Financial Prompt

For the third time in less than two weeks the preacher sent out an email with a nudge on giving and how to get your financial support to the church. The most recent installment said, “We will also be leaving the church building open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8 am and 10 am for you to put checks in the offering box (social distancing will be practiced).” Too bad he didn’t say, “I’ll be at the church from 8 am to 10 am, if you need to talk, or need someone to pray with you (social distancing will be practiced).” Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34 NIV).

Treasure in Heaven

Last Sunday Bill and I spent our afternoon whipping out a generic Last Will and Testament. I don’t anticipate either of us succumbing in the near future. However, if both of us come down with a fever at the same time, I’d rather be counting my treasure in heaven and not worrying about earthly assets. Paul said, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Tim 6:17-19 NIV).

Addictions

When the gym closed, I dusted off the stationary bike sitting in the garage. Normally I just use the treadmill in the gym, so peddling the bike is not that much of a transition. However, I do wonder about some of my fellow exercisers who are addicted to their 1 to 1 ½ hour, seven-day-a-week, workout routines. Actually, the restrictions and complete shut-downs caused by COVID-19 are going to take a huge toll on anyone with an addiction — gambling, alcohol, drug, exercise, sex, porn, etc. Where are these folks going to get their “fix”? Peter said, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV).

Make Like a Bird

Normally my shopping list contains items I’m running low on, rather than things I am out of.  COVID-19 gave me a Black Friday mentality and I decided to go to Wal-Mart at 5:00 a.m. hoping to be the first in the door. I expected the store to have some semblance of stocked shelves, with the facility cleaned and disinfected the night before. However, when I double-checked their hours online, I learned they had changed and wouldn’t open 9:00 a.m. Having to wait four-hours before I could go to the store gave the Spirit time to get my attention and remind me that I wasn’t “out” of anything and I didn’t need to go to the store. Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds” (Luke 12:22-24 NIV)!

Preparedness

I belong to an online Christian writer’s group and a few people are worried that the provisions they stocked up with (food, medicines, toiletries, etc.) won’t last as long as they need them to. My thoughts turned to the Widow at Zarephath who had only enough supplies to make one last meal for her and her son before they died. Most of us, to some degree, have prepared for COVID-19 and Elijah’s words to the widow encourages me today. He said, “For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land’” (1 Kings 17:7-16).

Keeping the Lights On

On more than one occasion I’ve heard believers say their church cancelled corporate worship because of COVID-19, but pastors are reminding members the church still needs money to keep the building functioning. One pastor emailed, “In the meantime we can always be in prayer, look for ways to serve, find ways to give…” Let me admit, I feel somewhat indignant that money is in the forefront of any pastor’s mind. Church membership, unlike private non-profits who twist arms for contributions, knows it takes tithes and offerings to keep the light on in a building. Jesus said, “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’” (Matt 6:8-13 NIV).

Testing God

The COVID-19 pandemic has pitted believers against one other. One person is obedient to the medical profession’s call for social-distancing; while another person insists, we should not fear corporate worship, but rather have faith the Lord will protect us from the virus. I’m reminded of the Temptation of Jesus in the desert, “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matt 4:5-7 NIV).

Crown of Splendor Cut

My 96-year-old friend Betty needed a haircut. However, because of the virus, her daughter, Jo Anne, didn’t want Betty going to the beauty shop and decided she could cut her mom’s hair at home. After the haircut I talked to Betty on the phone. She said, “When Jo Anne’s four boys were growing up, she cut their hair all those years…so now you know what I look like!” The writer of Proverbs said, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life” (Proverbs 16:31 NIV).

Empty Shelves

Even though store night crews do their best to keep shelves stocked, the empty shelves are a great visual and hold a lesson for all Americans. In the US we know COVID-19 is responsible; however, in Venezuela the culprit is socialism. A Proverb says, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest” (Proverbs 14:4 NIV). Socialism takes ownership of the ox.

The Wisdom of the Ant

I’m weary of mixed messages telling consumers to stock up enough supplies to last a couple of weeks, but don’t hoard. If we put two-weeks of groceries and hygiene items in a Walmart cart it will be overflowing and others will accuse us of hoarding. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-7 NIV).

  

Hunkering Down

The Israelites were protected from the Plague of the Firstborn because they followed the Lord’s instructions to put some of the blood from their sacrificed lamb on the sides and tops of the door-frames of the houses where they ate the lambs. The movie The Ten Commandments gives us a visual of the Israelites safe and closeted in their homes when the plague arrived. Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again” (Exodus 11:4-6 NIV). Because of COVID-19, this may be the closest any of us come to experiencing what the Israelites went through as they were hunkered down. The good news is the wailing we hear in this pandemic will not be as bad as that heard throughout Egypt.

Keeping to the Plan

For their 50^th Wedding Anniversary my friends planned a trip to Germany, followed by a family gathering celebration at an island destination. The Coronavirus outbreak has caused a dilemma because the events are scheduled for Spring, the arrangements are made…and paid for. It’s easy for those of us who have no travel plans to question the travel decisions of others and my first thought was they should cancel the trip and not chance exposure to the virus and getting stranded outside the US. However, my second thought was Mary and Joseph, “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:4-7 NIV). Thank goodness Mary didn’t cancel the scheduled Bethlehem trip!

Members of the Family

The names for this post have been changed. The prayer request on the email prayer chain said, “John Doe just called to let me know his son Junior was just in an accident and is in surgery. John said Junior will likely lose an eye.  Please be in prayer for Junior, the surgeons, and Junior’s parents.” I’m quite disturbed by the way the request is worded. The facts are that John Doe is church elder, Junior was once a deacon and once the son-in-law of the preacher. The wording of this prayer request has relegated Junior to the position of just being John’s son. Similarly, Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in the synagogue. They said, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him” (Matt 13:55-57 NIV). Junior Doe, by his own standing, is a member of the church family and known by the church family.

Careless Words

Even among believers, the current political landscape has brought out caustic language and commentary from some against those who are not aligned with their views and opinions. We need to be mindful of our words, lest we become one in the brood of vipers. Jesus said, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:34-37 NIV).

Rejecting Advice

Because of the Coronavirus the store shelves in my community are empty of toilet paper and antibacterial cleaning items. Even though the government advised people to get prepared, some folks on social media are saying that stocking-up is ridiculous and they label those trying to prepare as idiots and stupid. In the midst of all the name-calling I had to laugh when one woman posted she was almost out of TP and would have to order it on Amazon…which will take 15 days. I’m reminded of King Rehoboam who consulted the elders who has served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’” (1 Kings 12:8-9 NIV)?

What is the Time

For a week following the switch to Daylight Savings Time I keep asking myself, “What time is it really?” I distrust and second guess every clock I see because invariably there will be at least one clock somewhere, either in the house, the car, or a store that didn’t get re-set. To me Daylight Savings is simply an example of man thinking they can control everything, including time. Describing the coming of the Son of Man Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:36-37 NIV). I’m guessing those who are left behind will be asking, “What time is it really?”

The Glory of God and the Glory of Man

It’s amazing how a haircut can change the attitude of a person, or of a dog. You feel better about yourself, your spirit is lifted, and it makes you frisky. Last weekend my daughter and son-in-law came for a visit and while they were here I gave Leslie a haircut, going from a shoulder-length hairstyle to a short-pixie cut. After an evening of putting up with Leslie’s sparing quips and comebacks Tim said, “Can you put it [hair] back on?” There are more than a few interpretations of Paul’s teaching on hair and whether or not his teaching was for a cultural situation (1 Cor 11:6-15). However, I find it interesting that hair plays such a role, not only in our physical being, but in our spiritual being…hair can be our glory or our disgrace.

As the Lord Determines

The last few years my husband’s health has kept us from traveling, going out to restaurants and attending church activities which last longer than about an hour. In my mind I had the script written for our future, i.e. we stay close to home, bring in fast-food and limit ourselves to brief appearances at church and in social activities. A few weeks ago, Bill’s physical issues made a turn for the better and last week we actually participated in a church Fellowship of Eight dinner group. While I’m rejoicing that Bill’s pain is diminishing, I’m also having to re-write the script for our future. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NIV).

Chatter

Last week I wrote about my middle-aged friend, a believer, who can’t find Mr. Right. She has what appears to be an on-and-off-again boyfriend waiting in the wings, but I’ve come to the conclusion that both she and the boyfriend are just “players”. Similar to junior high students, they like the drama of making one another jealous, breaking up one day and getting back together the next, all the time scanning the social horizon to see if there might be someone out there who is better. Last week when my friend started to tell me about their most recent date, I stopped the conversation in mid-sentence. It is not healthy for me, or anyone else, to be a sounding board for her to embellish her off-again-on-again relationship. Paul said, “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (2 Tim 2:16 NIV). That being said, I must admit she and I still talk politics.

God Controls Plagues

I make a concerted effort to look for God in world situations, most recently the outbreak of the corona-virus in China. There is nothing funny about the life-threatening virus, but I had to laugh when some media and some politicians blamed President Trump.  John wrote, “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him” (Rev 16:8-9 NIV).

So Be on Your Guard

In light of the corona-virus Americans are encouraged to be prepared and one recommendation is to have a two-week supply of necessities —food, medications, toilet paper, etc. It makes sense to me. If I get sick, I won’t be able to go out for two-weeks; if my community gets sick, I may not want to leave the house for two-weeks. During my most recent trip to Walmart I was surprised to find the anti-bacterial hand wipes, powdered milk and bulk survival food shelves empty. No doubt the store restocked overnight, but it indicated that some people in the community are taking the warning seriously. The Lord gave us signs of the end of the age and I can’t help but wonder how seriously some of us are taking that warning. Jesus said, “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:14-23 NIV).

The Words of This Song

In the Sunday worship song service, we had a couple of older hymns and the participation was great. My cousin, a man who by many measures has gone the way of the world, was in attendance. To my knowledge he never attended church regularly, but surprisingly when we sang “Standing on the Promises”, he knew the words and sang along. After the service my aunt talked about the old hymns, “You know, the new songs are okay, but I can’t see well enough to see the words on the screen, so I can’t sing. With the old hymns I know the words, I don’t have to read them.” The title and introduction to Psalm 18 reads, “For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”