Are You Ready For What's Coming?

Okay, so I just want to say what is in my heart. I think that as a Christian community we all need to be better prepared for what is coming. Haven't you felt it? Can't you see it? Things are changing.

I know that we all belong to different denominations and brands of Christianity, but I also am sure that God speaks to your heart as he speaks to mine. He does not care which church we attend or how often we attend; he speaks to us just the same. I know that God loves all of His children. Of course, to get my attention he often has to shout, but whether or not my spiritual ears are filled with cotton, I know he is trying to communicate with me. And I know he is trying to get through to you as well.

Picture is from hurricane-tracking.co.uk

So, has he gotten through? Have you felt it? Can you see it? We stand upon the precipice of a new era. I have felt prompted by the Holy Ghost to get my house in order and to be ready and prepared for what is coming. As Christians we have an advantage in that we can rely upon the communications of the Spirit to guide us in our preparations, and I encourage you to pray about what you need to do. I am confident that as you seek the Lord's counsel in prayer you will be guided, and when the time comes you will be ready.

Self Reliance

Of course those who do not identify themselves as Christians should be prepared as well, but this is true even more for Christians because collectively we believe in the principle of self-reliance. Non-Christians are not as likely to understand that principle. Many of them believe in being rescued by the government or by a professional whose job it is to help in times of "disaster". But as Christians, we believe we must first help ourselves like the airline stewardess explains before take off - put our oxygen masks on first and then once our masks are securely in place, that is when we reach across the isle to help others who could not or would not help themselves.

Picture is from Boston.com
reports on Hurricane Katrina

Well, the time to put on our oxygen masks has come, brothers and sisters! It is time we start practicing what we preach and become self-reliant. The time will soon follow that those who have not taken the time to help themselves will have to rely on the generosity of those around them. I personally wouldn't want to be stuck between that rock and that hard place! I think those who take the time now to prepare themselves will be relieved and grateful that they did.

Nothing Stays The Same

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/
2013/04/did-the-military-and-police-go-
too-far-in-locking-down-boston-and-
conducting-involuntary-door-to-door-
searches.html

Times are changing, and so should we. What I mean is the time has long past that we store only a month's worth of food in our homes. It is time we stocked up people! This is true especially if you have children. In fact, I would go so far as to say if you have children it is down right irresponsible to store only a month or so worth of food in your pantry. Convert your lifestyle to non-disposable items where possible. Grow some tomatoes in your window sills. Learn to can. Get out of debt. Have a family emergency plan A, B and C. Imagine the worst case scenario, and then ask yourself what you will need to be ready.

Either Learn From The Past Or Be Doomed to Repeat It!

Didn't we learn anything from Katrina? Okay, so it happened ten years ago, and chances are that if we did learn anything we have already forgotten what it was. Dig into your memories of that event. What do you see? I see homes destroyed, roads closed, flooding, fear. I see lawlessness, looting, violence breaking out. Store shelves are empty. Water supplies are contaminated.  I see thousands of people waiting for help to arrive and rescue them. I see help trying to get to them, but there weren't as many helpers as there were victims of Katrina's fury.

Picture originally from EMT 494 Crisis Communication blog
 etm494.blogspot.com/

What it came down to is this: those who were prepared to help themselves and their families were able to ride out the tide of that storm over time. Those who were not prepared waited for days before they were rescued. Many of them were shuffled willy nilly into temporary shelters where sanitation was impossible, where conditions were crowded and really unlivable, where rape and theft happen nightly. Families were separated, and well, there was a lot of needless suffering.

Let's learn from the mistakes we made during Katrina and let's be ready to help ourselves and maybe even our neighbors when the going gets tough. Because it is going to get tough.