(Reposted to put the picture back in)

 

You may be wondering what does a tranquil porch setting have to do with being prepared?    In a pretend world... everything is wonderful.  But in real life... storms brew, causing dripping ceilings during the rain; tanker cars explode; terrorists blow things up;...and company comes when you least expect them.... when the counter is full of dirty dishes, and laundry and newspapers are scattered all over the place.     Be prepared..... for company, for things that break down, for catastrophe.    But how????   Life's just not that simple or easy anymore you say.    Life is going so fast now,  no one can keep up with things like they used to.   At least that is what I told God this afternoon when I cried myself to sleep for my nap.....  it's just too much... too fast.... not enough time.... one thing after another.....  I can't handle it....  I need help... I need things to slow down.   Bottom line is.... it's not going to happen.   Life is not going to get any slower.   Bad things will not stop happening.   Peace will not reign over the earth... anytime soon.    So that leaves 2 places to work on being able to deal with 'life'..... our mind, and our spirit.      Attitude, and priorities.... will dictate how our lives will go most of the time.   As long as we have peace with our selves.... who we are inside..... no matter how many dirty dishes sit on the counter.....  then when unexpected company comes... we'll be okay.   When the roof starts to leak....we'll be okay.   And when life in gereral keeps throwing in delays, stumbling blocks, detours..... we'll be okay.   As long as we operate from the inside out..... we'll be okay.   And by that I mean.... prayer.     Seeking God from our spirit... from our heart... even when it's in tears of fatigue and feelings of momentarily feeling overwhelmed.... will always make us okay.   Just like when we were little,  and crawling on our parents laps in tears always made things okay.   That's basically what I did today.... I crawled on God's loving lap, and cried on his shoulder.... and His love and strength and peace made me okay... and that always makes everything else okay too.... even if it's kind of in a mess in boxes and kind of piled up here and there.     That's where the 'attitude' and 'priorities' come in.....  If you are willing to accept yourself as 'not able' to do it all, handle it all, manage it all.....  If you are willing to adjust yourself as is necessary, and fall in line with God's priorities, instead of your own.... you will be okay.   Because you will be able to let go of the frustration of your own weaknesses,  and inabilities..... and let God's power and strength take over both your self, and your situation.   As long as you take care of your spiritual 'insides'... you will be prepared for anything on the outside.   It won't make certain things hurt any less, like when thousands of people die from a terrorists attack.   But it will keep you from falling apart at the seams.   Because when you have God's arms wrapped around you....  you can't help but stay 'put together' though whatever may come.     So, Be Prepared..... spend some time in God's lap, and let him hug you close.... and shelter you for a while.   Let His love and strength flow into you and restore your peace and inner calm and sense of direction.   It will be all right.   He promises.   And He keeps His promises