Freelance writer and Speaker
Many people are emotional vulnerable during this pandemic. Our spirits can change very easily. A kind word can lift our spirit; an unkind word can crush. Our emotions seem to be heightened.
So we can make sure we give the kind word, show encouragement and figuratively speaking offer a hand to help. Smiling behind a mask could be a waste, but a smile will reflect in our tone of voice. Oh, to be blessed with smiling eyes!
The Israelites waited decades and decades for the Messiah. Their prophets wrote and sang about Him; books were written about Him. Then when He came they missed Him. Their wait continues.
Maybe others are like that today. They do not recognise the Redeemer when He knocks on the door of their hearts. They miss the greatest opportunity of their lives. Perhaps this pandemic is their wake-up call.
How wonderful to now have a vaccine against this killer pandemic. But is there a danger we will now worship the vaccine and it’s life-saving powers and forget where true power lies?
But who gave the scientists their talents? Who provided the raw materials that were used? Who invented time that it could be spent on this break-through? The answers are God, God, God. Once again mankind is going to take the credit that is due to God. We must just beg God for forgiveness and not retribution.
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist wasn’t able to speak for nine months. It is nine months since we have been able to speak and mix freely with others. It is three-quarters of a year since we have been able to sing in church. I wonder how our voices will sound when we are again able to sing together.
Whatever restrictions I do praise God that we can still worship our Saviour. Our heart goes out to those who do not have freedom to worship. I pray we may all come out of this time more willing to sing His praises and more fervent in our worship.
I do confess I pinched this thought from someone else. C. L. B. stands for Covid Lockdown Blues. The answer to the question is surely ‘yes.’ Wherever we are in the world, we have restrictions. we have limitations as to what we can do. And we are fed up with it. We do realise that our restrictions are saving lives, even if we don’t like them.
But let’s turn this around. Let us count our blessings. May we look upward to God and not look down to the struggles. Let us put our hand in the hand of God; He will guide us through. With His help we won’t only survive, we will thrive.
We rightly marvel at the feeding of five thousand hungry people. But this miracle happens every single day. God provides enough food for every person on earth, on every day. That is a tremendous miracle as billions of millions people are provided by God to feed them.
Unfortunately, not everyone receives enough food. Many, many die of hunger and thirst. It is not God’s provision which is lacking; it is man’s mismanagement, greed and selfishness. We do pray for the basic needs of everyone.
At the present time we are not able to go into churches to hold our services. It is sad that we cannot meet each other, but we can meet God wherever we are. Our God is not chained to a building. Often it is easier to worship Him in the open spaces.
God is in our homes and our hearts. We don’t need to look for Him, He is right here and there and everywhere. All that has stopped is corporate worship, though we still worship on-line. God is not limited. If I go the far side of the earth He is there. I cannot hide from Him in the depths or on the mountain.
We are in a world where things change so quickly. New gadgets are out of date before we learn how to use them. The political world is changing all the time, so we never know what new regulations are being implemented at any one time.
We do give thanks to God, that He is unchanging, He has no new rules and gadgets. Nor do His laws change. His commandments stand for all time. He can never be out of date.
I’m sure I’m not the only one. Dress standards can slip during this pandemic. If no-one is going to see us, why bother to dress up.
I wonder what else can slip? As we can’t go to church, do we need to continue worshipping God? If there are no physical prayer meeting, do we need to continue to pray?
How we dress is partly influenced by the opinion of others. Our worship of God most definitely is not. Our worship and devotion to God is something between God and ourselves. God is still there during this crisis. Some of us have opportunity to pray and praise more.
A stone mason was working on a high pinnacle of a cathedral. He was asked why he worked with such precision as no-one could see his work so high up. His reply, ‘No, but God will see it. I’m working for God.’
Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone.
Our lives should be full of thankfulness. Yes, we are in difficult times but there is so much to be thankful. I think I’ve told you before I keep a thankful book and note down my thanks each day. When I’m feeling down I can look back through the book. I have so many more things to be thankful for than I have time to write down.
Try writing down 20 thanks in one minute. A great exercise and so uplifting to the soul..