Mike and Ellen went to extremes to survive financially in a new city with their kids. There was no end in sight until they became consistent in one thing that moved their finances higher and higher. See what they learned and apply it in your life.
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Terry: MIKE AND TINA
JUST MOVED TO A NEW AREA AND
THEY WERE STRUGGLING RAISING
THEIR TWO CHILDREN ON THEIR
OWN.
WE ARE NEW PEOPLE TO THE
AREA.
AND WE HAD TO JUGGLE FOOD
AND BILLS AND CAR AND HOUSE,
AND JUST MAKING IT ALL
WORK.
Terry: SO TO CUT
CORNERS, THEY SKIMPED ON
FOOD AND LOWERED THE HOUSE
TEMPERATURE DURING THE
WINTER.
I HAVE PICTURES OF EMMY
SITTING ON THE FLOOR IN THE
HOUSE WITH A THICK, KNITTED
WHETHESWEATER WITH A HAT
BECAUSE IT WAS COLD.
Terry: THEY WERE LIVING
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK WITH NO
END IN SIGHT.
WE JUST HAD TO LEARN.
Reporter: YEARS BEFORE
MIKE AND ELLEN MET WHILE
BACKPACKING IN INDIA.
ELLEN WAS HINDU BEFORE SHE
MET MIKE.
GOD WAS THERE, WORKING
THROUGH CBN IN HER LIFE AND
MY LIFE.
GOD LED ME TO MY HUSBAND,
WHO LED ME TO THE LORD.
Reporter: MIKE
REMEMBERS HIS MOTHER TAUGHT
HIM ABOUT GIVING, AND THE
YOUNG COUPLE WAS EAGER TO
PUT THESE PRINCIPLES IN
ACTION.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE
SMALLEST TIME OF GIVING FROM
THE NATURAL PERSPECTIVE, BUT
I BELIEVE SPIRITUALLY, FROM
GOD'S PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS
OUR GREATEST TIME OF
GIVING.
WHEN WE GAVE OUT OF OUR LACK
AND NOT OUR ABUNDANCE.
WITH STARTED REALLY
TITHING, AND BEING
CONSISTENT IN OUR TITHING,
KNOWING THAT GOD WANTS THIS
FROM US, YOU KNOW.
AND WE STARTED GIVING
FAITHFULLY.
AND THEN THINGS STARTED
MOVING.
Reporter: THE MARTINEZ
E MARTINEZES SAW THEIR
FAITH WORKING.
SOMETIMES THROUGH PEOPLE
THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.
IT WASN'T ALWAYS MONEY.
BUT IT WAS ALWAYS PROVISION,
SOMEHOW TO GET US THROUGH
FINANCIAFINANCIALLY.
Reporter: THEN MIKE WAS
OFFERED A NEW JOB, FOR A
COMPANY THAT MAKES AND SELLS
HIGH PRECISION BEARINGS.
AND HE SAID, SOME PEOPLE
WOULD LOSE THEIR JOB ASKING
FOR A 15% RAISE.
THEN MY BOSS SAID, HERE'S
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO,
WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU ON A
COMMISSION-BASED TO YOUR
SALARY.
AND IT ENDED UP BECOMING A
25% RAISE.
PRETTY SOON AFTER THAT,
WE MOVED TO A TWO-BEDROOM
HOUSE, WHERE OUR CHILDREN
COULD HAVE THEIR OWN ROOM,
AND WE COULD HAVE OUR OWN
ROOM.
AND WE HAD A BIG BACKYARD,
WHERE THEY COULD PLAY.
IT WAS SUCH A BLESSING, JUST
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM
THAT.
ALL OF IT CAME OUT OF ONE.
Reporter: THE
MARTINEZES WANTED TO GIVE
BACK, AND THEY CHOSE "THE
70"THE 700 CLUB."
GOD IS SAYING I WANT TO
BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY.
HE IS SAYING I LOVE YOU.
IT IS ABOUT HOW MUCH ARE YOU
GOING TO TRUST HIM.
