Money Made Faithful With John Putnam

Welcome to a special Christmas story!
As you navigate the hustle and bustle of last-minute preparations and festivities, I'm honored to share a modern-day parable titled "The Man and the Birds," intertwined with a classic Christmas hymn, "Adeste Fidelis," translated as " Oh, Come All Ye Faithful."
The parable, popularized by the legendary radio host Paul Harvey, unfolds as a beautiful Christmas tradition, reminding us of the season's true essence. May it become a meaningful pause, allowing you to reflect and shift your focus onto the true essence of Christmas and Jesus. Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a season filled with reflection, warmth, and the timeless message of love.

In this episode, John discusses:

• The spirit of Christmas
• The invitation of "Adeste Fidelis"
• The story of "The Man and the Birds"

Key Takeaways:

• "Adeste Fidelis," (Oh, Come All Ye Faithful) is more than just a song, it is an invitation—a pivotal aspect of our story today, aimed at encouraging the faithful to find and follow Jesus during this Christmas season.
• "The Man and the Birds" was made popular by the legendary radio host Paul Harvey, who shared it every Christmas for decades without knowing the original author.
• The parable unfolds with a man who, despite being a kind and decent person, struggles with the idea of the incarnation and chooses not to attend church on Christmas Eve.
• On a snowy Christmas Eve, the man's profound encounter with a flock of birds seeking refuge becomes a poignant metaphor for understanding, trust, and compassion, echoing the universal longing for connection and the Christmas spirit of love, compassion, and joy.

“My prayer is that this story allows you to pause and reflect and shift our hearts and our minds onto Christmas and onto Jesus this week and far into the new year and beyond.”

Additional resources:

• ADESTE FIDELIS (arr. for bells): https://youtu.be/Cgj4Sr1dskc?feature=shared
• The Man and the Birds Christmas Story: https://www.manandthebirds.com/

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends! I
f this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
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A journey to the most special Christmas setting of all inspires these 3 powerful lessons!
Picture three wise men, a vast desert sky with an awe-inspiring array of stars. As we explore this celestial guide, the perilous deception, and the redirected journey home in this incredible story, we'll extract three profound lessons that celebrate Chrstmas and transcend the season. So, buckle up for this enlightening journey in Matthew 2:1-12, alongside the Magi, and may the lessons resonate as we approach the Christmas season and a new year on the horizon.
In this episode, John discusses:

• Exploring the financial wisdom of the three wise men
• The guiding star in your financial sky
• Financial wisdom amidst deception
• Adapting your financial path through divine guidance

Key Takeaways:

• Lesson one explores the significance of the guiding star, urging us to identify our financial focal point amidst distractions and uncertainties, much like the wise men traversing the desert.
• Lesson two delves into the danger of deception and misdirection, emphasizing the importance of staying alert, discerning influences, and aligning our financial decisions with God's truth, drawing parallels to the wise men's recognition of Herod's deceit.
• Lesson 3 focuses on the intentional planning of a new path, encouraging adaptability in our financial journey, openness to fresh ideas, and listening to God's guidance for wise and faithful stewardship, mirroring the wise men's journey home by another way.

“As we're thinking about our financial goals and stewardship, when we devote that to prayer, God can show us new and unexpected paths toward our wise and faithful money journey. And that one path that we know is always true is Jesus.”
Additional resources:

• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

This week is a road map of practical examples for Philippians 4:8 thinking!
Building on last week's foundation, where we explored the thinking themes and perspectives, we're taking a deeper dive into focusing your thinking with practical examples in this second part.
My hope is that this not only transforms your financial choices but permeates every aspect of your life—your personal, family, vocational, community, and faith expression. Join me on this fantastic journey of aligning our thinking with the transformative power of God's truthful topics.
In this episode, John shares:

• Reflecting on the foundational aspects covered in the last episode
• The power of positive thinking and health
• Practical examples for each Philippians 4:8 theme
• Connecting biblical thinking with everyday choices

Key Takeaways:

• Positive thinking, may protect against stress-related inflammatory damage, improve decision-making, and enhance immune response.
• The foundational principles from Philippians 4:8 emphasize thinking about really good topics.
• Applying these principles to money decisions involves staying true, maintaining honor, justly treating others, thinking purely in alignment with scripture, commendable thinking, seeking excellence qnd thinking about financial matters that are worhty of praise.
• Recognizing the connection with God's heart and mind, and embracing wise and faithful financial stewardship, emphasizing the transformative power of biblical thinking in all life domains.

“As you revisit this in the future, may it serve as a reminder of how our thinking not only impacts our financial choices but also affects all the choices we make. If we want to be wise and faithful stewards from a holistic standpoint, it all starts with our thinking—it's where opportunities arise and where the battle begins.”
Additional resources:

• The Power of Positive Thinking: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-positive-thinking
• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life , visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends! I
f this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

WHAT you think about matters.
This special two-part episode delves into the profound connection between WHAT you think about and your money choices.
In this first part, I lay a foundation by exploring the themes in Philippians 4:8, with each theme holding a unique definition and perspective. that aligns with God's view of money and resources. As we explore these themes together, I believe you'll experience a transformation in your financial thinking, guiding you toward wise and faithful stewardship that reflects your faith and honors God. Join me on this journey and embrace the transformative power of biblical thinking as only God can design.
In this episode, John discusses:

• Perspective of wealth and money
• Contemplating the value of money and time
• 8 themes of biblical thinking and financial transformation
• Importance of thoughtful financial decision-making

Key Takeaways:

• A story of a boy's imaginmative conversation with God teaches us that understanding God's perspective is crucial in shaping our thinking AND our expectations.
• Exploring the eight themes from Philippians 4:8—thinking true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, and anything worthy of praise—reveals a powerful opportunity.
• Understanding how your thinking influences your financial choices and embracing themes rooted in biblical alignment allows you to approach financial decisions thoughtfully, leading to better stewardship.
• Embracing the themes of Philippians 4:8 not only transforms your financial thinking but positions you for a life of gratitude, empowerment, and reflection of your faith, resulting in a positive impact on more than just your financial well-being.

“If you're thinking about a financial decision rationally, thoughtfully, and prayerfully, and you're dealing with the truth, then chances are it's going to make financial sense. However, if you're not thinking about it that way, if it is not based on reality, if it's based on falsehoods, if it's based on poor perspective, they can wind up just not making any financial sense at all.”
Additional resources:

• The Power of Positive Thinking: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-positive-thinking
• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life , visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

I stumbled upon something special.
As we approach Thanksgiving this week, three heartwarming winning essays from 12-year-old Tatiana, 18-year-old Tracy, and Dale, father of a beautiful family, all share their unique perspectives on what Thanksgiving means to them. I believe these essays will warm your heart, put a smile on your face, and inspire gratitude and thankfulnesas as you approach this season of giving thanks!
In this episode, John discusses:

• The joy and humor of Thanksgiving gatherings
• The power of gratitude in everyday life
• Thanksgiving beyond feasting
• Finding joy in the midst of challenges

Key Takeaways:

• 12-year old Tatiana - Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on kindness, expressing gratitude, and embracing the lessons learned from family, friends, and even strangers.
• Tracy, an 18-year-old, shares a perspective on Thanksgiving that goes beyond a family feast, emphasizing the importance of sharing blessings with the less fortunate, keeping ancestral memories alive, and continuing the tradition of gratitude across generations.
• Dale, illuminates Thanksgiving as a celebration of the profound gift of family, including their special-needs child, and we are reminded of the true riches in life—love, laughter, and the joy derived from sharing blessings with others, fostering a sense of gratitude even in the face of challenges.
• May you feel the love of God, family and friends this Thanksgiving!

“I started to write a podcast episode about thankfulness and gratitude this time of year that we could apply to wise and faithful financial stewardship. I came across these three essays absolutely by chance, but they captured everything that I wanted to say and multiples more. I pray it was a blessing to you.”

Additional resources:

• What Thanksgiving Means to Me Winners from the 2018 SDPIA Thanksgiving Essay Contest: https://southdakotapoultry.org/2018/11/what-thanksgiving-means-to-me-essay-contest-winners/

• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

Black Friday BIG deals need BIG wisdom!
The term "Black Friday" originated from the retail practice of moving from the red (loss) to the black (profit). Today, it symbolizes a retail marker for retail sales success and a shopping marker for 92% of consumers expected to engage in Christmas shopping! In this episode, I'm delving into 10 wise tips of shopping wisdom, each aiming to faithfully guide you through the bustling holiday shopping landscape. So, join me as we navigate this season with intentionality and stewardship.
In this episode, John discusses:

• Navigating the early holiday shopping flurry
• Decoding the holiday shopping landscape
• 10 tips for wisely managing your Christmas shopping

Key Takeaways:

• The holiday season seems to start earlier every year, with early Black Friday deals and Christmas decorations hitting stores right after Halloween, but understanding the historical significance of Thanksgiving and Black Friday sheds light on this trend.
• Despite the early start to holiday shopping, statistics from the National Retail Federation reveal that 92 percent of consumers are estimated to participate.
• To navigate the Christmas shopping season successfully, it's crucial to follow 10 wise tips you need to know - and it's much more than just budgets and lists.
• As consumers gear up for holiday shopping, it's heartening to note that 69 percent prioritize gifts for loved ones, reflecting a thoughtful approach to the season of giving.

“As you are shopping for those that you love and care for, as you are being generous to those in need this holiday season, may these ten tips serve you well as you are wise and faithful in your financial stewardship.”
Additional resources:

• NRF's Surveys on Consumer Sentiment and Retail Trends Across the Holiday Season: https://nrf.com/research-insights/holiday-data-and-trends/winter-holidays
• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

Could your wealth actually be 'weighing down' your faith?
Like backpacking ratios, managing wealth has its own set of balances, yet there's no one-size-fits-all formula. In this episode, I reflect on Proverbs 30:7-9, a prayer that seeks the right balance of wealth and perspective. Together, we'll explore signs that indicate if the weight of your wealth is becoming burdensome and discuss practical steps to find equilibrium. There's no fixed ratio, but by trusting in God's wisdom and following these steps, you can find the right balance for our wealth.
In this episode, John discusses:

• 'Backpacking 101' and managing wealth parallels
• Balancing wealth and spiritual well-being
• Recognizing the warning signs of wealth-related stress and strain
• Practical steps to ensure your riches don't become a burden

Key Takeaways:

• Managing wealth is like carrying a backpack - the ‘weight’ matters and individuals have different capacities based on their circumstances and character.
• Identifying signs of financial strain, such as over-focus on money, decreasing generosity, constant worry about wealth, and hyper-consumerism, can indicate that the weight of wealth is becoming burdensome.
• Striving for a balanced approach to wealth, individuals should pray for wisdom, share their burdens with others, give generously, and be aware of warning signs, ultimately seeking the right balance with God's guidance.

“If you begin to feel a ‘wealth hotspot’, if you begin to feel financial strain in your life from the wealth that you have…there may be strain in your friendships, strain in your marriage, strain in your family, strain at work, whatever it may be…as soon as you feel this ‘wealth hotspot’ forming, stop immediately and deal with it.”
Additional resources:

• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

Ever wondered why conflicts arise in financial discussions?
It's often because your Money MOs clash with your personal goals or each other. Welcome back to the second part of our two-part episode on understanding your Money MOs.
In this episode, we're exploring how understanding these differences and taking clear steps, can lead to unity, clarity, and confidence in managing your money choices and aligning your Money MOs with God's larger story. So, let's embark on this part of your journey together and find strength in your uniqueness.
In this episode, John discusses:

• Navigating financial harmony in relationships
• Strengthening marital bonds through financial communication
• Embracing uniqueness in financial approaches for spiritual growth
• Leveraging money M.O.s for harmonious relationships and wise stewardship

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding and embracing your unique money modus operandi (MO) – spender, saver, investor, planner, or giver – can enhance stewardship success and financial harmony and bring you closer to your financial goals.
• Identifying and appreciating the complements and conflicts between different money MOs is key to productive conversations about money in relationships.
• Effective financial conversations involve regular meetings, open communication, and shared prayers, ultimately leading to more unity, clarity, and less financial conflict.
• Ephesians 4:11-16 underscores the importance of unity and growth in faith within a community, and aligning your money MO with God's larger plan for your life is a way to achieve this.

“When you are pursuing wise and faithful stewardship through prayer about being a part of God's larger story, your differences can be strengths when they're joined together in faith and wisdom. And when you put all these together — the meeting, the conversation, and the prayer, my friends — let me tell you, you will find more joy, more unity, more clarity, more confidence, and less conflict.”
Additional resources:

• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

Money is a powerful force , often at the center of many of life's opportunities and challenges, especially in our closest relationships.
We've all heard that money can be a source of marital discord, but it doesn't stop there. It can also fuel worry and anxiety in our personal lives. In this episode, I’m taking a closer look at five distinct money MOs, our “modus operandi”, our well-established patterns and behaviors when it comes to money. We all have unique approaches - some of these approaches are strengths, and others may bring challenges.
Join me for part one of this two-part series as we delve deeper into understanding our money MOs and how they can lead us closer to God's plans and greater unity in our relationships.
In this episode, John discusses:

• Exploring the different approaches to money
• Recognizing and embracing your unique money MO
• How different money tendencies can strengthen or strain partnerships
• Finding harmony and unity in your financial life and relationships

Key Takeaways:

• Our money MOs are ingrained patterns of dealing with finances, shaped by upbringing and experiences, influencing how you spend, save, invest, plan, or give.
• We exhibit diverse financial behaviors, with different priorities, each with unique strengths and challenges.
• Recognizing and appreciating the strengths within each money MO can promote financial harmony in relationships, emphasizing the importance of effective communication, understanding, and unity in managing finances.
• Embracing our unique money MOs as part of God's design, you can navigate financial strengths and weaknesses with God's larger story, fostering communication, unity, and mutual growth in love.

“The goal here is not to make you into the same person but to be the person you were made to be with your money MOs, to have them be surrendered into the context of God's larger story.”
Additional resources:

• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship

It’s happened to all of us - you found some money - what do you do with it?
Join me as I recount an intriguing experiment I conducted on the streets to explore people's spending choices when given $100 with no strings attached - the answers may surprise you.
In this episode, I'm delving into a topic rarely discussed but profoundly impactful: Mental Accounting is the behavioral observation of how you assign different rules and limits to money based upon the source of that money.
Inspired by biblical wisdom and offering practical steps, we'll discuss how to break free from the confusion of mental accounting and embrace a holistic, God-honoring approach to stewardship. Let's align our financial choices with God's wisdom for a more abundant and impactful life in His kingdom!

In this episode, John discusses:

• The hidden world of mental accounting and how people allocate unexpected money
• Analyzing the impact of cognitive biases on financial decision-making
• Navigating mental accounting in financial planning
• Finding financial alignment through faith

Key Takeaways:

• By understanding and challenging our instinctive responses to money, we can break free from the confines of mental accounting, paving the way for smarter, more abundant financial choices.
• Instead of compartmentalizing income into separate mental accounts, consolidating and viewing all sources of money as one entity allows for a cohesive financial strategy rooted in biblical wisdom, ensuring faithful stewardship.
• A solid financial plan, infused with biblical values, involves careful consideration of spending, saving, investing, and seeking wise counsel, and more, empowering individuals to make consistent and aligned choices.
• Intertwining prayer with financial decisions cultivates alignment with God's heart, mind and provision, guiding you toward holistic and God-honoring choices, reinforcing the truth that prayer is your most powerful tool in your financial stewardship.

“As we dug into this behavioral financial issue called mental accounting, it's basically just applying different rules and specifications and limits based on different sources of income and when you do that, it creates a very confusing model rather than keeping everything in a holistic and aligned fashion to make wise and faithful choices that are not only for your best life and your wise and faithful stewardship, but also for honoring God, His kingdom, and His plans.”

Additional resources:

• Get your free “Get Recession Ready” mini-course at https://changeforyourdollar.com/
• Free Goal Achievement Supercharger Lessons & Worksheets

Let’s continue the conversation!
Connect to Smarter Stewardship at https://smarterstewardship.com/ and gain access to resources that will help you stay in the loop for resources that will actively help you shape your financial future.
If you’re interested in growing in your faith, wealth, and life, visit https://changeforyourdollar.com/ for all the tools you need from coaching and speaking to my latest book, He Spends, She Spends!
If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!
Contact John:
Website: https://changeforyourdollar.com/
Website: https://smarterstewarship.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardship
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship