Confident, Creative Coping--and Conquering--in a Constrictive (E)conomy

Confident, Creative Coping—and Conquering--in a Constrictive (E)conomy

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Sat, 04/24/2010 - 10:49am

Cash seems tight for nearly everyone these days.  Skyrocketing prices, sluggish economy, and unemployment contribute to the difficulty of meeting even the necessary expenses of food, water, and shelter. Unmet basic needs cast a discouraging pall over every other area of life. The cost of living can sour even the most optimistic, hardworking soul, when out-go outweighs in-flow.

 

When it rains, it pours.  Multiple expenses seem to hit all at once. Inventory runs out. The air conditioner needs replacing (it is 90 degrees--inside), someone breaks into our car and steals, an appliance quits working, we get sick and need a doctor. It all adds up, and we have the tendency to get grouchy.

 

Continual complications compound when we splurge on unnecessaries, or make poor money management decisions that can land us in a widening hole of financial hopelessness.

 

What’s a responsible, honest person to do?

 

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to climb out of that pit of despair.  All is not lost.  There is hard work to be done--to earn, manage, profit, spend wisely, but also to develop the most crucial part: the Attitude.

 

Use this season to think outside of the grumpy box.  Expand your perspective.  Better yet, include the Creator of the Universe into your struggle—perhaps to reveal the bigger picture of the times.

 

1.  Allow your values and your identity be shaken and tested.  While it is painful, this is a good thing once in a while.  Ask yourself, “Have I gotten too materialistic? Who is my real Provider?  Where do I get my strength? How much of my self-worth belief is tied up with money? What is going on spiritually in my life right now?” Go ahead and ask God the hard questions, dare to confront and make needed changes. 

 

2.  Determine the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’.  We might think we couldn’t live without that new TV or particular cell phone.  Put it in perspective.  We might have to sacrifice and do without something for a while until we get back on our feet.  Eventually we may discover we didn’t need that particular addictive influence in our life anyway.  You can pare your budget down to needs only.  A little discipline never hurt anyone. 

 

3. Keep giving.  You will reap what you sow—so keep sowing into other people, even though it seems you are not experiencing a ‘reaping’ at present.  Give stuff away. Open your closet and give some of your nicest clothing away. This breaks off the hoarding mentality, blesses other people, and makes you feel good!

 

4. Get dirty.  Go out and serve a neighbor or someone also in need. Don’t stay inside and allow depression or self-pity settle in, but go outside and do some sweaty work! You will see others who are worse off than you. You will get ‘grounded’ and feel more balanced as you move out of your own troubles and focus concern on someone else.

 

5.  Ask for help, support, prayer.  You are not alone.  Everyone goes through difficult times—we need to lean on each other.  It is not a character flaw to struggle from time to time, and people cannot read your mind.  Ask for what you need and let people give to YOU.  We all need to learn how to RECEIVE.  Ask God for a miracle--and then prepare to watch it unfold!

 

6.  Develop a thankful heart.  Instead of complaining and focusing on LACK, take stock of the GOOD things in your life.  

 

7.  This too shall pass. Often when circumstances seem the darkest, breakthrough is just around the corner.  Don’t give up! 

 

Crucial character refinement is happening within right now—you don’t want to miss it.  Keep your chin up and learn the art of experiencing increasing joy even amidst trying times.   

 

Remember!  You are in a season of testing and that you will emerge  stronger and wiser in the end.

Second photo:  Joe Whiskers Martin and my husband, Jesse, replacing our backyard sewer line last year.  Joe was unemployed at the time, and his wife recently passed away from cancer.  You know he's a good friend who sets his own troubles aside and cheerfully jumps into your sewer-dirt. 

Help! Someone Stole My Wallet!--In My Dreams

Help! Someone Stole My Wallet!--In My Dreams

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 12:32pm

"I dreamed my wallet (or purse) was stolen!”  This dream consistently tops the search statistics onDestiny Dreamz’s dream interpretation website.  Questions about possible meaning of this dream abound, as dreamers wrestle with the feelings of panic, loss, and violation. 

 

In real life, a purse or wallet contains vital private information, keys, personal items, and money. Symbolically, a missing wallet could represent an identity crisis regarding issues of personal value, personality, favor, power, or security.  Our communication and contacts (cell phones) could be affected.  A deliberate theft accentuates the bewildered feelings with shock and fear of further complicating consequences.  Theft always seems to sap emotional energy.

 

Dreams of a missing purse or wallet can stem from financial difficulties (happy Income Tax day today, y'all), loss of a job, position, status, or influence, marriage or relationship hardships, false accusations, or any kind of major shift in life that brings grief and concern. These dreams can show a situation in the past, present, or possible future. 

 

Dreamer must act quickly to prevent further repercussions (think symbolically with me here)—assessing the extent of loss, immediately notifying authorities and people that can help, canceling certain ‘accounts’ so further ‘rip-off’ cannot occur, and making requests for ‘new’ documentation to replace what is gone. 

 

During the recovery stage, the dreamer gets to re-evaluate old habits, to determine how to prevent possible future damage—lock the car doors (be more spiritually and physically watchful and alert), keep the purse out in plain sight (not visible and accessible to everyone), be careful who we trust with our heart treasures. Not everyone will treat us--and our ‘assets’--with respect. Pay attention to these dreams and look for areas in your life where you may be  experiencing 'pillage'.  

 

Look on the bright side.  'Wake-up' calls can be momentarily upsetting, but beneficial for us in the long run, to bring correction to something we are doing that may not be good for us. We learn to appreciate and not take for granted the seasons of security and peace. 

 

If we put a smile on our face during the trying times, we might even get another chance for a driver’s license picture that doesn’t make us cringe. 

How to Use Your Seer Gift to Really, Really Discourage People

How to Use Your Seer Gift to Really, Really Discourage People

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 04/06/2010 - 12:25pm

Do you have a seer gift?  Also known as intuition or a prophetic aptitude, it is the ability to see, hear, or sense beyond normal. People who have this gift can see into the spiritual realm in various ways.  

 

Hearing God’s voice and interpreting dreams and visions are only a couple of means of prophetic ‘knowing’.  People may possess these abilities, but no one starts out fully mature in handling what they see or sense. 

 

Everything written in the coming paragraphs is sarcasm.  I’ve been on the receiving end of all of these practices.  I’m not hurt, angry, or addressing any particular person.  So don’t email me to ask what is afoot. I’ve been guilty myself of committing many of these no-no’s.  (Sarcasm begins here):

 

If you deeply desire to build friendships, to use your revelatory gift to glorify God, to gain favor for yourself in leadership or ministry, make your best effort to regularly incorporate the following crucial tactics:

 

1.    Point out people’s flaws and mistakes.  God sees everybody’s faults and wants to use YOU to bring conviction and shame.  Show them how they are wrong, and give plenty of advice so they know how to repent and do things right. Point your finger boldly in their face for added emphasis.

 

2.    Add a holy air (err).  Expose and correct people regarding what they say or how they act—and then go gossip about them with other people for “prayer purposes.”  Hold other people to higher standards than you set for yourself. 

 

3.    Tell everything immediately.  Don’t waste precious time interpreting or waiting for further revelation.  It is especially helpful if you speak up without consideration for timing or relevance. Go ahead and tell people you see ‘orange flowers’ all around them…they should be able to know what that means—and they should feel extremely blessed by your encouraging words.  

 

4.    Blame God.  Leave out kindness and love when you point out people’s faults. You can even act angry so they think God is angry with them, too.  Claim to speak on God’s behalf—and don’t worry if you get it wrong once in a while. If you are wrong, then it was only God’s will, and maybe he changed his mind.  It is especially powerful if you add the words, “God is telling you . . . to send me money . . . (or whatever).” If God is speaking, then the person you are ministering to must receive every word you say, or else they are clearly in the wrong. 

 

5.    Use as many words as possible.  Speak in metaphors and in vague, flowery, religious language so people will assume you are in mysterious, mystical deep state of communication with God.  It is good to take people hostage to your ‘blah blah blah’s’…. their lives will be richer for having listened to your wisdom.

 

6.    Interpret your dreams literally and share them quickly.  It will make your friend’s day to hear that he will die in a car wreck, that his kids are drowning, and that his spouse is pregnant. 

 

7.    Tease them.  Tell people, “God is telling me stuff about you . . . but I am not free to share it right now.”  Your friends will feel blessed and commit to patiently waiting for your next installment of intelligence. 

 

8.    Remind people of your abilities.  Call yourself a seer, a prophet, a specialist, a super-spiritual, magnificent master.  Sing your own praises about the times you ‘nailed' someone--and watch the amazement freeze on folks' faces.

 

I’ve only mentioned a few vital highlights.  You can contact me if you are interested in learning more.  I will gladly assist you, because, I am, of course, an expert in my field.