Going through the recent pandemic experience, I have noticed something about human nature. I’ve always known this to be true, but throughout this season, I have seen the evidence portrayed more vividly than ever before.
Where you rest your eyes in life will determine where you end up.
Just as, if while walking along a path, when you never once glance down, you may trip over a tree root or sidewalk, you will trip up in life if you constantly hold your head up in pride and never kneel down in humility.
Just as, if while running along the road, when you never look up, you may run into a tree or get run over by a car, you will run into a wall of anxiety and get run over by an avalanche of fear if you constantly keep your head down and never look beyond your problems.
Just as, if while climbing a mountain, when you refuse to persevere, you’ll never see the beautiful sunset in the horizon, you will be blinded by life’s circumstances if you consistently give up before you achieve the end goal.
Where your eyes search, there you will remain.
Where your eyes reside, there is where you will find your heart.
Take courage to seek peace.
Take courage to seek truth.
Take courage to seek faith.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
How can you bring peace when you’re full of anxiety?
How did you bring Hope when you’re hopeless?
How can you bring courage when you’re fearful?
We are His ambassadors!
We are to bring His message to this fallen world.
Have we forgotten our place?
Have we forgotten our calling?
Rise up! Take your place!
This place is a disaster because the church is a disaster.
We have just as much divorce, drugs, anxiety, etc., as the world has.
This should not be.
He called us out to be separate, a royal priesthood, set a part for His will and His way.
We’ve spent too much time trying to fit in, to conform to the norm.
Rise up! Stand your ground!
Our fight is not against flesh and blood.
We have forgotten our enemy while he has lulled us to sleep.
We have grown lazy in our opinions and agendas, forgetting Whose opinion matters most.
We’ve got to return to our calling.
We’ve got to return to the mountain.
Don’t shutter because He’s mighty.
Praise because He’s holy.
Worship because He’s gracious.
Shout because He is merciful and just.
We serve a King not a people.
We are an army to storm the gates of hell not lie in the puddles of our own ambitions and desires.
Rise up! Take your place in the kingdom of God!
This world is desperate for a Savior.
Can you hear Him calling?
Can you hear their cries?
How can you ignore it?
Why do you walk away?
If you do not fight now, you will lose the very things you clinched so tightly.
They are like sand sifting through your hand.
We are Ambassadors of Christ.
Grasp the things of His kingdom.
Seek Him first.
Chase Him, church.
Arise, oh daughters and sons! Arise!
Take your place and reap the harvest!
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
When the winds blow harder, the sails fill up; yet, the boat doesn’t crack.
When the waves threaten to burst forth, the tiller is set; yet, the keel doesn’t buckle.
When the thunder rolls and the rains pour in, the sails don’t shatter, the mast never weakens.
When the storms of life threaten to overtake the heart of your ship, make sure your anchor is secure.
There is only One who can carry you through the hardships, the hurricanes and even the shipwrecks.
He is the Only One who is an eternal safe harbor.
Penned – MG – 4/16/20
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” Psalm 18:2-6
I know the present pandemic isn’t quite over, and for many, it has brought a whole new normal. I grow angry at those who perpetuate the fear, and I am broken-hearted for those who have lost so much. I neither trivialize nor magnify this crisis. I live with precautions; yet, I absolutely refuse to live in fear.
When I am surrounded by media outlets constantly trying to manipulate the masses to think a certain way, or even act a certain way, I have red flags and sirens immediately go off inside my mind. I stop, watch intently and listen beyond the headlines. I read more, seek more and yes, even pray more to find the absolute truth not the perpetuated and opinionated half truths/half lies.
So, with all that being said, I’d like to tell you what I have learned during this 2020 pandemic… (These are in no particular order…just thoughts brought from heart to pen and paper.)
1. There are many things in life which I thought I needed, and I have found I can live without.
2. There are many things in life which I thought I needed, and I have found I was right.
3. You can confine and restrict, but the old adage stands true, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
4. School can be cut out from the children, but they will learn in more way than you first realized.
5. Even in brokenness and poverty, kindness can override…and the opposite is also true.
6. Even in health and prosperity, selfishness and hatred can thrive…and the opposite is also true.
7. We all need our friends and our support systems.
8. We all need our downtime and to be alone with our thoughts.
9. If you are always the smartest person in the room, Leave. You’re either not as smart as you think you are, or you’re not surrounded by enough challenging people.
10. Your wellness and happiness does not depend upon your wealth, your posterity, your location nor your relationships
…neither does it depend upon your poverty, your failures, your content nor your friendships… but these all (good and bad) can make a defined difference in your life, your destiny and in your legacy.
11. Some people are angels, no matter their circumstance.
12. Some people are devils, no matter their circumstance.
13. It can be very comical what people will buy in a panic.
14. It can be very heart wrenching what people will need in a panic.
15. People are resilient when given a chance to choose.
16. People are assiduous and persevering when left without an easy alternative.
17. Our older generations are valuable, genuine and full of tenacity.
18. Our younger generations are cherished, authentic and full of vigor.
19. People who have determination and purpose can thrive in adversity and in abundance.
20. People who live in fear can be controlled by those who appear to have the confidence to give direction.
21. People who live in doubt can be contained by those who appear to know the answers.
22. If you can believe in the Creator of this universe, He will give you hope, grace and peace like you’ve never seen.
23. God is God, and His name will be glorified in the good, in the bad, and yes, even in the ugly.
If things are a little chaotic around you, and you feel like your patience is wearing thin,
Just Stop and take a deep breathe.
If doubts and fears and uncertainties are weighing upon you like a ton of bricks,
Just Breathe.
If the cares of this world are crowding your thoughts, and you feel depressed, broken-hearted and just down in a low place,
Just Breathe, Again.
The sun is still shining. The world is still spinning on its axis. The moon is still rising. The birds are still singing. Take a lesson from these.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4
