Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. Ecclesiastes 11:1-2
In my case, I see it this way for earthly matters. Water, Sustainability/food, Land/Real Estate, Stock, Energy, Cash/Holdings, Precious metals, Long Term Dividends
In sorting through financial decision and economic planning I have two sources of counsel. My Heavenly Father, YHWH and my earthly father, Daddy. Both are very accomplished and very, very economical. My Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and my earthly father owns several acres of rangeland which he rents to cattle ranchers. There is a connection . . . Abba is Master and Creator. Daddy is a steward and caretaker, and in this annexed Roman empire, also a taxpayer!
I came into a bit of money as of late. It was really strange. It seemed as if, every place I turned there was some unexpected money. It wasn't large amounts, but it did add up. That in itself seemed significant. I'm not one given to nickel and diming, so it didn't take long to see there was a definite accumulation of funds happening. Then there was the gift from Abba and the gift from Daddy, that really compelled me to make a few decisions! Here I'm sitting with unexpected cash and found money. I already know from Scripture, burying it is out of the question! And with the interest rate set by the Federal Reserve, the bank is no different than digging a hole. Precious metals seem to be on the decline from the artificially inflated pricing through this recent Great Recession, so I'm watching for those opportunities.
I prayed, and I called Daddy. Interestingly Abba and I had virtually the same discussion Daddy and I had. With both of them, I discussed the fact that paper money had virtually no value, and that banks could basically not be trusted. We also discussed a credit line that would not be revolving, but simply a number for transaction in the event of economic breakdown. I discussed land and precious metals with both Abba and Daddy. Also discussed, was the topic of "stock!" I liquidated my Wall Street portfolio in late 2006 or early 2007 per the leading of YHWH. My stock is now four legged, and as Daddy pointed out, is yielding higher earnings than Wall Street. Not to count chicks before they are hatched or goats before they arrive, but on average; the herd more than doubles annually, yielding about a 150% increase in dividends. Chickens produce enough eggs to keep me in eggs, as well as able to sell and donate many dozen, while still producing hatchlings to replenish the flock.
The beauty of this stock plan is the fact it doesn't depend upon any backroom deals or market fluctuation. There are months in which goats sell higher than other months, but I also have the option to let them graze another month, at virtually no cost through the summer. So far, unlike Wall Street, livestock prices are not terribly volatile and there's certainly been no steady decline. Livestock prices basically depend upon seasons of birthing and breeding, and rain regarding pasture.
When it comes to land, I cannot manage as much as my Heavenly Father or my earthly father. I'm maxed out at 10 acres. Between 10 and 40 acres is more than I can manage without real farm equipment, and the big operators won't touch less than 40 acres for anything, so . . . for now, 10 acres it is. When seeking the land, I had heard specifically that it was to have a well. That covers land and water!
I've even had to figure in the long term tax situation. In speaking with Daddy, I told him, I couldn't afford the taxes on his land in his state. The thing about land, though; is it really doesn't take much to afford one self-sustainability. That's not to say an income from farming, but it only takes a few acres to pasture one's own milk supply, meat and eggs, and have a garden of fresh produce. Even on ten acres, with flocks, herds, and a garden, I have enough room to fence off a temporary space for a new experiment when an idea hits, as well as rotate pastures. The orchard appears to be coming along nicely.
Daddy introduced the next topic in our conversation, and it also was one I'd already discussed with Abba. He said energy was a good investment, but not for short term profit. He was of course referring to stock, but never used the term, other than to mention the long term dividends. I sat listening to his wisdom, realizing, I had already invested in energy. Another wind turbine and solar panels arrived less than a week before this conversation. Just like he described, this "investment" wasn't for short term profit or turn over, but for long termed dividends. If Messiah tarries, it could still be a blessing to folks long after I'm gone.
So, in both conversations, confirmation was established. Water, food, land, stock, precious metals, available funds, and energy, all of which, are "holdings" of which I am called to be a faithful steward. If I am doing this according to the Will of my Heavenly Father in covenant with His Son, the long term dividends will prosper now, leave an inheritance; and the relationship is for all eternity.
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