Like many others this year, we attempted to contain our spending. Our gifts were mostly baked goods. Little gift packages of a mixture of cookies, oreo truffles, pumpkin pie playdough, canned pumpkin bread, canned butter and dry soup mix, were handed out to friends and family. These were received even more joyously than I expected. Apparently canned goods CAN be exciting to people besides those with with severe addictions to food preservation (ie. ME).
Yes I have discovered in myself a strange and insatiable desire to can, dehydrate, and freeze food. I look at my recipes and think, can i make that from scratch all by myself? What would I need? And how can I do it in bulk?
Some of these desires are explainable.
It is cost efficient to buy in bulk.
It is cost efficient to preserve what you labor or pay for, so it is not wasted.
It is healthier and safer for your family, preparing your own foods and knowing each ingredient included.
If I prepare foods ahead of time, it will save time and effort later.
But I am aware that some reasons are harder to explain. Not because they don't make sense, but because some are loath to admit any veracity to them.
If my breadwinner is unexpectedly out of breadwinning, we will have food.
If due to road closures, poor weather, earthquakes, large meteorites (lol), crop failures, labor strikes, what have you and the stores' shelves are empty, we will have food.
If there is no electricity, we will have food.
The sight of my pantry fills me with joy.
It is beautiful.
And it isn't just about food.
As in the above situations... there are other needs that must be met for the care and well being of my family.
If my breadwinner is unexpectedly out of breadwinning, If due to road closures, poor weather, earthquakes, large meteorites (lol), crop failures, labor strikes, what have you and the stores' shelves are empty, If there is no electricity...
We will still need to keep warm by the use of alternative heat methods, blankets, warm winter gear.
We will still have hygiene needs such as bathing in hot water, washing ourselves with soaps and shampoos, maintaining friendly odors with deodorants, toothpaste, and lotions.
We will still need ways to cook our food and provide some light to our homes.
We will still need to care for injuries until emergency services can arrive or we can get to a medical facility,
I have heard it said that food and supply storage is 1. unnecessary, and 2. unchristian.
As I consider these statements, I am forced to admit a new and interesting title that now describes WHO I AM.
I am a Prepper.
Wierd huh?
I just thought it was part of my learning process, learning how to take care of my family, learning how to save money, learning how to be healthy, learning how to utilize the environment and protect the environment to the best of my ability. I actually just thought it was a logical progression of my attempts to be a wife and mother who lives up to the obligations given by the Lord.
I think the above statements of our "needs" are self explanatory and I do not need to address the necessity of providing a first aid kit and food for my family to protect against the possibility of a winter storm, or the loss of an income, or a hurricane or an earthquake.
So that leaves me to answer this concern that 'prepping' is unchristian, fearful, untrusting that God will take care of his children. But is that the case? Is it 'untrusting' of us, to follow the leading of the Lord to PREPARE for what the future may hold?
Because the truth of it is, the Word DOES tell us to PREPARE, STOCK, PLAN AHEAD.
Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Proverbs 19:15
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.
Proverbs 21: 20
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
Proverbs 22:3
“A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”
“A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”
Proverbs 24:30-34
I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Proverbs 28:19
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
Ecclesiastes 10:18
Because of laziness the building decays,
And through idleness of hands the house leaks.
Because of laziness the building decays,
And through idleness of hands the house leaks.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-11
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he[a] received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he[a] received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
And lastly.....
Genesis 41:17-36
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
“Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
“Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”
I don't know what the future holds. But I know who holds the future. And since I am not convicted by the word..... I'm not going to worry about the nay-sayers. And because I did what I could, I also have freedom from many other worries.
As in Proverbs 31
The Virtuous Wife
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Please note verse 21. Because the Virtuous Wife is industrious and seeing to the care of her family... she does not fear snow for her household is clothed in scarlet. Having seen ahead that winter was indeed coming (as it has many times before), she plans ahead and makes sure her families needs are met.
And this leads me to another consideration. Since I feel I have stated my case biblically, for laboring and storing against future needs..... I am forced to consider that blind faith in a system of food production, transportation and commerce, completely in the hands of secular human beings with no regard to biblical mandates for Christian stewardship, ethical practices for the health and well being of the land used, animals raised, butchering practices, harvesting practices, and in the end, the health and well being of the consumer, but JUST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT MAKES THEM.... could be dangerous. Unfortunately there is plenty of evidence that those dependent on the system are in fact being slowly poisoned by harmful chemicals from pesticides, genetically modified foods, and preservatives that were approved based NOT on merit but on deals made by people in positions to benefit monetarily from their passage into the food market.
The system, and the people running it, DO NOT have your best interests at heart.
The LORD does.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Some blogs of other like minded souls...
AMEN SISTER!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post!
Keep up the great work! The pictures of your storage were beautiful!