In my daily Bible reading, I am in the book of Nehemiah. Knowing that CEN’s call is reflective of this book, I am reading through that lens. Here are some scriptures that jumped out at me in regards to where we are currently…

Nehemiah 4:19, 20 – “Then I said to the important people, the leaders, and everyone else, ‘This is a very big job. We are spreading out along the wall so that we are far apart. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, assemble there. Our God will fight for us.’”

Raising a call for preparedness in the church is a very big job! There are many areas that need to be addressed along the wall and at times, we feel spread very thin. As Christians, and as leaders, we need to be listening for the sound of the trumpet. The sound of the trumpet is what will alert us to where the battle is, where God wants us to assemble. The promise is that as we listen and assemble at these places, God will fight for us.

I used to not understand how people could not heed the warnings when inclement weather was headed their way…now that I’ve lived in DC for a year, it actually makes a lot more sense.

Since moving to DC, I have lived “through” a Derecho, Hurricane Sandy and the “Snowquester.” The Derecho didn’t even knock out my power, Hurricane Sandy was nothing more than a thunderstorm similar to an Arizona monsoon storm and the “Snowquester” snowed just enough to turn to slush then melt within 24 hours.

As I was praying about what to share for devotions this morning, God spoke to my heart and said that he wanted to remind us of how much he loves us. I feel we are all facing different situations that we find challenging. It may be concern for a loved one, restlessness in changing circumstances, or even just trying to understand what is going on in the world around us. Whatever it is, God wants to remind us that He is with us and He loves us.

We need to practice keeping Christ as our center: not just in the meaning of him at the middle of our lives, which is true, but also as the person that keeps us balanced, focused, and peaceful in life. He is the one that gives the calm understanding in all situations. It is His promise that we stand on to know that He will work everything out for our good, because we love Him, and because He loves us.

6 Ways to Keep Refrigerated and Frozen Food Safe After a Power Outage

An electrical power outage will affect the safe storage of refrigerated and frozen foods. Perishable food such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk and eggs that are not stored properly refrigerated or frozen may cause illness if consumed. In order to protect these foods from spoilage and save them for your use during the emergency, follow the guidelines listed below:

1. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep foods cold for 2-4 hours if it is unopened. Full freezers will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours if the door remains closed. These times may vary depending on age of the unit, condition of the seals, temperature setting and amount of food.
2. Digital, dial, or instant-read food thermometer and appliance thermometers will help you know if the food is at a safe temperature.
3. Before eating perishable refrigerated foods (milk, cheeses, eggs, meats, fish, or poultry) be sure tocheck their temperature. Foods that are 40º F or below can be eaten and are considered safe. Foods that are above 40º F for more than 2 hours must be discarded. Do Not Eat. Don't trust your sense of smell. Food may be unsafe even if it doesn't smell bad.
4. Thawed food can usually be eaten if it is still 40ºF or re-frozen if it still contains ice crystals or is below 40ºF. You have to evaluate each food item separately. Partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality of some food, but the food will remain safe to eat.
5. If the power is out for longer than 4 hours, use dry ice. 25 pounds of dry ice will keep a ten cubic foot freezer below freezing for 3-4 days. Handle dry ice with care and wear dry heavy gloves to avoid injury.
6. Follow the golden rule of food safety, "When in Doubt, Throw it Out", for any foods which you are not sure have stayed at a safe temperature or which do not look or smell as they should.

As I'm sitting here the wind is blowing and the wet, heavy snow is swirling around outside, making the potential for power outages a likelihood. Thunderstorms and other inclement weather can also affect power outages.

Here are some tips for how to prepare when power outages are a concern:

With the ease of purchasing things online and with how much the internet can be used to solicit personal information from consumers, DHS has launched a “Stop. Think. Connect” Campaign geared towards achieving cybersecurity.

Here is the PSA they sent out yesterday…