The Dow Takes a Dive, It's O.K., We're Still Alive!

Breathe....come on, really, just take a deep breath & breathe...

Right now at this moment, today, September 29, 2008, we're experiencing HISTORY in every sense of the word. This day will be talked about for years to come, the DOW has taken a literal dive.
The bail out plan has been rejected by the House, Wall Street is freaking out, we're all maybe a little less "wealthy" today than we were a few weeks ago, times are feeling kind of shaky, I know, I'm with you in that.
But, let's get perspective again.
What are the good things?
1. We're ALIVE, that's always good.
2. There WILL be another plan, something will eventually be passed to help our economic situation, and to be quite honest, I don't know if many of us in middle class America really even "agreed" with that $700 billion plan of debt anyway! Maybe, just maybe, those in key political positions are choosing to LISTEN to the American people.
3. God will take care of His children...we may suffer in some ways, along with others who don't even acknowledge God at all, because we live in the same world & are affected by the same things that affect anyone else. The difference is this, we have a Father who will provide for & take care of His children. We don't have to be anxious, we don't have to fear, this has not taken God by surprise & since we belong to Him, we're in good hands! God will KEEP His people through the crisis, even if we face the most difficult days ahead, He is still with us, He is still for us, He will still cover us, and possibly even reveal Himself to us more than ever before!
4. We are reminded that our treasures on earth are very temporary, they fade, they're here today & gone tomorrow, we've all experienced that just moments ago...but maybe that's why God encourages us to store up for ourselves "treasures in heaven," those are the treasures, the accounts, that are ETERNAL, everlasting, they do not fade away. Maybe, just maybe, this will shift our focus a bit.
5. God will keep our minds in PERFECT PEACE. I know, sounds crazy, right? But He will, He can do that. We may "start" to feel the same panic that is sweeping across our country right now, but even as I write this, amazingly, I feel a sense of peace. I know it's not my own. His Spirit WILL fill our lives as we are yielded to Him & open to what He is saying right now, in our world, in these very uncertain times.

Here's some verses from the Word I'm CHOOSING to meditate on through the remainder of the day...I've already realized that sometimes I need to TURN OFF the panic of the media & TUNE IN to the Word of God.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

"But, I trust in you, O Lord, I say, You are my God, My times are in your hands...how great is your goodness which you have stored up for those who fear you." Psalm 31:14-15,19

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

"And He will be the STABILITY OF YOUR TIMES, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, the fear of the Lord is his treasure." Isaiah 33:6 NAS