ARE YOU IN THE SAME MIND FRAME AS MY SISTER?

“ I am so emotional. I was in an emotional rut for the first half of the year and didn’t sell anything. I am selling stuff now but I am afraid the economy is going to get worse and I can’t go back to physical labor. I am not trained to be a secretary. I don’t know what I am going to do.”

ARE YOU IN THE SAME MIND FRAME AS MY SISTER?
I had a conversation with my oldest sister today. To be able to say that is unique because my sister and I don’t see eye to eye so, we tend not to see much of each other. The conversation was a result of my two sisters and I getting together to talk about how to take care of my aging parents. At the end of our discussion about our parents we started into the topic of the economy.
The conversation started by my sister saying something close to “I wish those idiots in congress wouldn’t have voted down the Bailout Package.” This one statement led to an hour long conversation with me enlightening her about the Bailout Package and how it really isn’t a “bailout package” for us but a “bailout package” for the thieves that squandered trillions of dollars AND that this bailout package may stabilize the markets for a few months but that was it and passing that bill is a major step toward socialism.
Big deal, you might be thinking. You could say that without bringing your sister into the discussion. Well no I couldn’t because what she said and did after that little conversation took me a little bit by surprise and afterward I wondered how many others in America (the U.S.A.) are feeling the same way. My sister is a Realtor in an area that is still active but housing prices have declined 10 – 15%. This is what she said.
“ I am so emotional. I was in an emotional rut for the first half of the year and didn’t sell anything. I am selling stuff now but I am afraid the economy is going to get worse and I can’t go back to physical labor. I am not trained to be a secretary. I don’t know what I am going to do.”
She cried because she was so scared and upset.
How many of you are in this boat? How many of you are looking at this huge unseemly Tsunami sized economic wave of disaster rushing in on you and you don’t know what to do? Are you an emotional basket case? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Is fear gripping you. Well, if you are reading this then you are in the right place for help.
My sister really doesn’t like talking about God and the greatness of His Word, the Bible so I started by focusing on the things that she has, rather than the things she doesn’t have, things that are immediate (the here and now) and not the maybes that haven’t come about. Taking stock of what she has is one of the first steps she and I did. It should be the second step that you should do. What we found out is that they (my sister and her husband) were making enough money to live the lifestyle that they have been living. That she was in no immediate danger of loosing her house or her job. Hallelujah! She is in better shape than a lot of people in this country.
MY SISTER: But what if the buyers can’t get mortgage loans to buy houses? It is getting harder and harder to get people qualified for loans and to get the deal closed. ME: Well yes, but, most of us have enjoyed a life style of not having to think on our feet we just take the order and the money rolls in. It is going to take more than just being one of the crowd anymore. That is why I advocate more education. The more classes and seminars you attend the more you know. The more letters behind your name the more that sets you apart from the crowd. This gives you the advantage of a larger network of people and potential business associates and it will help to keep you one step ahead of the crowd.
One of my sisters biggest problems is that she was focused on the wrong thing. Knowing about a problem and preparing for it is entirely different than staring at a problem and loosing focus on your goals. She was focused on the problem and not setting goals and going after them.
An example of goal setting and being one step ahead of the crowd for my sister would be to know that in the real estate market that there is a huge demand for rentals and if there is a huge demand for rentals and the typical home buyer can’t get a mortgage then the void will be fill by companies buying properties for rentals. There are other markets out of the local area that are booming because of the oil and gas industry. She could start working those areas. So, you see, it wasn’t hopeless.
Another thing that I suggested to her was to take inventory of her payments and debts. Why? Because it takes very little money to live if you don’t have monthly payments! If all you have are the grocery and utility bills you can live really cheap. You don’t have to make a lot of money. If you have a modest house payment along with food and utilities you still don’t have to make a huge sum of money each week. Overhead is what kills companies and it destroys families.
I told you that the “second thing” that you should do is take stock of where you are at and what you have but I didn’t tell you the first thing. That first thing is to go to God’s Word the Bible and get you thinking straight as to who you are, what you have access to and who God is. All principles for life, that work, are in the Bible. The Bible is the only book that you will find these priciples in. So, let me give you some verses that you can think about rather than continuing to look at the situations that surround you.
Proverbs 15: 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Don’t let overhead like the car payments and the motorcycle payments etc. destroy your family get rid of them.
Phillipians 3: 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
One of the morals here is to forget what was and look forward. Set goals and see them through. What are your goals? How about getting to know God better? Not only set your sights on the goals, be so busy achieving them that you don’t have time to to look at the negatives that surround you.
Psalm 37: 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Are you a Christian? Then this applies to you! You are righteous before God and if you look to Him He will help!
Hebrews 4: 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
John 8: 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Nobody knows the power of prayer,
But somebody must be listening there
With a friendly ear for the heart that calls!
Someone Who knows when a sparrow falls.
Miracles lie in the power of prayer;
Faith that can banish the soul’s despair!
Hope that can shine like a holy light
And brighten the spirit’s darkest night!
When earthly help is of no avail
There is one Friend Who will never fail;
Just lift your eyes – the answer is there,
For nobody knows the power of prayer!
Author Unknown
Recommended Reading
The King James Bible especially the Gospels and the Epistles
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
Over the Top by Zig Ziglar