by Joseph | Jun 25, 2026 | Preparation, Sharing
A lot of people know that I have been working on preparation for quite a while. I am often asked to share what I am doing (currently) to prepare.
To help me stay focused (and not feel overwhelmed), I keep a working list that I continually update with items I feel are very important in the preparation journey. Of course, I also try to regularly post to this blog – as it enables me to share some insights I have from my journey, and what I feel is impressed upon my heart.
A couple of weeks ago, I posted an article on the progress of some of my family’s efforts to get ready for events that we believe are coming. Every day we work on our list – and involve every member of our family in the process.
Before I share an update on our progress, I found it quite interesting that today on CNN – Glenn Beck published an article that is right in line with this whole notion of preparation. from my perspective, his comments and insights are right on target as he mentions the need to prepare – and not panic. If you are interested, you can View the article here.
Anyway, let me get to my preparation. Let me encourage you to start your own list of things you want to work on to prepare. It will help you stay focused, and feel less stressed about the events that are unfolding.
These are in no particular priority order, and this is not at all my comprehensive list. I have some other items that I’ve prepared – but will not disclose those for security reasons:
- My family has developed a fully-stocked heirloom vegetable seed (and seed potatoes) bank. We’re going to be getting some flowers as well.
- Have a strong supply of nutrient dense URI products (dehydrated whole-food powder) for nutritional needs. The Feast and Barley Pure are a necessity for my family, and the product has a 2 year shelf life. (more…)
by Joseph | Jun 25, 2026 | Preparation, Sharing
As I’ve shared about the Preparation Call God has given me, I struggled with “why” things are so difficult. It seems that God’s preparation for leadership involves times of long waiting, painful experiences, rejection from people we love, and even isolation.
I often consider Moses, as he was raised as royalty and had everything he could ever want or need. Obviously, he was pretty comfortable in his lifestyle – and I can imagine that he was pretty stable with the way things were going. God had other plans.
To become the leader God wanted, Moses had to be prepared. He had to deal with some pretty difficult changes, and I feel certain he had to understand the concept of Faith beyond wealth and prosperity. If he were going to be able to free a nation, he would need a heart change.
Moses was forced to flee into the desert – completely removed from his comfort zone. He would now have to deal with some very difficult years of preparation.
Moses went from having incredible wealth, to complete and utter devastation. He went from being a prince with all the accolades that went with living in the house of Pharaoh, to being a vagrant in the desert without anyone around. Everything he knew was now destroyed. He was alone, tired, and empty. Now, he had to learn to adjust to his circumstances – and endure an extended time of waiting.
I can only imagine the pain of the waiting, and the impatience he must have felt. I assume he felt he would live out is days in the land of Midian.
We all know the story how God appeared to Moses in a burning bush. It was 40 years from the day he arrived, and now God was able to use Moses to accomplish the assignment. The years of difficulty and discomfort had prepared the vessel to accomplish the work.
I’ve learned that preparation is difficult, but it is vital to season the vessel. It is critical to build character and Faith, and for understanding and wisdom. Do not try to shortcut the desert time of God. Trying to escape the desert will only prolong the journey. Learn what is expected, and be thankful for the Preparation Call that God has given. He has an amazing assignment ahead for those who endure.
by Joseph | Jun 25, 2026 | Preparation, Sharing
My wife and I are blessed with three beautiful children. My youngest is about to be 21 years old.
I had the incredible joy of experiencing the birth of each of my kids, and welcoming them into their family. I was with my wife at every moment during the labor.
We often joke about the moments of labor, and how I tried to comfort my wife during the contractions. It was certainly a painful experience for my precious wife, but also a beautiful time in our lives. Most parents can relate to the difficulties of the birth process and the incredible joy that followed.
There is a growing intensity in everything right now. To me, it is a reminder of the labor pains that we went through as our beautiful children were preparing to join our family. They started with minor discomforts, and intensified quickly – as the time of their arrival drew near.
Our Messiah shares that during the last days we will experience difficulties, and then related them to the pangs of labor. Obviously, I believe that means we will see increasing intensity as we draw nearer to His return.
“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” Mark 13:8 NAS
I often think about the events that led up to the birth of my children. What if I had not taken my wife to the hospital as she was entering into labor. What if she and I had delayed in our preparations for our children? It seems to reason that things would have been extremely difficult.
Preparation is vital – especially now in the beginning of the birth pangs. The new birth is coming soon, and we have no more time to delay.
by Joseph | Jun 25, 2026 | Preparation, Sharing
WARNING!
I believe a World War is fast approaching and it is becoming increasingly essential that we are getting prepared.
Before I share some thoughts, let me start by saying that I post this with a very heavy heart. I struggle that many people may find the comments I will share to be disturbing or painful. Certainly, it is not my intent to discourage anyone or bring fear. On the contrary, I know we have a Redeemer – and in Him we have Life Everlasting. The purpose of this writing (and the blog in its entirety) is to hopefully provoke actions in preparation.
As I begin sharing a few things, I encourage the reader to pray. Draw close to God and ask Him to carefully prepare you and open your heart to what He wishes to change and establish in you. Ask Him to give you wisdom and discernment.
The things I share here are only my opinions – based on what I believe God has laid on my heart. I suspect that many of my comments will be viewed as controversial and perhaps even a bit alarmist. I am fine with that, as I am only sharing what I believe I am supposed to share.
Years ago, I received a “Preparation Call”. I am not a theologian and in Sunday School had never heard of a “Preparation calling” being something that was available or desired. So, my preparation call was somewhat bizarre. In fact, the calling came at a time when things were very prosperous in America – and long before anyone even heard of terrorism. Our economy was robust, and outlook was encouraging. To get a preparation call during that time was just weird. But… I just felt that God laid on my heart to begin getting prepared, and be ready to help others get prepared. So whatever that meant, I have since tried to live in full surrender to it.
Now… wherever you go, it seems that more-and-more people are getting prepared. People “feel” something is coming, and they are trying to find answers on how to prepare. Unfortunately, there are people who are now using this new heightened sense of concern to spread fear and worry. Some are even using fear to profit. They call themselves “modern day prophets”, when in fact they are only after modern day profits. God will bring them to task.
So, back to the point of this post. Again, let me emphasize that I firmly believe a World War is coming, and it is vitally important that we are preparing ourselves and our families. I believe it will be quite an intense time for everyone. For those who have ignored the call to prepare, it could get frightening.
There are many, many people out there who believe a battle in the Middle East is brewing. I not only think it is brewing, I believe it is imminent. The Bible alerts us of the importance of this are in the final days, and it is becoming more obvious by the moment that we are seeing the stage being prepared for war. (more…)
by Joseph | Jun 25, 2026 | Preparation, Sharing
I have always been fascinated by the subject of preparedness and really have been impressed with a preparation call. I have never been one to panic, or go into a survival mode. I am not afraid to face my fears and I am certainly not afraid to die. Of course, like most people, I am concerned for my family and friends. And I am concerned about the Country we live in.
I remember thinking how I wanted to be prepared, but I also felt like I did not know what to do. My dad had already started preparing for the worst case scenario. He had already purchased a small amount of food and supplies. But I did not feel comfortable with the idea of being forced to stay in a shelter underground. I was not comfortable with the idea of being separated from my wife and kids.
So I decided to take some classes on survival skills. I learned how to build a fire, how to find water, how to survive off the land. I even learned how to start a small farm. I felt much more prepared than I did when I was just learning the Bible.
My wife and I started to get ready for a possible emergency. We started to think about what we would need in case of an emergency. We bought a small generator so we could power up the radio. We purchased some camping gear so we could spend time together as a family. We purchased a few books on survival so we could learn how to be self sufficient.
But it was only after 9/11 that I really started to get serious about being prepared. It is funny how things happen. We were watching TV one day and saw a report on how people were being evacuated from New York City. They said that the terrorists were going to fly airplanes into buildings.
We immediately got scared. We decided that we needed to get prepared. So we went out and bought a couple of flashlights. We stocked up on food and water. We started to look for ways to be self sufficient.
And then it happened. The next day we watched the news and heard that the World Trade Center towers had collapsed.
That was the moment when we realized that this was no longer just a possibility. This was something that was happening. We were now in the middle of a war. And we were going to be involved in it.
I was not prepared for that. I did not know what to expect. But I knew that I had to be prepared. I had to be ready to defend myself. I had to be ready for anything.
Today I am very thankful that I took the time to prepare for the worst case scenario. Today I am very thankful that I was able to prepare my family and my home for whatever may come.
by Joseph | Jun 25, 2026 | Sharing
In our preparedness journey, the greatest skills and teachings have come from experiencing difficulties and learning skills to overcome challenges. We gain confidence and strength as we deal with hardships and learn. The reality is, we grow when we are uncomfortable. The same can be said about overcoming difficulties or hurts we may encounter (or cause) in our relationships. Sharing grace and love sometimes requires us to mature and grow in our Faith. Gods Grace is sufficient – but ours often needs recharging.
The power of forgiveness is a central theme throughout the Bible, and we see numerous examples of how forgiveness can transform lives and relationships. Another striking instance is found in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. In this parable, a father’s younger son demands his inheritance, then squanders it in wild living. When the son eventually returns home, broke and humiliated, the father doesn’t hold the past against him. Instead, he runs to embrace his son, welcoming him back with open arms and celebrating his return.
This story illustrates the depth of God’s love and forgiveness towards us. No matter how far we may wander or how badly we may mess up, God is always ready to welcome us back with compassion and grace. As it says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is essential for our spiritual and emotional well-being. When we harbor unforgiveness, it’s like allowing a poison to take root in our hearts. It breeds bitterness, resentment, and anger, hindering our ability to love others and experience the fullness of God’s love for us. In contrast, when we choose to forgive, we open the door for healing, reconciliation, and freedom.
Jesus emphasized the importance of forgiveness in His teachings, even instructing us to forgive those who wrong us “seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). This doesn’t mean that we allow others to continually harm us, but rather that we cultivate a heart posture of forgiveness, trusting God to deal with the injustices we face.
Forgiveness is also key to being prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. When we are weighed down by unforgiveness, we are not free to fully embrace all that God has for us. Our energy is sapped, our focus is diverted, and our hearts are not in a place to receive God’s blessings. By choosing forgiveness, we position ourselves to walk in the plans and purposes God has for our lives.
The story of Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, powerfully illustrates the freedom that forgiveness brings. After the war, Corrie encountered one of the cruel guards from the concentration camp where she and her sister had been imprisoned. The guard had since become a Christian and asked for her forgiveness. Despite the immense pain and trauma she had suffered, Corrie chose to forgive him, later reflecting, “When he took my hand, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!'”
Forgiveness is a decision, an act of the will. It’s not always a one-time event but often a process that we must choose again and again. As we do, we experience the healing and freedom that God desires for us. We become better prepared to love others, to serve God, and to walk in the good works He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).
May we, like Joseph, the prodigal son’s father, and Corrie ten Boom, choose forgiveness. As we do, may we experience the peace and freedom that comes from aligning our hearts with God’s heart. And may our lives be a testament to the transformative power of forgiveness, drawing others to the love and grace of our Heavenly Father.
