inspired preparation

I feel the need to write something quickly about keeping your efforts in prepping as a matter of prayer and allowing God to inspire you in the decisions you make.

I’m not sure how many of you that stumble upon my blog believe in God, that’s fine if you don’t.  I do.  I believe that He lives and loves us and wants us to be successful in all things.

I’m convinced because of my own experiences that if you listen to your heart, gut, intuition…you name it, you’ll be led to opportunities that will allow you to prepare even during difficult times.  It’s my personal belief that this is God communicating with you through subtle thoughts and ideas.

A couple of recent examples in my life:
1.  I’ve been feeling VERY impressed to buy and save anything made from cotton.  So, for about two months now I’m picking up socks, t-shirts, underwear, towels and sheets.  No big deal.  However, I was actually kidded/mocked by people–who keep food storage– for my new focus.  I was a bit offended but just kept on doing my thing.  Not a couple of days later, an email came through on a yahoogroup to which I belong from a lady that is a seamstress.  She talked about the prices of fabric climbing quickly just in a couple of weeks.  At the end of her post, she made the suggestion to get out and start putting away anything made from cotton because the prices on fabric would rise to 150-200% by this summer and commercial ready-to-wear clothing would shortly follow.  HELLO!  I felt so very grateful that I had been listening to my “inner voice”.

2.  Right after this email came in from this seamstress, I got a flyer in the mail from Joann’s Fabric announcing a great big sale.  I emailed the seamstress and she put together that great document about what types of fabric, notions and patterns to stock.  Again, a great blessing for me and for you because she allowed me to post it on my blog.

3.  At the end of last week, I offered up a silent and silly prayer that I’d be ok if God let me rest a week from buying anything major for preps.  He laughed, actually it was more of a chuckle really. 🙂  I felt impressed to stock up on soap.  Different types of soap.  Laundry detergent as well as the type of soaps one can use to make homemade laundry detergent, and of course, body soap.  Lo and behold–sale big sale on laundry detergent at the local grocery store this week.  So, needless to say, I’m stocking up.

Everyone’s circumstances are different.  I encourage you to listen to your own “inner voice”.  You’ll hear the whisperings.  Act on them.  It may be an idea from someone else.  It may be that you just happen to run into an unadvertised sale or a store is clearancing out winter items or something like that.  I’ve had that happen to me a lot recently as well.  Stay within your budget.  But I can guarantee you that if you’re purposeful and grateful, your blessings will increase and you’ll be astonished at your abundance.  That I know for a fact because I’m living it.  Oh, you’ll still have trials….that’s the fun part. Maintaining your purpose and dealing with a few challenges.  God’s got your back though.  Believe it!

Oh and it doesn’t always have to be about buying something.  Could be you find some canning jars for free on Craigslist or Freecycle–that’s happened to me a bunch of times.  Could be some fine and dandy person teaches you how to can or garden or sew or knit or make soap.  Keep your options open.  And always remember to be grateful and pay it forward.  We’re all here to love and help one another.  You just might be the answer to someone’s prayer.

Good luck.  I’d love to hear your experiences with inspiration when it comes to prepping.