Recession Proof?

This morning when the stock market opened, I happened to notice on my MSN home page that within minutes of the opening bell, stocks fell over 400 points. Now 6 months ago, that might have shocked me. Today it's becoming routine. Up a couple hundred one day, down several hundred the next. Consumer confidence is at an all time low and home foreclosures at an all time high. Unemployment is climbing .... and the only good economic news is the fact that oil prices are falling.

In light of all this economic turmoil, Forbes Magazine recently published an article which gave the results of a study Forbes conducted. The results of the study reveals the best places (and the worst places) in the U.S. to "ride out the recession." At the top of list of best places - Austin, Texas. Not all that surprising given the fact that Austin is the state capital AND the home of the University of Texas. That combination makes for a lot of job security. However, what I did find surprising was the city that came in tenth on that list. Here are the top ten:

1 Austin, TX.
2 Oklahoma City.
3 Honolulu.
4 Portland, Ore.
5 Tulsa.
6 Virginia Beach.
7 Seattle.
8 Baltimore.
9 Boston.
10 LANCASTER.

And the LANCASTER on this list is none other than Lancaster, PA. Wow! I found that to be quite encouraging! However, I do think Forbes missed the mark with this article. Now don't get me wrong. I am glad their study reveals my home town as one of the top ten places to ride out this current economic down turn. BUT - the VERY BEST PLACE to ride out any recession is "in the hands of God!" That's right. It doesn't matter what your mailing address is ... if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, He is your GOOD SHEPHERD. And if He is your shepherd, you "shall not want!" (see Psalm 23). Jesus Christ put it this way:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:25-33)

So rest easy - no matter where you live. GO hard after God and then leave your NEEDS in His capable hands.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj