When the Disobedience Hits The Fan .....

"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." (Proverbs 27:12)


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So as ol' Debra prepares for when the U.S. reaps even more from what it has sown (have you read The Harbinger ** yet? Yikes. Only because of God's mercy are we still here. I know this.), she's enjoying learning new things.

They say when you stop wanting to learn, you speed-up aging. No worry of that here.

Anyway, what kinds of things have I learned?

How to bake inside a Dutch oven. Who knew it was so easy? Haven't tried it yet, but I did need to buy a small round rack for the inside of mine for when I do.

How to make my own solar oven. I've got my boxes, black spray paint, newspaper, foil and glass-- I just need to put them all together. All my recent experience with my crockpot will pay off with a solar oven. Can't hurt, anyway.

How to extend the life of fresh eggs. This one already helped me. Before we left on vacation, I coated my nearing-their-expiration-date 3-dozen-for-$5 eggs with mineral oil. So far, still beautiful.

How to make an easy Faraday cage to protect your electronics. I actually did this one already.  We placed it in our basement and the nice thing? That helped clear some space upstairs so to store more food and emergency supplies.

How to make a nifty, do-it-yourself sterno stove. I'm aiming to make two of these by next week and to try them with a votive candle, as well.

I also learned that to best store flour, rice and cornmeal, you should freeze them, first, so to kill any insects, then store the packages in sealed plastic bags (with a couple bay leaves as insurance against pests) in a dark place.

And when storing canned goods? Lisa said this here:

"Worried about the “expiration” date on canned food? Well, those dates are set by the food production company and don’t have any bearing on how the food will taste, its nutrients, or safety after that date. If the food was canned correctly and you’ve been storing it in a dry and cool location, theoretically, the food will be safe to consume for years after that stamped date."


Hopefully you don't think I'm too crazy. At least I'm having fun. I'm enjoying all this which I take as signs of balance, obedience, wisdom.

Why do anything ahead of time? Why not just blithely trust that God will provide for Tom and me if something dire should happen? Here is why--


"When it snows, she has no fear for her household;    
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet. (Which she worked at fashioning.)
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
  

Nowhere did the Proverbs 31 woman just lean back upon her pillow and murmur, "If I do nothing, God will provide anyway. He blesses procrastination." Nor did she think, "If things become really tough, we'll just sit around and wait to die."

Uh, no. Heaven forbid.

And when the 5 virgins in Matthew 25 ran out of lamp oil before the bridegroom arrived? No one told them, "Here. You can take my oil which I was faithful enough to prepare ahead of time." Nope, the 5 who did not plan ahead, lost out. Majorly.

Those are just two examples. The Bible speaks of others.

Always, no matter what the circumstances or finances, there's a way to prepare for what is coming. The only limits are the ones we place on God and when it comes to using life-saving wisdom? God will, every time, honor our requests for more.

Always.

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'A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t.' (Proverbs 13:16)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."  ... James 1:5


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The photos? Some of the red rock of New Mexico. Loved that part of our trip so much and only wish I could've captured the beauty much better.

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** Want to see a quick summation of The Harbinger? Watch (or read the article) here.

Oh, the fascinating parallels. The foreshadows. They give me chills.


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Naomi was on the long, long drive back to Atlanta, but now is driving to Philadelphia for another last-minute gig with her NYC band, then to Boston for another concert after that. Oh dear. What a test for Tom and me, especially--all that driving she's doing alone, etc. Any prayers for her safety (and my sanity) over the next 3 days would be much appreciated! Thanks so much.


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What's cooking in my crockpot today?  Tamale pie.  (Yes, again.)  :)