Money Made Faithful With John Putnam

Welcome back to the second half of a two-part series, where we delve deep into the intricate relationship between how your current money choices can get in the way of your best money choices. In our last episode, we explored the idea that our current financial decisions might be leading us away from our goals, rather than closer to them. Today, we're dissecting the deception that often accompanies wealth, but fear not, for there are faithful solutions to guide you past these pitfalls. By applying these faith-centered solutions, we can align our financial responsibilities with biblical values, fostering a healthy and faithful balance!

In this episode, John discusses:

• From Matthew 13:22, we recognize the ‘deceitfulness of wealth’ and embracing faith-based solutions
• The trap of overconsumption and unraveling the link between greed and false happiness
• Identifying financial schemes and cultivating discernment
• Nurturing career growth without sacrificing your most important relationships

Key Takeaways:

• Acknowledge the potential for deception in pursuing wealth, learning from past mistakes, and recognizing false promises, emphasizing the importance of not falling into the same traps twice.
• Recognize common examples of wealth deceit, including overconsumption, get-rich-quick schemes, and over-pursuit of career, advocating for discernment, seeking trusted advice, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance as remedies.
• Cultivate financial discernment, consult with trustworthy advisors, integrate faith and family priorities into career decisions, and stay vigilant against financial scams to protect oneself from the pitfalls of wealth.
• Find joy in giving back, sharing resources with others, and experiencing the blessings that come from selfless generosity, emphasizing that true wealth lies in a spirit of giving and gratitude.

“My encouragement to you is for you to remain diligent in addressing these real challenges with these faith-centered solutions that I've shared. Because they are essential for maintaining a healthy and Godly balance between your financial responsibilities, your spiritual values, and the faith-aligned plans that you are walking through on your own faithful financial journey.”

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

In this first part of a two-part episode, I'm anchoring into scripture for how your money choices can distance you from making a choice that is best for you.
No, it’s not a riddle.
I'll explore this very real and thought-provoking paradigm through four common choice categories plus the related practical steps and strategies you need to help you faithfully align your money choices. Please join us on this two-part podcast to break free from distractions and discover your personal path to faithful financial stewardship.
In this episode, John discusses:

• How our actions can either help or hinder our financial success
• Discovering the fallacy of endless hustle in achieving goals
• Four common categories of financial cares that can hinder your best money decisions
• Overcoming these financial cares to make better money choices

Key Takeaways:

• Your current money choices might be preventing you from making the best financial decisions, similar to how working harder and longer doesn't always lead to better work results.
• The cares of the world, such as financial anxiety, materialism, comparison, and excessive materialism, can position you from making faithful money choices.
• To combat these distractions, embrace strategic practices like budgeting, simplicity, gratitude, generosity, community, and serving others.
• You can make progress to eliminate money worries and distractions, allowing you to focus on faithful financial stewardship.

“My prayer for you is that the worry, the anxiety, the cares of the world would become largely gone in your quest for faithful financial stewardship. It can be hard to get our head around the idea that your money choices may actually be getting in the way and distancing you or totally distracting you away from the truth and wisdom that you need to make better faithful money choices that you want to make.”

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

Welcome to your very special episode #100!
This milestone episode will feel different than most you have heard . As I prayed about this special episode, I began to explore parables that use the number “100” and today I share four parables that convey profound lessons that I pray you have experienced throughout the past 99 episodes! So, as we dive into these parables together, please consider which one speaks to you the most. God’s story and his truth are here to inspire and guide you with infinite truth for your financial stewardship and beyond!
In this episode, John discusses:

• The significance of the number 100 in our culture
• The unique messages of four parables connected by the number 100
• Aligning faith and finances
• Understanding the complete wisdom found in four biblical parables

Key Takeaways:

• The number 100 symbolizes completeness and perfection.
• His total forgiveness and grace in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.
• His total accountability for us as stewards of His resources, as seen in the Parable of the Dishonest Manager.
• His total abundance that we can experience as we align with God's plans, both financially and spiritually, as portrayed in the Parable of the Sower.
• His total completeness underscores God's relentless pursuit of us, inspiring us to actively seek redemption and reconciliation, through the Parable of the Lost Sheep

“Any time that you would take out of your life to spend with me, I pray that as a result, you would be closer to God, you would be closer to those you love, and closer to the plans that he has for you, which puts you in the best possible posture and position to make wise and faithful financial stewardship choices. But also those ripple effects would go through all other areas of your life.”
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

In this episode, I'm diving into a powerful and practical approach that can transform not just your finances, but every aspect of your life. It's a journey to deepen your relationship with God and enhance your daily existence. Join me as I explore “The Five 5’s" framework – dedicating just five minutes a day to four meaningful activities for five days. By consistently engaging in these activities, you'll witness positive shifts in your mindset, your heartset, and your relationship with God, with those around you and the choices you make. Discover how aligning with God and His truth can lead to transformative change with your money and in all areas of your life.

In this episode, John discusses:

• A practical guide for sparking financial and spiritual growth
• Unlocking the power of daily habits with The Five 5’s method for financial transformation
• The spiritual link between your finances and daily decision-making
• The impact of consistency and how it can transform your financial life and more

Key Takeaways:

• Your money is intertwined with most aspects of your life, and understanding the underlying motives driving your choices is essential for true transformation.
• Implementing “The Five 5’s" framework as a short-term challenge - five minutes of Bible reading, five minutes of prayer, five minutes of listening, and five ‘thank-yous’ for five days - can not only spark profound changes, but profound habits
• Consistency in engaging with scripture leads to higher levels of hope and a more positive mindset, as revealed by the American Bible Society's report.
• By dedicating just five minutes a day to each of “The Five 5’s", you can experience a positive shift in your mindset and heart, leading to a closer relationship with God and transformative effects in all areas of your life.

“My real hope Is that this simple model is just a spark that is not formulaic. It doesn't drop you into some sort of legalistic model, but it's just a spark to create these daily habits. That even after a few days or five days, this becomes part of your daily life and the ripple effects of this will not only flow through your financial life, but every other part of your life as well.”

Additional resources:

• American Bible Society's new study: https://news.americanbible.org/blog/entry/corporate-blog/american-bible-societys-new-study-shows-urgent-ministry-opportunity
• 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/ f or 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

Have you ever experienced how money topics can lead you down a treacherous path of comparison?
In this episode, I'm delving deep into this very question. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Jesus in Mark 9:33-37, I explore how shifting our mindset and heart can combat and beat the comparison trap. So, if you've ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of comparison, come join me as we discover a unique transformative power available to each of us in our stewardship journey.

In this episode, John discusses:

• Exploring the pitfalls of financial comparison and how to avoid them
• The dangers of comparing yourself to others in money matters and how to break free from the trap
• How Jesus' teachings on humility and servanthood can be a blueprint for wise financial stewardship
• How focusing on serving others can shift your financial perspective

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace a mindset of service inspired by the teachings of Jesus to break free from the destructive cycle of comparison and find true fulfillment.
• Comparison can distort reality, but adopting the habits of Jesus, centered on selflessness and service, offers a blueprint for spiritual growth that transcends wealth and possessions.
• To escape the comparison trap, become a servant leader in your relationships and endeavors, shifting your focus from self to the needs of others and discovering the joy of generosity.
• Let comparison be a catalyst for humility and generosity, redirecting your attention outward to serve others and strengthening your connection to God, as demonstrated by Jesus' selfless example.

“Whenever you feel any type of comparison sneaking in, whether it's a comparison with someone else about who's the greatest, just like we heard in Mark 9 between the disciples, or it is a comparison around money or wealth and possessions, whenever you feel comparison sneaking in, my prayer is that you will remember this episode and let comparison be a catalyst that instead of letting comparison take you inward to selfishness and being envious, that it's a catalyst that turns you outward to be generous and to be humble as you can serve others.”

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

Could your money give you a better view of God and His work?
We’ve all changed our position in a crowd to get a better view of something important. In this episode, I want to share an inspired idea that struck me during a church service as I observed a young girl and her father worshiping together and what she did to get a better view of the service. It was a heartwarming moment that reminded me of the biblical story of Zacchaeus and it got me thinking. Join me as I share my thoughts and four ideas that may hold a little financial risk, but have the potential to deepen your faith and your connection with God. As you listen, consider which opportunity might be your chance to get a closer look at the incredible things God is doing in your life and the world around you.
In this episode, John discusses:

• Discovering God's unexpected moments of faith through joyful risk
• Zacchaeus and pursuing faith through the art of risk-taking
• Enhancing your connection with God through a little financial risk
• Exploring the spiritual benefits of investing in faith

Key Takeaways:

• We're challenged to ponder when we last dared to take risks for a deeper understanding of God's presence and His work in our lives.
• Zacchaeus' daring climb to see Jesus inspires us to challenge ourselves both socially and financially in our pursuit of spiritual growth.
• Consider using your finances to embark on a mission trip, attend a ministry conference, host group events, or become a significant donor to a ministry to gain a closer perspective on God's work and foster community.
• By embracing financial risk and exploring these four ideas, you can position yourself to see Jesus more clearly and witness His transformative impact in your life and the world around you.

“Maybe take a little risk to see Jesus better and what he is doing around you. Just like the little girl who climbed on the edge of her seat, grabbed her dad's arm so she could see worship. Or Zacchaeus, who was small and wanted to see Jesus. So he ran ahead, climbed up a tree, put himself at social and physical risk, and the rest is history and the story continues to create ripple effects to this very day. These opportunities are all around you. Let me encourage you today to try to capture one.”

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.
I f 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

Have you ever found yourself making the same financial mistakes over and over again?
Well, that stops NOW.
We've all been there – overspending, accumulating debt, making poor investments. The list goes on. But in this episode, let's talk about how we can break free from this cycle. Let me share an amusing scene from the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special that captures this perfectly. It's a story of Lucy, a football, and Charlie Brown's repeated attempts. Sound familiar? This tale underlines the importance of learning from our mistakes and turning them into valuable lessons. Remember, mistakes aren't all bad. There are ‘good mistakes’ – the ones we learn from. I'm going to walk you through a simple model, inspired by a military process, to help you consistently learn from your financial choices. So, please tune in as we uncover the power of learning from our money situations for making better money decisions.
In this episode, John discusses:

• The importance of learning from financial mistakes
• The psychology of repetitive financial mistakes
• Applying after-action reviews to personal finances
• Turning mistakes into learning opportunities

Key Takeaways:

• We've all made financial mistakes, whether overspending, debt, or poor investments and acknowledging this is the first step to improvement.
• Just like Charlie Brown falling for Lucy's football trick, we often make the same financial errors despite knowing better, highlighting the importance of learning from our mistakes.
• Embrace a simple after-action review strategy – analyzing what worked, why it worked, what didn't work, why it didn't, and then taking action to improve – to consistently learn from financial decisions.
• Just as Peter urged us to remember and grow, embracing the process of reflection and learning can transform financial missteps into valuable lessons that shape our better financial decisions moving forward.

“Now, there wasn't a whole lot of truth being shared by Lucy to old Charlie Brown, but after a while guys, we just need to learn from the past and make better decisions and an after-action review can help you get there.”

ARTICLE LINK: Harvard Business Review - Learning in the Thick of It: https://hbr.org/2005/07/learning-in-the-thick-of-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

Where should I give?
It's a question I've heard repeatedly and I'm excited to explore a simple framework of four prompts that can spark your giving decisions. Each prompt resonates at the core of generosity, helping you transform lives and contribute to a greater story. While simple and straightforward, they have the power to reshape your giving journey and bring a deeper sense of purpose and impact. Tune in as we explore these prompts and find meaningful ways to channel our resources for impact!

In this episode, John discusses:

• Intentional and impactful charitable giving
• The power of charitable giving to bring joy and purpose to your lives
• Ideas for common dilemma of where to allocate charitable resources
• Four key prompts to help you determine where to give

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how to transform your giving journey by embracing a simple yet powerful framework that aligns your generosity with God's intentions, ensuring meaningful impact and lasting joy.
• Discover the essence of purposeful giving through these four prompts: Engage your mind in discernment, your heart in compassion, your history in personal connection, and your faith in God's redemptive narrative.
• Embrace these four transformative prompts that can shift your giving from random and haphazard to intentional and fulfilling, allowing you to make a purposeful difference aligned with your faith and values.
• “As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.” A.W. Tozer

“The prompts I shared today, I believe honor God, bring transformation to lives, and contribute to the unfolding story of His kingdom. And as you give, remember that each act of generosity is a partnership with God in His work of redemption and restoration. I pray that as you consider where you give, you would feel His presence, His power, and His pleasure. You would feel God smiling as He watches you at every step of your growing giving journey.”

NCF Maui Wildfire Relief Article: https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/bringing-hope-to-maui-after-wildfire-devastation/

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

Back-to-school shopping comes with a special opportunity to teach your kids about money!⁠⁠In the second part of a two-part series, we're continuing our journey with fresh insights.
Continuing the momentum from last episode, I'm delving into the practical ways you can impart biblical financial wisdom and practical teaching to your children during these shopping activities. ⁠⁠Remember, it's not about perfection; it's about progress. ⁠⁠
So, take your time, engage in patient conversations, and empower your child to make wise choices. Just like Jesus' parables, we'll show, tell, and point toward meaningful financial choices. Let's empower our children with these invaluable lessons for a lifetime of wise money management.⁠
In this episode, John discusses:

• Modeling and encouraging charitable giving for children
• Practical steps for age-appropriate budget planning for various life expenses
• Strategies to help children make thoughtful purchase decisions

Key Takeaways:

• Back-to-school shopping provides the perfect platform for instilling valuable biblical financial principles in your children, fostering patient, gentle conversations about contentment, generosity, budgeting, and combating impulse buying.
• Engage your children in age-appropriate budget planning and financial discussions, allowing them to actively participate in managing some finances, and cultivating a foundation of financial responsibility that empowers them for their financial future.
• Equip your children with the skills to make thoughtful purchases by planning ahead, distinguishing needs from wants, and recognizing marketing tactics, all while referencing wisdom biblical from to guide their decision-making.
• Use post-shopping reflection as a means to assess budget and list adherence and impart essential lessons about budgeting, smart shopping, and money management, with the goal of nurturing wise financial choices that last a lifetime.

“Let your kids catch you in some really good money moments and then show them, tell them, and point them to the truth.”
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 time for back-to-school shopping and with it comes a special opportunity to teach your kids about money!
In the first part of a two-part series I focus on an invaluable opportunity: teaching your children about money during this shopping season. Back-to-school shopping isn't just about supplies; it's a chance to instill essential financial values in your children. The financial behavior you exhibit is shaping their future habits. So, join me as we explore practical ways to make the most of this teaching moment. Get ready to equip your kids with lifelong biblical financial wisdom as we navigate this back-to-school journey together.
In this episode, John discusses:

• Teaching kids financial wisdom through back-to-school shopping
• The importance of parental influence on children's financial habits
• Using biblical principles to teach kids about money
• Four actionable tips for parents to instill money-savvy behavior in their children
• Five teaching topics and a three-step approach

Key Takeaways:

• As parents, leverage the opportunity of back-to-school shopping to instill core biblical principles and practical money habits that will shape your children's financial behavior for life.
• Studies show that parents play a pivotal role in shaping their children's financial habits and perspectives, emphasizing the importance of modeling wise money choices to effectively teach kids about money.
• Teaching kids about money requires consistent repetition and patience, making sure your financial behaviors reflect the lessons you want your children to learn.
• Utilize a three-step approach—Show, Tell, Point—to teach your children about budgeting, differentiating between needs and wants, comparison shopping, involving them in decision-making, and practicing delayed gratification during back-to-school shopping, embedding valuable financial lessons into their understanding.

“Repetition is your friend, and what that means is this. It means that about the time that you are getting tired of letting them see you make smart money choices, that's probably right about the time that they are starting to get it. So guys, this takes wisdom and discernment. But more than anything, it takes stamina.”

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.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarterstewardshipFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/smarterstewardship