We Gave Away Almost Everything. Then God Took Us to $0.
Our friends Matt and Nichole Ellstrom were sitting on Black Friday with full shopping carts for their new house when they both sensed God asking them to give it all to Him. It was about 75% of what was in their bank account. Then, a year later, Matt felt God tell him to resign from his role as head of strategy at a large ministry, in three days, with nothing lined up. Linda and I have heard pieces of this story for a while, and I've wanted to get it on the podcast ever since. We talk about the year of refining that followed, why God told Matt (a budgeter since eighth grade) to stop looking at their bank account, the anniversary trip they tried to talk themselves out of, and how they hit zero the weekend before Matt's new job started without ever going into debt. If you're the kind of person who likes having control of the numbers, this one will challenge you in a good way. If you enjoyed this episode, I got something I think you'll like. It's a book that is the operating manual we (a broke, middle-class couple) followed to pay off $400k of debt and give $1M by my 40th birthday. And the roadmap in it will help you earn more, save more, pay off debt, and have more fun giving than you thought possible… all without a hint of guilt or shame. As a thank you for listening, I'd love to give you a paperback copy of the book (if you can cover shipping). If that sounds good, you can get it here: https://seedtime.com/free Here's a little of what we cover in this episode: What it feels like when God asks you to let go of control of the numbers How to tell a real prompting from fear, burnout, or a bad week Why "trust God with money" can mean obeying when the spreadsheet says no What to do when your spouse hears God differently than you do How a lifelong budgeter survives months without checking the bank account Why some of the hardest asks look like spending, not saving What provision can look like without turning it into a give-to-get formula How a couple carries each other through the stretch when nothing makes sense yet What to say to the person who wants the breakthrough without the surrender Bible Verses Mentioned: Joshua 1 John 11:40 Mark 10:17-22 Acts 5:1-11 Exodus 17:12 Philippians 4:7 Deuteronomy 14:22-26 Resources Mentioned: Simple Money, Rich Life paperback (cover shipping) 31 Chapters , Nichole's interior design firm Jamie Winship - Identity Exchange Obligatory legal disclaimer: I'm a financial educator, not your financial advisor, investment advisor, tax pro, or lawyer. This channel is for general education, not personalized advice, and nothing here should be taken as a recommendation to buy, sell, or use any specific investment, account, or financial product. I'm just sharing what I'm doing, what I'm learning, and what I find interesting. Markets can be humbling. Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money, and my results are personal, may not be typical, and are not guaranteed. Do your own research, use wisdom, and talk with a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Some links are to our resources and some are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That helps keep the lights on around here, so thanks for the support.






