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Don't worry, folks, I'm not gonna preach a sermon... well, maybe I am... at least a little... and whether you are a Bible believer or not... you might get a little sumpthin sumpthin out of this little analogy...
This thought has been weighing heavily on my mind... "I've been feeling a little Noah-esque lately." (sometimes I feel a little "Chicken Little" or "Little Red Hen" as well)... but let's get back to Noah...
Good ol' Noah... he could see the winds of change coming way before it started gettin' cloudy (honestly, unlike Noah, the clouds had already begun rolling in a little before I could see, so Noah had a "one up" on me!)
Noah noticed that the world was gettin' ready to experience some serious changes... the weather was gettin' crazy... there were earthquakes where there never had been earthquakes before, mega-storms, sinkholes, animals dying for no apparent reason... the people around him were busy busy busy... having a good time... spending money like it was going out of style, without a thought about what might happen tomorrow... doctors were prescribing all sorts of medication so these busy people could cope with their super busy, speed-of-light lives.
When Noah tried to talk to his friends and family, they didn't want to hear it... they preferred to talk about the latest "Dancing With the Stars" show, or which celebrity just got married for the umpteenth time... They patted Noah on the head, and said, "Dear, sweet Noah... why are you so concerned? Life is good... live it up."
So Noah began to prepare for the days ahead... he learned to can, he learned to dehydrate food, he started saving seeds for planting... he began stockpiling food... and natural medicines (he could so clearly see that the current medical community didn't want to heal, they only wanted the people dependent on their newest medicines)... and he set about finding a way to make his family safe and secure... he started building an ark! An ARK?
"Oh, dear, sweet man... it's never rained before, there's not a cloud in the sky... why would you want to build an ark? Besides, we have police officers and firemen and Homeland Security to keep us safe, you don't have to take this on yourself... we have people for that. And why would you want to stock up all this food and medicine? Why do you think we have markets? and doctors? Silly man."
Noah shook his head and quietly continued his preparations... he tried to teach his friends and family some of the skills he was learning, but they wanted no part of it... they were busy with soccer and work and church, they had no time for these archaic skills... they could much more easily stop off at a drive-through on their way between ballgames and church services. They were polite to Noah when he offered... but their eyes sort of glazed over and inside they chuckled a bit at Noah and his old-fashioned ideas.
A hundred or so years later, the clouds began to form in the sky... and Noah's family and friends said to each other... "Hmmm... Noah may just have something here... but no, it can't be true, it's never happened before, it won't happen... and if it does, we have people who take care of those things... we have a king... he will keep us safe from harm... let's enjoy ourselves and our possessions... and maybe go shopping..."
Ten years later, Noah's family and friends decided that Noah might be a little over the top, but he might have a point... they told him, "Noah, it seems there ARE changes in the world, it IS getting cloudy out there, but I'm sure it's nothing... and if things get bad we have people for that... they will take care of us. C'mon Noah... lighten up, let's watch the latest movie and forget about the world for a little while."
Noah kept on preparing... and began to gather animals together... he enjoyed fresh eggs and milk... and fresh, grassfed meat.
His friends and family said to him... "You're a smart man, Noah... you know how to do so many things... we don't think anything bad is going to happen, but if it does... we'll know where to go! But for now, we need a vacation to some exotic isle... and a new smartphone... and a bigger TV... and dinner out!"
His Christian friends and family told him, "God will take care of us, there's no need for us to be concerned about the future, God will not let harm come to US, we are HIS people!" Noah replied, "God WILL take care of us, but He wants us to do OUR part."
Ten years later... it began to rain...
Then it began to storm...
There was thunder... and lightning like the world had never seen...
Rain fell in buckets...
The earth burst open and water gushed up...
And Noah's friends and family came knocking at the door of the ark... but it was locked... by the hand of God...
I'm sure Noah stood helplessly just inside that locked door, listening to the ones he loved pounding and shouting frantically... and bawled like a baby, wishing he could help his friends and family... but it was too late...
God kept him warm and safe and dry and well-fed because he had listened... and had done his part.
Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8
This is the part that worries my hubby and I so much. Only his mother is of the mind we are, and then only reluctantly. The rest of both our families think we're nuts, make jokes about us preparing for the end of the world and things like that. It gets so frustrating and disheartening sometimes, yes, but we will continue anyway. We're just scared of what will happen when the horde of them comes looking to eat our preps..... :(
ReplyDeleteNice post!
Canning Granny...this was a great read. I posted a link from my blog to yours.
ReplyDeleteEven people who are familiar with the story don't always know that rain was unknown on earth up to this point, the earth was watered by mist. Imagine the trust Noah put in God and imagine him trying to explain 'rain' to the nonbelievers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good post. Oddly my family and I where recently talking about Noah in relation to our times right now. Well I used the word oddly but it's really not odd at all when the His Spirit speaks to many at once.
ReplyDeleteKudos ladies for this wonderful post! Best be prepared for whatever lies ahead than not to be prepared and running around like a chicken with your head cut off.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post, enjoyed it...
ReplyDeleteI totally get where you're coming from. I'm just grateful my mom knew how to can, and took the time to teach me this year. I have four little ones to care for, and my better half, and I'm putting by as much as I "can" (pun intended). ;) Good ol' Noah, he was a good man. A faith-filled one. Bless him for the lessons he still is teaching us today.
ReplyDeleteAbout five years ago The Lord put a urgency on me to learn to homestead. I knew a little about canning,but have since learned a lot more. My husband has always hunted and had his meat processed . I recently learned how to do it my self. I do have to say I am learning a lot of new things. I am really enjoying this new life style we have added to our life.
ReplyDeleteFound you through Mama bear! Great post and sadly very true. My biggest concern is that I've started too late. I hear of so many people like Michelle ^ up there that were called to it years ago. I just physically started homesteading 2 1/2 years ago (planning for the last five yrs) and being on a budget it's slow going. We have gotten alot done in this short time and have learned ALOT. And we are the people whose friends say "I know where I'm going" and we just smile.....
ReplyDeleteI was thinking similar thoughts all day today. I can only hope that we are nuts!
ReplyDeleteI hope it will be OK for me to post a link to your post from my blog. I think you said it better than I ever could. Thank you - this is a subject I've been struggling with putting on "paper".
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a truly wonderful way to explain prepping. Thank you
ReplyDeleteGreat read. I have been interested in survival stuff for many years. Have only started "prepping" in the way of canning, etc., this year. We too, have relatives who say, "I'll just come to your house if the SHTF". I laugh and tell them, "No". They think I am kidding. I recently told someone who said that, that they could not just come and eat all of our food and such. They called me a farmer/country girl just because I was canning and gardening. They just don't get it.
ReplyDeletethis is why I tell few what I am doing.
DeleteFor many years my DH and I have been quietly learning, quietly putting up food & supplies, quietly gardening and quietly researching self sufficiency topics. Not necessarily for the end of the world, but perhaps just for personal crisis or just better stability in these economic hard times. I say quietly because with the exception of our grown children-- no one knows what we are doing. In an emergency I would love to open my doors to the community- but realistically, I know I cannot. There just isn't enough to go around. So for us keeping people (even extended family)out of the loop is part of the overall plan. We have enough for us and our children. And we have the skills to manage it all. There is a potential for all kinds of troubles, if others knew our plan.
ReplyDeleteSomething to think about.
Beautifully put. Thank you so much.
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ReplyDeleteSome people collect knick knacks & trinkets. I collect canning jars of food & garden supplies. Mock me if they must, but in these hard times all I have to do is open a jar or harvest something--but they will have to hold a garage sale and hope for the best.
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ReplyDeleteLove your paraphrase. The Bible may have been written many, many years ago, but it's word is still true. There is so much for us to learn and apply today.
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ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Granny to you and yours! Can't wait to eat 2012's surplus. And put up 2013's. I have canned some of your Chicken layered soup (chicken, onion, potatoes, seasonings & broth). I use it for pot pies by adding frozen or freeze dried peas & carrots, a DIY cream soup for gravy & drop biscuits on top. It bakes up very fast & satisfying. But there is another way I do chicken. I place it in canning jars with various DIY marinades and freeze it. I like this because I can cook it many ways-grill, bake, stir fry, casserole. But the ever looming question--What if my freezer breaks? Can I thaw these and then can them though still raw? Should I change the seal? Top off with broth? I'm guessing pints at 70 min, 10# and quarts 90 min, 10#?? Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteYes, thaw and can what you have... or can chicken with different marinades... and yes, the same method (time and pressure) as for other chicken dishes. ~~Granny
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Granny-you are my go to for canning recipes and how to. I've used several of your canning recipes with success and am looking forward to more! Please keep posting, you're such an inspiration and huge help when questions are raised. Your instructions are perfect and the variety of recipes are outstanding! I made your apples in cinnamon syrup last weekend. So yummy and super easy. Thanks again and God bless!!!
ReplyDeleteJust found your wonderful blog!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE canning!! And I LOVE seeing what other people are canning. Great blog! :)
Great blog! I'm missing reading it - I hope everything's alright.
ReplyDeleteThank u for this. My mom thinks I've lost it.I just started prepping. Pray she'll come around.
ReplyDeleteYour analogy of Noah represents the present-day scenario so accurately. My husband and I have been preparing for quite some time, and we have accumulated quite a supply of food and other items (paper products, fuel and lighting alternatives, toiletries, cleaning products, meds,etc.). My daughter lost her job unexpectedly last year and has two children. It was a very trying time for her while she searched for a new job, which took over six months. During that time, I was able to supply her and her family with all the food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and meds they needed, and it hardly made a dent in my own supply. It's work to prepare food....all the gardening, canning, dehydrating, freezing....but it's so worth it to know you have a storehouse of supplies to fall back on in emergencies. If my husband lost his job today, we would survive because of all the work we have done to prepare. We have several friends who are doing the same thing, but, again your analogy is correct...most people don't want to hear about it, and some even laugh in our face. "God will provide" is usually what we hear from Christian friends. I believe that God is in the process of providing now, and that we need to work to maintain what God has already provided.
ReplyDeleteI found you via a friend on Facebook and have been following along for a few weeks. I came to your blog for the first time today and I've been reading the archives! I love this post. As a Christian and newly turned prepper, I can relate 100%. I agree wholeheartedly that God will provide for us, but that also means that we need to listen to his whispers telling us what's coming and what we can do to be prepared. While we definitely have some family and friends that react the way that many of "Noah's" did, we have also been able to impact some of our friends and family to begin small preparations as well. Again, Love the post. Love the analogy!
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ReplyDeleteFellow long time lurker here....lol i love your blog! A few years back i had a gut feeling to start a food storage. At refund time id fill my pantry with canned goods an such so throughout the year i only needed to buy a few things a week. Although this was nice, i didnt feel it was enough so i had my grandma teach me to can, my mom had no desire at the time to can so my gram was just overjoyed to pass it on to me! The last 5 years i learned to care for a garden an can sauces an jellies in my water bath canner. I absolutely became addicted! Now im interested in meats which is how i found you! it costs so much getting started i just finally purchased my first pressure canner cant wait for it to arrive! Was really hoping my son would get a deer this year so i could process it myself but no such luck, i cant get enough of homesteading books, an shows, how tos, i origionally started because of worry because the state of the world(which my hubby i think thought i was crazy). But im getting confident in if the worst happens i will know what to do....thanks for a great blog granny!!
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I absolutely became addicted! Now im interested in meats which is how i found you! it costs so much getting started...
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I absolutely became addicted! Now im interested in meats which is how i found you! it costs so much getting started...
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But im getting confident in if the worst happens i will know what to do....thanks for a great blog granny...