COVID-19, The End of the Age?

People are occupied with protecting themselves and others from the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Many are preoccupied with fear and anxiety. Some are so afraid of losing control, or access to stuff, they overbuy and hoard things like toilet paper.

We see nations closing off from each other, businesses executing temporary shutdowns, and individuals quarantined by choice.

Facebook posts and conversations in the few areas where people still share space, although at a minimum of six feet apart, include the topic that maybe the end really IS near.

Perhaps.

But only God knows for certain.

He holds the times, the seasons, the nations, the people, and all of creation.

His word reassures us that He will never leave nor forsake us. He states, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” Matthew 28:20 (NASB).

During my prayers the other day I recognized that gratitude and thanksgiving overflow my cup. I’m grateful I still have my health and my job. I’m thankful my extended family is getting on well. We suffer some financial struggle but right now everything is pretty good.

God is not surprised by anything. He knows our thoughts and our concerns.  

Jesus knew

the questions the Pharisees asked before they even had time to speak.
the betrayal, and by whom
the rejections and Peter’s denial

Jesus knows

the current AND FUTURE impact of this virus on His people and on the world

He isn’t surprised by anything.  

Nothing in the past shocked Him
Nothing now amazes Him
Nothing in the future defeats Him

Even though not everyone agrees on the exact interpretation of His words, or upon the timing of events, the truth is

 God knows our past
He holds our present
And He orders our future

Praise be to God!!

Lord be near to us through Your word and in the hopes of Your people. If this disease is a judgment to shake us out of Christian complacency. Give us the courage and the strength to continue to reach out a hand to help another. Use this dangerous virus to draw people to Christ for it is HE alone who can save us. Amen

~ Cindy Payne
©2020

Sleepless Nights—My 4-Step Solution

Eyes wide open, I turned to look at the clock on the nightstand, 2:18. I groaned, “Not again, why in the world am I awake at 2 in the morning? That’s the third night in a row. There’s nothing I can do at 2 a.m. to fix any of my problems, so why am I awake?”

Sleepless nights. We all have them at one time or another. Sometimes we’re awake because of pain, or hunger, or some other physical reason. More often, it’s our own mind, our thoughts waking us up, keeping us awake.

Just this week, I read not one, not two, but THREE different posts on Facebook from friends who struggled with not enough sleep.

In 2 Corinthians 11:27 the apostle Paul writes, “I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (NASB)

Awake in the middle of the night, I know there’s not a thing I can do to solve any of my problems. I’m not at work to earn money to pay bills, the household chores have either been done or must wait so I don’t wake my husband, and it’s certainly the wrong time to consult with any friends who might be able to help.

It’s just me.

Well, it’s me AND God.

I used to ask, “Why am I awake?”

But now I turn to my 4-Step solution for these sleepless nights. Mentally, instead of dwelling on the things I cannot do at 2 a.m. I,

• • Praise God for His amazing creation
  • Share thoughts of gratitude
  • Pray for the people whose names come to my mind
  • “Cast my cares” upon Him

Without fail, every sleepless night I take the opportunity to do these things, when I do  fall asleep, I rest well and waken refreshed, ready to meet the challenges of the new day.

The next time you’re confronted with a sleepless night, spend that time with the Lord. You won’t regret it.

It might even become the most productive part of your day.

“I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely,” Psalm 16:7-9 (NASB).

Coffee – A Life Lesson

Coffee.

Rich, dark, aromatic.

I open the container of coffee and inhale the perfume of one of my favorite fragrances.

In anticipation I wait for the brew to finish [stopped and went to make coffee] so I can enjoy the flavor of this delicious liquid.

It’s strange that such a delightful treat results from filtering water through the gritty bits of crushed coffee beans. Gritty bits that are then thrown away or used for compost.

Whether using a drip maker, old-fashioned percolator, French press, or even an espresso machine the same technique applies – We FILTER the coffee and the result is a pleasant beverage.

Which leads me to ponder this —

I filter my coffee, but do I filter my words?

Is what I say pleasant?

Delightful?

Or instead do I share the gritty bits?

We can use this filter from Chapter 4 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (verse 31, NIV)

And brew delightful relationships

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (verse 32)

 

 

Axe Heads Float?

Are you pondering what 2019 will bring?
I am.

Are you thinking about resolutions to make or changes to your lifestyle to incorporate?
I am.

Do you consult God during these mental exercises?
I do.

This morning, I read 2 Kings 6:1-7 (NASB). I’ve read the Bible through often, but I always learn something new. Or at least see something familiar in a new way. That’s what happened to me today.

The passage describes sons of the prophets who want to relocate to another area and build new homes for themselves. They invite Elisha, the prophet, to accompany them and he agrees. As they are cutting wood to build their homes one of the axe heads falls off and into the water. Sunken beneath the surface. He cries out to Elisha, “Alas my master! For it was borrowed.”

Elisha asks, “Where did it fall?” When the man showed him, Elisha cut off a stick and tossed it into the water causing the axe head (iron) to float. Amazing, right?
Then Elisha tells the man to “’Take it up for yourself.’ So he put out his hand and took it.” (2 Kings 6:7 NASB)

Ponder with me –

• Everything is within the reach of God. And, through His power—we can reach it too
• We cannot sink so low that God won’t bring us to the surface, if we ask
• Our lives are “borrowed”, but in our case the owner Himself reaches out His hand, restores us, and returns us to an “unbroken” state

Pray with me –

Father bless us with new visions and understanding as we seek to know You more fully through Your written word. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

When Depression Moves In

Depression – if you, or a loved one, struggles with depression, please read Meredith’s words of encouragement.

Meredith N Mills

What happened to my joy?

The question tugged at the corners of my soul as I trudged through each day. A dark cloud hovered over every waking moment. And sleep? That was a struggle, too. I had one bed-wetter and another child with night-terrors, so the sleep I did get was often fragmented and restless.

How I hated mornings. I dreaded facing a new day.

How can I be a good mom when I feel so sad, so weary, so…depressed?

(For the rest of the story, hop over to CBN where I’m sharing today about my walk through depression and the hope I’ve found along the way.)

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and welcome you to join the conversation by leaving a comment below.

Related Posts:

When I Forget…God is Faithful 

On Questions Without Answers

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What If . . . ?

 

I lose my job?

The car breaks down?

I get hurt riding my horse?

My children won’t listen?

There’s a bee in the flower?

What if . . . ?

---

Stop and think –

Many  things we worry about are preceded by  “what if?”

But, God’s plan for us is perfect because He is perfect.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope,” Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB).

We should still work hard at our jobs, maintain our cars, discipline our children, practice safety, etc. But we can be encouraged there are no “what if’s” in God’s plan. He is in control and since He is, we’ve no need to worry.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” Philippians 4:6 (NASB).

Let’s remember to trust the Lord and let go of the ‘what if’s.” His every decision, every action, is best for us.

He never struggles with doubts

No second guesses

His will is done with perfect love.

No “what if’s”

Stop to smell the roses, but watch out for the bees.

 

Being Seen With Christ

A man, or woman, can be recognized by the vehicle they drive.

My husband and I drive what I call, “his and her black Dodges.” If someone who knows us sees either of these vehicles they know at least one of us is nearby.

The Durango is recognized as my car only if someone has seen me with it, driving it, or getting in / out of it. If a person never sees me with that car they don’t know which one in the parking lot belongs to me. The car and I have to be seen together.

Reading scripture verses as follow-up to last week’s sermon a theme stood out in these words ─ united, together, fellowship, conformity, purchased, abide, and known. Words describing our relationship with Jesus Christ. But, to be recognized as belonging to Christ, we must be “seen” together.

A man can be recognized by his truck because of his relationship with that truck. They’ve been seen together. Can people recognize we are followers of Christ by our relationship with Him? Are we seen together?

Some of the verses:
Romans 6:4-5
Ephesians 2:4-5
1 Corinthians 1:9
Revelation 5:9-10
John 15:4-7
1 Corinthians 2:6

~Cindy Payne ©

Bearing More Fruit

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit,” John 15:1-2 (NASB)

The owner of the vineyard tells me she removes the branches that are dead. That she added a new branch (root) which is already entwined with the older vine.

 Jesus continues, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

When growing grapes, the entire plant is considered the grape vine. It is this portion from which all other branches, leaves, and fruit, must grow.  Rosalie went on to explain for the fruit to reach its maximum potential, it must receive plenty of sunlight. This means that even some of the beautiful leaves and young shoots must be pruned away. This makes room for the sun to shine through. She said she didn’t like to do that part but, if she didn’t, then there wouldn’t be tasty grapes to eat.

Jesus used the examples of vines, branches, and fruit to help us see ─ our lives are a lot like a grapevine. The dead wood (sin) must be removed and destroyed. Unnecessary parts of our busy days need to be carefully pruned to allow the Light of the Son to shine through. When Jesus, the Son, shines in our lives then fruit will grow.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)

 

God Is Calling, Are You Listening?

This morning, during a time of quiet reflection, I desired to empty my busy mind of thoughts and troubles. Just to free head space so I could hear God. There are many Bible verses, and times of despair, that tell us to call out to God.

But truly, He’s the One doing the calling. He calls us to draw close to Him in our times of trouble. He calls us to seek Him in our times of decisions. He calls us to share the gospel. He calls us, like Peter, to feed “His sheep.” He calls us to salvation.

How We Live Now Matters

During an early morning thunderstorm, I sat quietly at my desk reading my Bible. Waiting for the storm to pass before heading off to work. Pondering the convenience of a flexible schedule that allowed me to make these choices.

The passage for today in 1 John is captioned “The Promise is Eternal Life”. Many people may ask, “Who wants to live forever anyway?” Yes, I’ve heard these words spoken before. The answer is — those who rejoice in living in the Presence of God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Our eternal life doesn’t begin in heaven, it doesn’t begin when we die. It’s here, and now. When we believe.

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming,” 1 John 2:28 (NASB).

Our eternal life is NOW. How we live NOW matters.

#howwelivenowmatters  #Christianliving #eternallife #God’spromises