who has the knowledge to help you move forward. The question is: are you open to receiving it? Imagine what could shift this week if you did. The problem you've been wrestling with. The decision you keep putting off. The area where you feel stuck. Wisdom could be the thing that unlocks all of it. So here's your reminder: keep your eyes and ears open this week. The wisdom you need to make life easier, faster, or more fruitful may already be on its way. Reflection Question​ Where am I stuck — and who or what is God using to give me the wisdom I need? Prayer of the Week​ Dear God, forgive me for relying on my own understanding. This week, help me stay open to Your wisdom — however You choose to send it. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Have a great week! -Latrisa This week in PSC - Weekly goal check-in: Monday, May 11th @ 11:00 AM CST (All members) https://forms.gle/1icebYyh9EXY4qcf9

Good morning, People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy. -Ecclesiastes 9:12 NLT I follow Dharius Daniels from Change Church. Yesterday, he preached a sermon called You Can Be Spiritual and Still Get Blindsided. One thing he said stayed with me: no matter how much we grow spiritually, we will never have perfect discernment. I have been thinking about that ever since. We will never have all the answers, and we will never fully know when life may change suddenly. That does not mean we should live in fear, but it does mean we should live with wisdom. When I think about today’s scripture, I think about the word “naive.” Sometimes being naive is beautiful. Children often believe anything is possible. They trust the people caring for them because their needs have always been met. But there is another kind of naive thinking that can become dangerous: “That will never happen to me.” In my friend group, we call difficult seasons “lifeing.” Hard times eventually come for everyone. It is not always a matter of if, but when. Now, I do not want this to sound hopeless. The point is not to fear the future. The point is to prepare wisely while still enjoying the life God has given us today. Sometimes we manage money from unhealthy extremes. Extreme 1: Spend everything you want because tomorrow is not promised. Extreme 2: Become so fearful about the future that you never enjoy anything in the present. There has to be balance. We should save consistently so we are prepared when emergencies happen. We should also enjoy some of the things we desire without neglecting our responsibilities. We cannot control the future, but we can trust God and make wise decisions with the information we have today. Reflection Question​ Am I operating from balance, or am I leaning toward one extreme with money? Prayer of the Week​ Dear God, help me trust You with tomorrow while making wise choices today. Teach me to enjoy life without living in fear or neglecting the responsibilities You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.