Lipstick and the Economy

          Well, folks, you’ll probably think I’ve totally lost my mind when you hear what I do when a president is elected whom I believe will be destructive to our economy. I buy lipstick! Two, three, or more. I call it my “lipstick stash.”

          You see, I told my husband years ago, “If the economy crashes, I’m at least going to be able to rosy up my lips and use spots of that rubbed onto my cheeks to give me that natural look!”

          I’ve gotta tell ya, my husband just laughed, shook his head, and silently wondered (I think because I don’t read minds) if his wife was one brick short of a full load.

          This has gone on since the 1990s. Being the conservative, Bible-voting gal I am, I’ve bought more lipstick these decades than might be usual—at least for me who normally buys two basic shades.

          Low ’n’ behold, not too long ago an article by a prominent publisher appeared on-line backing my lunacy (if you think it’s that and not just careful planning).

          So, I went right away to my husband with the good news. No, not the economic. That’s not good! But I had to tell him, “Apparently, I’m not the only savvy wanna-be-beauty out there. There are others. Maybe a whole following!”

          “How did you come to that conclusion?” the skeptic asked.

          “An article popped up on my computer confirming, when there’s a recession, lipstick sales go up.” I gave myself a proverbial pat on the back. “And ya know what?”

          “Do tell,” he answered not looking overly impressed.

          “There’s even a name for this phenomenon,” I replied, feeling quite proud of myself.

          “A name?”

          I whipped my pointer finger straight in the air and announced, “The ‘lipstick index!’ See? I’m not nuts! Not about that anyway.” I thought a moment then added, “This reminds me of the sons of Issachar.”

        Now I had Brian’s full attention. You see, hubby may not be lipstick-minded, but he is sons-of-Issachar mindful. Here’s how that came about:

          While studying end times, Brian discovered a Bible verse, catching his attention. 1 Chronicles 12:32 …“the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times…” These sons of Issachar were wise men “…with a knowledge of what Israel should do…”

          They were in tune with God and prophecy. They knew what and when the Israelites needed to do because they totally “got” the times in which they were living. Precarious ones!

          So, what was happening that these men understood? That King Saul no longer sought God, led the nation away from Him, and was bringing about the end of his rule and lineage. For Jonathan (Saul’s son and heir) died in battle, and Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son) became maimed during his escape from the opposing army under David’s command.

          From Issachar’s four sons descended (at that point) over 200 men who fought with David—the one God anointed to be the next king, the warrior victorious in battles, and the leader who’d see the Ark of the Covenant returned to Jerusalem—the Ark being God in their midst.

          These sons of Issachar, this tribe descended from Jacob, fought on the side of God.

          Now, back to our present times—also precarious for our nation and world.

          With an election imminent and two diametrically opposed candidates running for President, do we have good, wise understanding of the times we’re in? Do we comprehend what will happen if a dangerous person wins? Is it clear that evil in command could likely destroy our country for ages to come if not for all time?

          Is there enough money in the bank to buy the amount of lipstick needed to cover the years in jeopardy? I’ll wait until after the election to decide how many I’ll need on hand … if I can afford any then.

          But the whole point of my seemingly silly lipstick story is serious, and I pray we’ll be wise when going to the polls, like the sons of Issachar, because we understand the deeper calamity that could befall us, and we know what to do.

          Yet—no matter what the outcome—don’t lose Hope, all ye who love the Lord! No matter what happens in the future, as long as we trust the Savior, we’ll have all we need to face whatever comes.

In Times Like These by Ruth Caye Jones

(written to give hope and encouragement to people during World War II)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3jK3x3iMOM&list=RDj3jK3x3iMOM&start_radio=1

 

#lipstick #economy #elections #President #sonsofIssachar #KingSaul #Jonathan #David #Mephibosheth

#endtimes #lipstickindex #recession #future #hopeintheSavior

 

Photo credit:

png.play & freeimages.com

Don't Sell the Harp!

“By the rivers of Babylon,

There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’
How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget its skill!
If I do not remember you,
Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.”
 
Psalm 137:1-6 nkjv

   

Rivers of Babylon

Jeff & Sheri Easter - Rivers of Babylon [Live] - YouTube

 

Dear Reader,        

          The Psalm above shares the cries of the Jewish people held in captivity. Ripped from their homeland, they sorrowed to the point they couldn’t sing the songs of God that lived in their hearts, so they hung up their harps, not imagining they’d ever use them again.

          To make matters worse, their captors tormented them to sing, knowing full well how distressed they were.

          Yet, in time, the captives hearts were restored, their joy returned, and they took down their harps and lifted their voices to the Lord.

          Have you ever been so hurt you cannot fathom healing? Have you, too, “hung up your harp?”

          Although I may not have been through the same hurt as you and definitely haven’t experienced the level of the hurts our world is enduring now, all grief holds something in common.

          Decades ago, my husband and I hung up our harps. Weighed down by the circumstances of our grief and pain, we literally could not sing. Not a note. I wouldn’t’ve dreamt then that we’d ever sing again when we could barely face the next day.

          But eventually we did. It didn’t happen overnight. In fact, the healing took decades as the Holy Spirit ministered to us in our brokenness and eventually led us to the willow tree where we’d hung our harps.

          There they were. Waiting.

          Reader, your weeping may endure for a night—or countless nights. But Joy does come in the morning! Psalm 30:5 That’s promised!

          So, dear one, please consider these words:

1)     Don’t sell the harp! It’s okay for it to hang in the willow tree for all the time you need to move forward in your healing journey.

2)     When you’re ready, take down that harp. Dust it. Tune it. Run your fingers across the strings. Pluck a few. You may try playing a simple song, most likely hesitate, then try again.

3)     Now add your voice. That takes great courage, but you can do it! Tears will fall, but you also might find you get through a stanza.

4)     The next time, you may yearn to sing more than one verse. Try looking to Heaven as you lift your voice. Tears may still well in your eyes, but you’ll notice you feel some better. Good job!

5)     It might very well catch you unaware when one day you realize mid-song that Joy harmonizes with you, lightening your heart—something you never expected when you hung up that harp so very long ago; something you would’ve never realized if you’d sold it.

          There’s a great secret—maybe not so secret—that some don’t know, but you will learn now. Here it is:

          When a song’s been restored after brokenness—after the incident that made you hang up your harp—it possesses a richness, a depth of purpose it didn’t have before you were hurt. Before you grieved.

          The song lives, and so now will you. Your song will never be the same. It’ll be better.

          And you just may find yourself saying, “I’m so glad I didn’t sell my harp!”

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Cynthia Clawson - Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus [Live] (youtube.com)

 

 

#captivejews #hangingupharps #lostsong #grief #pain #sadness #music #Godrestores #Joy #sing

 

(Disclaimer: I’m not a professional counselor. My advice simply comes from

what I’ve gleaned during my own grief journey & walk with God.)

 

Photo Credit: creazilla.com