Just when things seemed to be turning around for the markets, at least here in the U.S., the Dow--Dow Jones Industrials dropped sharply and closed down over 200 points a few days before this article was written. Depending on where and how your money is invested, you felt the down turn directly, or indirectly. In some cases, again due to in what you are invested, you may not have felt the down turn at all. To keep it simple and to make my point fo this post however, I will talk to those who felt the down turn. What do you do when you take such a sharp hit? Most people believe you hang on for the ride just like in past times when the Dow, and just about any other of the averages, have tanked and then turned around. That's what the markets do, they go up and they go down; but when you average things out over a number of years, you would have ended up making money on your investments. Patience and research are the key. And of course if you don't know what you are doing, talk to someone who does, a professional.
Why am I saying all of this? Because no matter how much we have or do not have, life will go on. If we do not die first, we will all age. Are you ready to age? Are you ready to retire? Have you been wondering what Medicare and Social Security will look like by the time you retire? I think everyone should give some serious thought to these questions. In the meantime, I strongly suggest that everyone take part somehow, in what your financial picture will look like. How do you do this? By taking part in your company's 401k or 403b plan; or whatever type of retirement plan your employer, uh, employs. If your company does not offer any of these things, start your own savings plan. If you are not the saving type, have your bank help you by putting your money in an account where it's not so easy to touch that money.
I am simply suggesting that you do something to positively affect your financial future, now. Don't wait and don't hope that everything will be OK. I have mentioned in previous articles that it does not matter how much you make, you can get your finances in order and you can save something, even if it's just five dollars per pay check. Whether you are making minimum wage or you are a company CEO, take part in your future. You will be glad you did it.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Fast
So over the last few months I have had to make certain major decisions and if it were one or two I would say it's just a part of life. I would pray, think about the issue or issues, and when everything was settled in my mind that I had heard from God, I would go with what I had decided.
This time however, I had five major issues and three smaller not necessarily minor issues to think about. I prayed for months, waiting, praying, waiting, praying. You get the idea. Nothing. Now let me reiterate that these were not decisions such as what errands to run on what day, or whether I should go on a particular outing, or even how much I should or should not spend on a big ticket item. These were potentially life changing decisions. I had to make the right choice. Nothing.
Finally I decided I would fast and pray about these decisions. Furthermore, I would not set a time frame on the fast. I would fast if it took the rest of my life! I was serious. These decisions, wrong or right, could change my life! Why no answer from God about this? So I started my fast. I am not going to discuss the particular fast because fasting is what is important, not the type of fast. I will say, for you doubters out there who think I just fasted television for an hour a day or something easy like that. It wasn't. I talked to God about the fast and then I began. Three weeks went by, almost four, when God said, 'you can end your fast now.' I was not having it though. I had not received any answers and I could not end this fast until I knew what to do. I argued with God, of course. I asked him how he could end my fast when he had not answered me yet. He told me again, 'you can end your fast now.'
I ended my fast wondering what to do next. I still had five major questions and no answers. Then some weird stuff started happening. One by one, in no particular order, I started receiving answers! I had written down the items for which I had been praying and fasting and as the answers came, I would chuckle to myself as I checked off each question. The answers came over a series of days, out of the clear blue sky, from different sources. I had to be open and aware. I had to keep my eyes and ears open or I would miss the answer! One answer I heard from my Mother, one I heard from my Brother (they had no idea about my fast or my problems), one I heard from an announcement in church, one was an answer of protection from God, and one was a little $2.50 book I bought from Dollar General! This was amazing!
Would I have gotten the answers without praying and fasting? Probably, but I'm convinced it would have taken a lot longer and I did not have time. I did not want to make the wrong decisions while waiting. Many of us are guilty of that. Well, there are two more items on my list, but I am convinced those items will be answered in their own time. In fact, I may have received the answer to one of those two from a sermon I was just listening to on television. Amazing!
I would like to say a few things to those of you who are not familiar with the tenets of fasting. It is not something to take lightly. When you fast you are opening your spirit to the spirit world. Yeah, I know, some of you are thinking I am about to get all Halloween on you. I suggest you take what I am saying very seriously. If you are not where you need to be in your relationship with Jesus, do that first. Talk to him, pray, get into the right place with him before starting your fast. There are many books on fasting, and many verses and chapters in the Bible on fasting. Take it seriously, do it right.
Isaiah 58 is a great chapter to read on how God viewed fasting. Read it in an easy to read version like the NIV. Make sure you understand what fasting is all about before you start; and know this, your answer can come during your fast or after, but listen with everything in you, for that answer. Allow God to answer when and how He decides.
This time however, I had five major issues and three smaller not necessarily minor issues to think about. I prayed for months, waiting, praying, waiting, praying. You get the idea. Nothing. Now let me reiterate that these were not decisions such as what errands to run on what day, or whether I should go on a particular outing, or even how much I should or should not spend on a big ticket item. These were potentially life changing decisions. I had to make the right choice. Nothing.
Finally I decided I would fast and pray about these decisions. Furthermore, I would not set a time frame on the fast. I would fast if it took the rest of my life! I was serious. These decisions, wrong or right, could change my life! Why no answer from God about this? So I started my fast. I am not going to discuss the particular fast because fasting is what is important, not the type of fast. I will say, for you doubters out there who think I just fasted television for an hour a day or something easy like that. It wasn't. I talked to God about the fast and then I began. Three weeks went by, almost four, when God said, 'you can end your fast now.' I was not having it though. I had not received any answers and I could not end this fast until I knew what to do. I argued with God, of course. I asked him how he could end my fast when he had not answered me yet. He told me again, 'you can end your fast now.'
I ended my fast wondering what to do next. I still had five major questions and no answers. Then some weird stuff started happening. One by one, in no particular order, I started receiving answers! I had written down the items for which I had been praying and fasting and as the answers came, I would chuckle to myself as I checked off each question. The answers came over a series of days, out of the clear blue sky, from different sources. I had to be open and aware. I had to keep my eyes and ears open or I would miss the answer! One answer I heard from my Mother, one I heard from my Brother (they had no idea about my fast or my problems), one I heard from an announcement in church, one was an answer of protection from God, and one was a little $2.50 book I bought from Dollar General! This was amazing!
Would I have gotten the answers without praying and fasting? Probably, but I'm convinced it would have taken a lot longer and I did not have time. I did not want to make the wrong decisions while waiting. Many of us are guilty of that. Well, there are two more items on my list, but I am convinced those items will be answered in their own time. In fact, I may have received the answer to one of those two from a sermon I was just listening to on television. Amazing!
I would like to say a few things to those of you who are not familiar with the tenets of fasting. It is not something to take lightly. When you fast you are opening your spirit to the spirit world. Yeah, I know, some of you are thinking I am about to get all Halloween on you. I suggest you take what I am saying very seriously. If you are not where you need to be in your relationship with Jesus, do that first. Talk to him, pray, get into the right place with him before starting your fast. There are many books on fasting, and many verses and chapters in the Bible on fasting. Take it seriously, do it right.
Isaiah 58 is a great chapter to read on how God viewed fasting. Read it in an easy to read version like the NIV. Make sure you understand what fasting is all about before you start; and know this, your answer can come during your fast or after, but listen with everything in you, for that answer. Allow God to answer when and how He decides.
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