Be Prepared: The Boy Scout Motto

[NukePooch]

For those who aren't aware, the Boy Scout motto is 'Be Prepared'. That means you should be prepared to deal with situations as they arise. Note: You can't ever be prepared for EVERY situation, but any level of preparedness is better than none.

So... We (should) know that we need to be prepared to enter eternal life with God, but what about our time here on earth?
If you haven't been aware lately, the signs in the heavens are getting louder, brighter, and bolder. Weather patterns and events are increasing in frequency and magnitude. We have been called to prepare for the future, both eternally in heaven AND during our time here on earth.

Noah built the ark and was told to fill it with 'every sort of food that is eaten'. (Gen 6:21)
Joseph stored up Egypt's grain to prepare for famine. (Genesis 41)
Proverbs says the prudent see danger and hide themselves. (Proverbs 27:12)
Jesus tells the crowds to share clothing and food with those who have none. (Luke 3:10-11)
Paul states that we are to 'provide for relatives and members of our household, else we have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers'. (1 Timothy 5:8)

God never wanted us to sit back and do nothing. We have been called to work in His name, and our work will be multiplied. Jesus could have made wine from nothing, but he had the servants draw up gallons of water from the well first. He could have flown in some heavenly pizza to feed the crowds, but instead he used what a little boy had prepared for his lunch.

Our ancestors understood this. They stored food, because they knew they were responsible for their own survival. Modern society has lost touch with that skill. Here in America, our grocery stores run on what's known as a 'just-in-time' system. That means there generally aren't hundreds of tons of food stored in the backrooms of grocery stores, but rather when items run low on the shelves, they are ordered and are delivered in a few days. If a disaster occurs, and the trucks can't make it to the stores, the stores will run out of food in three days or so. We need to have enough food and water stored to survive at least a couple of weeks. Most people are lucky to make it a couple of days. You aren't going to want to get out in public with the rest of the mobs searching for food. I'm not really talking about bomb shelters, 15 years of food, and 'Doomsday Preppers', but rather common sense preparedness.

Personally, I find it really easy to pick up an 'extra something' when I go shopping...an extra can or box of food, bar of soap, toilet paper, etc...

So, if anyone has any ideas they'd like to share with the room, by all means, let's hear it. Also, if you feel there's no need to prepare, feel free to state why. If you'd like to PM me about it, that's fine as well. I would be glad to help you figure out where to get started.

 

[Tommy4Christ]

Is your soul prepared?
But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit!

Joh 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25 He who loves his life shall lose it. And he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
These powerful words from the mouth of Jesus Himself sum up in a nutshell, what real repentance unto salvation produces in the contrite sinner seeking reconciliation back to God!
This grain of wheat represents the struggling sinner, coming to self as the prodigal and whole city of Nineveh did, broken through a deep crisis of conviction. This death of the flesh (grain of wheat) must occur through repentance in order for it to bring fourth much fruit!
So death must occur for the grain to grow and produce a good crop, and we must also bear this death of the flesh, in order to walk the holy, sanctified life unto God, pleasing in His sight, ready to grow into the man or woman of God He desires up to be, set free from the bondages of sin, and the love of the world!
But this death comes with a high price, many refuse to pay, because they have bought into satans masterpiece, telling the lost sinner, he doesn’t have to repent, or stop any vile sins, but to just confess, and receive Jesus while their flesh is alive and well, and remains that way until they do this first:
Jas 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and overflowing of evil, receive in meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Yes this death MUST occur, or nothing happened, you are still defiled, and sold under sin, Jesus didn’t magically transfer His righteousness and obedience onto you, you cannot transfer another’s persons virtue onto someone else, it’s all about free choice and ability.
You choose to die in repentance (putting to death all sins leading to death) and if this death is real and genuine, then new growth can now take place, with a heart cleansed and purged of all defilement and disobedience to God!
The new convert in Christ, will now be hungry for the truth, and righteousness, dead to the world, and his old life, now alive to the kingdom of God, dead to self, and now alive to the spirit within him!
You must hate your old life that was bent on destruction, full of lust and worldliness, now focused on your new life walking the narrow road with Christ in the lead, showing you the way, as you mimic and follow Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit!
You don’t do it on your own, or in your own power or strength, but IN the power of the spirit, and the word of God that wells up inside of you, as you now can learn and understand it with a clear conscience, filled and being led by the spirit of truth!
So as commanded by God, you must crucify your flesh (die) as the grain of wheat did, then seek the mercy of God, alive and submissive to His command’s, ready to obey Him from a heart of love, devotion, and fear!
Eze 18:31 Cast away (REPENT) from you all your sins by which you have sinned; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
This casting away produces death to the old man, now ready to make a new heart and spirit unto the Lord, alive and converted into a true Saint, free from death and condemnation!
Tommy

 

[Jullianna]

There are certain things I never allow myself to get low on. My grandmother really made an impression upon me when she talked about the Depression (I love talking with elderly people, particularly about their life's struggles and the wisdom they gleaned from them). She always kept her pantry well stocked because she remembered having "nothing but potatoes and red eye gravy" to eat. This is also why I'm glad I know how to plant a garden/do canning, sew and slaughter livestock if I ever need to. These situations should especially stir us to share Christ with greater boldness while there is still time.

 

[Enow]

I voted other and to explain by His grace and by His help His word for preparedness.

Luke 12:[SUP]31 [/SUP]But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. [SUP]32 [/SUP]Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [SUP]33 [/SUP]Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. [SUP]34 [/SUP]For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [SUP]35 [/SUP]Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; [SUP]36 [/SUP]And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. [SUP]37 [/SUP]Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. [SUP]38 [/SUP]And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. [SUP]39 [/SUP]And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. [SUP]40 [/SUP]Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

This preparedness is required in order to attend the Marriage Supper where Christ as the Bridegroom returns from the wedding and receive those ready and found abiding in Him to be made to sit down to eat.

Setting our heart to treasure the things above is what is needed if we are to value leaving all that we have in this world to answer the One that calls us to come.

1 Timothy 6:[SUP]5 [/SUP]Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. [SUP]6 [/SUP]But godliness with contentment is great gain. [SUP]7 [/SUP]For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [SUP]8 [/SUP]And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. [SUP]9 [/SUP]But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [SUP]10 [/SUP]For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [SUP]11 [/SUP]But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. [SUP]13 [/SUP]I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; [SUP]14 [/SUP]That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Going back to Luke 12th chapter, Peter had asked if this was applying to them as His disciples or to all believers? Jesus responds in that the consequences will apply to all believers, including His disciples if they heed not His words.

Luke 12:[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? [SUP]42 [/SUP]And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? [SUP]43 [/SUP]Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. [SUP]44 [/SUP]Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. [SUP]45 [/SUP]But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; [SUP]46 [/SUP]The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.[SUP]47 [/SUP]And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. [SUP]48 [/SUP]But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. [SUP]49 [/SUP]I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

Since God is coming to judge His House first, it stands to reason that those that hear Him, will lean on Him for help to heed His words and do them so that they may continue in His words to be found abiding in Him as His disciples to be chosen to attend the Marriage Supper in His honour and thus avoiding those stripes as well as avoding being left behind.

 

[DuchessAimee]

Nuke, I know you're talking about preparing for events in life buy purchasing food, extra items of whatever nature, etc. But I took your post to mean that I need to prepare for changes that are coming in my life. For instance, I'll be graduating with my AAS this year, and I want to jump into a nursing program ASAP afterwards. I want to move out of California and establish myself in another state. And in order to make these changes and more, I have to prepare for it. Put one foot in front of the other and do what needs to be done. There are many things about my life and situation I'd like to change, and I love, love, LOVE how God teaches and reveals different things to different people via the same message.

 

[NukePooch]

Jullianna and Duchess, this is what I was getting at. So many focus on one area of preparation, if they prepare at all, when we need to be well-rounded and multi-talented, if that phrase fits here....Again, as I said in my original post, we know we need to be prepared for Heaven, but there is additionally so much more that we were put here on earth to do as well.

Everyone needs to prepare for whatever may come, in whatever way they can prepare. Again, I know you can't have every solution for every situation, but it is important to do what we can with what we are given. We need to set our heart on God, but not lose sight that we are not yet with Him. We have to continue to work and provide and plan and step out in faith while we are here on earth while still striving for eternity in Heaven.

 

[Liamson]

[video=youtube;08-uyfp2iPM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08-uyfp2iPM[/video]


I don't mean to derail but, this thread reminded me of this.

 

[kayem77]

Option #2. I want to prepare for my life, but since I feel like I'm just starting doing what I'm supposed to I feel that I still have so much to do in a general sense. I prepare for things like food, clothes,etc. but I want to prepare for the long-term future: my career, personal ministry, and future family. I'm trying to go step by step, watching and learning, and following God's footsteps.

If we are talking about being mentally prepared, I think I am. I've learned by experience that God can take you anywhere if it is his will. That doesn't mean I don't financially prepare though; I'm planning on saving some money for whatever I decide to do career-wise, and just for any unpremeditated circumstances.