Be Still

Psalm 46

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Isaiah 30:15  "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

   They say history repeats itself, but we can say that's somewhat true in our own lives.  As we are now under self-quarantine in our homes, we feel the cabin fever, the loneliness separated from friends, the boredom of kids, and the lack of privacy or escape to ourselves.  We want to blame those who are reckless with their public behavior and exposing those that have to be out for work, supplies or checking on loved ones.  Can you ever recall a time in your life like this before, at least with some similarity?  For myself, yes I can.

   Every year since I can remember, I have received a flu shot in October.  While I have never had the flu, the shot isn't my only means of self protection.  Just this year in January and February, I've had to miss church and other activities due to people not staying home while sick.  Sure, they may be healthy enough to get over it easily but some of us are not.  This kind of selfishness is not uncommon, but is more magnified with the coronavirus pandemic.  Welcome to my world and think about your impact on others.

So, you feel stuck, trapped and unhappy with your social distancing situation?  I suspect that life will bring you here again, maybe not the same way, but through a personal illness or injury.

'Christians often interpret the command to “be still” as “to be quiet in God’s presence.” While quietness is certainly helpful, the phrase means to stop frantic activity, to let down, and to be still. For God’s people being “still” would involve looking to the Lord for their help (cf. Exodus 14:13); for God’s enemies, being “still” would mean ceasing to fight a battle they cannot win." {gotquestions.org]

During the summer between my 9th and 10th grades, I had 2 rods put along my spine to help with scoliosis.  The curving of my back, scoliosis, was beginning to affect my lung capacity.  Therefore, I needed the support of the rods to straighten me up.  I went to the Norton Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, KY where they had performed over 40 of these surgeries and were doing 3-4 a week.  Arkansas Children's was on their 3rd at the time.  So after two weeks in the hospital, I came home on a long ride in the bed of a friend's van.  I spent my whole summer laying on my back recovering with occasional physical therapy by doing laps around the kitchen/dining room areas.  I was blessed with two great caregivers, Tania Lewis and Missy Meredith, because my parents had to work.  My summer included watching tv, learning how to knit, and waiting on the pool to be built.  No fun, painful but it was for my good.

I write and share this blog to say 'this coronavirus isn't my first rodeo of staying in and cooped up'.  As believers, we will get through this without fear or we will be called home.  I know that I'm okay, either way.  This is what I told my dad right before going in for back surgery at 14.  Can you say that to your loved ones, today?

 Gotquestions.org says it best by saying "When we are still and surrendered to God, we find peace even when the earth gives way, the mountains fall, or the nations go into an uproar and kingdoms fall . When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, remember Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Run to Him, lay down your weapons and fall into His arms. Acknowledge that He is God and that He is exalted in the earth. Be still and know that He is God."

                                             My dad seeing me in ICU for the first time

       

       

Anxious Thoughts

          Today's blog is about an emotion that many are feeling right now and maybe for the first time ever in their life, which is anxiety.  Wikipedia describes anxiety as " a feeling of uneasiness and worry, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing. It is often accompanied by muscular tension, restlessness, fatigue and problems in concentration.  Anxiety is closely related to fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat; anxiety involves the expectation of future threat. People facing anxiety may withdraw from situations which have provoked anxiety in the past."

         The website, gotquestions.org, talks about anxiety from a biblical perspective.  "Probably the best-known passage on anxiety comes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. Our Lord warns us against being anxious about the various cares of this life. For the child of God, even necessities like food and clothing are nothing to worry about. Using examples from God’s creation, Jesus teaches that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and cares about them. If God takes care of simple things like grass, flowers, and birds, won’t He also care for people who are created in His image? Rather than worry over things we cannot control, we should "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [the necessities of life] will be added to you". Putting God first is a cure for anxiety."

         "We can count on the Lord to provide for our needs, protect us from evil, guide us, and keep our souls secure for eternity. We may not be able to prevent anxious thoughts from entering our minds, but we can practice the right response." [gotquestions.org]

Philippians 4:4-9  "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

         
         Anxiety can lead to isolation, but that's not part of God's community plan.  "If we want to approach life fully in the way that Jesus Himself modeled, then we will do life together instead of choosing to go it alone. We weren’t made to celebrate victory alone. We weren’t made to suffer hardship alone. We weren’t made to walk through the dailiness of life alone. We weren’t made to be alone with our thoughts. (Are you as happy as I am about that last one? What a terrifying place the mind can be.) We were made to reach out, to connect, to stay tethered. We were made to live together in the light."  [Allen, Jennie. Get Out of Your Head]  We can still interact with family, friends, our church and others through technology resources, despite having to socially distance ourselves.

        Matthew Henry says "Observe, It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in him always; at all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for him, or are afflicted by him. We must not think the worse of him or of his ways for the hardships we meet with in his service. There is enough in God to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst circumstance on earth. Joy in God is a duty of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again called to it. If good men have not a continual feast, it is their own fault."

        As for myself, I've had anxious thoughts, like everyone else.  Yet, I did not understand the true depth of anxiety on a person until after my fall in 2018 .  I've never been a fearful person by nature, but some of my strong pain medicines had the side effect of anxiety.  It was scary, unnerving, uncomfortable and beyond my ability to control.  My anxiety continued even after I was discharged from the hospital.  Unlike ever before in my life, I not only needed someone in the room with me, I needed them in my line of sight.  I felt ridiculous for having such needs, but I would have sweats, a racing heart rate, and tears of fear without the security of having someone near me.  During the three months of weaning off those harsh pain medicines, my Dad and caregivers slept in my room in a recliner, cot or on an air mattress.  Thankfully, I got off those drugs and my current pain medicine doesn't cause anxiety or fearful thoughts.  I now have more empathy for those who struggle with anxiety for whatever reason.  I know without Jesus, as my Lord and Savior, that my anxiety would be a perplexing and consuming challenge for my everyday life.   Yet, I do have a peace that only God can give...  the comfortable sense of my reconciliation to God and interest in his favor, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, and enjoyment of God hereafter, This peace will keep me from sinning under my troubles, and from sinking under them; keep me calm and sedate, without discomposure of passion, and with inward satisfaction.  There is no other source of peace and calm, about anything or any circumstance, like Jesus can give.

Isaiah 26:3  "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

In The Dark With Present Danger

Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

          While we are dealing with the present danger of the Coronavirus pandemic, I want to blog about the reality of dangers around us in everyday, normal circumstances.  If you are reading this, then you should recognize God's faithfulness to you throughout your life, while surviving the yearly flu, the past bird flu and the common cold that often turns into pneumonia.  We must be mindful, precautious and aware of our surroundings and the dangers that exist in them.

          Since I was a young kid, my parents have taken me fishing.  I love to fish, and especially catch them.  We have had our memorable moments, including a fishing pole involuntarily jumping in the Lake Conway and an almost runaway boat scare on Bull Shoals.  But I want to talk about a certain period of time of fishing in my life.  Since I was age 12, my dad took me down to his cousin's property in Scott, AR to go night fishing with yo-yo's and trot lines.  For those that don't know, yo-yo's are spring loaded devices with fishing line wrapped in it with a hook on the end and trot lines are underwater ropes held by empty bottles with hooks spaced out on the rope.  As I was now old enough at 12, my dad taught me how to drive the boat; on/off the boat ramp, up beside the dock, down the river and up to yo-yo's and trot lines.  So you realize this is in-the-dark fishing and the creatures of the night are all around us in full force.  As my dad sits on the front part of the boat, I am to drive him up into the shore line of trees to get a fish off the yo-yo.  We use a spotlight before going to the tree to see if a fish is dangling or needs new bait.  As we all know, snakes like darkness, trees and camoflague.  Personally, I am not a good snake spotter in day or night.  Snakes are a real and present danger around us all night and the thought of one falling in the boat is terrifying.  The thought of my dad getting bit is scary and frightening too.  We did not panic or abort our fun plans but we were mindful, careful and choosy about which yo-yo's to go to and when.  When my dad would clearly spot a snake and tell me of it, I turned the boat away and moved on to the next.  After many years of fun and good catfish to eat, I can say we were in the realm of danger and fear but God faithfully protected us.

         I share this story to show that God is faithful to protect us, even in regular dangers or new ones.  We are to do our part by being aware of dangers, mindful with our choices, diligent to take precautions and think of others before ourselves.  The Coronavirus outbreak is not a surprise to God and his will of protection will cover us, if we put our trust in Him.  

        World-wide fear is nothing new.  The world has been terrified into panic before.  "C. S. Lewis’s words—written 72 years ago—ring with some relevance for us. Just replace “atomic bomb” with “coronavirus.”
        "In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”
         In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.
         This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds. [— “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays]

        May our trust always be centered on God who is always in control over all things.

Generosity in All Ways

         This week's blog is about generosity and how we are to give in all different ways.  I would suspect that many turn a deaf ear to messages about giving because we think here they go again after my wallet or pocketbook.  Giving can be done with your time, talents, wisdom, resources, material goods, friendship, as well as money.

        "Above all, God demonstrated His generosity when He offered His Son as a sacrifice to atone for our sin. In the face of such generosity, we can only say, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). The gift of Jesus to sinful mankind was the ultimate act of generosity."

         As we are to follow Jesus and his example, that includes being generous with others in all different ways.  1 Timothy 6:17-19  "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,  thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."   The treasure stored up isn't material things for ourselves, but of doing the good works God has set before us to do.  "Those are truly rich who are rich in good works. That they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate: not only to do it, but to do it willingly, for God loves a cheerful giver." [M. Henry]

         Proverbs 19:6  "Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts."  My Dad has taught me and been my example about generosity.  Of course I know he is my biggest fan and is biased when it comes to me, but he is generous to everyone he knows.  While I was growing up, he had to go on business trips pretty often.  There was never a trip that he didn't bring me a gift back from, usually a stuffed animal.  Oh, the looks he must have gotten while flying home with a life-sized Smurf, that I still have to this day along with about 40 other stuffed animals.  He, also, used to bring my mom music boxes or figurines when he returned from trips.  Still even now, he shares his time and resources in the most generous ways.

          When I was about 13, I had earned and saved enough money from doing chores and mowing the grass that I wanted to 'really treat' my parents on their anniversary.  I made reservations by myself at a restaurant inside the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock.  We all went and I had my money rolled up and tucked in my jeans pocket.  I told them, "Order whatever you want, I have it covered."  I was so excited and felt grown up enough to really do something on my own for my parents.  We ate and the bill came.  I reached confidently in my pocket, but it was empty!  Frantically, I looked all around my chair and the table.  I had lost my $80 and my dad paid for the meal.  I was devastated and disappointed in myself that I let everyone down.  As we left, we told the manager the description of the $80, as four $20 bills rolled up together.  It was a long ride home for me because my generosity was now squashed into a heap of frustration.  When we got home, the restaurant called saying that they had found my roll of money.  "Ah, God is so good and there are some honest people in the world"...were my thoughts.

         "The Bible teaches the general principle that those who are generous will find favor: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell” (Proverbs 11:24–26). God’s Word is clear that the generous are remembered and rewarded, whether in this life or the next." [gotquestions.org]

         "In our generosity, we are not to expect repayment in kind. Our reward will come from the Lord, in His way and in His time. We are to show generosity even to our enemies: “If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. . . . If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? . . . But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:29, 34–35)." [gotquestions.org]  I was told this principle by a former pastor that when he lends a tool, he never asks or expects it to be returned but if it is, it's a blessing.

         My generosity continues on to this day but I will not boast about those efforts.  I want to just be an example to others in the same way I was taught and raised to be generous, without expectation of anything in return.  I am blessed and encouraged by the parents who teach their children thankfulness and gratitude.  In this day and age, the sense of entitlement is an obvious sin that is running rampant and needs to be dealt with.

         I have been the recipient of so much generosity by friends and family over the years.  I want to spotlight one of those, as an example.  My friend, Lilly, handmade a huge quilt around age 13 for a class project and she gave it to me.  I hope to one day return it to her as an adult, because it's a treasure to be treasured by her own family one day.

We can apply these encouragements to our own lives and strive to be          generous and wise with everything God has entrusted to us.