People are very afraid for the future. Many are becoming as independent as they can so when the economy crashes, they can feed their families. I just read this sentence on one of the blogs I read, "I have a friend who believes war is coming. Hunger. Illness. Suffering unlike anything we've seen." When we hear things like this, many hunker down, go off grid, and become completely self-sufficient. Some worry, fret, and live with no joy. Others do what they can to prepare but realize God is ultimately their provider and will take care of them.
I admire those who go off grid. If your husband is convicted about doing that, go for it and try to be content. There is nothing wrong with preparing and living this way. Worrying and fretting about the future is sin. Period. Stop watching the news. Stop listening to the radio. There is nothing you can do to stop whatever is going to happen in the future so why let your fear of the future rob you of your joy today.
If your husband isn't convicted about going off grid and wants to live with the luxuries electricity and gas provides, be happy and enjoy every day. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow anyways. Jesus may appear in the clouds tomorrow and all of us who believe will be taken up with Him. Worrying is a waste of a life.
If God would have told me 25 years ago that I would be filled with parasites and it would be years before they were gone but in the process making me sick. I would have two brain tumors and two brain surgeries, and I would have to have my neck fused, I would have told Him I could not handle it. However, He has been with me giving me strength every step of the way. Has it been easy? NO! It has been extremely difficult but I am here to write about God's faithfulness today.
We aren't suppose to know the future. We are told to smile at the future and take no thought for the future. Instead of worrying about the future, learn to be the best wife to your husband that you can be. Learn to cook healthy food from scratch. Learn to keep a clean home. Love your children, grandchildren, parents, friends, and neighbors. Learn to serve others and have others over for meals. Learn to trust in Jesus. He loves you. He has it ALL under control. He is still on His throne and we know how the story ends.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 25:33,34
Logging you in...
afewthingstoday 18p · 562 weeks ago
This was encouraging to me: "...be happy and enjoy every day. Love your children, grandchildren, parents, friends, and neighbors." Because basically it does all come down to love, and living in the moment we have in front of us. Grace will come in the hard times if necessary (for example like it did for the ten Boom sisters during their time in concentration camps. i used to get terrified about bad things happening and difficult times, but Corrie ten Boom's books are so encouraging because she lived through it with a good testimony, and we don't have to live in fear.)
These websites are very helpful in preparing for anything, even just basic natural disasters that we all go through due to weather. (i love the Preparedness Mama site, her tagline is "Taking the Scared out of Being Prepared") :D
preparednessmama.com/self-reliance-skills/
and beprepared.com/insight
(this is the Emergency Essentials site)
Lori Alexander 122p · 562 weeks ago
Rebecca · 562 weeks ago
Lori, I've noticed that several times on your blog you've said, 'stop watching the news.' I have to disagree with that, if you don't mind. While we're not supposed to worry about the future, I believe we should stay informed about what's going on, good or bad, in the world, and at least keep a 'weather eye' on where the world is going. I don't think that ignoring the news is productive. Whether we watch the news or not, bad things are happening--I prefer to know about them so I can better focus my prayers on the people who are affected, if that makes any sense.
Lori Alexander 122p · 562 weeks ago
wellsbunch2014j 32p · 561 weeks ago
I now watch or listen to one broadcast a day and that is it; sometimes I can go days without watch or listening to it and I have found that my joy is not disturbed anymore.
The Word of God tells us clearly the things we should be thinking on and those things are hardly ever on the news; if ever! I do believe in being prepared, however not because of fear but because as a wife and mama I just think it is a good thing!!
I enjoyed reading your post!!! I hope all is well with you and yours!
Rebecca · 561 weeks ago
That's exactly what I've always done. Any more than that, to me, is just a waste of time precisely because it IS so repetitious! I watch the six oclock local news (or five oclock, depends on what's going on with dinner preps at that time of day), and then the six thirty national news. And that's it. I get the headlines, the weather, and a human interest story or two, and I'm up to date on the day's happenings in just one hour's time (really, less than that as I do other things during the commercials-- and I skip the sports news completely! LOL).
I really don't find the news to be scary, at least not in the sense that it would give me nightmares or anything. Sad, sometimes shocking, yes, but I don't believe we're supposed to hide away from those things and avoid those feelings altogether. I think we're supposed to face them head on, with God's help, and use them to help us grow in faith and trust, and empathy as well. I always shielded my children from the news when they were young, of course, but I'm an adult and know how to process the news in my mind appropriately.
Not to mention, watching a bit of news every day gives me and my husband that much more to talk about when he gets home from work in the evenings. (He doesn't always want to hear about my day of cleaning, cooking, and laundry. LOL.) We often have really great discussions about the political news of the day, for instance. I know my husband is interested in the subject, and if I didn't keep somewhat informed I wouldn't be able to talk with him about it. The news isn't ALL doom and gloom, sometimes it's about things that affect our communities and our lives, for good or ill, and if we don't know what's going on with, say, the local school board or the city council, or the latest activity in the state legislature, how can we make our own voices heard?
Stopping now as I seem to always want to write an essay! Ha ha.
wendytamaryoung 37p · 561 weeks ago
prov31 19p · 562 weeks ago
I don't watch the news, but I do enjoy reading a newspaper. That lets me take in the news at a pace that is more emotionally comfortable for me.
Rebecca · 561 weeks ago
Also wanted to add that my above 'essay' is only my own opinion and what works for me and my husband. :)
jillsremedies 17p · 562 weeks ago
helen · 562 weeks ago
'I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future'
Blessings
Helen UK
wellsbunch2014j 32p · 561 weeks ago
mary · 561 weeks ago