(Although the publishing of this post is dated 5/4/20 It was written on 4/13/20 and for some reason I didn't post to the blog it was kept as a draft. Rather than erase it I released it today.)
Good Morning,
Forgive my tardiness in posting the April 2020 Newsletter. Its Monday, April 13, 2020 and our Holy Weekend has passed, many around the world in essence celebrated the life, death and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ. Many referred to the past weekend as Easter. All in All be it the welcoming of Spring/Easter or referring to it as Resurrection Sunday it is a time of reflection, just as we reflect on his birth in December. The Resurrection opens the door to eternal life for all who believe. I for one love Christmas which puts emphasis on love and his birth but I know that his life and death means all the much more. He came yes, but he came because he had work to do on not only my behalf but the behalf of many who would believe in him. God’s word says that Jesus will return again but not through the womb of his mother as he did the first time.
This past Holy weekend was one spent differently then the many we’ve spent over the years. We welcomed it minus some of our loved ones because of the nations quarantine. The most many of us could do was communicate with them via telephone or perhaps Skype. We could not physical touch them but none the less the holiday came and went. Today we are grateful to see another day for we are all living day by day now not fully knowing what each day will bring. People are getting sick, some recovering and some not and the hearts of loved ones are being broken. This virus is real and should not be taking lightly and we should be taking the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our families. We should be praying to God and trusting that whatever we have to face daily we can do it knowing that he will be our protector and provider. It is only through Christ that we have the strength to get through all things.
Before this pandemic the state of our world was drastically declining with many things transpiring that is not pleasing in the eyes of God. Perilous times would come and go with little or just temporary change until things seemed to be getting back to normal. Many seek for and grab the hand of God in times of trouble and loosen the grip when they felt that they could return to the control of their lives and surroundings so they thought. Bottom line, it is God who is in control. We have limited control over our lives and circumstances. His will overrides ours. We may have hopes, dreams and aspirations but if it is not in his allowed will things will play out as he sees fit for his purpose for each of us.
At this moment most of the world to a large degree is sitting still in one place. Perhaps God wants to use this time to reach us, to show us that some things need to change and that change begins with our hears and our mindset. Perhaps he wants us to see the error of our ways and turn our lives around. God doesn’t want our dependency to be on people, things, and our need to stay in relevant powerful positions of control. The control of everything is his, everything and everyone is in subjective to him including the enemy. He is the key keeper so whatever we need we can be assured that He can give it to us be it his will. Our trust should be in him and he is the one we should beseech when in need.
First, we must accept our imperfection and sin and sorrowfully admit this to God and ask him to help us make things right. Let us worry more about pleasing God and less about pleasing man. Let us be more loving toward one another as he has commanded us to do and less concerned about others not understanding our compassion and love for who many deem unlovable.
Violence and Hate destroys the human race, divided we are less likely to conquer hate and discord and live peacefully and in love among one another. We are suppose to be working together and helping one another instead of striving to be bigger, better and more popular then the next. There is nothing wrong persay with elevation as long as you don’t let pride and selfishness within yourself rise with it to where you no longer have a since of care and compassion about others. How can you posses such wealth yet see others suffering and feel like its not your problem and or why should you be the one to help. It is easy to have this mentality when the shoe is not on your foot but suppose it were, would you not be praying for help of some sort from somewhere? We can have and still share to help someone else in need. It is not all about us obtaining it all and too bad for those who don’t or cant. (Refer to the parrable of the rich man in the Bible Luke 16:19-31 and Matthew 19:1,16-30)
Jesus had compassion, Jesus helped, Jesus healed, Jesus loved those others walked over and or walked by. Does our actions display those of Christ or are we classed among the many who lack compassion and don’t reach out to help their neighbor or a stranger we don’t even know in need?
Bottom line, our world needs changing, there is too much going along to get along for fear of loss but we can we truly lose when God is in charge of all? No one can truly take anything away from us because they literally don’t own what they have, things can be taken away in an instant. Nothing is secure permanent apart from God. Saving Grace is the only security we have through Faith in Christ Jesus. That is the only thing we can be sure of because God is not a liar and his word is truth whether some believe it or no one believes it. I encourage you even if you don’t understand it all to seek God and pray for more clarity and a better way in hopes of a better day and time in this world under his authority and government.
Presently most are in seclusion, what better time to draw near to God not only for answers but for eternal security. For it is only Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life. In him is life and we can have life for an eternity with him even after the world we live in no longer exists.
