In Asia, there are many people living in real poverty (think about 1-2br unit/flats for 4-5 people, or even the streets), and some are even more hopeful and happy in the Lord even tho their income and standard of living is much lower than the average American.

The whole world is helping the US to pay off their overspending and ridiculous standards of living…

To paint the picture in a corny way:
Think about Lord of the Rings, where the US (dark Lord) has given the rings (bad credit financial packages) to each nation who has taken it in greed/faith, and is now bearing the consequences of American’s bad decisions.

This annual change of weather, changes my daily activities. I spend much of them cooking, delivering clothes (especially shoes and coats), to little ones, desperate ones, and speaking so as to calm the older ones who are without heat. Coming from urban professional work eight years ago, I never expected to see basic needs so lacking, in the homes of working people.

Now, running an antique Inn, two weeks ago I received four phone calls from former co-workers whom I had known from Hollywood/Burbank/New York/Florida. Each was a pleasant surprise, as I had not heard their voices in as many as 16 years.

Each caller is about 60 to 62 years-old, and each had owned a small business with a high-end technical specialty at which they had worked 80-hour weeks, for a few decades. Each asked me if I would “take them in” as they could not live any longer in their homes (all had been on the market for a long while/two had taken in boarders who had already lost their homes), and their retirements seemed to have unexpectedly vaporized.

Each needed a place of refuge, and expressed a resignation that there was nothing more to be done.

Each really wanted to begin a new business as over the past few years, their “market” had “dried up” or “gone to India.” Each was looking to change professions.

These friends were not the high rollers in the world, or even the big spenders. No “kitchen redos” with these folks.

These people poured their hours into serving others through a business they had nurtured. They are the honest, hard-working technically-expert friends, whom I admire so much.

So, it’s hard to say what will happen here at the Inn in Maine, this coming winter. But, based on these calls, it is possible that we will be creating some kind of new “business entity” as together, we haul wood to the furnaces, shovel out neighbors, and cook for those who cannot fend for themselves.

The Lord has His Plan working here. My former friends and many neighbors, don’t know Jesus Christ as Savior… yet.
The dire situation here, is an open door, for the Gospel.

You are so right.

Correct me if I’m wrong though….you can trust God to guide your hand but consult a professional before changing your own oil for the first time. It won’t be His fault if you screw up and your engine seizes. Sorry……voice of experience.

Praise God for He is The Life, The Hope and The Truth.

We are fine and paying the bills but I think we’ve always been a family of relatively modest needs and wants.

Whatever anyone does though, don’t lose sight of God. The question was asked, does he seem closer or further away and I say that the answer is quite simple.

He’s always close. It’s just us here on earth who sometimes obscure our own ability to see Him and put our trust in Him that he will see us through whatever hardship is going on.

God bless. Stay focused. He’ll get us all through in the end. You know He will.