The Mystery: Revealed

While trying to put together the deal on the duplex we own on Holiday Isle, which was supposed to fund my retirement, I attended a conference in Orlando called the World Money Conference. This conference, geared toward investment strategies, had a track on mortgages that I attended. It was there I learned about what most people had not heard of yet: sub-prime mortgages called LIBORS. It was perfect. We could secure an interest only loan; buy this waterfront duplex on Holiday Isle; enjoy the rapid appreciation that Destin was experiencing; rent it out as a vacation rental thus paying the expenses on it and then in a few years, sell out and, Wa La, there is my retirement.

Now as I sit here hanging on by a fingernail, watching all my work in the last 5 years, not to mention all the money invested into it, hanging by a fingernail, one might wonder what is next? Unfortunately, I am not the only one in this position. I know many people who have lost or are in the process of losing jobs, homes, and businesses. Stymied congressmen talk, argue, and beg one another as they try to figure out a plan to get our country out of this mess.  Some people even look to me as the “man of God” to try to make some sense out of this mess and that perhaps I can give them a scrap of wisdom from the Almighty (what pressure to put on pastors). 

I actually can give them some wisdom from the Almighty right from today’s scripture out of Colossians 3.

Colossians 3:15-17 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 

If I allow the supernatural peace of God, and I call it supernatural because it doesn’t make sense how I could have peace even in the face of foreclosure, but if I allow that peace to rule in my heart, I won’t be moved by what I see or feel. Then, when I find out what God’s Word says about me and my situation, I am going to let that be the thing that moves me. I can also take the assurance that comes from His Word and use it to encourage others. What an encouragement I can be when I do everything to honor God. It totally changes my perspective, too, when I am grateful for everything. Grateful for the fact I get to live in such a wonderful city. Grateful for the time I got to live in a house that I named Paradise Found. 

What’s great is that my circumstances don’t have to change for me to find peace. Peace and joy come from being content in God. As that peace works its way out from the inside, it is seen as strength in a time of adversity. How about you? Is peace ruling your heart? Are you thankful? Is the word of God dwelling inside you? Are you glorifying God with your words and deeds? 

Why not thank Him right now. Why not find out what His Word says about your situation and then become in practice what He has already declared.