J D Canter E Books

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

Preparation isn’t flashy.

It’s quiet.

It’s often unnoticed.

And it’s usually done when nobody is watching.

But when the moment arrives — preparation speaks loudly.

🌱 The Farmer’s Lesson

A farmer doesn’t wait until harvest season to start plowing.

He prepares the soil long before there’s any sign of fruit. He plants seeds before he sees results. He waters and waits before he celebrates.

Life works the same way.

The opportunity you want…

The blessing you’re praying for…

The door you hope will open…

It may come suddenly. The question is: Will you be ready when it does?

📖 A Biblical Reminder

In Proverbs 6:6, we’re told:

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.”

The ant doesn’t wait until winter to gather food. It prepares in summer. It works ahead of the season.

Preparation is wisdom in motion.

🛠️ What Does Being Prepared Look Like?

Preparation isn’t just about emergency kits and savings accounts (though those matter!). It also means:

Preparing your heart before trials come Preparing your attitude before criticism hits Preparing your finances before emergencies arise Preparing your body before illness strikes Preparing your spirit before temptation knocks

You don’t build strength during the storm.

You build it before the storm arrives.

💡 A Personal Challenge for Today

Ask yourself:

If opportunity knocked this week, would I be ready? If God answered my prayer today, could I handle the blessing? If I were asked to step up, could I confidently step forward?

Preparation builds confidence.

Confidence builds courage.

Courage builds success.

😄 A Little Humor

I once heard someone say,

“I’ll start preparing when I feel motivated.”

That’s like saying,

“I’ll start exercising after I get in shape.”

Preparation comes first — results come later!

🙏 Final Encouragement

You may not see immediate results from your preparation.

But one day, when others are scrambling, you’ll be steady.

When others are surprised, you’ll be ready.

When others are panicking, you’ll be prepared.

And when that moment comes — you won’t say, “I wish I had…”

You’ll say, “I’m ready.”

https://youtube.com/shorts/AfXG6fcyBZ8?si=A4w7MccbeNh8hcNI

Here is some food for your Daily Bread!

2/23–Start Your Day Off Right Series

Quote:

2/23

Quotes:

2/23–Life is too short not to create, not to love, and not to lend a  helping hand to our brothers and sisters

2/23–Two friends were walking through the desert. At one stage in their journey, they had an argument and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything he wrote in the sand, ‘Today my best friend slapped me in the face.’

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to have a wash. The one who had been slapped got stuck in a mire and started drowning, but his friend saved him. After he had recovered from his shock, he wrote on a stone, ‘Today my best friend saved my life.’

The friend who slapped and saved his best friend asked him, ‘After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write in stone, why?’

The other friend replied, ‘When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.’” 

Scripture:

Proverbs 18:19

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city:

and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Humor:

Mom why do we have these big humps  on our backs the baby camel asked his mother.

They store fat so we can survive without water or food during long desert trips the mother camel replied. 

Why do we have such long eyelashes the baby camel asked next. To help protect our eyes  from the dusty desert winds. 

 Why do we have such odd looking feet? 

They are for helping us walk across the hot desert sand.

The baby camel contemplated everything his mother had told him then he said, if we have all these things for living in the desert why do we live in a zoo?

https://youtu.be/UUw63-z1twY?si=uKmaM-bLH3Awa97J

https://youtu.be/1qD4Xip8Pzg?si=hsKPueLtPxAG2CVd

Here is some food for your Daily Bread!

2/22–Start Your Day Off Right Series

Quote: 

Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us

Story:

2/22–A shop owner placed a sign above his door that said: ‘Puppies For Sale.’

Signs like this always have a way of attracting young children, and to no surprise, a boy saw the sign and approached the owner; ‘How much are you going to sell the puppies for?’ he asked.

The store owner replied, ‘Anywhere from $30 to $50.’

The little boy pulled out some change from his pocket. ‘I have $2.37,’ he said. ‘Can I please look at them?’

The shop owner smiled and whistled. Out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his shop followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, 

What’s wrong with that little dog?’

The shop owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. ‘That is the puppy that I want to buy.’

The shop owner said, ‘No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.’

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said;

I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.’

The shop owner countered, ‘You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.’

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. 

He looked up at the shop owner and softly replied, ‘Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!’”

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 12:22-24

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

Humor:

2/22–A couple of dog owners are arguing about whose pet is smarter. “My dog is so smart,” says the first owner, “that every morning he waits for the paperboy to come around. He tips the kid and then brings the newspaper to me, along with my morning coffee.” 

“I know,” says the second owner. “

How do you know?” “My dog told me.”

https://youtube.com/shorts/BDGU9BA1ciE?si=dcO1_osmtR0Heil6

If you can’t find five minutes , can you spare one or two?

2/22–Can You Spare A Minute?

2/22–Knowledge is knowing what to say, Wisdom is knowing when to say it

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” — Psalm 119:165

Being offended has become almost fashionable these days.

Someone says something sideways.

Someone forgets to call.

Someone disagrees.

Someone posts something we don’t like.

And before we know it, we’re carrying around a weight that feels heavier than it should.

But here’s a truth for February 22:

Living offended is exhausting — and it steals your joy.

Offense Is a Choice

Now don’t misunderstand me. People can be rude. People can be thoughtless. People can hurt us deeply.

But offense?

That’s something we pick up and carry.

You can’t always control what someone says.

You can’t control how someone behaves.

But you can control whether you let it live rent-free in your heart.

When we stay offended:

We replay conversations in our head. We lose sleep. We grow cold toward people. We let bitterness take root.

And most of the time? The other person doesn’t even know we’re upset.

Strong People Let It Go

The strongest people I know are not the ones who argue the loudest.

They’re the ones who can smile and say,

“That’s alright.”

“I’m not going to let that bother me.”

“I’ve got bigger things to focus on.”

Maturity isn’t proving you’re right.

It’s protecting your peace.

If you’re building a better life, growing in faith, loving your family, chasing purpose — you don’t have time to carry offense around like a backpack full of rocks.

A Better Response

Before you get offended, ask yourself:

Was it intentional? Does this really matter a week from now? Is this worth my joy?

Sometimes people are tired.

Sometimes they’re hurting.

Sometimes they’re just human.

And sometimes… so are we.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean what they did was right.

It means you’re choosing freedom over frustration.

Here’s Your February 22 Challenge

Today, if something rubs you the wrong way:

Pause.

Take a breath.

Pray if you need to.

And let it go.

Refuse to give small things big power.

There is too much good ahead of you to get stuck on what someone said yesterday.

Walk in peace.

Walk in grace.

And walk unoffended.

Because nothing is more powerful than a person who cannot be easily shaken.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”

Worry is sneaky. It whispers “what if” in the quiet moments. It shows up before the sun rises and tries to sit at the breakfast table with you. Anxiety can make you feel like you’re carrying tomorrow’s problems before today has even started.

But here’s the truth: God never asked you to carry tomorrow.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow… Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” In other words, today has enough on its own. Don’t borrow trouble.

Worry Is a Thief

Worry steals:

Your sleep Your peace Your focus Your joy

It promises control, but delivers exhaustion.

You can replay a situation in your mind 100 times, and it still won’t change the outcome. Anxiety tries to convince you that thinking about something long enough will fix it. But often, it only magnifies it.

A Simple Shift That Changes Everything

Instead of asking, “What if it goes wrong?”

Ask, “What if God goes before me?”

Instead of saying, “I don’t know how this will work out,”

Say, “God has already seen the end from the beginning.”

That shift turns panic into prayer.

Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God… shall keep your hearts and minds.”

Notice it doesn’t say you won’t have problems. It says you can have peace in the middle of them.

Here’s Something Practical for Today

When worry shows up:

Name it. What exactly are you anxious about? Pray specifically. Hand that exact thing to God. Replace it with truth. Find one promise in Scripture and repeat it. Do the next right thing. Not the next ten things — just the next one.

Anxiety lives in the future.

Peace lives in the present.

A Little Humor for the Road

Someone once said, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

Isn’t that the truth? If we could get a refund on wasted worry, we’d all be rich.

Today’s Encouragement

You’ve made it through every hard day so far.

Every one.

The same God who carried you yesterday is holding you today and already waiting in your tomorrow.

So on this February 21, breathe deep.

Trust more.

Pray first.

Smile anyway.

Worry doesn’t get the final word — faith does.

https://youtu.be/PA1gSI78–w?si=9mfXABcvEU10bgnd

Acts 27:13-44. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rwC0Y8O6rhI?si=SamZsyc3xQ_FIOow

Here is some food for your Daily Bread!

2/21–Start Your Day Off Right Series

Quote:

2/21–One of the most courageous things you can do is to identify your self, know who you are and what you believe in, and where you want to go.

Story:

2/21–People were created to be loved,  things were created to be used.  The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used.

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:6-8

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Humor:

2/21–After church one Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mom, I think I’ll be a minister when I grow up.” “That’s great, but what made you decide that?” “Well,” said the little boy, “I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit and listen.”

https://youtube.com/shorts/Q5lHlyXhx9Q?si=3TpOtVNsL_Ih97_1

If you can’t find five minutes, can you spare one or two?

12/21– Can You Spare A Minute?

The Same Joke One day in the village, there was a gathering of lots of people around a wise man. Most of them complained to the wise man about a problem, which, the wise man had heard again many times in the past. The wise man was silent for a moment.

Then he told the villagers a joke and the whole audience roared in laughter. After a couple of minutes, he started telling them another joke. But it was the same joke, again. When he finished, only a few of the villagers smiled.

Then he told the same joke for the third time, and no one laughed anymore. The wise man smiled and told the villagers, “You cannot laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem? Why are you always angry about the same problem?”