Friday, July 11, 2008

More economic shakings

Yikes! Have you been watching any of the news today? If not, I'd say do something else... like listen to music or put a British Flick in the DVD player. It seems Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in deep kim chee. The analyst I was listening to on Fox News said he doesn't think people understand how serious this could be if the government has to step in and bail these two mortgage giants out... it would DOUBLE THE NATIONAL DEBT as they own more than 50% of all mortgages in the U.S.

He also said we would not be looking at the "R" word but the "D" word. That's exactly what Donald Trump called a Depression a few months back... the "D" word. He thought is was entirely possible because of the real estate mess. It was interesting that another headline on Fox right after that was that crude oil was reaching another all time high. Hmmm... where is that Pride & Prejudice DVD?

We had our own financial shaking today when my husband visited the Social Security Office. Contrary to what he had been told by someone at the office, our monthly check for Christopher ended this month. (We had been told it would continue through college.) It appears this is not true for S.S. Disability. We are surprisingly calm, having about a third of our income suddenly vanish. God has always provided in some rather unusual ways and we know He will continue.

I guess that is why even when I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach when watching national news that I can still trust in Him (lots of practice). From the first moment I accepted Christ and chose to live my life for Him (in my early-mid teens), it was all or nothing. I gave up too much to be lukewarm.

Ironically, I've been reading T. Davis Bunn's books The Warning and The Ultimatum (about a financial crash and the after affects). I had read the first book but not the sequel. Both are based on the premise of a "quiet guy" banker being made a prophet to warn people of an upcoming severe economic crash. Bunn does an excellent job (as usual) and leaves one on the edge of their seats as to what happens next.

The two books I decided to order with my Amazon credit arrived yesterday. They are A Life That Says Welcome; Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others and Keeping House; The Litany of Everyday Life (authors given on the sidebar). Both books have been highly recommended on other blogs.

I started reading the first book last night as I needed a break from the suspense of the Bunn novel. I like it very much. Some books of that genre are way too general and I come away thinking I already knew a lot of what they were saying. This one is full of good information and is a good read. I'm half way through already and yes, I did stay up past midnight because it was that good. I'll be sending it to Stephanie, once I finish it and copy some of the recipes.

I'm looking forward to reading Keeping House soon. It is much, shall we say... deeper... but it is also just what I needed right now. I'm spending more time in Quiet Time, reading, and pondering than usual. I need it.

I will (hopefully) be able to write more about stocking up the pantry tomorrow. That post will be about how I stock the pantry with food stuff aside from my bread and baking supplies. I haven't a clue what to chat about on Sunday Afternoon Tea, yet. Hmmm...

Note: I'm way behind on answering e-mails but don't give up, I'll eventually get to them. :)

Picture: Just a still life from my family room

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to hear you lost that portion of your income. Your attitude is admirable though. Sometimes there is simply not more that we can do about a situation and we can only pray.

Personally I have found that even when I don't think we can cut back any more, there seems to be a way somehow. It's certainly amazing to me how God helps to make it all happen, sometimes with only a few dollars to spare. I am sure you feel the same.

Anonymous said...

It is amazing that you can be calm in spite of losing that large portion of your income. Your life seems to be always interesting, that's for sure. May the Lord richly bless you and your family in these trying times.

DebD said...

I'm so sorry for that major loss of income. Continued prayers for you.

I love the sound of the first book (A Life That Says Welcome)... sounds like a very helpful book.

Beth said...

I will pray that the Lord will continue to supply your needs! Contentment is so hard, but you seem to have learned lots of contentment lessons.

This afternoon I was out in the car, taking my daughter to the dentist and running errands. At one point I caught the news on NPR and heard about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. In my former life, before kids, I worked in mortgage lending, so I have a little understanding of how tied up our whole lending system is with these entities. But I had never wrapped my mind around the problems that could arise if they were to fail.

That's big stuff, but we can be thankful the God we serve is bigger still!

flmom said...

I didn't watch any news today so I hadn't heard about this, but it sadly doesn't surprise me with the way everything else is going.

I am so sorry for your loss of income. We know all too well the sting ourselves. Business is down at hubby's work so he hasn't been getting the hours we were accustomed to (and holidays haven't helped as they eat away at OT hours due to the way the law is here about OT). I took a greater step with the Lord a few weeks ago and was obedient with something He placed on my heart. It made things rougher for us financially, but He is seeing us through. He delivered a huge blessing to us today. We all have to keep our trust in Him (although I will admit that sometimes I do still cry out and say "Where are you and why are you allowing this to happen?").

Linds said...

I am in a similar situation to you right now. The bereavement benefit pay we got after my husband died stops when my son goes to university in September. Sigh. I am also deeply convinced that God provides for our every need, and so I live in faith and trust. He has never let me down.
I just love visiting here.....

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Sigh...so sorry to hear about the SS Disability. It would have been good to have known in advance so you could have been more prepared. What a blessing to have a stocked pantry at times like this! Brenda I'm sure God will provide for you and your family and it will work out (hugs).

"A Life that says Welcome..." has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while - I'll be interested to hear what you have to say about it. "Keeping House" I had Borders order this book and I took a look at it in the store and didn't like it. I guess it wasn't what I thought it would be but I hope you enjoy it.

Manuela

Vee said...

I'm not listening to the news anymore. Just call me Chicken Little in reverse. ;D