I just received this - thought it was appropriate for this thread.
One day , the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great , Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah, " said the son.
"So , tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs..
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
__________________
Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
It certainly is.
That is what this is all about for me.
This is all about recentering my priorities. This is all about realizing that I have had my focus in the wrong areas. This is about coming home to the things that really matter and, with all that is in me, leaving behind a life that runs me ragged and gives me nothing.
Thanks for sharing that Renda.
I was just saying to someone... You know... you never see a movie about a person who was raised in the country and then finds themselves being forced into the city and then, when they find that it is time to return to the country, suddenly has second thoughts because they unexpectedly found everything they ever wanted in the city.
They don't make movies like that because that isn't the way it is.
Simplicity is King.
As far as the path I am traveling... I can honestly say that, if I found out tomorrow that the entire economy was turning around and all was going to be well, I wouldn't change my path.
This is what I want... rain or shine.
Last edited by Digging4Truth; 10-22-2009 at 03:30 PM.
very true. Survivors have always looked for the positive or the possibilities in their situations, rather than the problems. We would do well to look for the possibilities and the positives and remain flexible. It could be bad, it could be worse. Something will happen, but I will prepare the best I can and trust God for the rest.
Good things about the economic crisis:
Obama's approval rating has dropped enormously and the media is no longer 100% behind him. ()
(sorry, couldn't resist that one)
Improved health:
More exercise
Need to eat healthier foods (they are less expensive and more affordable and accessible in crisis)
Loss of extra weight!
Improved budgeting:
Increased debt awareness
Paid off debt
Re-analysis of what is necessary and what is fluff in life
Waste reduction:
Less waste, more saving
More recycling
Mental improvement:
Less distraction
More sleep (no lights at night to keep you up)
Less busy-ness
More time for prayer and more fulfilling work (hands on work that gives you personal results is VERY fulfilling)
very true. Survivors have always looked for the positive or the possibilities in their situations, rather than the problems. We would do well to look for the possibilities and the positives and remain flexible. It could be bad, it could be worse. Something will happen, but I will prepare the best I can and trust God for the rest.
Good things about the economic crisis:
Obama's approval rating has dropped enormously and the media is no longer 100% behind him. ()
(sorry, couldn't resist that one)
Improved health:
More exercise
Need to eat healthier foods (they are less expensive and more affordable and accessible in crisis)
Loss of extra weight!
Improved budgeting:
Increased debt awareness
Paid off debt
Re-analysis of what is necessary and what is fluff in life
Waste reduction:
Less waste, more saving
More recycling
Mental improvement:
Less distraction
More sleep (no lights at night to keep you up)
Less busy-ness
More time for prayer and more fulfilling work (hands on work that gives you personal results is VERY fulfilling)
Sunday morning I preached a sermon about the contrast between Spiritual Christians and Carnal ones.
None of us are immune from the flesh and from seeing things with natural eyes. But we are not of this world and this world is not our home.
We have a duty to view all things at all times with "spiritual vision"
In the end, regardless of what comes, we are commanded to TRUST GOD. God is our answer. He says that fear is not of Him.
So all the talk all the consideration and preperation one can do, and should do, pales in comparison to the most important thing a child of God can do, and that is to trust God in all things.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
I have heard quite a bit about prosperity from my brothers and sisters in the last years. They are "blessed" with a new house (and huge mortgage), they are "blessed" with new cars (and car payments and insurance hikes when the old cars ran fine), they are "blessed" with more clothes than they count, all bought on credit, for which they need more closet space and a larger house.
They have tried to encourage me in my little house with a little yard and my used clothes and old car that "God will supply all our needs..." I have begun answering, that, yes, He does. But what I need and what I want are two very different things. (I don't want their debt, though!)
Really, what do we need? Physically, food, shelter, and clothes. Do we have those? We have much more than we realize.
I have heard quite a bit about prosperity from my brothers and sisters in the last years. They are "blessed" with a new house (and huge mortgage), they are "blessed" with new cars (and car payments and insurance hikes when the old cars ran fine), they are "blessed" with more clothes than they count, all bought on credit, for which they need more closet space and a larger house.
They have tried to encourage me in my little house with a little yard and my used clothes and old car that "God will supply all our needs..." I have begun answering, that, yes, He does. But what I need and what I want are two very different things. (I don't want their debt, though!)
Really, what do we need? Physically, food, shelter, and clothes. Do we have those? We have much more than we realize.
Amen and amen.
So very true. I talk to my kids about these things. I tell them that it always seems that we humans refuse to learn our lessons from others. We have to trial and error it ourselves. But if they can learn from the mistakes I have made and pass up the try it and find out dad was right anyway phase they can really make some good time.
If I had known then what I know now how much farther along would I be?
So very true. I talk to my kids about these things. I tell them that it always seems that we humans refuse to learn our lessons from others. We have to trial and error it ourselves. But if they can learn from the mistakes I have made and pass up the try it and find out dad was right anyway phase they can really make some good time.
If I had known then what I know now how much farther along would I be?[/QUOTE]
Brother, don't look back now. Let those who are behind you watch you
as you go FORWARD, ONWARD and UPWARD with WHAT YOU KNOW NOW!!
If you look back, they may look back too, to see where you are looking!
If you go forward, even though for a while they just watch, they will in time,
and realize what you have learned and KNOW NOW!! Get it! As they get up
closer to where you are now, they will be able to see it too! (An infant
can not focus or see very far either!) How can we expect them to see ALL we see
when we are so much further down the path of life!
No wonder Paul said...
Phil. 3 12,13 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
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.
I have heard quite a bit about prosperity from my brothers and sisters in the last years. They are "blessed" with a new house (and huge mortgage), they are "blessed" with new cars (and car payments and insurance hikes when the old cars ran fine), they are "blessed" with more clothes than they count, all bought on credit, for which they need more closet space and a larger house.
They have tried to encourage me in my little house with a little yard and my used clothes and old car that "God will supply all our needs..." I have begun answering, that, yes, He does. But what I need and what I want are two very different things. (I don't want their debt, though!)
Really, what do we need? Physically, food, shelter, and clothes. Do we have those? We have much more than we realize.
Good point.
I heard someone tell the story of how God "gave" them their house. Funny word to use, though, considering that they had to pay for this gift, themselves. Actually still are, with the mortgage. And this gift cost them a big pile of money in repairs a few years later, when the foundation settled and cracked.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
)
(An infant
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