15 Minute Challenge!

The Lord asks us to "prepare every needful thing," and we all know that is a daunting task. It occurred to me today that the Lord knows it, too! That's why He prefaces that commandment with another: "Organize yourselves." If you haven't taken the time yet to sit down and just get started, this afternoon will be ideal. Give yourself 15 minutes (budget it! set a timer, so you'll know you will only allow yourself that much time) with a pen and paper. Read my previous blog (on possible scenarios), and ask the Lord to guide your thoughts as you focus on the needs your family has. Start broadly. For example: do you get thirsty? do you eat? do you cook? do you wear clothing? do you ever wash (clothing, yourself, the dishes)? I'm guessing the answer to (hopefully) all of these is YES! So you have needs. Write them down on your paper. It's possible that your time is up now. If it is, put your paper somewhere that you can find it again, and come back to it next week. If you're a fast thinker/writer, go one more level and start to write your sources: how you currently meet those needs. Water from a well? Artesian? Food from your garden? Costco? etc. Clothing from Goodwill? from JCPenney? and so on. This might feel silly, but it starts to make you aware of all the pieces of our lives which you (and I) take for granted. You are drawing the big picture, and starting to fill in the edges. By now, I'm certain your time is up. Come back later, and feel happy with yourself! You have begun the process, which is the most difficult and important step. (Remember, we're not supposed to run (or prepare :>) faster than we have strength and means provided, but we are commanded to be diligent.)