What’s Your Heart’s Desire?
CBN.com Doug Benson thought transferring to Colorado to run a law practice would be an excellent move. But taking on a new practice proved to be anything but wise. Doug found himself millions of dollars in debt.
Doug and Catherine Benson were living the good life— a mile high in Denver, Colorado. Doug owned a law firm called Benson and Associates that is now doing very well.
But there was a time when Doug faced financial fallout. He opened a small law practice in California with a partner. Soon, his partner wanted to expand to three new states. Doug moved to Denver to run the Colorado office.
"Going from one office to a multi-state practice in four different states, the debt grew exponentially very quickly ... to the tune of seven million dollars," remembers Doug.
So when clients paid the attorneys, they were forced to use the profits to pay down the debt. But it’s still considered income. So Doug never received attorneys’ fees, but he owed taxes equivalent to twice his base salary.
"Interest and penalties were accruing daily. We had this situation where we never saw a penny of the money, but the IRS wanted more than what we even had in our bank account," adds Doug's wife, Catherine.
"At the end of the year, I owed so much more money than I made that we really didn’t have any hope. We had no way of possibly paying our tax debt," says Doug.
The Benson’s prayed hard asking God for a way out. And they continued giving 10 percent of Doug’s salary away instead of using that money to pay down the tax bill.
"Even when we were in the darkest of dark, when there was no hope from a business standpoint, I still had a peace in my heart, and Catherine did too. We knew that God would be faithful -- that we did our part, and God would be faithful," says Doug.
Doug heard the same message when he caught The 700 Club online.
"When you give, you give with a purpose and understanding that you are sowing into God’s kingdom," he says.
Doug says God gave him a plan to present to his [former] partner: [God told him to] sever the relationship and ask his partner to allow Doug to keep the Colorado office and its current clients; And ask to take only one million of the seven million dollar debt.
His partner agreed. The Bensons watched God prove His faithfulness as Doug won case after case. The profits came flooding in. In just over three months, Doug paid all of his back taxes and the one million dollar debt. He even had enough to give everyone in the office---a bonus!
"There was no possible earthly way that could happen," says Doug.
"We didn’t want to get rich overnight. We just expected God to provide for us, so we could be responsible and pay our debt -- and that’s what He did," says Catherine.
"When there appears to be no way, He makes a way," believes Doug. "You just have to keep the faith, and be faithful in what He’s called you to do."
Doug and Catherine put into practice the biblical truths that they learn on The 700 Club and God, faithful to His Word, supplied their need! God wants to do that for you too. One way you can give to God is by giving to CBN. Not only will you help provide biblical truth to people like Doug and Catherine, but you will be helping people around the world with food, clothing, medical needs, and humanitarian aid - all given in the name of Jesus! Please join today!
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- CBN.com Doug Benson thought transferring to Colorado to run a law practice would be an excellent move. But taking on a new practice proved to be anything but wise.
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“A lot of coworkers of ours, family, and friends tease us and laugh at us because he is my best friend and I am his,” Geraldine Eads says of her husband, Rick. Rick and Geraldine both entered their marriage in 1996 from divorce. They started their new life together, struggling to make ends meet. “When you enter into a new marriage, there’s new bills, new financial burdens that you overtake and [that] overtake you,” says Rick. The Eads wanted a place to call home. Unfortunately, they couldn’t qualify for a loan. “It’s very devastating, especially for the man. You’ve got to be the provider,” notes Rick. “That’s when it really gets hard, that’s when it really gets emotional when you lay there at night and think, How in the world am I going to do this on my own?” The Eads hit rock bottom financially. That’s when Rick and Geraldine learned about tithing on The 700 Club. They put the biblical principles they learned into action by joining The 700 Club. “You have to change the way you think. Instead of you’re giving it away, you’re giving back to God what is God’s. And I’d rather have $90 with god than have $100 without God,” says Rick. Adds Geraldine, “Once we started actually tithing, even though it was a small amount we started tithing, we began to see God stretch our money.” Rick began believing God for big things. “I’ve always had a desire to have five acres of ground and a long driveway,” Rick explains. “That’s the desire the Lord put in my heart.” Rick found five acres and a house. To his surprise, the owner was willing to sell with no money down. Three weeks later they closed with only $176 out of their pockets. “It is so humbling to know that God did what we could not do, that He blessed us beyond measure,” Geraldine says. The Eads now owned a home on their new land, but they needed one more thing: a driveway to the house! “It was in a sage field. All you could see was sage grass and sage grass! All you could see was what looked like a wagon road coming up to the house,” notes Geraldine. Shortly after the Eads moved in, a logging company approached them, offering to clear their land and build a road in front of the house for free. “They came in with bulldozers. You’ve never seen so much commotion around here for three months but clearing, building roads,” Geraldine says. The Eads settled into their new home with its long driveway. Today they are grateful for what God taught them about tithing. “Tithing is the biggest tool that we have to use that we can call down the power of God because you know that He is there. If you’re not tithing, it’s hard for God to bless you. He will always bless you if you’re tithing,” says Rick.Download
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