The most important thing we should stockpile.

Before you read another word, I want you to know this: I am NOT 

fear mongering here. If folks don't come to grips with the realities 

that are NOT being reported, they'll be missing the wake-up call 

regarding the serious situation we're facing here on earth. Granted, 

we are being bombarded by negative, even life-threatening 

information on many fronts these days. Sadly, the vast multitudes 

remain oblivious to the truth. it can be overwhelming how many 

ways we're being attacked, but we MUST remain aware of our 

surroundings so we can prepare accordingly.

I've been known to say, "Don't be scared; be PREPARED!" Having been deployed as a Chaplain to such disaster-stricken areas as Moore, Oklahoma (tornado) and West, Texas (plant explosion), I've seen, firsthand, the devastation that results from such catastrophes. I've also witnessed the tears of many who, with great shame, confessed to their own lack of preparedness while others gleefully, proudly shared about their own personal readiness.

Personally, I'm all for encouraging folks to get prepared for tough times. Whether it's a manmade or natural disaster - a broken water main, an EMP, a nuke attack, a flood, a tornado, a HazMat spill from a train - even the children of Israel brought enough food to last them a few days when they fled Egypt with Almighty God providing all other needs along the journey. I see nothing wrong with having some survival basics such as additional food, water, batteries, a knife and a hand-cranked weather radio. Matter of fact, as Followers of Jesus, why not aim for having enough to care for your family and, at least, one other household? As I see it, there's nothing wrong with unleashing the Spirit of Joseph and gathering enough food to feed many besides ourselves. What a wonderful way to express the love and providence of God during hard times! 

As the days get darker, I'm concerned many "Preppers" will not find their preparation adequate for the worst of times. What happens when that last round is fired or bartered away? What happens when the last of the freeze-dried food is gone? What happens when there's no more drinkable water or the tent gets stolen? Point is, there may come a time when all the prepping one could possibly do comes to an abrupt end. 

Now what?

The prepping I'm most concerned with - the one we should ALL be most concerned with - is Spiritual Preparation, not only because it will get you through the next unforeseen disaster, but it will also help you weather the everyday storms of life... sickness, divorce, death, economic upheavals, things like that. So many things can usher in the end of the world as we've known it. Changes can come in an instant. A dear friend wrote recently to request prayer for a little boy who was attacked by grandma's pit bull and had his ear ripped off. Who could have planned for that?

Can you tell "something" is somehow different in the world lately? Geopolitically, geophysically, anomalies are on the increase. A few years before the Gulf War, David Wilkerson, of "The Cross and the Switchblade" fame, was given a vision of 500 fires burning uncontrollably in the Middle East. After the war, there were exactly 503 oil wells left burning in Kuwait at the hands of Saddam Hussein's troops. As a result of that, and many other accurate warnings, lots of folks started listening whenever Wilkerson spoke. Before his death, he was also given a vision of New York city ablaze with riots, looting, bloodshed, tanks and armed troops in the streets. 

I, too, have been given a similar vision. I was sitting at a stop light the day of Obama's first inauguration. I saw it like it was happening right before my eyes. I can still see the faces and colors vividly. A month before 9-11, I wrote an article in which I said, "Something is coming that will bring our billion wheels to a screeching halt." Something like that. After 9-11, I was asked if the WTC attack was what I was referring to. No. In my heart, I knew this: That disaster simply wasn't big enough. 

We can spiritually prepare for upcoming calamities by establishing and maintaining a strong personal relationship with Jesus Himself. Notice I didn't say we need a relationship with a Religion, or a Denomination. Jesus is real and we must get to know Him intimately through Prayer (a 2-way conversation, incidentally), Bible Study (study, NOT reading a spiritual thought for the day), and fellowship with others who know Him well and model His teachings. That is how our trust in Him will grow. We are admonished to "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," 2 Peter 3:18.

Since Jesus said He is the Bread of Life. He was even born in Bethlehem, a word that means "House of Bread." Therefore, we must partake of Him - not in some sort of religious ceremony, but by feeding our soul with His promises from Scripture, subsisting on an intimate diet of Jesus and MORE Jesus, strengthening our Spirit by digesting His Word daily and hiding it deep within our heart. Feast upon Him now and stockpile Him, just as the Israelites feasted on the lamb that was slain.

While I'm a strong advocate for every car having in its trunk a Bug-Out Bag, we must remember to carry with us our faith and trust in our God. As we relinquish control of everything, we can trust our lives, our families and our future to Him.

Many years ago, while reading Voice of the Martyrs, I would weep as I read about the Persecuted Church. I had no idea there really are Followers of Christ who would relish the privilege of being arrested for sharing their faith because imprisonment assured them of daily interaction with people who needed Jesus. Unlike myself, they weren't Chaplains who merely visited the incarcerated. 

Are dark days coming to America? Will the result of some 3-letter agency spying on our eMail and Facebook entries lead to incarceration in a FEMA camp somewhere? Will people who are zealous in their support of the Constitution find themselves at war with a tyrannical government?

When it comes to preparing for the worst, the best we can do is put our trust in God. As for me, I'm not going quietly. I have decided to make all the difference I can for His Kingdom's sake, so long as I have breath in my body. As these days become 'gloriously darker,' it will take less light to illuminate our environments. If we, as Followers of Jesus, can't have a calming effect on a world gone mad, who will? Don't we want to be the one with food, water, first aid and communications when no one else has any? By sharing what God has given us, the masses will beat a path to our door. What an opportunity to share the love of God when they arrive!

As these days grow increasingly darker, rest assured, as Jesus warned us in John 9:4, "The hour is coming when no man can work." With that in mind, let's get busy!

BTW, if you're interested in acquiring bulk food, you might appreciate this website. Make sure you request their free catalogue. CLICK HERE

Blessings and peace to you and yours,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work