Ask and you shall receive.

Following on from my "turning a little into a lot" post I want to add something more. 

We all know the scriptures about asking and receiving, "seek and you shall find,  knock and the door will be opened to you."   It really is that easy.  It sounds too simple because we tend to believe things must surely be more complicated that that!    God tells us to ask for things we want and need.  Further,  to my amazement,   God loves to give us the desires of our heart.  

Recently I shared about my hearts desire for a lamb.  I even felt silly about it.  I knew I didn't NEED a lamb.  That surely God has a lot bigger issues than me and my lamb.  That there might be a good reason I did not have any lambs come in this season.  And so on.    But none the less I prayed for a lamb and the next day there was Johnnie standing at my front door with a tiny lamb and he just said "there you go!"  They way he said "there you go!" was as though he was delivering an order... which he was! 

I don't know how it is for you but I think a lot of us are not good askers.  We wait and pray for things only in dire circumstances.   We do not grasp that God is interested in our company, our daily needs and wants and even the desires of our hearts. 

As with a lot of Scripture I realised there are more than one set of meanings to these verses.  Don't laugh at me but I have seen fruit falling from a tree... I have stopped the car,  gone up to the front door of the house,  knocked... and asked if it would be ok for me to pick the fruit.  At this point I have done this too many times to count.  No one has ever said no.  But what if someone says no?  Well, that is fine!   It is ok to ask.  We have nothing to lose to ask.  

I want to encourage you to ask for the things you are needing.  Ask for the help you are needing.  Ask for the guidance you are needing...   Don't assume it is too dumb, selfish, unimportant, embarrassing or any other thing.   Just ask.  Pray and ask God for what it is you are needing.  Sleep, health, financial help, a dehydrator,  encouragement.   Anything!   

I am setting homework.  You have an assignment.   This is important.  Many of us have it figured out that we need to be ahead of the game, we need to do all we can to be well stocked and have little areas of self sufficient and production.   There is so much we would love to be able to do!   But how do we do it?  With God's help, that's how.  We talked about turning a little into a lot.   Now we are adding in many ways to help us do just that! 

What would help your household most?  It is ok to have a list!   I will throw around some ideas.  You might need canning jars or lids.  A dehydrator.  A slow cooker.  Chickens!  Shelving.  Storage space.  Compost.  Big pots to plant up. A vac sealer.  A freezer.  Someone to teach you to can.  You get the idea.  But it can be anything!

Now I want you to ask in heaven and ask in the world.  Some ways to ask in the world... 

Join your Facebook Buy, Swap and Sell or Buy Nothing Group and ask.  You can offer a trade.  ie I can do mending or baking in exchange for canning jars.   Many people though have a shed with boxes and are glad to find a home for them!

If you are in a church post "Wanted Canning Jars" in the newsletter or on a notice board.

Any noticeboard... our towns have them.

On your social media if you have them.

Family, friends and workmates.  Does anyone have a slow cooker they would be willing to sell or loan?  That kind of thing. 

If you are asked what you would like for your Birthday or Christmas have your list ready!  

Get on the phone. Ask your ancient Aunt if she has canning jars and if she would be willing to teach you to can/knit/whatever. 

Form thrift shopping buddies.  My friends and I all tell each other what we are needing and we all watch out.  I also ask the staff in the little thrift stores if they have jars etc.  Ask! 

You could also consider selling something to fund the thing you need.  There are ways and means!

I just want you to get the ball rolling and put it out there!   Then expectantly wait. 

I am expecting to hear success stories!  

What would really help you at this time?  What would help your garden or pantry?   Boldly and confidently ask.  You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.   We are not going to get everything we ask for but we will never know if we don't ask!   

Once the things that will help you save, preserve, grow, make etc are coming in of course the next thing is to fire them up so that you have full advantage of them.   It is easy to have a dehydrator sitting gathering dust.  We want all our handmaidens working hard!    I have a post coming up about that!  

Truly,  I am expecting big things...  please, bravely ask.    Now tell me... what would help your and your family get ahead,  fill your shelves or garden?   The other day Laura got chickens!  I know those chickens are going to help her family so much.   Sometimes just one thing makes a world of difference.  Each step we have taken has made us more self sufficient.    I am going to join in.  There is one thing that I would love to add and that is a freeze drier.   I was almost ready to order one until I found out the price.   Freeze dried food has the advantage of lasting many years but so far I can't justify the cost of getting set up.  If however I have a windfall that is what I will use if for.   I haven't prayed about it so now I will.   I will keep you posted! xxx