Greetings

I have been thinking and praying about all the things shared here on SI concerning future events and things that are happening. I had a question that I would really appreciate some advice on. I have been working at becoming debt free, and have been managing my budget pretty tightly but of late I feel a sense or urging that I need to perhaps spend more on food and other necessity items that I might store for possible future events. I am not sure if this is from Father or if it is just a fearful reaction of the flesh because of all the things that I have been reading. I don't want to walk in fear,I know that God is in control and will provide, but I know that there is wisdom in being a prepared as He gives provision also.

Praying to know if I should continue to pay down my debt, to get it paid in full in the fastest time, or if I should work toward paying off my debt while putting some extra aside for times of struggle that may lay ahead??? Does anyone have any thoughts or anything that Father is showing you that you might feel led to share??

Thanks for any thoughts
God Bless
MJ

Dear Sister MaryJane,

What my husband and I feel is to do both. I have been reading that the farmers have not been able to get the loans they normally take out at the beginning of the season and payin gthem off with the harvest. If they do not get the loans, they can not plant. If they do not plant . . . . Pray for those who do not have a pantry full.

We do not have the means to buy bulk, but we have 1 acre to plant a large garden and this is what we are working towards. Already have the seeds, trying to get as many trees down before time to plant. Too many roots in the ground in the back, so we are going to lay out a tire garden. Normal one in the front yard. Do you have any space to plant anything?

I am buying lots of brown rice & dry beans. Cooking oil and matches and all the other things that may vanish off the shelves in the coming months. Preparing to hunker down and do what work the Lord puts in front of us.

Hope this gives you something to think over.

Kindest regards to you and your family,
white stone

_________________
Janice

My family and I have been stockpiling for a few years now. My husband, son and I all felt impressed upon by the Lord to do so. The last time I was roatating our supply and adding to the shelves, I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me that this food was not only for our family, but to be used as a way to reach people who are suffering in the days ahead. I know when the time comes, it is going to be a real sacrafice to do so, but I'm trusting that the Lord will give me the Grace at the time it is needed most.

We've basically been storing food that last a long time, and that we like. Also, trying to pick foods that are nutrious as possible. Here is an example of some things we have choosen.

baked beans
brown bread
olive oil
dry fruit
canned fruit (without heavy syrup)
canned veggies (mostly canned tomatoes)
pasta
pasta sauce
nuts
condensed milk
tuna fish
beef jerky
granola bars
water
juice


Hope this helps

Tina

_________________
tina

Greetings white stone

I live in the desert so farming is not really an option. My backyard is a huge rock sage brush filled mountain and the front is hard rock and clay that we zero scape long time ago when we were in a drought. We have in years passed had a small garden bed to grow tomato's though but that is all. I can buy in bulk though, I have a large freezer and some pace to store canned goods, dry foods, things like that.

Tina- those are really good suggestions. Thank your very much for sharing.

I can if I stop making double and triple payments on some of my debt, I can buy more food and such to have on hand but not sure as I said if this is Fathers heart for us or if I am acting in the flesh. I will be praying about this, it is good to know what Father is showing others about this though. Thank you very much for sharing

God Bless
MJ

I would encourage everyone to be wise to the evil day that lies ahead, but be sure it is the Lord telling you how much to keep and not your flesh...

There are brethren that are already suffering around the world... Matthew 25

/////Old Joe wrote:
Probably best to keep that on the quiet side. There is a site I visit where people are stockpiling guns and ammo to come take your supplies. They are not what you would consider friendly people, but they need to hear the gospel too..../////

MaryJane,

I would listen to Old Joe even though he wasn't talking to you per se. It doesn't matter if we stockpile, even to help others, jealousy will come and take it away and maybe kill you in the process. There will be nothing you can do; if you cook, they will smell it. If your trash piles up, they will see it. If you don't lose weight like everyone else is doing, they will notice. There is nothing to fear. This is what I was talking about in that other thread... it's getting exciting!

Sister, this next phase will be by faith and not by sight or touch but pure faith! Just thihnk, the whole Bible is our example... every single thing that He did for others for the last 6,000 years, He will do for you and me!!

I would spend like there was no tomorrow; spend time on my knees, spend time in the Word, send time laying up my treasure where moth doesn't corrupt!! Spend time learning the voice of the Holy Spirit a LOT better than I know it now because one day they may come and take away our Bibles too!

That shouldn't scare us either, we've only had the printed word for 600 years while they walked with the Holy Spirit for 1400 years before that!! And I can tell you that they did a whole lot more without the printed word than we've done with it. All we've done is get theologically proud and fought over individual verses and what they mean and created individual camps of disbelief. God have mercy.

That's what I'm talking about... it's getting exciting! I don't know how excited I will be in a couple of years :-P but I think it is so now!!

God bless you MaryJane!! Let's look up, our redemption draweth nigh!!

_________________
Lisa

5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.


Note Jesus says;
"10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down."

Remember God aint broke

Dear Lysa,

We DO live in interesting times. Your post was very enlightening about the printed word. Thank you for pointing that out. I feel you are right. For all the benefits we have been given, we have been unprofitable servants compared to the early Christians.

Trying to do as you suggested and immerse myself in His word. Grateful for the opportunity to do so.

Kindest regards,
white stone

_________________
Janice

Jesus did say not to worry about what we will eat and what we will wear?
So definitely whether we pile or not, we need to be free from the worry, knowing that God is our Father and He will provide. Yes we need to be wise, we should not be like the rich farmer who built up barns and had his assurance on that.

Jesus did say, to owe no man anything but love. So it definitely make sense to priortize on clearing ones debt. But at the same time have suffucinet "working capital" funds for day to day needs and the possible contigencies. And yet we trust only in HIM and not our bank balance.

I will tell you this, that there is nothing like being free from debt. God will have complete freedom to use you and what He has given you without any hinderance.

Think about this, what if hard times fall and the money is drained and we still have debt? What use of the stored cans if they will take it all from us. But what if we run out of money but we owe no man anything. This is just a practical thought, but cant we still find even the meanest of labour to feed ourselves.
But let us not forget that Our Father fed the multidude in the desert, He send a raven to feed His prophet, He multiplied the loaves and fish. He feeds the birds and clothes the lillies, but it is for us that He gave His only Son.

In a time where there is "social secutrity" benefits, inusrance policy, piled up reserves, bank balances,etc we need God's grace and His intervention so that we will truly be able to depend only on HIM, despite the fact that God might have given us some of the above mentioned
'reserves'.
Let us admit our lack and ask God for wisdom so that we will priortize the way He wants to priortize and not by human reason but on the strong fact the God who created the heavens and the earth, He who loves us so as to die for us, The almighty is the one whom we call our Father and The one who is our Saviour. He will provide and we shall not want.