A Beacon in the Storm

[christianmom]

After reading so much gloom and doom on the economy and all I just wanted to post on here that not everything is bad. There are plenty of people, including myself, that are blessed despite the price of gas, groceries and basic essentials going up.

I figured if those that are blessed to be in the situation where their finances are still doing well in spite of the economical storm that we see around us, well, this would be a good time to add a little cheer to this forum.

I for one must say that even though my husband is in the transportation business and his expenses for diesel have gone up, I must praise the Lord of heaven and earth for everything He does for us.

There are so many blessings that I am thankful for and I share those blessings with those less fortunate than myself. I know that the more that is given to me the more that is expected of me.

We have plenty of food, a nice house to live in (with up to date mortgage payment), my special blessing of being a stay-at-home mom that homeschools our children, good health and most important of all--a wonderful church to worship our Lord.

I've been on the flipside of that scenario as well and even then I always praised Him because He never promised us that life would be easy but He did say He would be with us every step of the way. Even so...come Lord Jesus!

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[shayera]

What a wonderful and positive post! Thank you for sharing.

Yes, there are others here that think like yourself. :)

And I'm sure even though the transporation business is hairy with the diesel prices, you have learned to adapt, just as we have with our Wedding Cinematography company.

I feel when I was born, God gave me a deep, deep will and a desire to succeed, and I'm going to do all I can during good times and bad in the economic times.

[JesusFreak92]

Casting Crowns is a good band.

[ffh]

Casting Crowns is a good band.

Yes!! This song has really ministered to me through difficult times. Great video that Christianmom included, too--I especially like the photo of the person on the beach, "holding the sun in his hands"--the symbolism of that is pretty cool and powerful. "East to West" by Casting Crowns is an incredible song, too.

Thank you, Christianmom--I think we all needed to be uplifted by this thread, given all the doom in gloom in the news and in our personal lives...all the worries and cares that we have over various things, including the "what ifs" with the economy. Christianmom, you've certainly got your priorities straight, and you have the right attitude. Thanks for the Godly wisdom.:thumb:hug

May we all praise and thank Him, no matter what our circumstances are in this fallen, chaotic world! And even if we feel uncertain or are doubting how blessed we are...most of us can still thank Him that we didn't go hungry or thirsty today, that we have electricity, a bed, a roof over our heads, loved ones, safety, etc.etc. There's always so much for which to be thankful, and our BIGGEST blessing is our precious Lord and Savior, and the free gift of eternal Life with Him. :yeah

More encouragment for everyone:
Luke 12:22-33 (New International Version)


Do Not Worry

22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:22-33;&version=31;#fen-NIV-25477a)]? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

[ffh]

P.S. to what I posted earlier--I almost feel like a thread such as this one should be a sticky. If and when things get worse with the economy, people are going to need more and more encouraging, strengthening information. But I'm not sure how a thread gets to be a sticky... :idunno

If we did make this a sticky, maybe we could all continue to add encouraging words, scriptures, stories/testimonies, examples of how God is there and working admidst the storms, prayer requests, photos, videos (like the one Christianmom included), etc. and just in general really support one another through these extremely troubling times.

Maybe this could be like the "companion thread" to JDS's thread (that is, "here's all the troubling stuff brewing in the economy, but despite it all, God is in control, we trust Him, His will is being accomplished, he knows our needs, he cares for us" etc.)? I could see this thread being a really encouraging witness, too. What do you think?

[christianmom]

P.S. to what I posted earlier--I almost feel like a thread such as this one should be a sticky. If and when things get worse with the economy, people are going to need more and more encouraging, strengthening information. But I'm not sure how a thread gets to be a sticky... :idunno

If we did make this a sticky, maybe we could all continue to add encouraging words, scriptures, stories/testimonies, examples of how God is there and working admidst the storms, prayer requests, photos, videos (like the one Christianmom included), etc. and just in general really support one another through these extremely troubling times.

Maybe this could be like the "companion thread" to JDS's thread (that is, "here's all the troubling stuff brewing in the economy, but despite it all, God is in control, we trust Him, His will is being accomplished, he knows our needs, he cares for us" etc.)? I could see this thread being a really encouraging witness, too. What do you think?

It's a good idea but I don't know who to go to that can do that. :)

[writesinme]

Perhaps it's a geographical thing, but I'm in the Atlanta, Georgia suberbs and have to say that my area does not seem under seige at all. Life appears to be going on as usual. Gas prices have actually come down. Prices are higher in the grocery stores, but all are well stocked and busy. Same with restaurants and retail.

You still have to wait for a table in the major restaurant chains. I see people standing outside of stores, waiting for them to open. We recently had a big shopping complex
open--sales for the first weekend were phenomenal. Our mayor commented they were much better than hoped for.

The roads are busy all the time. Kids events, such as sports camps and sign-ups for fall football and cheerleading leagues--are going good. Parks and Rec is actually trying to recruit more football coaches to accommodate all the children signing up.

I'm very involved with the football boosters at my oldest son's high school. It will be interesting to see if we get the same, or better, financial support from local businesses as we did last year.

Maybe our area's time just hasn't come yet...but as my pastor says, our faith is not based on our circumstances. (Stronger when things are good, weaker when things are bad.) Good times or bad, our faith is based on Jesus Christ and His promise to be with us until the end of the age.

Those of us blessed to not be under the gun need to be ready, seeking and willing to help those who are. I'm feeling this very strongly in my spirit.

[christianmom]

Those of us blessed to not be under the gun need to be ready, seeking and willing to help those who are. I'm feeling this very strongly in my spirit.

Amen to that, sister! I have been feeling this in my very soul as well. I feel as if the Lord wants me to help those less fortunate during these times. In my heart I know times will get even worse but for some reason I feel God is preparing me and my family to have a good stockpile. Who knows who will benefit from it all, maybe our family, maybe not. Either way, I feel led in that direction and I am stockpiling.

Just sent you a PM :)

[christianmom]

Bump....

I figured we all need a little bit of cheering up in the middle of all the gloom and doom posts. :)

God bless everybody and may we all remember that He who is in us is greater than he that is in the world.

Matthew 6:25-34

25 Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? 26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? 28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven,'shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

[shineyourlight]

After reading so much gloom and doom on the economy and all I just wanted to post on here that not everything is bad. There are plenty of people, including myself, that are blessed despite the price of gas, groceries and basic essentials going up.

I figured if those that are blessed to be in the situation where their finances are still doing well in spite of the economical storm that we see around us, well, this would be a good time to add a little cheer to this forum.

I for one must say that even though my husband is in the transportation business and his expenses for diesel have gone up, I must praise the Lord of heaven and earth for everything He does for us.

There are so many blessings that I am thankful for and I share those blessings with those less fortunate than myself. I know that the more that is given to me the more that is expected of me.

We have plenty of food, a nice house to live in (with up to date mortgage payment), my special blessing of being a stay-at-home mom that homeschools our children, good health and most important of all--a wonderful church to worship our Lord.

I've been on the flipside of that scenario as well and even then I always praised Him because He never promised us that life would be easy but He did say He would be with us every step of the way. Even so...come Lord Jesus!

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Where I live in Canada, gas is about $5-6/gallon. I hope and pray that once I graduate I can get on with a company that gives me a company truck. It is really common in the engineering busness to get a company truck, so I think its something I have to look forward to!