Volume 2022: Edition 14
Food for thought: A Preppers Guide
Hello everyone, and welcome back. We apologize for the missed Newsletters last month and this month and we thank you for your patience. We are going to jump right back into our usual routine, so we appreciate you coming back for the update this week and month.
In the world we live in we are hearing a lot of chatter on social media, the world web, the news, and among friends about preparing for whatever is to come: World War III, the next pandemic, food shortages, nuclear disasters, natural disasters, and the end. This topic of "preparedness" has been an ongoing conversation for centuries. Every survivalist and prepper will give you a list or a guide to the canned foods, amount of water, medical supplies, weapons, ideal locations, skill sets, and other essentials needed to be properly prepared. However, as Matt S. mentions in his article "What does the bible say about being prepared", God has His own list and guide to the physical, mental, and spiritual preparedness needed for our troubles and for our inevitable end known as: The Bible.
The Bible is our guide, our instructions, and our prep list for our lives on earth and our return to His heavenly kingdom. His words hold all the wisdom and knowledge we need to prepare for whatever comes our way. However, we have to accept Him into our lives first and allow Him and the Holy spirit to guide our lives and make the changes needed so we can be in the right stage or season of our lives to properly prepare the way He wants us to. Just like the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, we have to wait patiently and constantly fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit in order to be prepared for and guided to the "wedding feast": our return to His heavenly kingdom. We can't fall asleep and forget to fill ourselves with the Holy spirit and seek God throughout our lives because when He does come for us, and we have not filled our lamps, it is already too late. We have to be constantly seeking out His presence and sowing His words into our hearts.
So be prepared for not just for a disaster to strike physically, but mentally, and spiritually through God's words and the guidance of the Holy spirit in our lives. Just some food for thought...
The Parable of the 10 Virgins:
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
(Matthew 25:1-13)
Physical Preparedness:
"for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
(1 Timothy 4:8)
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies."
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Mental Preparedness:
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
(1 Peter 5:8)
"A prudent person sees evil and hides himself,
But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty."
(Proverbs 22:3)
Spiritual Preparedness:
"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.43 But [a]be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into."
(Matthew 24:42-43)
"“Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is."
(Mark 13:33)
"Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit. You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves."
(Luke 12:35-38)
"But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
(Luke 21:36)
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken."
(Luke 21:25-26)
We are grateful to have you with us as readers, church members, and interested guests and we are always open to any suggestions and volunteers for our website, newsletter, and future activities. We hope to see you at our Sunday services and stay tuned for our coming newsletters and updates at church, at bible study, on Facebook, on the Wix-App, and on the website weekly!
Upcoming Events:
Special Prayers:
Pray for those affected by Covid within our Church
Pray for Lynnette and Timmy for Time and comfort
Pray for the people of Ukraine that the Lord be with them
Pray for the continued healing of our church.
Weekly Devotional: I Am Unchanging
In a world of unrelenting changes, God is the one who never changes. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Find in Me the stability for which you have yearned.
He created a beautifully ordered world: one that reflects His perfection. Now, however, the world is under the bondage of sin and evil. Every person on the planet faces gaping jaws of uncertainty. The only antidote to this poisonous threat is drawing closer to God. In His Presence you can face uncertainty with perfect peace.
Young, S. (2n.d.). Jesus calling: Enjoying peace in his presence: Devotions for every day of the year. Integrity Publishers.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
(Revelation 22:13)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"
(John 16:33)
Verse of the Week:
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
(John 15:5)
Communal Outreach:
Please email berthoudfoursquarechurch@gmail.com , call (970)405-3053, or connect with us on the Wix-app if you have any interest in the following...
Float Committee for the Berthoud Christmas Parade
Rebooting Youth Group
Questions?
For any questions or suggestions regarding our newsletter please email berthoudfoursquarechurch@gmail.com or call (970)405-3053
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