Staff Words

April 6, 2020 0 By Mirm

Every day during this pandemic the staff are taking turns writing a thought or word of encouragement. I was on tap for today

When the foundations crumble, what can the righteous do? Ps. 11:3

At the beginning of this year I had not really heard of the corona virus, Wuhan or Dr. Fauci. I never used the expression “social distancing” and I had no idea of how much toilet paper I had on hand.  I never dreamed that I would be trying to teach my parents how to use Zoom nor scold them for running errands.  

Things seemed less fragile a month ago than they do now but we all know that isn’t true, in spite of how it feels. Life is not newly difficult. It is just as difficult as it has been. But, it is also dangerous, magnificent, exciting, short, adventurous, fragile, humorous, magical, and forever.  And none of the challenges we have ever faced or will face are a surprise to God. All the things I believe about God, all my theology, has  onceagain become biography in the last month.  The constant challenge for each person is the translation of all we say we believe to be real and true into daily living.  I guess it is always a struggle, but when suffering and crises happen, it forces the choice. 

I am reminded of something Kenny Poure used to say.  One time he asked someone how they were doing.  The response was, “Pretty good under the circumstances.”  His reply was, “What are you doing under the circumstances?”  I suppose I would best sum up these days as living “in the meantime”.  Pastor Kent Hughes once called it “living in the now and the not yet”.  It is probably the most important place in life. Since we are living in light of eternity, then the things we focus on now are different than if our last best goals and dreams happen here on earth.  We could choose to focus on the Coronavirus only, but think how much we would miss!  The relationships, the blessings, the abundant living promised by God would all be diminished.  And, life in between salvation and glory is where we choose to live rather than focusing on the past, which we can’t change, or the future, which we can’t control. It is the way one chooses to spend the “in the meantime” that really matters. 

In the meantime we can choose to live life to the fullest. 

In the meantime we are answering the call and trying to trust and obey.

In the meantime we are still leaning hard into His amazing grace.

In the meantime we will continue to live with purpose and passion all the days ordained for us. 

In the meantime we can serve and give and love and reflect.

In the meantime we gratefully and joyfully live…

God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic.  Yet, in His largeness, nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse slips through the cracks. Ps 36:5,6

Isn’t that inspiring?! We know God is bigger than this. He is sufficient.  He is still our focus and we know that he is using this current situation to deepen our love for Christ.  We cherish him by both our need for Him and our joyful gratitude.

Prayer requests – 

  • All those who are without work (There are many in my family)
  • Medical Leaders – insight into how to stop this pandemic and resolve to keep fighting
  • For me to find ways to continue to honor and support others around me with joyful hope and courage.
  • For God to be glorified