BE PREPARED

"Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them . . ." Ezekiel 38:7 (English Standard Version © 2001)

It doesn’t matter if we are talking about the military, planning a vacation, setting goals for life, or participating in the Boy Scouts, the motto is Be Prepared. This morning I took my husband, Bill, to the Emergency Room in severe pain. On a scale of 0-10, he reported 9. This from a man who once sewed his own finger back on when he nearly completely severed it with a hedge trimmer. We he needs help, he’s nearly past benefitting from the help offered. Luckily, he had a kidney stone, not a deadly illness. Not so lucky, was in acute pain and still is as I write this. But, he is home and were I can keep my eye on him.

What I learned was how ill-prepared I was. I had no phone numbers in my cell phone for members of the church he has been serving for a year. I had to call information. I had no way of reaching our oldest daughter who had left of vacation this morning. They had their cell phones off. I was able to reach our daughter in Texas and one here in Huntington and messaged our son on FB in Afghanistan. The point is, bad things happen to other people - not to us - or so I thought.

We have our spiritual heart prepared for a daily commune with the Lord, but we do not prepare our physical heart nor our relationship heart. There’s always time to put a few phone numbers in the cell phone to make sure we an contact people when illness strikes. There is always time to eat and exercise properly before the heart attack happens - that’s later, not now.

We are neither thoughtful nor prayerful when we aren’t prepare-ful. Imagine a few scenarios and see if you have a plan in place - something as simple of putting a few contacts in your cell phone. Asking friends and family to pray for a loved one, is not possible if you don’t have access to phone numbers. Be prepared for Life as will as Heaven. Let us pray:

"Holy Father, we bow before your sweet presence. We admit that we have prepared for life in Heaven and life in the Kingdom of God, be we are ill prepared for Life in your world here on earth. We cannot draw others to you if we can’t find their phone number. We ask that you give us a heart for living this life you have given us as well as preparing our soul to dwell with you. May each day be a joy because we are prepared to live it and prepared to share it with you. In the name of Jesus Christ, your son and our redeemer we pray. Amen"

Doris

"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2013 Doris Gaines Rapp
Friday July 12, 2013 7pm - Author Discussion & Book signing, Barnes & Noble Mishawaka, IN

Saturday July 13, 2013 2pm - Book Signing at Barnes & Noble, Jefferson Point, Ft Wayne, IN

Saturday July 20, 2013 1pm - Book Signing at Barnes & Noble, The Shoppes of Beavercreek, Beavercreek, OH

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