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A Single Mom’s Journey to Financial Freedom

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Maria may be in her mid 70’s, but she’s got more energy than some people half her age.

She explains, “I do a lot of Zumba - usually three times a week, an hour each time. I really enjoy it.  So much so, I decided to become an instructor.”

And that’s not all she does.  Maria is also the president of her own real estate company.   She loves helping people find their dream home and remembers when there was no-way she could buy one herself.  After her divorce, she had liens against her.  She couldn’t open a checking account, or get a credit card.

“I was left with three kids to raise so yeah, there wasn't much money, you know?” she says.   “We struggled just to pay rent, and for a time I was on Section 8 and food stamps.  We ate a lot of rice, a lot of hamburger.”

Friends helped her get a car and her parents used their social security income to pay her rent.  Still, Maria needed a financial breakthrough.  She gave at church and watched The 700 Club.  While she’d supported CBN at times, now as a single mom working on commission, she didn’t think she could afford it.   Then one day, someone from CBN called to check-in on her, and Maria mentioned her money problems.

“She said, ‘Well, why don't we pray for your finances.’  I'm like ‘Ohhh!  Why don't we?  Thank you!’ So, then she prayed for me,” Maria recalls.  She continues, “After I hung up I was like ‘I need to go back and, you know, start giving again.’”

So, by faith, Maria started consistently giving $20 a month to CBN. Before long, she became a top producer in her office, making twice what she’d made the year before.
 
“The only reason I can think of is those extra $20 a month,” says Maria. “I was like, ‘Whoa, this works.’"

Other agents started asking where her success was coming from.

She says she responded, “‘I'll tell you my secret.  You know, you have to give above and beyond your tithe to further God's kingdom.’”

With her increased income, she paid off her debt, and faithfully gave even more.  Once, she gave $1000 dollars to CBN.

She recalls, “It was like the Holy Spirit said, ‘Do it.’ And I just kept making more sales. And I thought, ‘Well, I wonder if I can buy, you know, a home?’"

Soon, she was a first-time homeowner.  Now years later, she owns several rental properties and continues to give to CBN.

“Any time I see where CBN just even buys a sewing machine for somebody to make them self-sufficient and to get out of the poverty, it just touches my heart to bring water to people that are like drinking from this disgusting (water). So, for me, that's all that money represents is being able to help people.”

Maria encourages others who are financially stuck to follow in her footsteps and give.

“You just got to trust God.  You give above your tithe to further God's kingdom. That’s it,” she exclaims.   “You can't out give God.  The more I give Him, the more I have, and the more grateful I am, so the more I give.  It’s just never-ending!”

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