'And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.' (II Corinthians 12:9-10)

'We will never know the answers to all the whys that are asked and that have been asked through the ages. But one thing we do know - we, too, can overcome. We are reminded daily that we have not been promised immunity from suffering and death. However, God has promised that we can abound (exist, survive) and be overflowing with hope, joy, and peace. How? By faith believing and trusting that what God says in His Word is true.' (Dr. Jack Van Impe)

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.

'O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.' (Psalms 119:97-99) -- 'Meditation implies more than careful thought about God’s Word; it implies an objective for such thought – the intentional application of the conclusions of biblical meditation to one’s life and practice.' (Dr. Sam Horn)

'For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.' (Luke 12:30-31) -- "What matters most--a personal relationship with God--is often considered as something to be taken care of after the 'really important' matters are in place. Jesus' advice runs counter to the philosophy of 'looking out for number one.' " (Jim Kraus)

'For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.' (Psalms 84:10) -- "Society's emphasis these days seems to center on prestige and power with little or no concern over the moral, ethical, or spiritual damages that pursuit could cause. The Bible explains fame, power, and prestige differently." (Jim Kraus)

'And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?' --I Corinthians 3:1-4

"During a meeting in California, I preached a message entitled 'How Saved People Can Become Christians.' The title upset a Christian school principal, and he accused me of preaching heresy while asserting that saved people were already Christians. Unfortunately, he missed the whole point of my message." (Dr. Les Ollila)