An Interview with Accountant Lisa Thompson

She's the mother of three, and  part-time secretary at her church. Both she and her husband run small businesses. I was fortunate to catch up with this busy lady! And today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Lisa Thompson, owner and operator of Simply Accounting. Join me in welcoming Lisa!

Maria: Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions, Lisa! Tell us a bit about yourself:

Lisa: I am originally from Louisville, KY, but my family and I moved to Georgia 16 years ago. We love the Cumming area and hope to be here for a very long time. My husband and I have three terrific kids and a great son-in-law. No grandkids as of yet! My husband, Parkey, has his own business, Financial Focus. He helps people learn to control their finances, so of course he is one of my clients (he does not pay well at all!).

My family loves the Lord and we are very dedicated to our church and enjoy the way the Lord has been working and has used us to minister and worship at Greater Heights Baptist Church and in our community.

Maria: I can testify to the fact that you have a wonderful family! I still remember having your oldest daughter, Kayla, in my Awana group when she was in junior high - and to think that she's married now. Time goes by quickly! How did you get started as an accountant?

Lisa: I worked for Belk Department Store in Cumming for about five years. I started on the sales floor as a part-time associate, and eventually moved into the office area as Human Resource Manager, thus starting my career as a payroll specialist and bookkeeper. In 2004, I began working for a construction company where I learned more of the skills needed to be able to start my own bookkeeping business.

Maria: It's so neat to see how the Lord equipped you for what you're doing today. What services do you offer at Simply Accounting? Are you accepting new clients?

Lisa: I focus on general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll taxes and corporate taxes. And yes, I am excited about expanding my business to accept new clients.

Maria: That's good news! I've heard humorous stories of clients bringing their receipts to their accountant in shoe boxes. Has that ever happened to you? If not, share something funny that's happened in your accounting practice.

Lisa: My very first client was a man who owned a construction company. He was very unorganized. On my first day to go to work in his office, I realized that he had not opened his mail for eight weeks! He also had not kept very good records with his income and expenses, nor reconciled his bank accounts in at least two months. It was not funny at the time, but looking back, it was a challenge that showed me if I could survive my first client, then I could survive whatever future clients challenged me with.

Maria: Wow! I'm glad you can look back and see the humor in that job experience! On a more serious note, how has your relationship with Jesus Christ impacted your business?

Lisa: It has definitely made an impact. My relationship with Jesus Christ has made me strive to be an even more honest, hardworking, bookkeeper.

Maria: Fantastic! How has being an accountant helped with your personal record keeping?

Lisa: It has helped me realize how important it is to be budget-minded and to keep a very close eye on the income and expenses of a household. My family pays for everything with cash. No credit cards, no mortgage payments, etc. I thank the Lord for a godly husband who helps support me and encourages me in my business and household bookkeeping.

Maria: Good for you! I'm sure paying for things with cash helps you to avoid over-spending for things. What goals do you have for your company's future? Any personal goals you'd like to share?

Lisa: I would like to eventually see my business grow, and I know the Lord has plans for my future and the future of Simply Accounting in His hands.

Maria: Thanks for sharing. What words of wisdom would you like to leave with our readers?

Lisa: It is a very important thing to teach our children to learn basic accounting skills, teach them at an early age the importance of not spending what they do not have. So many adults do not learn that lesson early enough in life and it eventually effects what they do with their finances their entire lives.

Maria: Excellent advice! Thanks so much for giving us a peek into your business, Simply Accounting, and for sharing much wise counsel with us today. God bless you as you continue running your business according to His principles, and for His glory! 

Connect with Lisa:

Website: www.simplyacct.net
Email: lisat@myfinancialfocus.net

How Do You Decide?

As the old saying goes, 'Time marches on.' Seems like only a few years ago, my husband and I were bringing our daughter home from the hospital. But in March, she left the glorious teen years behind - a new decade unfolding before her.

Remember being twenty? I do. Life was full of decisions - what college major to pursue, what job to apply for, who to date? Things haven't changed that much. A twenty-year-old still faces lots of decisions. Don't we all? I'm glad there's Someone available to guide that decision-making process, no matter how old we are!

Decisions don't always seem that important to me. Sure, I pray for direction concerning the seemingly 'big' things, but sometimes I fool myself into thinking I can handle the 'small' decisions. As I perused the clothes racks at the mall recently, I was excited to find lots of things on clearance. I was tempted to scoop up a number of items and head back to the dressing room...until I remembered the reason for my trip to the store. I didn't need winter clothes, I was looking for a spring outfit. Logic triumphed over emotional spending! Lesson learned. Oftentimes, it's the little things that take me furthest off course.

God wants me to come to Him anytime I need direction. In fact, He encourages me to ask for wisdom, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him," (James 1:5; KJV). Because Jesus lived on this earth, He knows the difficulties I face. He endured temptations, yet He never sinned. He extends an incredible invitation, "...come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," (Hebrews 4:16).

The more I read and study God's Word, the better equipped I am to make good decisions - whether big or small. The Apostle Paul was quick to remind the Corinthians to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).Today, I'm determined to trust the Lord, and acknowledge Him in all I do, knowing that He will direct my paths! (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Are you facing lots of decisions? What step are you willing to take to seek direction from the Lord?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for caring about every decision I make. Help me ask for Your wisdom, and be obedient to the direction You give. In Jesus' name, Amen.

*This article appeared in the March 2012 edition of My Forsyth.

Fry Now...Pay Later

'Sun' and 'damage.' Two words that I don't normally think of in the same sentence. After all, I love being outside on bright sunny days. And doesn't a tan look healthy? Damage from the effects of the sun on my skin is the farthest thing from my mind. But a trip to the dermatologist put some things into perspective for me.

A mole that I've had for years was the subject in question. The dermatologist referred to it as 'atypical.' That didn't sound too good! I was reminded of all the times I had been out in the sun, sans sunscreen - from my teenage years into my twenties. Okay, I have to admit that even as recently as this summer, I've worked out in the yard minus the sunscreen, a time or two.

I think back to my high school days, when I spent hours in the sun before heading off to work. I can still see my Dad shaking his head and hear him saying, "You're doing it to your skin again!" But at seventeen, with not a wrinkle in sight, all I was interested in was a deep, dark tan. I was willing to ignore the posters that warned, "Fry now...pay later!"

Looking back, I would have been wise to heed his words of wisdom. Properly applying sunscreen and limiting my exposure to the sun would have minimized the pigment spots, moles, and fine lines and wrinkles. But instead of listening to his advice, I chose to do things my way - learning by experience.

We really DO learn by one method or the other. Either we listen to wise advise and act on it. Or we choose to ignore counsel and attend the School of Hard Knocks. I'm reminded of the instructions God gave the children of Israel.

He had reviewed the commandments with them and proceeded to give them a list of all the blessings they'd receive IF they obeyed His directions. Then He outlined an ominous list of curses that would plague them if they chose to disobey. Much the same thing we do with our own children. Outlining the good that comes from obedience, and the consequences that result from disobedience.

I'm sure you're familiar with the story of the Israelites. At times they obeyed God whole-heartedly - for awhile. But by and large, they drifted back to their sinful ways or those of the surrounding cultures. Before I simply write them off as a stubborn and rebellious lot, I need to take a look at my own life.

Do I have a teachable spirit? Am I willing to take God at His word and believe Him? Do I believe His Word is the truth? If the answer is 'Yes' to each of these questions, then I need to live like it. I need to give God top priority in my life. I'm to, "...love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might," (Deuteronomy 6:5; KJV). When I obey, His blessings follow. When I put myself first, I follow in the footsteps of the prideful and end up in a mess. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall," (Proverbs 16:18).

God created me with free will. I can choose my method of learning. The Bible is filled with wisdom and the right way to handle all kinds of situations. Will I choose to believe the truth of God's Word and live according to it, or will I go my own way, and ignore instruction? Today I choose to listen to God's instruction.

Do you listen to godly counsel or have to learn things the hard way? Accept counsel from the Word of God, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, " (James 4:7-8a).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your instruction manual, the Bible. Forgive me for the times that I'm stubborn and go my own way in spite of being warned. Help me to have a teachable spirit and to be willing to learn from godly counsel. In Jesus' name, Amen. 


*A repost from June 2011.

*I'm hosting over at Living by Grace today. Come join in the discussion!

Time: Something to be Treasured

Summer's here! Kids are out of school and neighborhood pools are open. Temperatures are climbing and thoughts are turning to up-coming vacations. It's easy to shift into neutral and coast through the lazy days of this season. But time is a precious commodity no matter what season of the year!

When I think of stewardship, I often limit my thoughts to finances. The truth is, I'm just as accountable for my use of time as I am for my money. All of us have been given 24 hours in a day. It's up to us to be wise stewards of this all-important resource. Moses, the leader of the Israelites, shares some sound advice, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom," (Psalm 90:12; KJV).

So how do you spend your time? We all make time for what's important to us. What are your priorities? Do you balance your day to include time for the following: your walk with God, your family, work, and relaxation? Or do you rush about throughout the day, concentrating on the urgent, but never getting to the essential?

God's Word gives the proper perspective, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil," (Ephesians 5:15-16). Applying wisdom from God's Word allows us to make the very best use of our time.

Staying connected to the Lord is the key. Jesus spells it out for us, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing," (John 15:4-5).

By putting God first and spending time with Him daily, He will give you the wisdom and ability to manage the remainder of your time. You'll discover time for relationships, tasks, and yes, even for fun! How will you use your time today?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of time. Help me to be a wise steward of it. I choose to put You first in my life so You can guide me in the best use of the time You've given. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

*I'm hosting over at Living by Grace today. Come join in the discussion!

Big Lesson - Tiny Insect

They appeared on our deck last year in record numbers. More than a nuisance, if not dealt with, they would eventually cause pretty severe damage. Carpenter ants. They seemed to be on a mission. A relatively straight line of them emerged from the far side of the deck and traveled to the downspout closest to the screen room, before disappearing from sight. Where were they going? We needed to find their nest before they turned our house into a feast.

While making a call from our screen room the next day, I noticed one of the pesky ants crawling by the door latch. As I sat and observed for a few minutes, ant after ant marched up out of the thin strip of wood that formed the seal between the doorframe and the door. So that was it! That's where they were coming from! Sure enough, after I snapped my phone shut and investigated further, I saw where the ants had begun making their nest. A quick trip to the garage for some ant killer and the insects were a thing of the past; their home thoroughly doused with pesticide. It felt good knowing that our house was no longer a smorgasbord for these 6-legged creatures.

As I celebrated my victory that day, I was glad I had eradicated a pesky invader. I wasn't in the mood to consider the wisdom of the ant. Yes, you read that correctly. Ants are wise. Such a tiny insect, yet in the book of Proverbs, Solomon points out its wisdom. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest" (6:6-8; KJV).

A lesson in diligence is just waiting to be learned if I observe the ant. Science backs up scripture when it reveals that ants live in highly organized colonies, each ant responsible for a specific job. Some ants are responsible for cultivation of food sources, others engage in warfare, while others function strictly as workers. These ants don't have a boss, yet they carry out their individual jobs without fail. Talk about self-motivation! No need to call in the motivational speakers, these guys don't rely on cheerleaders to get them pumped up. They know a job needs to be done - so they do it!

When food is available, they gather it! No use holding meetings and strategizing about better ways to collect and store the food. Instead of talking about it, they work and accomplish their purpose. What about me? I have a choice to make each day. Will I be productive or give in to the temptation to procrastinate? If I tiptoe after 'Procrastination,' what will be the outcome? Solomon's answer stands in stark contrast to the outcome of the diligent. "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man" (Proverbs 6:9-11).

Put plainly, when I give in to laziness and allow myself to be drawn away from my responsibilities, I'll come up poor and empty. 'Laziness' tries to convince me that I should put off today, what can be done tomorrow. It whispers in my ear that I don't need to spend time in God's word today, because I read an extra chapter yesterday. It convinces me that I don't really need to keep track of my spending because budgets are way too restrictive anyway. When I follow after 'Laziness' I end up discouraged and frustrated. In spite of its allurement, 'Laziness' is not a good friend! Refuse to hang out at procrastinate gate!

Wow, what a big lesson from such a tiny insect! Each one of us has the opportunity to choose our course for this day. Two words that begin with the same three letters, but have very different outcomes. Procrastination or productivity? Which will you choose today? Look to the ant, and be wise!

Do you struggle with procrastination? What helps you to overcome this hurdle? I'd love to hear your tips for staying on track!