Month: April 2020

Persevering Faith

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment
Yesterday I received an email from Samaritan’s Purse. They have set up 14 hospital tents in Central Park, helping 66 patients. Franklin Graham said that he had never seen anything like it.
 
Samaritan’s Purse has been rushing to help victims in national disasters for 50 years. Right now they also have their hospital tents set up in Italy. Franklin’s statement is an awakening.
 
I was reading in Lamentations last night and had to stop. I’ve read it each time I read through my Bible. However, to read it in this time of the C virus, puts it in a whole different light for me. I’m reading it as though it is the world, not Jerusalem. It is ripping my heart apart.
 
I had a dream early this morning. The last words I heard before I woke up were, “broken hearts affect the whole body.” We could interpret it as the whole body of Christ. We could also apply it to a heart fragmented by painful circumstances. Both would be true.
 
Francis Schaeffer wrote a book years ago called, “How Should We Then Live?” Some are in panic, some in unbelief, but how should an authentic follower of Christ live in this time?
 
We should be about our Father’s business. Ephesians 5:16-17 says, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
 
We know His will is to be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and that He is not willing that any should perish, but that all men should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
 
We are to persevere in our faith with thanksgiving no matter what our circumstances are. We are to pray for unbelievers to come to know and accept Jesus as their Savior.
 
We are a living testimony of God’s love and redemption. A thankful heart is like medicine, affecting every aspect of our being. We are faith-spreaders. Our faith is a light that shines in the hearts of those around us. Matthew 5:16 says to let that light shine. I encourage you to ask the Lord what He wants you to do right where you live because He is at work worldwide.

Sheltering In Him

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment
Yesterday I began reading the book of Lamentations. I was startled. The wording sounds like our worldwide crises. If you change words like enemies and persecutors to the Corona virus, it sounds similar.
 
Lamentations 1:1 says, “How lonely sits the city that was full of people!” Our streets are deserted compared to how they used to be. Verse 2 uses the words ‘dire straits’ which fits our times.
 
No matter what our situation is, we can shelter in Him. He is our Impenetrable Rock! Yet there are folks around us that don’t know the Lord. Here is a letter I’ve written to each of the neighbors I have met in my senior mobile park. Feel free to adapt it and use it for those you know.
 
*Since we are sheltering in, I’m not able to come over to personally visit. I have been thinking about the dire straits predicted about the Corona virus. However, I have news I want to share with you that isn’t on the news.
 
Though this virus is deadly and spreading worldwide, Jesus can be our true Sheltering Place.
 
I think of the verse in Psalm 91:1. It says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” This to me is a picture of His protection.
 
It reminds me of a story I heard of a prairie fire. The farmer was walking through his fields that had been destroyed. He was dejected and absentmindedly kicked a charred mass. To his surprise, a bunch of little chicks scattered. The momma hen lost her life to save her chicks.
 
The Bible says that Jesus gave His life to save us from our sins when He died on the cross. One day, we will all die, because it is the way of man. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
 
Though the TV news is fear-producing, the great news is that God is not willing that any should perish. We are all made in the image of God to live forever. When we accept the good news of Jesus’ death for ourselves, we will have everlasting life with Him.