Money

If you read the news today the main topic is the billions of dollar bailout that the government is trying to agree on. The economy has been on a steady decline for a long time now. There has been a lot of money spent where there was no actual substance behind it. I know that over the past several years I too have been guilty of living well beyond my means. I was generous with others and myself. I've talked about this in previous posts. We've been a nation consumed by instant gratification. When you pursue this there is only thought for today and no thought about the future repurcussions.
In Charlotte this week we've experienced a gas shortage. Cars have waited for extended periods of time just to get gas at the pump. We had 2 hurricanes back to back that affected our ability to have the regular gas supply brought in. Then because people panicked it actually did make the problem worse. Hopefully the gas trucks will arrive today and tomorrow and things will start to go back to normal.
I read all this "news" and the prevalent thought... God is in control. While everything would seem to just be spinning out of control I know that He is present. I'm amazed that things continued for as long as they did and now we are all having to suffer for what essentially boils down to greed. We pushed for bigger houses, bigger cars, bigger toys, and all this requires money. Growing up my parents worked hard! They put my brother and I thru private school and then my Grandaddy paid for our college. They all set examples of what it is to live frugally. I resented this message! Growing up I never looked good in clothes and I didn't really have that many anyways. So after I got out of college I wanted to live it up, and oh did I! But the reality is I'm now seeing my own finances blow up. I'm working a 2nd job not so that I can have fun money but so that I can try and work my way out of the hole of debt that I am in. I've cut out having my nails done, shopping, travelling to visit friends, dinner out, etc... My desire is to be financially stable again so that I can actually put my money into things like adopting a child, outreach ministries here in Charlotte like the radio station that I listen to all the time, I still have the desire to give but I don't have the resources to actually be able to do this right now.
With the presidential election looming I have heard repeatedly that we need a change! So many people think that change is going to come by having a different political party in control of the white house. I just can't believe that to be true. I think it's going to come when everyone starts taking responsiblity for what has been going on and everyone focuses on what we can do to make our economy strong again. The blame game is not going to benefit anyone!