covid-19

COVID-19

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Two lines from a song I heard last week just keep playing in my mind...

Things aren't falling apart...
They're falling into place!

The inconveniences that have occurred in my life due to this pandemic are annoying.  Some friends are positive it's strictly political, others are sure it was caused by another country, and still some think it's just a matter of the US spending money on the wrong things and not being prepared themselves.  The only conclusion I can draw safely I think, is that it is a life-threatening virus combined with other physical weakness/disease.

But it has not touched my extended family, so I've listened to the news but gone about my 'socially distancing way'.

This morning was one of those mornings when as I read updates I was overwhelmed with just a small glimpse of what this is causing regardless of origin.

Requests for prayer talked about a gentlemen with a life threatening illness that was also found to have covid-19 when scheduled for a much needed surgery.  Other family members tested positive too.

And as our Missions' Director described how completely helpless some of the foreign villages are right now that our Crossroads teams have served before  ...  no way to get food - no way to get life saving supplies, I felt deep, deep sympathy and it drove me to prayer.

I see what the Bible teaches about God's people running back to Him when troubling times occur, and that's what's been happening with me.  Every time I get overwhelmed with sorrow and go to prayer instead of worrying or complaining about anything in my life - it's proof again - tough times draw us back to the Savior.

Wouldn't you think, especially those of us who are now considered "mature believers" would just stay there - praying and worshipping and not even notice the trouble around us?  It's embarrassing to see the depths we must fall to remain in fellowship with the Lord.  It's what He designed us for.

Our country is broken - this is when believers need to be the church!  Things aren't falling apart...they'll falling into place!  This is the exact place God's needs for His plans to be complete!

We aren't physically together but have enjoyed uninterrupted teachings and worship for years -
TIME TO USE IT!

I need a hug

Today my sister and I took some groceries to my mom. 

We kept our distance from one another, but I NEED a hug! 

We spent time laughing and cleaning and surveying what she has so we can re-stock her supplies.  We watched our favorite tv show all the while staying 6 ft. apart.  I really wanted to grab my mom and hug her!

I wore my mask, washed my hands multiple times at my mom's house and my sister wiped every surface we touched while we were there with disinfectant.  We will do what our government recommends, but the minute I'm allowed to, I'm going in for a hug!!!

I'm thankful for family, and friends and my church family - but I didn't realize how much I am physically missing everyone until today - hand shakes, hugs, high-fives - ANYTHING...who thought we'd ever not be allowed to touch?

I think it's almost over, and again, I can't imagine how hopeless and lonely it would be without the Hope we find in Jesus.

Hug whoever you're allowed to hug tonight and praise the Lord for that person like never before!

I have to admit...

I have to admit, before this time of isolation, I was a hurrier - for the first time in a very long time He has my full attention!

Considering this time at home I think of some the phrases I've heard and ignored my whole life describing slowing down - resting...

Take time to smell the roses

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

The best things in life are free

Enjoy the little things because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things

As the sun hit my tulips this morning it caused me to catch my breath at their beauty.  If things were normal I probably would have rushed by.  Instead I took time to consider, why  does the almighty God care about such detail?  It caused me to praise Him and thank Him for his attention to detail in creation - things that all the hard work and hurrying around could never duplicate...

Matthew 6:38 & 39
And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.  Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Today I encourage you to take a hard look around you - maybe go outside while we still have a glimpses of the sun (probably won't last long in Ohio!).  And worship the God that controls every detail of all of creation, including the details of your life!

now what

So...our days are filled with the following right now...  so now what?  All we hear are

warnings about face masks, gloves, staying 6 feet apart...

so far much lower numbers of people with the virus then projected....what should we believe?

separated in our own homes - I even read recently about a husband and wife staying in separate rooms of the house (yes, they get along fine)...

people are scared and now people are getting mad about not being "allowed" to return to work...

a beat up freedom

worry about losing our freedom.. it's a beat up freedom right now

people sure we'll all be forced to have embedded chips put in us (666?)

required vaccines that some are completely against

certain people supposedly taking advantage of a problem to promote their own political agenda

I could go on, and on to describe our current situation, but here is the only question we who call Jesus Lord need to consider. 

Do we really believe He is who He says He is? 
If so, then we also believe that the Lord needed all of this to happen in order to fulfill His plan.  He allowed it to happen...He is just as much in control now as He was when we were all enjoying the freedom to go wherever we wanted to.  Right?

Although we may all have some difficult situations to face as a result of the massive shut down, if we abide in Him - we need not worry, we should not worry but be continuously looking around asking Him what He needs us to do.

In difficulty the Gospel ALWAYS grows - we may get to see a revival like we've never seen in our lifetime! 

It may be difficult and very hard, and our freedom may not look the same - but, it's going to look exactly like Jesus needs it to look!  So, let's look constantly for any opportunity the Lord gives us to spread the hope that only a life in Him has a possibility of enjoying!  Let's look very different from the hopeless around us. 

Stay strong in Him!