Worrying about Tomorrow

To a rabble of dirt farmers, ragged fisherfolk, and beggars, Jesus said,

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?...But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow... (Matt. 6:25, 33-34). 

Think for a moment about the implications of the word, strive. Jesus says we strive for many things; we think, fret, and strategize about how to obtain food, clothing, and everything else we need.

Jesus doesn't dismiss these concerns. "Indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things" (v. 32). So striving for them--working intentionally to earn them--is not a bad thing. However, Jesus says we should "strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness..."

Current economic problems are as vexing to Christian writers as anyone else, because we work just as hard to pay our bills. We are no less inclined to worry about having the wherewithal to obtain the food, clothing, and shelter we need. Many times we wonder where our next assignment will come from, and whether it will keep a roof over our heads or pay our medical expenses. (As Shakespeare might say, "Prick us, and do we not bleed? Test it, and do we not get invoiced?")

Yet our situation is different in this respect: We are called first of all to build God's kingdom, not to make money.

Yes, the money is important because the things money will buy are important, but since our Father is there 'way ahead of us, we don't need to worry about the money first of all. Keep the faith. Write the vision. And know that "God will fully supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

Joe Allison and his wife, Judy, live in Anderson IN, where Joe serves as Coordinator of Publishing for Church of God Ministries, Inc. Joe has several nonfiction books in print, including Swords and Whetstones: A Guide to Christian Bible Study Resources. He's currently writing a trilogy of Christian historical novels set in the Great Depression.

Visit Joe's blog at http://hoosierwriter.wordpress.com

 

 

Should you add maintaining a Cash Flow Analysis to your 2011 Writing Goals?

by Suzanne Wesley

Like many fiction writers I use writing and other skills to 'supplement my fiction habit' and assist my family in paying the household bills. This year, it was suggested to me that I should create a Cash Flow Analysis to track the highs and lows of my business income. If I repeat this year after year I will better be able to predict when I will experience less work, less income or even potential surges in work (so that someday when I can afford a vacation again I will know what month NOT to leave town!)

Not being a 'math person' I didn't get it right the first go-round. But what I discovered was that I was making the process WAY more complicated than I need to, and it's really pretty simple and easy to maintain throughout the year.

Tips to Make The Process Easier

1. I recommend having a separate checking account - it can be a second personal account and not a true 'business' account by the standards of your local bank.
2. Deposit every cent you make via your writing or other freelance skills into this account.
3. Pay any business related bills through this account
4. Pay yourself 'wages' to another account in order to pay non-business related expenses.

Creating Your Cash Flow
Essentially my cash flow is an Excel file I use to track how much income came in each month, where any cash was paid out, and how much cash is available for use the start of the following month. (If any, right?) Each month, when you get your bank statement for your business checking account, you will compare it to your Cash Flow analysis to make sure that the balance at the beginning of each month matches what you have recorded on your Cash Flow file.

I find it easiest to record income onto the file whenever I have made a bank deposit, (whether by depositing a paper check, or by moving money from PayPal) and not saving it all for the end of the month.  Additionally, if you pay yourself 'wages' because the house payment is due ASAP ... it's easier to record it right when you do it, then to expect that you will remember where that x amount of $ went at the end of the month.

Thanks to on-line bill pay, many of us already know our bank balance at any given time, but seeing where a whole year's worth of income has really gone is a real eye opener! You may find a few surprises ... or just have black and white evidence of what you already knew. I can definitely see that doing this year after year will help me see semi-predictable financial patterns that will be helpful to growing my business - and paying my bills!

Have you ever done a cash flow for your writing business? 
If not, maybe 2011 is the year to get started on one. I'd be happy to send the blank Excel file that was given to me to get you started. Send me your e-mail via my web-site contact page, www.suzannewesley.com and I'll send the file to you ASAP so that you can started tracking your January income and expenses.