Doom and Bloom

Dow Jones Drops It is difficult to avoid the doom and gloom in people’s hearts today. Never before has the stock market plunged like it did after a presidential election. No matter what the policies of a new administration, Wall Street usually responds positively because of the certainty of the direction. With Obama, however, certainty isn’t there, other than the fact that he has promised to raise taxes on small businesses. Coupled with his flippant remarks about spreading the wealth around, bankrupting the coal industry, and paying taxes as a show of patriotism, it is no wonder that markets are uneasy.

Most people don’t understand Wall Street, and I too find the numbers and charts confusing. But I understand basic business principles. When expenses go up, you cut where you can. Taxes are expenses, and jobs are cut when taxes go up. Unemployment is at a 14 year high. With a president promising to tax successful businesses and give to lesser successful businesses, who can blame businesses for being preemptive and laying off their people? I know several folks whose jobs are on the line, if they aren’t unemployed already.

The temptation is to fall into the class envy that drove the Obama campaign. Let’s “stick it to the rich” and make them pay for their greed. Folks, this attitude is bondage. In fact, this is a mentality that will ensure poverty even in the midst of prosperity. I know people who make twice as much as we do who think they’re poor because of their envious attitude toward the rich. Likewise, I know people who make less than us (that’s tough, but they’re out there) who joyfully live fruitful lives within their means.

I say the following with utmost conviction: God has blessed us with poverty. I’m serious! God has shown us that money itself is a futile goal. When things get tight financially, God is with us to change our habits and find creative solutions to our economic problems. When the layoff comes, when the sales drop, when the bank account approaches zero: this is when the creative juices flow.

The doom is approaching, but families who understand economics will continue to prosper and find opportunity. God is laying on my heart to brush off the gloomy news and look forward to a prosperous future. I’m relieved now that the political season is over. We need creative solutions to economic hard times. For the majority of our lives Wendy and I have faced economic hard times with joy and success.

http://Homeschoolblogger.com/arrowsinourquiver Charity

Thank you so much for your encouragement. It’s so nice to hear a Biblical perspective of what seems to be very hard times for many. In our family, we have personally experienced the grace and provision of our Heavenly Father especially when we are faithful to Him. God’s standards are so backwards from the world’s but are all the more right! As we are faithful to tithe and give in the ways the Lord leads, even when our bank accounts are low, the more He blesses and provides. We are truly blessed, but it seems that when we do get in a pinch, if we are being faithful, we will get some kind of check in the mail from family, or from a bill that we have paid too much on, and so on. God loves and watches out for His children and this is the hope that we are clinging to in the midst of this year’s election turn out. Thanks again for the ministry you have, especially to families who are trusting God with the size of their family, amongst many other areas of life!
Michelle

I agree totally about being blessed with poverty. When I think backon some of the tougher times in our lives, I see now that they were usually the happiest. I think it truely teaches our children to appreciate the small things, like having hot chocolate, and realize that they are meant to me savored not devoured.
http://momys.net/Blog/schrauben/ Sheila

Wonderful post!
Belated congrats on #15!
http://comptines.over-blog.com Nicole

I preferr to relye on God’s Blessings.
Nothing is more important in my eyes!
and I really want to prepare an advent calendar with a blessing for each day!!

But I must say I really have a question that I have in my mind…
I wonder how you can justifie using guns and taking your kids hunting and learn them to kill animals.
Just the idea of holding an arm in my hands makes me feel sick!
I accept that you are free to do this, but I am free to say I find it very strange to be pro life and pro guns…!!!
http://gracioushomemaking.blogspot.com Jen

Amen! Nothing in my husband’s income has changed, and as it looks, things are pretty secure (of course we know nothing, except our eternal life can be secure!)

However, we are changing our life to live as a pauper instead of being spendthrifts.

Oh the peace! Its been wonderful to get rid of the car that had a payment, start hanging our laundry, making our foods from scratch, keeping the heat down and bundling up (we live up north), etc., etc.

Our mindset has completely changed – we used to buy things just because we could. Now, if we feel we have a need, first we examine it against the Word on whether it truly is a need, and then we try to get it for free (by using freecycle, or just looking at what we already have), and if we can’t get it for free, we then look to buy it used or the very cheapest way possible.

Its been wonderful! We feel that in this time of not needing anything, that we must prepare our spiritual lives so that when times of need come, if the Lord chooses, than we too will face it with the same spirit as you and Wendy have!

God bless!
http://heartyworks.blogspot.com Paula

I agree. THANK YOU for this post!! You said “We need creative solutions to economic hard times.” I do hope that some of your future blog posts will address this. We too have not been very spend thrift and spent money very unwisely. Bought things for ourselves and others whatever and whenever. So this who coming up with creative solutions for economic hard times has been a challenge. Thanks again for your blog and your comforting and edifying words.
Dan

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1Timothy 6:6-10
Rebecca

Should we not always be concious of how much money we spend? I have been bought up with the belief that health and happiness are far more important then money. In fact when my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday I couldn’t name anything of materialistic value that I really wanted. Times are going to get tougher but the important thing to remember is that money does not equal happiness and as long as we have a loving and supportive family network to see us through we will weather the storm.