My Experience

Poverty sucks the life from us with worries over which bill won't get paid this month and stress over the rising cost of food or gasoline.... It wears us down until we have nothing left to give to other aspects of life and self.

That's where I was four years ago - drained and deflated by "middle-class" living. In desperation, which bore no resemblance to humility, I knelt at my bedside and prayed one afternoon, demanding a better income from the Lord. I told him I was at my ropes end with living paycheck to paycheck and that I needed a break in life. Basically I demanded he bless me with $100,000 a year, (at the time I thought that was a lot of money). To my astonishment he said simply, "Okay."

"WHAT! WAIT! You mean you'll give it to me? Why?" I wasn't expecting him to give in so easily.

He responded, "I will give you what you ask for, because you will have to go through something that you won't be able to beg or barter your way out of, and I want you to be prepared."

I understood that things were going to happen gradually, but that within a few years it would dawn on us that things were becoming difficult and in a short amount of time things would be down right impossible. I knew that I was born for this time like Noah was meant to build the ark and Columbus was meant to discover the Americas. I would have to go through this.

What Happened Next

In the four years that followed that prayer my husband's salary went steadily from $55,000 to over $100,000 just as the Lord promised. I am not gloating or boasting. I want to share this information with you so that you will know that just as the Lord fulfilled his promise to me to increase our household income, so too will he fulfill the promise that my time is limited before I must face something that I will want to beg and barter my way out of, but I will not be able to escape it. I must go through it. And, brothers and sisters, you will go through it with me.

I have asked the Lord what it is that we must go through. He will not share many of the details with me, but I know that the time is soon upon us when what others have called "the end" will come to be. I don't like that term because it is not the end - in fact, it is a new beginning, a time spoken of by prophets from Adam down to our day. Times are going to be very very tough. Brothers and sisters, are you prepared?

Murphy is about to visit us in a really big way. Getting prepared is the only way to Murphy-proof our lives and defy his law.

The Lord wants us to be prepared because he is counting on us, not only to go through our trials with grace and longsuffering, but to build his kingdom here upon the earth and to serve his children in their need. He is giving us this time to do what we can to be ready. Let us not waste it. Let's make the most of our resources and do what we can to prayerfully change our lives in preparation for what is soon to be upon us.

"Whoa! Wait! Back up!", you say. You are wondering if you understood me right; am I really talking crazy? Am I saying that I believe our world is going to change? Yes, you "heard" me right. I was told in answer to prayer that things are going to change and that I need to be ready. We need to be ready.

He Speaks To Us

I believe the Lord has spoken to you, too, but maybe you didn't understand what that feeling of urgency meant or maybe you are confused by that pit in your stomach or however the Lord is speaking to you. I want you to understand those feelings and promptings. I want you to have the same chance I have to get ready. Maybe hearing my experience will help to clarify what you are feeling.

Or maybe you understood what the Lord is trying to tell you, but you feel incredulous. I don't blame you if you are fighting it. It is incredible to think that our world is changing for good! Either way, whether you understood the communications of the Spirit or not, I can't bear the thought that you might let these few years go by and not use your time carefully because I didn't speak up. For the sake of the one person who will read this and get ready, I am willing to put my neck out there and be the crazy lady who says the sky is falling.

Hit the Panic Button!

I am not trying to cause panic or fear. I do not  think it would be smart to act rashly without first putting a lot of thought into what your actions should be. The first thing to do is create a specific preparedness plan for your family's needs, and then thoughtfully, methodically and prayerfully follow through on that plan. Don't get discouraged and don't waste what time and resources the Lord has blessed you with. Know that the Lord is there for you as you go forth with your preparation.

There are many aspects of preparedness and there are many websites and books already dedicated to them so I am not going to go into a lot of detail here. I just want to mention some of what I think are the most basic areas of life in which we all need to make changes so that we will be ready.

1. Financial Preparedness: get out of debt and have at least a small cash reserve.
2. Food Storage: food, water, toiletries, hygiene products, warm clothing, extra bedding, tents, alternative forms of cooking food and heating our homes.... Learn to cook from scratch as much as possible. Learn to grow and can your own food.
3. Spiritual Preparedness: Read daily in your scriptures, pray often, strengthen your personal relationship with the Lord, increase your personal righteousness and grow your faith, add oil to your lamp
4. Emotional Preparedness: overcome any emotional struggles you might have with depression or anxiety, strengthen family relationships and be on good terms with your neighbors. Going through these times will require a great deal of mental determination, emotional strength and support from loved ones. Have a few board games and books to keep your mind entertained when TV and theaters are no longer affordable or available.
5. Physical Preparedness: exercise, eat proper diet, lose weight if you need to, sleep good hours.

I will share my personal efforts to get ready with you here on this blog, and maybe my experiences will help you in your own preparations. We can do this, together!