Coronavirus: Is This God’s Way of Getting Our Attention?

This virus is causing so much havoc in our lives. I lost my job temporarily because the mall I work in shortened their hours, causing Barnes and Noble to cut my shifts. So I’ll be filing for unemployment. Ugh what a mess!

I am actually getting over the flu. It’s been a long week, lol. I’ve been trying to stay away from my mom as much as I can because I’m worried about her getting sick. She’s 76. So I’ve self quarantined myself to my room. Luckily I have a DVD case FULL of movies and I have TONS of books to read.

I was reading Matthew 24  last night and came to this passage:

….His disciples came to him private and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?

Jesus told them, “don’t let anyone mislead you for many will come in my name, claiming “I am the Messiah. They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars but don’t panic.

Yes these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains with more to come.

Matthew 24:3-8 (NLT)

Y’all, this pandemic is just another sign that the end times are coming. And we must be prepared! We must be on alert!

Further in the same chapter, we read

When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away.

That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 24:37-39 (NLT)

A few verses down in verse 44, it tells us to be ready! “You also must be ready all the time for the son of Man will come when least expected. (NLT)

Honestly? Things are going to continue to get worse.

I don’t say this to scare you but to warn you!

We as believers can take heart though! John 16:33 tells us this:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world!

John 16:33 (NLT)

None of this has been a surprise to God. No, He saw this coming way before we did.

This outbreak is perhaps just one more way for God to get our attention!

 

The Debt Eraser

My devotional reading was in Psalm 103:1-12 this morning. I use Our Daily Bread as a devotional and the title of it was “The Debt Eraser”

“Once forgiven, we aren’t defined by or limited by our past debt.”

HE FORGETS OUR SIN!

He removes our sin “as far as the east is from the west!”

Isn’t that wonderful to know and experience?

 

 

 

The Love of God at Christmas

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My church’s Christmas Cantata is tomorrow which means big rehearsal today! But afterwards is our annual Christmas party so that will be lots of fun! Not that rehearsal won’t be….well fun….LOL.  Because I’m sure it will be! We always end up laughing hard at one thing or another.

Pray that we all stay healthy! And that we will get the message across to our audience tomorrow! It’s a really good program with really great songs! My favorite is called “More than Wonderful.” It has such a great message!

For He’s more wonderful than my mind can conceive
He’s more wonderful than my heart can believe
He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams
He’s everything that my soul ever longed for
Everything He’s promised and so much more
More than amazing, more than marvelous
More than miraculous could ever be
He’s more than wonderful, that’s what Jesus is to me

 

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Verse of the day:

The Lord does not delay his promise as some understand delay, but is patient with you not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

They say patience is a virtue. Well, it’s a virtue I haven’t learned yet. I can be so impatient at times. I’m trying to hard to work on that but some days are just bad, lol.

God has promised us that He is coming back for us one day. And I don’t know about you but I get impatient waiting for the 2nd coming. I’m so ready for Him to come back so I can spend ETERNITY with Him.

But our patience and God’s patience are two different things. You see, God doesn’t want anyone to perish so he is “patiently waiting for all to come to repentance.”

 

Romans 8:28

Y’all….God loves us! And He has great plans for us if we would just take the time to listen and obey Him.

Why do bad things happen? It’s a question I struggle with on a daily basis. Why does there have to be mental disorders? Why must someone, such as myself, have to struggle with daily activities because of a mental illness? I don’t know. I do know that God can USE it for good though! How? I don’t know that. But I’m confident that God can take a bad situation and turn it into good. That’s just what He does! He’s a loving God and will always be there for us. He is faithful. He is just. He is an awesome God!

Divine Direction

A few posts back I mentioned a few books that were on my TBR list. I never finished One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian. He made some good points but in the end, I just couldn’t finish it. Maybe one day I will revisit it.

I went to LifeWay the other day and came across a new book by Craig Groeschel.(Yes, I know I have plenty of books I need to read….don’t need to be buying any more books. But what can I say? I’m a book junkie)  He’s written quite a few books and I’ve only read The Christian Atheist, which was very good, by the way. Anyways, this book is called Divine Direction and it’s pretty good! He reminds me a lot of Kyle Idleman, another great author.

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Synopsis:

“Master the decisions that will make your life everything God wants it to be.

Every day we make choices. And those choices accumulate and eventually become our life story. What would your life look like if you became an expert at making those choices?

In this inspiring guidebook, New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel shows how the choices that are in your power, if aligned with biblical principles, will lead to a life you’ve never imagined.

Divine Direction will help you seek wisdom through seven principles. You’ll consider one thing to stop that’s hindering you; how to start a new habit to re-direct your path; where you should stay committed; and when you should go even if it’s easier to stay. The book also includes criteria that will help you feel confident in the right choice, and encourages you with principles for trusting God with your decisions. 

What story do you want to tell about yourself? God is dedicated to the wonderful plan he’s laid out for you. The achievable and powerful steps in Divine Direction take you there one step at a time, big, or small.“

 

I think I have found another favorite author! Like I said earlier, his writing style is very similar to Kyle Idleman’s. They both know how to pull you into what they’re trying to get across.

He is the Senior Pastor of Life.Church, which created the popular Bible App YouVersion. 

What books are you reading these days?

Who are your favorite authors?

 

 

 

Our God Reigns Here

I recently discovered John Waller’s music. It’s amazing! Here is one of my favorites!

Our God Reigns Here

Spirit of doubt you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Spirit of fear you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
You’re not welcome here so go, just go

Spirit of doubt you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Envy and jealousy you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Go back from whence you came

‘Cause our God reigns here, our God reigns here
We claim this ground in Jesus’ name
‘Cause our God reigns

Our God reigns here, our God reigns here
The battle’s won, have no fear
‘Cause God reigns here, He reigns here our God

Anger and rage, guilt and shame
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Depression, anxiety, addiction, infirmity
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Oh, go back from whence you came

‘Cause our God reigns here, our God reigns here
We claim this ground in Jesus’ name
‘Cause our God reigns

Our God reigns here, our God reigns here
The battle’s won, have no fear
‘Cause God reigns here

There’s no doubt He has overcome the world
And God reigns here
There’s no doubt He has overcome the world

‘Cause our God reigns here, our God reigns here
We claim this ground in Jesus’ name
‘Cause our God reigns

Our God reigns here, our God reigns here
The battle’s won, have no fear
The battle’s won, have no fear
The battle’s won, have no fear
‘Cause God reigns here

There’s no doubt He has overcome the world
And God reigns here
There’s no doubt He has overcome the world
And our God reigns