Getting Away

Will getting away change anything? As the corona virus continues to spread at a record pace it seems that everyone’s nerves are on edge. These are trying times and in trying times are when we are tested to our limits.

Getting away from it all even for a few minutes won’t change the situation but it could change how we react when things happen. Now maybe you can’t physically get away right now and that is understandable. But you could find a place in your home or wherever you are and close you eyes and clear you mind.

If you can listen to some calming music to help clear you mind. Then once your mind is clear of the clutter begin to recite this scripture to yourself paying attention to each word.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Once you have a grasp on how trusting God can help you through, pray for help to get through this. God answers those prayers. In fact in His word you can see one of the prayers and the corresponding answers.

¹ Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.

² I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
³ He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

Psalm 57:1-3 NIV

I don’t have the answers to the problems of the world today but I do know the One who does. Let’s try to make sure we are not ignoring God and instead taking more time to seek His face and His favor in the year 2020, which will go down in history as a monumental year.

Remember God is in control even when the world is out of control. Lets all do what we need to do to keep ourselves from harm the best we can, by wearing masks, washing our hands and staying a safe distance from each other and then trust that God will take care of the rest. I will be back next week with more.

Time to Do

Our world has changed drastically, but for me the routine is about the same. Yes, the social distancing is different and wearing a mask to go to a store or even around work is different, but the routine is the same. I feel blessed to be part of a job that has been considered essential with management that cares about our welfare and health. All of this pandemic has made me feel different, I want to do things that I have been putting off for a long time.

On Holy Saturday I went outside and trimmed my bushes and my crape myrtles, the week before I mowed the lawn. This Saturday I tackled the remaining bush in the front yard. I am sad and happy to say that I ended up just cutting it all the way to the ground because there was no way to make it look good. Now I plan on trying to put a flower garden in that area—once we get rid of the roots from the bush. It may not happen right away but just knowing that I am doing something beneficial to the look of my house somehow makes me feel better.

We have had a lot of rain lately on the weekends but somehow when the sun in shining I seem to make my self go outside and fix something. But when the rain starts, I try to find some creative things to do inside the house. So far, I have made some masks for wearing in public and today I finally made my first pillow out of a tee shirt that would not have been worn again. I am really getting into this up-cycling of old clothes. Some of my masks have been made out of old tee shirts and material that have been sitting in Tupperware containers waiting for me to use them.

Of course, I keep tabs with my family more now, just making sure they are all safe and sound. Prayers are always going up for those who are sick, whether it is from the pandemic or not. This pandemic has been a real wake up call for all of us. The good news is that God has not left us and He is taking care of His children. I believe that with all my heart.

¹ Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.

² I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
³ He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. (Psalm 57:1-3)

Though this psalm was about David fleeing from Saul we have an enemy that is pursuing anyone it can get onto and that is this terrible virus. We cannot let our guard down and we cannot stop following the directions given by those in authority until we have a reprieve from this attack. So, hang in there, do stuff you can do where you are and most of all enjoy family—that you live with and that you can call or video chat with. Thank goodness for technology that allows us to touch our children and grandchildren even if we can’t get close.

God bless you all. I will be back next week with more.