Sound Mind Investing - by Austin Pryor, a great step-by-step resource outlining the process for investing and managing your finances from a Biblical and practical perspective.

The Word on Finances - by Larry Burkett, explores what the Bible says in regards to almost any area of your finances.

In addition to these resources, consider taking a Crown Ministries (www.crown.org) class through a local church or seeking out a good certified financial planner (CFP) who can help you. You can visit the CFP Board of Standards (www.cfp-board.org/cons_fndplr.html) or the Christian Financial Planning Institute (www.christianfpi.org) to locate a good CFP in your area.

As you begin to explore how to invest and what it means to have a financial plan, you will find that the overarching process outlined in many of these resources is similar. However, each has different techniques and valuable insights that you should consider as you seek to develop a plan that is right for you.

As you work your way through these resources, you will begin to understand the following basic steps in the financial planning process:

1. Goal Setting - Define both short-term and long-term goals (driven by your purpose). These will differ depending on your stage of life, your finances and the size of your family. Make sure you have these in writing and keep them up-to-date.

2. Creating A Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement - This is just a fancy way of saying that you should list all of your assets (property, stocks, bonds, etc.) and liabilities (mortgage, credit card debt, etc.) to get a clear picture of where you stand financially. You should also list all of your regular income sources and expenses for a year.

3. Develop a Budget & Financial Plan - Based on your analysis in step 2, determine how much you should save, invest, and spend. Your goal should be to spend less than you earn over the long haul. Your financial plan defines how you move from where you are in step 2 toward the goals outlined in step 1.

4. Assess and Adjust - Once you have begun implementing your plan, schedule a time to review your progress. Plan to do this on a monthly basis. In addition to regular assessment, make an annual date with your spouse to pray, review your finances, and discuss your goals for the coming year.

The beginning of the year is a great time to start, but you can begin at any time. Focus on developing your budget for the next year and reviewing your progress in the previous year. Review the "numbers" for each category and then take a look at where your money went as it relates to saving and investing, giving, and living expenses.