The alarm clock buzzes, jolting us awake.

The coffee pot brews a cup of morning motivation.

A quick kiss goodbye to a loved one before racing out the door to work.

For some, this is what the morning routine looks like.

It’s just another day.

Business as usual.

But the weeks that have preceded Holy Week have looked anything but usual.

Truck drivers, cashiers at grocery stores, janitors, police officers, EMTS, doctors and nurses.

Anyone deemed essential has had to go through the motions of the daily routine, knowing the dangers that lie ahead.

And everyday they go.

Daily serving that others might have the essentials.

Daily serving that others might be safe.

Daily serving that others might live.

Friends and neighbors, giving up time with their own families and loved ones.

Putting others above themselves.

Such an example of real love.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

1 John 3:16 NLT

I wonder if there are times some wish they would have chosen a different career path.

Times of doubt.

Most probably never envisioned the circumstances that they find themselves in now.

It is hard to fathom.

But Jesus knew this feeling well.

He gave up being in heaven with the Father to come to earth in human form.

He walked among those who were broken and sick, not just in body but in spirit.

Jesus came for healing’s sake.

Jesus had loved ones He would leave behind.

His mother, His disciples, His friends.

And just before He would be led away to complete His work, He would sit down for a meal with His disciples one last time.

Like He had done many times before with those He loved.

He knew the dangers that were before Him.

So He went to God in prayer.

“Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There He told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.”  Luke 22:39-44 NLT

What I love most about this passage are the words “as usual.”

Jesus did not set an alarm clock or put on a pot of coffee as part of His usual routine.

He went to God in prayer.

Regardless of the circumstances, Jesus daily spent time with Father God.

When Jesus had doubts and fears about the path He was on, He sat at His Father’s feet.

Friends, that is what our heavenly Father wants us to do now.

Bring your worries and fears and give them to the One who is larger than any burden we carry.

He will give you strength.

And as you sit at His feet, lift up those who are truly acting as the hands and feet of Christ in a broken world, that they might be strengthened and protected as well.

Amen.

“He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands

He’s got the whole world in His hands…”

Maybe like me, you remember this song from Sunday School or Vacation Bible School.

You are probably humming the tune right now.

According to Wikipedia, this African American spiritual was first published in 1927, and recorded 30 years later by singer Laurie London.

There is something about these simple lyrics that give me comfort, especially now.

God has the whole world in His hands.

Babies, brothers, sisters.

Doctors, nurses, cashiers at the grocery store.

You and me.

Everyone.

“So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”  Genesis 1:27 NLT

Everything.

“On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work.”

 Genesis 2:2 NLT

HIS.

Our heavenly Father sees our brokenness, our fears and worries.

He desires us to draw close to Him, just like a parent shows love and tenderness to a child.

“The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.”

  Psalm 103 :13 NLT

Circumstances will change, but the love of the Lord remains forever.

“But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children’s children.”  Psalm 103:17 NLT

Our Abba Father does not want us to be fearful as we face trials and tribulations,, but to seek our strength from Him.

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call him “Abba, Father.”  Romans 8:15 NLT

“And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.” Romans 8: 17 NLT

In our present circumstances, we can draw comfort in knowing that we are HIS.

And as His children, made in His image, let us reflect His light and love into a world that is in need of hope and comfort.

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 NLT

Remember friends….

He’s got the whole world in His hands.

And there is no better place to be.

Amen.

Now I lay me down to sleep….

I don’t know about you, but laying down has not been the challenge lately.

Shutting my mind off so that I can actually fall asleep is a different story.

Increasing reports on the spread of the coronavirus, stay in place orders, businesses and schools closing.

So many what ifs ….

Worst case scenarios dart around my mind like children running on a playground.

Everyday the news around the country seems to get worse.

But everyday I have a decision to make.

Which news do I turn my attention to: the local news or the Good News?

In a time when everything feels uncertain, we must grasp onto God’s truth.

Our God is unchanging, even when the world around us is in constant flux.

Let’s go to the book of Psalms.

When we cry out to our Heavenly Father, He will sustain us.

“But, You, O Lord, are a shield for me.

My glory and the One who lifts up my head,

I cried out to the Lord with my voice,

And He heard me from His holy hill.  

Selah..

I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.”  Psalm 3 :3-5

Notice the word Selah at the end of the first verse.  

There are several meanings listed for this word.  

One means “to praise.”  

Another defines Selah as a pause or break, a time to reflect.  

How timely this is right now, as we have a break in our normally busy routines to reflect on God’s presence..

Finally, my favorite interpretation of the word Selah means “forever.”

Our circumstances will pass, but our God is forever.

God is good and our safety is found in Him.

“There are many who say,

“Who will show us any good?”

Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

You have put gladness in my heart.

More than in the season that their grain and wine increased,

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep.

For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Psalm 4 :6-8

Friends, as we start each day, let us direct our concerns to Him.

“Give ear to my words, O Lord.

Consider my meditation.

Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God.

For to You I will pray.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord.

In the morning, I will direct it to You.

And I will look up.”  Psalm 5 :1-3

Begin each day looking up.

Take time to reflect on a God who is good forever.

May He sustain you throughout the day and before you lie down in the safety of His arms at night.

Rest well.

Peace, love and good health to you all.

Connections are important, even if they are at a distance.

At 1:00 am this morning, I was texting with a few friends, discussing what is happening in our world.

We are all awake.

Sleep eludes us.

Everything feels like it is changing.

And to be honest, it feels a little scary.

Almost overnight, our country seems unrecognizable.

The impact of the coronavirus, or COVID 19, seems to worsen with each passing day.

Our normal routines have been interrupted.

Some have come to a screeching halt.

Schools and colleges have dismissed students for the remainder of the semester to go to online learning.

Restaurants have been reduced to take out only.

Non-essential businesses have shut their doors..

The stock market has plummeted to new lows.

Grocery stores and markets shelves lie empty.

Sports have suspended playtime and major events, like March Madness and the Masters.

Visitation has been restricted to nursing homes and senior living apartments to keep our most vulnerable population safe.

Even places of worship have moved to online services to prevent the spread of disease.

It is a time and place that feels unfamiliar and unsettling.

Social distancing has now become a part of our everyday vocabulary.

According to Merriam Webster, the first known use of this term was in 2003 and is defined as:

“the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection.”

Even though the terminology is different, the act of separation from others due to illness goes back to Biblical times,

Quarantine and isolation are found in Leviticus, for example.

“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “If anyone has a swelling or a rash or discolored skin that might develop into a serious skin disease, that person must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons. The priest will examine the affected area of the skin. If the hair in the affected area has turned white and the problem appears to be more than skin-deep, it is a serious skin disease, and the priest who examines it must pronounce the person ceremonially unclean.

“But if the affected area of the skin is only a white discoloration and does not appear to be more than skin-deep, and if the hair on the spot has not turned white, the priest will quarantine the person for seven days.  On the seventh day the priest will make another examination. If he finds the affected area has not changed and the problem has not spread on the skin, the priest will quarantine the person for seven more days.” Leviticus 13: 1-5 NLT

Can you imagine being unable to touch those you love or meet with them?

Though the terms and diseases are different than today, the feelings are the same.

When we are told we cannot gather, we feel more alone than ever.

Isolation is a strategy the enemy uses to make us question our faith.

But our Heavenly Father wants us to come to Him with our questions, fears and worries.

He does not want us to face this day alone.

Nothing can separate us from His love.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38 NLT

That is what I am holding onto during this time of chaos.

Friends, so many of us are feeling anxious and afraid in this time of uncertainty.

But even though we are asked to adhere to social distancing, we are never asked to stay distant from God.

Distance from God is what makes us feel unsure, not the circumstances going on around us.

And when our anxiety increases, tune out the news and tune into Him.

Start your morning with praise and worship at the feet of the One who is a constant in ever changing times.

That is not to say we should not stay informed.  

We need to keep updated on what is happening around us.

But we need daily time in His presence.

And as a community of believers, we also need to stay connected to each other.

How grateful I am we live in a time when technology allows us to watch an online sermon or Facetime with a friend.

As the hands and feet of Jesus, we can reach out in other ways, like shopping for someone who is at risk and cannot leave home, sending cards and letters to nursing homes and mental health facilities that cannot receive visitors, or supporting local businesses by ordering take out.

Brothers and sisters, this is a time that the world can see that we are Christians by our love for each other.

Stay connected.

Connections are important, even if they are at a distance.

“This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”  John 13 : 35 MSG

He jumped off the bus and saw him in the distance by our mailbox.

My Dad was waiting for my youngest to get home from school.

As soon as Dan got a glimpse of Pappy, he took off like a shot.

Gratefully, my phone was handy and I was able to capture the moment he ran into his arms.

It was a treasured moment.

I don’t know if something happened in school that day or if it was just the excitement of someone waiting for him.

But whatever the circumstance, my son knew that he had a safe place to land in my father’s arms.

Do you ever feel that sense of wanting just to land safely in the arms of someone who loves you?

Maybe you have had a bad day.  

Maybe there has been pain and heartbreak in your life.

Maybe it is just the comfort of knowing there is someone out there waiting for you who cares.

We have a heavenly Father who cares so deeply for His children.

God waits for us to reach out to Him.

He wants to comfort us on our sad days.

He wants to rejoice with us on our good days.

Our heavenly Father simply wants to be in our presence to let us know how much He cares.

“The LORD waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them” Isaiah 30:18

With all of the changes swirling around us today, I am in desperate need of knowing that I can run into the arms of someone who cares.

Run into His arms today, friends.

He is waiting for you.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

    He is my God, and I trust Him.

 For He will rescue you from every trap

    and protect you from deadly disease.

 He will cover you with His feathers.

    He will shelter you with His wings.

    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

    nor the arrow that flies in the day.

 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,

    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.” Psalm 91 :1-6 NLT

“That’s the boy I met at school today!” exclaimed my son.

Just entering kindergarten, I was excited to see another child Dan could connect with in our neighborhood.

Without thinking, I began yelling and sprinting across the lawn to catch up with this boy and his mother.

And then it happened.

I was suddenly airborne, landing on the hard ground and spraining my ankle.

I had tripped over a metal drainage pipe that I had not seen.

But I was seen….

By the boys kindergarten teacher who just happened to be walking her dog up the street at the same time, bearing witness to my gracefulness.

Good times.

Acting without thinking resulted in a badly sprained ankle this time.

If only I had not acted on impulse.

This is also true when I am not staying close to God.

It is easier to trip and fall.

When my focus is not on Him, I can be thrown off the path of walking in His will.

“In Scripture it says,

“Look! I am placing a stone in Zion.

    It is a chosen and very valuable stone.

    It is the most important stone in the building.

The one who trusts in Him

    will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16)

This stone is very valuable to you who believe. But to people who do not believe,

“The stone the builders did not accept

    has become the most important stone of all.” (Psalm 118:22)

 And,

“It is a stone that causes people to trip.

    It is a rock that makes them fall.” (Isaiah 8:14)

They trip and fall because they do not obey the message. That is also what God planned for them.

“But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give Him praise. God brought you out of darkness into His wonderful light.  Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2: 6-10 NIRV

God gives us His commandments and direction to keep us safe.

When we are outside of His will, it is easier to stumble and fall.

We often react based on our emotions before thinking through to the consequences.

But we are God’s people.

He chose us and desires to be in relationship with us.

And on those days we trip and fall, He is always willing to give us grace until we get on our feet again.

But just like my sprained ankle, there may be some discomfort as we try to get back on the right path.

Friends, take the time to pause, ponder and pray before you step into your day.

It will help you stay focused on His path for your life.

And when you lose your footing, remember His mercies are new everyday.

Praise be!

What are you giving up for Lent?

Leading into Easter, this was the question that was asked every year.

Growing up, my list always included potato chips, chocolate and soda.

No small sacrifice for a teenager.

The temptation of junk food seemed to be everywhere.

A friend even hid chocolate under my pillow one year to tempt me.

With a sense of pride having put down these things for 40 days, I would celebrate Easter morning with a bag of Middleswarth BBQ, a sleeve of frozen Thin Mints and a Diet Coke.

The sacrifice had been worth it.

My understanding of this time leading up to Easter has expanded as I matured in both years and in my faith walk.

The temptation of junk food is still everywhere.

It is no longer just in the form of sugar or carbohydrates.

Many things will tempt us with the promise of filling us up.

Stacked schedules, unhealthy habits, social media.

And when we are hungry, physically, emotionally or spiritually, it is tempting to reach for what fills us quickly.

But just like a sugar rush, the feeling of satisfaction is short lived.

We need a steady diet of time in His word and in His presence.

The world is saturated with temptations that will distract us from spending time with our Heavenly Father.

Jesus understood temptation.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.  

For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to him, 

“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, 

“No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,

    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.

And they will hold you up with their hands

    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.”

 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.”

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. 

“For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God

    and serve only Him.”

Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.“  Matthew 4: 1-11 NLT

Jesus was not focused on the temporary.

His eyes were fixed on the eternal.

The forty days He spent in the desert were nothing compared to the sacrifice He made on the cross.

But He knew that sacrifice would be worth it.

Nothing we will ever give up here on earth can compare to that.

But we can use the time during Lent to reflect on His sacrifice.

A sacrifice that was born from our Father’s great love for you and for me.

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.”  1 John 4:9 NLT

What will you put down to spend time in His presence today?

Whatever you give up, I promise it will be worth it.

And the celebration on Easter morning will be filled with more than potato chips and Girl Scout cookies.

It will be filled with the hope and promise of a life with Him in the heavenly realms.

What will you give up for Lent?

I do not know who she is.

Maybe she is the young mom waiting in the parent pick up line.

Maybe she is the woman folding clothes at the laundromat.

Maybe she is the woman who appears confident on the outside, but is broken deep within.

Maybe she is you.

I know that she has been, and still is, me.

A woman in need of encouragement and hope.

A woman who worries about those she loves.

A woman who is weary and in need of rest.

A woman who is unsure if she truly has anything to offer this world.

Sisters, we all need a safe place to share our hearts.

A place to let go of our worries and rest our heads for a while.

A place where we are reminded that we were uniquely created to add something to this world that only we can give.

That place is found in the presence of the Savior.

The One who left the comfort and perfection of heaven to walk among us so that He might fully understand our experiences and challenges.

In His Word, He invites us to come to Him with the things that lay heavy on our hearts.

“ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done.” Phillippians 4:6 

In His Word, He reminds us that there is hope and that we can rest securely in Him.

“And your life will be brighter than the noonday;

    its darkness will be like the morning.

 And you will feel secure, because there is hope;

    you will look around and take your rest in security.

You will lie down, and none will make you afraid;

    many will court your favor.”  Job 11: 17-19

In His Word, He reminds us that we are all given gifts to offer this world.  Gifts that He gives each of us to use wholeheartedly and without fear.

“ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”  Romans 12: 6-8

Sisters, I do not know what you are in need of today.

Peace.

Rest.

Security.

Hope.

Encouragement.

Anything and everything that you need, our God can provide.

He is our safe place and our refuge.

Still, there are so many who do not know the great love our Father has for us.

Friends, we are part of His provision.

Remember that we may be the only expression of God’s love that someone sees.

“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us.”  1 John 4:11-12 

Share His love today.

It is too great not to share.

Amen.

An uneasiness shifted through my mind, body and spirit.

My stomach was in knots.

I could not focus.

Everytime I tried, my thoughts would jump back to the dialogue that took place.

Sleep and peace eluded me.

It was as if I could jump out of my skin at any given moment.

The ground beneath me no longer felt solid.

The details of the situation are not important, because there have been many details and many situations over the years.

But the feelings are always the same.

Have you ever agonized over a situation out of your control?

The kind that you replay in your mind over and over again?

Maybe you have felt this mind swirling, jump out of your skin feeling surging through your body.

Maybe the ground beneath you no longer feels solid.

We all long for a sense of security, one that would allow us to soar without fear of failing or falling.

I have always been in awe of how birds build their nests high above the ground,

on the most delicate of branches.

Flying in and out of their homes, these creatures appear light and carefree.

Secure.

But true security comes from building our lives on the solid foundation of Christ.

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who builds his house on the rock, and the rain descended, and the floods came, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matthew 7: 24-25

Even if we fail, He will never let us fall.

So often we stay fixated on our circumstances, instead of fixing our eyes on Him.

We all want to feel the ground beneath us for security, but it is in the letting go Christ takes us to new and unimaginable heights.

Sometimes that means letting go of the tape we replay over and over in our heads.

Sometimes that means letting go of past hurts that hold us back from experiencing present and future joys.

Sometimes that means letting go of people who are pulling us down instead of lifting us up.

Always it means shifting our focus on the One who is our Rock, our foundation.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.

Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever. 

For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”  Isaiah 26: 3-4

Friends, let HIm be your security and your strength.

Let go….He will take you to new and unimaginable heights.