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Finding Financial Aid for School

Friday, August 3rd, 2007

There’s no easy way to find financial aid for school. But there are plenty of sources available to help you find the money you need for your education if you’re willing to work and do your research.

Where to Begin

First, know yourself. Ask yourself some basic questions. The answers will help you in your search for financial aid.

What is your major or what do you want to major in? Why have you selected this course of study? What career do you have in mind? Why have you chosen this career? What kind of money are you looking for?

Financial Aid - Taxpayer-supported stipends based on need.
Grants - Federal, state and college gifts based on need.
Scholarships - College, corporate and private gifts based on academic status and standing.

What are you eligible for? What characteristics do you have that meet the criteria for financial aid, grants or scholarships?

Next, ask - anyone and everyone. And then, look - everywhere.

Who To Ask/Where To Look

At school - If you’re currently attending a community college, trying to find financial aid for school elsewhere, start your search at the school you are attending. Every campus has a financial aid office which offers financial aid applications. Does your campus have a scholarship bulletin board? Check with the financial aid office at the university you want to transfer to for applications and grant information.

Publications - Check newspaper classified sections, the backs of trade magazines in your field and the yellow pages. Major corporations often advertise scholarship opportunities.

Investigate corporations - Many give large scholarships. For example; Coca-Cola gave thousands to a student at a local college one year and another large corporation gave a Psych major $10,000 to transfer to a state university.

Other likely places - Ask your employer, where you volunteer, your Mom or Dad’s employer, local organizations like the Lion’s Club, Elks or Eastern Star, and your church.

Use free scholarship search engines:

brokescholar.com
scholarsite.com
collegeboard.com
fastweb.com
srnexpress.com
iefa.orgiv
iie.org
internationalscholarships.com
rotary.org
aisf.or.jp
istc.umn.edu
cies.org
scholarships-bourses-ca.org
lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3undergr.htm

How To Apply

Start early. The process is arduous and time consuming, sometimes taking an entire semester to get the money. Frequently, you have to pay for the semester of study initially and then you’re reimbursed.

Read eligibility requirements carefully. Each financial aid source will maintain strict criteria.

Keep scholarship materials organized. Set up separate folders, for example.

Keep copies of EVERYTHING.

Do your homework. Look at biographies, annual reports, grants list(s) of previous recipients. And, if possible, their bios and entry essays.

Learn what forms you need. For financial aid, for example, you need a number of forms which can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For grants and scholarships, request a copy of the guidelines and the application. Call or email the sponsor if you have any questions.

Follow instructions completely.

Proofread carefully to be sure you’ve completed the forms accurately. Many use templates, but be sure that all the names, dates, etc. are updated when necessary.

Complete fully. Leave nothing blank.

Be legible. The recipient has to be able to read your submission.

Get the application materials in on time.

Avoid scams. When doing your research for financial aid, be on the lookout for any of the following:

Anyone (individual or website)…

…that asks for your credit card, bank numbers or social security number. (Of course, government financial aid forms, where the aid is based on income, will ask for your social security number and/or IRS information.)

…that says they guarantee a scholarship.

…that “selects” you as a “winner”.

…that offers unsolicited free stuff.

…that claims to be a “Foundation” without giving a name. (Check out the source.)

…that tells you that you can’t get this information “anywhere else”.

…that says they are “holding” a scholarship for you and need money from you first.

…that asks for any money up front.

…that offers to do all the work for you. As you see here, I’ve offered lots of resources but you still have a lot of work to do to find the money you need.

For more information on finding the money to pay for college, visit EducationGuide101.com where we offer a free report “Finding the Money to Pay for College: Your Guide to Grants and Student Loans”.

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The Secret to Scholarship Success

Friday, July 20th, 2007

With rising college costs, continuing inflation, and narrowing job markets; students all over the U.S. are seeking a variety of options for college financing. In many cases, the attainment of a scholarship is the difference in whether a student attends college or not. Scholarships are available from many sources,
but knowing how to qualify and be selected as the recipient of a specific scholarship is the big question
for most students and parents.

The key to winning college scholarships is through proper planning and taking the appropriate actions
at the right time. Some tips for being successful are as follows:

Start Early to ready yourself. Building academic and personal credentials takes time. Transcripts
reveal academic achievements from the 9th to the l2th grades, so the 9th grade is a good starting
point for high grades and test-taking success. Yet, acquiring a foundation for learning begins
earlier in elementary school. The higher the G.P.A. and the higher the SAT/ACT scores the
better your chances for scholarships.

Get Involvedin school and community activities. Good grades are important, but college and
scholarship committees have many applicants with outstanding G.P.A.’s and test scores. Leadership,
involvement, and community service show a student’s potential, diversity, and concern for others.

Find Scholarship Sources. Securing sources for scholarships is much easier today because of computer technology. Go to college web sites, on-line web sites, high school guidance offices, college financial aid offices or libraries. These sources are readily available at no cost. However, sources are just sources. A source is only as good as the person using it. Seek professional guidance help, if needed.

Showcase Yourself with a Resume. Resumes show your personal credentials, academic achievements, honors and awards, school activities, community service, leadership, special skills, and career objectives.A well-balanced and eye-appealing resume catches the attention of scholarship committees and gets you invited to interviews.

Let Your Application Show the Best of You. Follow directions exactly, complete the application fully,
adhere to proper grammar and spelling, and show extreme concern for neatness. Applications can have
a positive impact.

Reference Letters are a vital part of scholarship success. Notice that scholarships usually require
references. Remember that you determine the content of your reference letters. Your character,
manners, and reputation allow a person writing the reference letter to acknowledge your strengths
to scholarship committees. Also, your selection of people who write the letters is as important as the
reference letters.

College Essays are often the winning edge of a college application or scholarship competition. Essays give you a chance to shine and let you introduce yourself to decision-making committees. A great essay gets the attention of the reader and leaves a lasting impression of you.

Remember that it takes time and hard work to secure scholarships. Finding scholarship money and
keeping yourself out of debt is well worth your time and energy.

Cathy Gullo of http://www.scholarshipconsultantservices.com has over 30 years of experience as a high school English teacher, guidance counselor, and educational consultant. She has also chaired and been a member of numerous corporate and community scholarship committees. Being an expert in scholarship coordinating, counseling, and test-taking, she shares her knowledge with students and parents as a published author of college planning books.

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What Future Undergrads Ought to Know About Student Loans and Online Resources

Saturday, April 21st, 2007

Navigating the student loan process can be a challenge, starting from ground zero. Since the federal government got in the student loan business in 1965, something like 65 million Americans have taken advantage of it. There have been several bills run through Congress over the years, creating a variety of loan programs - for students, vets, returning students, and so forth. The primary government online resource for information on government student aid is http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/fsa/index.html.

For basic information on what is available through federal programs, perhaps the most basic resource is the Department of Education’s site entitled “Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid”. It is a comprehensive resource on grants, loans, and work-study programs which are the three major forms of aid available through the Department’s Federal Student Aid office. This material tells you about the programs and how to apply for them. http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html.

In order to qualify for any sort of federal assistance and for most privately underwritten financial support, including that which comes through the school’s financial aid office, you’re going to need a FAFSA score. This ranking is produced through the process of filling out a FAFSA application and submitting it to the U.S. Department of Education, which returns a valuation that shows how much loan money you will be eligible for and how much your parents are expected to provide in support. So the best place to begin your application process is through the FAFSA site: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. You can make an electronic application from their website.

Apart from the standard federal student loans, there are several campus-based federally financed opportunities for students. Extensive information on work-study and other federal money available through the campus financial aid office can be found at http://www.cbfisap.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/welcome.jsp. It’s going to ask you to go through a registration process but it’s probably worth your time. Putting together education money is often a process of assembling a number of working parts. For many students, that includes camping outside the campus financial aid office and getting to know the counselors inside. It pays to know what they have to offer. Don’t be shy: they expect to see you coming.

There are many online sites that offer a combination of information and loan applications. Many of these sites address issues such as loan consolidation and other debt considerations. One site that is highly informative about the loan process and the programs available and that includes a list of potential private lenders is http://www.edfund.org/edfund/edfundmenu.html. This is a non-profit site that can break down some of the detailed components in the loan process; it helps to be able to sort through the details on a non-governmental site.

To their credit, the Federal Government has recognized that the cost of education and the subsequent debt has overwhelmed millions of graduates. The Department of Education has a loan consolidation program with a variety of payment plans, a lot of flexibility, and the ability to avoid using a commercial lender. They have a website devoted to their services at http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/. The Department develops a weighted interest rate based on any commercial loans you have outstanding, caps it at 8.25 percent and offers four different payment plans.

There are also a multitude of commercial lenders that offer student consolidation loans, but be careful of artificially low interest rates that can accelerate through an adjustable rate program much like a mortgage. Before you venture into the commercial refinancing arena, see what the Department of Education has to offer.

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for ApolloHosting.com. She brings years of experience as a small business consultant to helping prospective clients understand the ways in which a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a wide range of customers. Established in 1999, Apollo prides itself on the highest levels of customer support.

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An Overview of Federal Pell Grants

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007

Federal Pell Grants

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added.

How much can I get?

Pell Grant amounts for the 2005-2006 award year (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) will range from $400 to $4,050. How much you get depends on your Expected Family Contribution, your cost of attendance, whether you’re a full-time or part-time student, and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less. You may receive only one Pell Grant in an award year, and you may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time. See http://www.fafsa.ed.gov for more information.

If I am eligible, how will I get the Pell Grant money?

Your school can apply Pell Grant funds to your school costs, pay you directly (usually by check), or combine these methods. The school must tell you in writing how much your award will be and how and when you’ll be paid. Schools must disburse funds at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Schools that do not use semesters, trimesters, or quarters must disburse funds at least twice per academic year.

Please also see our information about General Scholarship Information as well as our Financial Aid Overview section for additional information.

http://www.freescholarshipguide.com/ offers the largest scholarship directory online and offers an opportunity to win free money for college to help supplement financial aid, grants, reduce student loans or to add to an existing scholarship.

Greg Loeffelholz is the founder and President of FreeScholarshipGuide.com. Launched in June 2004, http://www.freescholarshipguide.com/

is dedicated to helping US students achieve their life and career goals through assistance with education financing at all levels.

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All You Need To Know About the Federal Perkins Loan

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007

When it comes to financing your college dreams, there are several different loan selections to consider. With the Federal Perkins Loan, students may enjoy a low-interest option that helps both undergraduate and graduate students who are in need of a little extra financial assistance. While banks and other institutions become your lender through other student loan choices, your college is your lender when applying for the Perkins Loan. This is because the loan is comprised of funds that come from the government, as well as school donations. It is your school that you will repay the loan to.

Borrowing Limitations

There are many different factors that affect the amount of money you may borrow with a Perkins Loan. For example, the time of year you apply for the loan, your level of need, as well as the lending capacity of the school will determine how much money you will receive. The limits of borrowing for an undergraduate are $4,000 per school year with the total amount of borrowing capped at $20,000. If you decide to pursue a graduate degree, you may borrow $6,000 per year with a grand total of $40,000 during your days as a graduate or professional study student.

Once you are granted a Perkins Loan, you will either receive a check from the school or will find that credits have been applied to your school account. Typically, the loan is given in the form of at least two payments that occur throughout the academic year.

Any Extra Fees?

There are no extra fees charged to individuals with a Perkins Loan. But, you must keep in mind that if you miss a payment, pay late, or do not fulfill the monthly repayment; late charges may arise. For those who have seriously fallen behind in their loan payments may also face collection costs.

Loan Repayment

Repayment of the Perkins Loan occurs nine months after you graduate from school. Repayment also occurs once you leave school for any reason, as well as drop below half time status while still taking classes. The only exception to this rule occurs when you enter active duty with the military. All of the extra time allotted before repaying a student loan is called a grace period.

What If I Can’t Make Repayments?

Sometimes after graduation and during the repayment schedule for your Perkins Loan, one is faced with unforeseen hardship that puts a serious strain in your financial situation. Don’t panic; there is help for these circumstances that are called a deferment and forbearance.

A deferment allows borrowers to postpone the payments on their student loans. Forbearance is set for a limited period of time where payments are either reduced or postponed. Keep in mind that with forbearance, interest continues to add up. Also, both options require the filing of applications and acceptance.

If you are interested in applying for a Perkins Loan, you may view an online application, as well as pay a visit to the Financial Aid office of your school.

Get more student advice on all subjects including student loans advice from the dedicated student website http://www.118student.co.uk

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All About College Loan Consolidation

Friday, March 2nd, 2007

After you walk across the graduation stage and experience the feeling of holding a hard earned diploma, the financial journey of a student is far from over. As you search for a job to compensate for all the debt now hanging over your head, you may find yourself responsible for more than one loan. If this is the case, there is an easier way to manage these repayment terms.

To lessen the confusion and demand that more than one student loan may bring, it’s time to take a look into the benefits of applying for a college loan consolidation. When merging multiple student loan commitments, an individual will be responsible for one monthly payment that is set on a specific due date.

The consolidation loan payment amount for the month is also much lower than you would expect. Interest rates are also much reasonable to handle, which are connected to a variety of federal student loans, including the FFEL Program, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Direct Loan Program and Graduate and Professional PLUS Loans.

How Do Consolidation Loans Work?

If you apply for a college loan consolidation, a participating lender will pay off any existing college loan debt. After this is accomplished, a new repayment schedule is created, which involves all of the loans under a student’s name, bundling them into one monthly payment. A nice advantage associated with consolidation deals with fixed interest rates, which will remain the same for the duration of the student loan repayment. When shopping around for the best consolidation offer, keep an eye out for the lenders that offer promising interest rate opportunities.

Acting fast is key to securing the best consolidation loan rates because interest charges have been known to change even while an application is being processed. Since there are numerous lenders, it is suggested to get a heads up on a variety before making a final decision. While some lenders offer an array of repayment options, others may only feature a few. In case you should ever need relief from repaying your loan, you should also review deferment options as well.

What Are the Advantages of College Loan Consolidation?

For each borrower, loan consolidation terms are different because of varying living circumstances, interest rates, and owed amounts will influence the final possibilities. Some individuals will also reap more benefits than others, such as married duos who can consolidate their individual loans into one easy repayment schedule. The time allowed for loan repayment is also extended for up to 30 years when taking this route. Unfortunately, while lower monthly payments may lessen the stress of college debt for some, in the long run, you will also be responsible for an increased amount of interest payments.

How Do I Qualify for Loan Consolidation?

For individuals who have already entered the repayment phase of student loans or are enjoying the grace period, college loan consolidation becomes an option. Defaulted borrowers may also reactivate a payment arrangement when applying for loan consolidation. The only exception to these conditions is the Direct Loan holder, who may still attend college and have the option to receive a student loan consolidation.

Get more student advice on all subjects including student loans advice from the dedicated student website http://www.118student.co.uk

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Scholarship Applications

Friday, February 23rd, 2007

Personalization is so important. Why? Imagine that you are on the committee, sitting around a table with 300 scholarship forms. They have to pick a winner. All of the forms appear to look alike. If someone has taken the time to be bold, inventive and creative. They have made it possible for the scholarship committee to know more about who they are.Use good judgment and common sense personalize do not dramatize.

If you are an adult returning to get your college degree, paying for college can be a problem.Did you know that there are scholarships just for adult students? First, you should not waste time looking for money from programs for which you are not eligible.There are many others that are general, not restricted by age or high school and you as well as a high school student could win one of these. And there are a those designated for adult or returning students only. Apply for both.How to find scholarship money? Do not be afraid to ask online or off. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Student grants and scholarships are not always easy to find or to win, but the extra time taken in researching and applying for them is well worth it if you are awarded any of those that you apply for.

The first thing that you need to know when looking for student grants and scholarships is that grants are usually given by government offices and not profit organizations and can generally be used to cover a variety of different expenses. Scholarships, on the other hand, are usually created by businesses or private individuals and are used to cover specific costs such as tuition or dormitory costs. The financial aid offices of the colleges and universities provide detailed information on many of the scholarships and grants that their students receive. Application requires few things like essays, tax statements or earned income statements, letter of recommendation from your teacher or boss.

Katarina Bader helps ordinary people become educated. She is a passionate advocate of education for children. Her work with adults has clearly shown that a foundation of education at an early age contributes significantly to one’s overall confidence and full-self expression later in life. http://www.baderbiz.com/

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College Financial Aid Secrets

Thursday, January 25th, 2007

Are you college cash confused? If you are, look to the college financial aid experts to provide insight into some of the dollar dilemmas that keep you awake at night.

How can I maximize my college financial aid eligibility?
The number one thing you can do is fill out the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), says Michael O’Brien, CEO of FinancialAid.com. This will help you qualify for federal aid and school-based assistance. Next, he says, contact your financial aid office to see what aid is available, learn about any upcoming scholarship or grant deadlines, and ask about work-study programs. Finally, go online to inquire about scholarships. Applying for anything and everything you can will only increase the odds of you attaining enough college financial aid.

What’s the difference between a grant and a scholarship?
Both grants and scholarships are considered “free money,” says O’Brien, meaning they typically do not have to be repaid. Grant aid, such as the federal Pell Grant, can come from federal and state government agencies as well as from individual colleges. Scholarships are usually awarded based on merit or special circumstances. What’s surprising to some, is that student loans are factored in as part of a university financial aid package. That’s because Federal student loan programs offer lower interest rates and additional support.

Is it true you can negotiate a university financial aid package?
If your school of choice offers you a package that does not meet the total cost of education, give them a call, urges O’Brien. Explain your situation, and why you need additional funding to enable you to attend the school. If you are a student who is attractive to the school - whether it’s your grades, athletic performance, or talents that make you an ideal candidate - you’ll find that many university financial aid offices will try to assist you with a more competitive package. In addition, if special circumstances should arise - like the death or disability of a parent, loss of income, etc. - you should provide documentation and ask that your choice schools reassess your financial aid package.

How do I compare financial aid packages?
Make sure you’re evaluating apples to apples and oranges to oranges, says Cynthia Bailey, executive director of The College Board. Look at your net out-of-pocket cost: the school’s budget for the type of student you are [i.e. commuter or resident], then subtract the amount of money the school gives you. Also compare the kind of awards you get, like loans and grants. For the most part, be sure to evaluate financial aid based on whether that school is the best fit for you, not if it’s the cheapest.

To find college and career schools near you, surf http://www.CollegeSurfing.com.

© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Jennifer Merritt is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school or career that’s right for you!

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College Student Loans – Easier Financial Support for Students

Monday, January 8th, 2007

College studies are costlier and every student can not afford to pay for increased expenses towards the studies as he moves to higher classes in the colleges. However college student loans have made perusing college education possible for each and every students if he is unable to get financial help from own sources.

College student loans can best be availed at easier terms from the government itself. The government provides college student loans in the form of Federal Student Loans. This type of college student loan is very attractive as it comes with a fixed lower rate of interest which is 5 percent and the student is not required to repay until 9 months after the graduation. Also there is no extra fee. To qualify for these loans a student has to apply for Federal Student Aid.

Student college loans can also be availed as Stafford student loans. These loans are approved in subsidized or unsubsidized options. Under the subsidized option the interest rate is little higher and grace period for starting the loan repayment is only six months. On the other side the unsubsidized loan option does not give any grace period and starts accumulating interest from the day of disbursing the loan amount to the student. The unsubsidized loan is easier to qualify for and even easier to be approved. Also the parents can borrow as much as they need under the unsubsidized loan. A draw back of the unsubsidized student loan is that it comes at higher interest rate. The parents also should have a good credit score to apply for the loan.

College student loans are also available for specific studies. For stances medical students can get Health Professional Student Loans which are approved at low interest rate with a full year’s grace period. College student loans can also be sourced as private education loans from many banks and credit unions. So there are many options for a student in taking college student loans. Students should explore every source before settling for the suitable one.

Julia Russell works as an executive in financial department for Cheap College Loans. She has a lot of experience in finance field. To gain more information about College student loans, bad credit college loans, cheap college loans, college loans visit http://www.cheapcollegeloans.co.uk

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A Witness To A Crime - A Verbal Valentine’s Day Massacre

Monday, January 1st, 2007

Sally just happened to be there when the crime took place on Valentine’s Day at her church. She had arrived at the couple’s fellowship. She was early enough to find a good seat and wait for her husband Bill to arrive from his job.

She and her husband had just moved to the area and already enjoyed the rich fellowship and teaching at their new church. As new believers, they were growing more and more each day.

Tom and Mary decided to sit next to her at the table. After they exchanged greetings, three other couples whom Sally and her husband had met at the last meeting joined them.

Sally listened to the active conversation that had just started. It seemed like they were concerned about another couple who would not be attending that evening. Mary had a serious tone in her voice as she addressed the group.

“We should really be praying about Dee Dee and her new husband Bob. I never approved of her relationship with him because he’s so quiet. He seems to be so different from her. I’m just not sure if it was right of her to marry him so soon after her husband died.”

Everyone in the small group at the table nodded in agreement.

Mary’s husband, Tom, a large man with a booming voice, said with a tone of authority, “I am always suspect of men who do not associate with other men in the church. Plus, he never attends the men’s fellowship. He always claims that he is working. Does anyone know why he works so much?”

One of the men in the group volunteered an answer. “I bet they have a lot of debt. I noticed that they both drive new cars.”

Another person in the group volunteered, “I seldom see them sharing intimate glances at each other. I bet they have problems in the bedroom.”

Sally was glad when her husband finally arrived. As he hung up her coat and made his way to the table, she really appreciated their relationship. Just hearing about the absent couple, Dee Dee and Bob, made her happy they did not share the same troubles with money and the other problems the couples continued talking about.

But the comfort in her own marriage faded as she began to feel some discomfort. She could not lean over to update her hubby on this casual chatter before the meeting. But he showed a look of confusion on his face.

Sally remembered the scripture she had just looked at that morning during her quiet time. Someone had shared with her a really great way to have a devotional by reading the corresponding chapter of Proverbs for every day of the month. Since today was the twelfth of the month, she read Proverbs 12. When she read verse 18, she visualized someone stabbing another person with a sword every time they gossiped. “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov. 12:18).

When she shared the scripture with her husband, he laughed and said, “If a real sword was used, we would see a lot of bloody people walking around.”

As she looked at her brothers and sisters at the table, she visualized them with swords in their hands. The tip of each sword was bloody.

She closed her eyes and opened them again to refocus, but the image of the sword was still there. But now, to her horror, there was one in her hand also. Why would I have one too? she wondered, I didn’t say anything, she said to herself in an inaudible protest.
Then she remembered another proverb that she had read last month. “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Prov. 26:22).

She felt comfortable when she heard about the troubles of that couple. It made her feel as if her relationship was a bit better.

She continued reflecting on another part of that chapter: “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down” (Prov. 26:20).

She knew that she would have to try to put the fire out. She decided not to debate the issue with her mind but just trust the Lord to help her. She said a quick prayer to herself and said, “My husband and I are new to this fellowship. We have enjoyed coming.” She glanced at her husband who did not know what to expect but decided to trust her. She continued, “I am concerned, however, that all this talk about poor Dee Dee and Bob is not really helping them. Correct me if I am wrong,” she looked at her husband and paused as she returned her eye contact to the group, “but are we gossiping more than sharing a real prayer concern? Doesn’t the Scripture say somewhere that we should be spreading the gospel and not gossip?”

Then her husband excitingly blurted out, “Yeah, honey, it says that in Acts 8:4. I just read it this morning. It says, ‘Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.’ That was good gossip.”

Then Sally’s husband, Bill, said in a much quieter and reflective voice, “That same Bible also says, ‘He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin’ (Prov. 13:3).”

“We have not guarded our mouths tonight,” Tom said with sadness in his voice. “Perhaps we should spend some time looking at what the Bible says about our words.”

The rest of the evening was spent studying, sharing, asking for forgiveness, and really praying for each other and then Dee Dee and Bob. It was an unforgettable Valentine’s Day.

Sally went home glad that night. Although she had witnessed a crime in progress, she also had an opportunity to do something about it.

All Scripture quotations taken from the New International Version.

All rights reserved, Rosie Horner, 2007

Rosie Horner is an inspirational speaker. Get a digital copy of her devotional book, “The Olympian Woman, at
http://www.rosiehorner.com/products/products05_olympian.htm
also visit http://www.wordscanhurtorheal.com for mini-poster

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