Madness!

When I was growing up I remember watching the 1957 movie The Bridge on The River Kwai. Despite its length, there were a few scenes I remember quit vividly. The English prisoners whistling that song, Sir Alec Guinness falling and exploding the very bridge he built. Then, at the very end there was one prisoner who spoke a word, twice. It summed up the entire movie.

"Madness! Madness!"

But probably the most telling line came from the star of the movie, Alec Guinness. When he realized that he had, in his stubborn English pride, actually aided and abetted the enemy, he uttered these words . . .

"What have I done?"

In the Biblical story of The Rich Man and Lazarus there is a similar moment for the rich man, when he realizes the error of his ways. Unfortunately it was after his death. He pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus to him to give him some water, and to raise Lazarus from the dead that he might warn his brothers. Notice how the rich man thought of himself first? Then his brother?

Abraham replies to the rich man with words that we all should heed today because they were very prophetic in nature. Remember, it was Jesus that was telling this story.

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he (the rich man) said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

And then this . . .

31 “He (Abraham) said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” - Luke 16:30-31

Oh, my. Jesus rose from the dead. And still people don't listen to Him.

Have we truly repented from our sins? Is there some moment from our past that we need to repent of today? We do NOT want to be having an Alec Guinness moment in hell when we ask ourselves, "What have I done?"

The Rich Man and Lazarus
The Bridge On The River Kwia Ending

In The Living Years

The world is going a little nuts right now. People are panicking over things they cannot see. Self-preservation is paramount in everyone's mind. We just want to live through this, right? Right! But we're forgetting something.

I've had this song in my head for the past few days -  In The Living Years by Mike and The Mechanics. It's about a failed relationship between a father and his son. Strained, awkward, insufficient, but then the father dies and there is no longer an opportunity for reconciliation. The son regrets that fact.

How sad. If the son could have only reconciled the relationship with his father . . . in the living years.

We are so busy right now, thinking and doing things to avoid this virus that has changed our lives in so many ways. All that's good I guess but many of us are forgetting the most important thing we should be doing right now - restoring our lost relationship with God, The Father.

As the song says, "It's too late when we die."

I came across this parable in my reading yesterday so I think I'll just leave it here and see if you can't understand its meaning. Let those who have ears, let them hear.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." - Matthew 25:1-13

This parable was told to us by Jesus. Why? It was His way of warning us to reconcile our relationship with God before He returns. When the doors of the wedding feast are closed it will be too late. Reconcile with God today. And please, do so . . . in the living years. His return is close.

In The Living Years - Mike and The Mechanics

Missing You

I have a prediction. When all of these "safer at home" restrictions finally end, there's gonna be a WHOLE lotta huggin' goin' on.

The one thing we have missed the most during this time of isolation and quarantine has been our personal relationships.

We all have friends and family members who we love and miss. Maybe we've even snuck out and visited some of them - from a distance of course. It's going to be crazy when we finally get the "all clear" and we can restore our relationships to the way they were meant to be - close, personal and loving.

Restoring relationships is one of the best God-honoring things we can do as humans.

There is one relationship we can restore right now. We don't have to wait for any kind of permission slip or signal from the government. We can do it right now! Right there where you are. It's our relationship with God.

Our sins are what separates us from God. Just ask Adam and Eve. They ate some fruit, they got quarantined from God and the rest is history. But God has given us a way of restoring our relationship with Him. Repenting of our sins and believing in His Son, Jesus.

Will our ultimate reunion with God be like the photo above? I kinda think it will be. It can be. All it takes is for us to humble ourselves and repent.

Father, I'm sorry. I know I have sinned against you. I've done things I shouldn't have done. I apologize. I can't seem to help myself. I realize now that I need your help. I need your forgiveness. I need You. I have known all along really that you are who the Bible says you are. I need You. Can You forgive me?

Praying a prayer like that or even coming to that realization in our hearts is all it takes. And, just as I predicted above, all of the restored relationships will be happening after we emerge from this pandemic, I see the same thing happening when Jesus returns or when we see Him with our own eyes in heaven.

And, oh boy, what a glorious day that will be!

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." - Romans 10:9-10

What A Day That Will Be - The Gospel Plowboys

Toddler Besties Share Hug

Infinite Love

As I was walking between cars at the food pantry this past Saturday, I noticed this interesting bumper sticker. What a tremendous message for the world we are living in today.

"Infinite Love" is what I figured the sign said. I reflected on that for a moment and smiled. I looked around at the parking lot filled with cars - people in need of food.

They had all come to Waupaca Christian Church for a monthly food distribution. What an incredible example of Infinite Love. The place was crawling with volunteers. Each one was risking catching the covid-19 virus by their just being there. Yet their desire to help others outweighed that fear.

In my last story I mentioned the protective masks we all wore, provided by a women's church group. There's another example of infinite love. Serving others to keep them safe. And let's not forget all of the companies who donate the food. How much longer will they be able to do so with all of the companies being shut down. Yikes!

Of course, the best example of infinite love is God. Nobody loves more or has sacrificed more than God. He gave up His one and only Son to die for OUR sins - past, present and future! Talk about infinite love! God IS infinitely loving!

Here's a question. How can WE show infinite love in our communities? In our families? At work? This is a time we all desperately need love. And as much as we need it, we need to give it as well. The next person you meet today may be in desperate need of some love. Be prepared. Not just to recognize the need but to provide a solution as well.

And here's something else to remember . . .

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other." - John 15:16-17

Let's do that today. In His glorious name.

There's A Place For Us - Carrie Underwood

The Struggle Is Real

Today's story is quite personal in nature. A "chance" encounter in the parking lot of a local food pantry on Saturday.

I volunteer there as basically a greeter but during this corona virus situation I have become more of a chaplain than anything else.

Each conversation usually goes something like this.

"Hi! How are you guys doing?" Most people say they are fine. But with this virus floating around, I ask more pointed questions like, "How are you surviving with the shut down?" That's when the REAL conversation begins.

I met one lady Saturday morning who had never been to a food pantry before in her life. She didn't really know what to do. A friend told her about the food pantry so she came. She was clearly struggling. She told me she had been laid off from her job. She had been a school bus driver but the schools in Wisconsin had just been closed for the rest of the school year. She was now without income until September.

So, I'm standing there outside the driver's side window feeling so sad for this person so I asked, "May I pray for you?"

"Sure," was her answer.

"May I touch you," I asked?

"Please."

And so I prayed for her, my bare hand on the shoulder of her coat.

The bare-hand thing probably wasn't too smart for me to do from a corona prevention standpoint but I would do it again in a heartbeat from a compassion point of view. The lady thanked me, then pulled a Kleenex to her face to wipe away the tears. Lots of people were struggling in that parking lot. Not because of the virus, but because they had lost their jobs due to FEAR of the virus.

I shared that story of my prayer with all of the volunteers afterwards and with many in their cars hoping to receive food. All were touched by her struggle. Many others were in similar situations. Our governor extending his "safer at home" executive order until the end of May and I could see it taking its toll.

I was reminded of the story when Jesus healed the leper.

"When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "LORD, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy." - Matthew 6:1-3

People need hope during a struggle, no matter WHAT the situation is. Jesus provides that hope. But, just like the leper in the story, we have to ask. We also have to BELIEVE that Jesus can heal. That is where many of us fail. The leper believed Jesus could heal him (verse 2) and Jesus did just that.

It was also against the law for a leper to approach within a stone's throw of any clean person. Yet the leper took a chance with Jesus and walked up to Him. May we, the Christians, be the ones who are willing to reach out and touch others who are suffering in life. It is right and fitting that we do so.

Yes, we must be smart about it. But we must also live a life without fear. A life Jesus told us to live.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

Jesus Heals The Leper - The Chosen
Heal Me - Terry MacAlmon

The Rebel In Me

What is it with us humans? Half of us want to do whatever the government tells us to do while the other half want to do just the opposite. How to tell what is right and what is wrong?

One thing that always gripes my cookies is when someone tells me what I can and cannot do.  We live in America - the land of the free for goodness sakes! We are free to make our own choices and, as long as they don't infringe on anyone else's rights, we should be free to make them.

This whole stay at home thing for example. Our governor here in Wisconsin has now decided that we all need to stay "safer at home" until the end of May. That's ridiculous. I understand where he's coming from. He wants to "keep everyone safe." But what about our sanity?

The biggest topic of discussion I have heard talked about during the past several years has been mental health. Heard anyone talking about that lately? No. The news is all corona virus - 24/7. What happened to mental health? Locking someone up in their homes for two months with no income and zero social interaction is mentally depleting.

I'll go out on a limb at predict that there will be an a huge spike in domestic abuse, suicide, depression, alcoholism, and any other "ism" you can think of during this month and next. Why? Because were all cooped up in our homes. We're slowly going crazy! So much for mental health.

Do you remember this Bible verse?

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" - Mark 12:17

Jesus spoke those words. We, as followers of Christ, are to obey our government's laws EXCEPT when they conflict with God's laws. For example, abortion. It is a lawful thing to do in our country. We are to obey that law. Yet God says "do not murder." It's one of the ten commandments. So what do we do? God wins out. Therefore I personally will oppose abortion so should any Christian. Those who perform abortions will answer to God one day. So will those who support it.

What about the stay at home executive order? I think that we should obey the governor's wishes as much as possible. I also feel that "his wishes" are very close to violating our constitution and Bill of Rights. The Constitution say "we have been endowed by certain unalienable rights." By whom? OUR CREATOR! I therefore have decided to stay inside . . . except when I feel the need to go out and exercise my rights. Freedom of assembly. Freedom of worship.

We should be smart but we should also be wary. There are too many politicians lurking around with agendas of their own. Many are not interested in what God thinks, only in what THEY think. And that's where the rebel in me says, "Enough!"

Be smart! Think! But do what is right in God's eyes. We are His. He is our King. Read that verse again. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." We belong to God!

Look, I will stay inside. But if there is a church service somewhere, where everyone is worshiping within the social distancing guidelines set up by Caesar, I am going! No matter what Caesar says.

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship - Phillips, Craig and Dean

The Prayer

We have a guest writer here with us today. A wise man and prophet, Daniel was used by God to warn the people of Jerusalem. As I read Daniel's prayer for his people this past week I couldn't help but think that his words apply just as much to the world today as they do to Israel back in 536-530 BC. And so, with that brief introduction, I give you the prophet Daniel and his powerful prayer.

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” - Daniel 9:4-19

Amen!

This is a time for prayer. Not just "God bless mommy and daddy" type prayers but real, substantive, repentive prayer because we the people have sinned greatly against God. We need to be throwing ourselves on our faces, in sackcloth and ashes, and seeking God's forgiveness.

You have heard me say before in these stories that the time is short. It is. I encourage you to read your Bible and do what it says. And pray! When Jesus returns there is not going to be time to sing Kumbaya. There will not be time to build a campfire or make s'mores. The trumpet will sound and that will be it.

David prayed an amazing prayer and God heard it. Afterwards Daniel fasted for three weeks and then was visited by and angel. This is what the angel said.

"He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them." - Daniel 10:11-12

The angel then went on to tell Daniel about The Tribulation - a time far in the future for Daniel. It is not that far away for us. Be ready.

So let it be with us.

Daniel 9

The Cure For Fear

Easter morning I opened my Bible and read John 20. What a chapter! It tells the story of Jesus AFTER He was crucified. I had read the story before several times but when I got to verse 19 yesterday, it was like I was reading the story with a brand new meaning. Here is that verse.

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” - John 20:19

The disciples were all together in a locked room. How like you and I as we huddle inside our homes during this time of quarantine and social-distancing. The disciples were afraid. It says in verse 19 that they were behind locked doors because of their "fear of the Jewish leaders."

They had locked themselves in a room. Why? Because they were afraid.

How like the disciples are we! Living in fear of an unseen enemy, somewhere beyond our locked doors. I'm sure the disciples had many doubts about what was going to happen next in their lives. Would they too be captured and killed? And what of their leader? This man who said He was God. He was dead! What shall we do?

And then it happened. The turning point in their lives and in their faith. OUR faith. Jesus entered the room. The room with the locked doors. And said, "Peace be with you!"

I think it's worthy to note that the first words uttered from Jesus were about having peace. He basically was calming their fears. It is also worth noting that the sentence Jesus spoke ended with and exclamation mark, not a period. It's more than just a greeting. It's a command!

After Jesus met with His disciples, guess what happened. They all left the room. There was no fear in their hearts. And they spread the Good News, the Gospel, to everyone they met. What will WE do today? Will we hide in our rooms for fear of the virus? Maybe. Will we preach the Gospel to all those we meet? We should. That too was a command from Jesus.

"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." - Mark 16:15

What are you doing today in your "locked room?" Will you live in fear? What would Jesus want you to do? You have the Internet. Why not reach out to those you love?

Exhibit your peace and tranquility through faith in Christ to those who have no peace. They need the message you have behind the locked doors of your heart. Open the door. Step out of the room! Let your love spill out onto the streets around you. Take that love with you wherever you do.

"Peace be with you!"

Special thanks to Chris Tomlin and his family for the inspiration for today's story.

John 19
Good, Good Father - Chris Tomlin

We Gather Alone

Well, that was weird. A Good Friday spent without my church family is like a day without sunshine. It still happened, but it was just not the same.

I find myself being somewhat grateful for the Internet so at least we can hear and see our pastor's teaching remotely. However, our gratefulness for technology only shows just how desperately we Christians also needs fellowship. There is something special about gathering together that makes Good Friday more reflective and penitent.

When worshiping with my brothers and sisters I have the opportunity to look around and see the pain and suffering on their faces when they hear the story of the crucifixion. They clearly feel the same as I do - sad, remorseful, alone.

That's how I imagine the disciples felt the night Jesus died. Alone. Jesus felt alone as well when His loyal followers all took off and left Him hanging there. Literally.

Times of sorrow, like someone's death, are times when we need family and friends. They mourn with us. They comfort us. And that's what I think was missing this past Friday. The togetherness of family.

Look at the persecuted church in the Book of Acts. They still met. The present-day church in China is another example. Despite a government crack down on religion, they still meet anyway. Why? Because it is part of who we are as Christians - that gathering together of the outcast underdogs.

One day this virus will have run its course and we can all attend worship together again. It is likely that things will return to normal but I kind of hope it doesn't. We are blessed to be able to worship together and I hope none of us takes that freedom for granted again. It is truly priceless.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25

We Gather Together Hymn

Don't Stand So Close

For those of us who are huggers, this is a bad time to be alive. Although, being alive is a better option than being dead. Or is it?

I'll admit it. I'm a hugger. A lot of my friends are too. SO, what do we do when we can't even get within six feet of each other without somebody calling the police?

Well, for the time being we have to forget about ourselves and think big picture. "Short term pain for long term gain" is the phrase to remember until this corona / Covid thing is over.

As much as we and our friends want to demonstrate our love for each other with a hug, the best way to demonstrate love in 2020 thus far is to keep our distance.

This week is "Holy Week" on the Christian calendar. It's all about Jesus - speaking of love. God is love, Jesus is God, therefore Jesus is love. And this coming Friday - Good Friday - is a reminder of how much Jesus loves us all. He sacrificed His life so they we wouldn't have to die - permanently.

Before Jesus died He told His disciples these words. Perfect words for this scary time that we are living in.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends . . . " - John 15:13-14

Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the church in Rome.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:6-8

What does that mean for us in this corona-filled world? Sadly, it means don't visit your family members, even if that's what we want to do the most. If you're not living with them, don't visit them. And if you REALLY need to see someone, stay at least six feet away from them. You can hug them and kiss them NEXT month.

This is a time to celebrate the death AND resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let's not get sick and diminish our thanks and praise to God for all that He has done for us. We should be celebrating. Isn't Jesus worth a little sacrifice on our part in order to maximize our appreciation for all that He has done?

Yes, it is!

Isn't God worthy of all blessing, honor and glory we can bestow on Him?

Yes, He is!

Is He Worthy? - Chris Tomlin
Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police

New Life

There are signs of hope all around us these days, even in troubled times such as this. To find that hope however, we must look beneath the surface. And be able to interpret the signs of the times.

"The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." - Matthew 16:1-3

We know that in springtime life returns to the plants and trees. Seemingly dead ground sends forth beautiful flowers and luscious new life all around us. We are able to tell that spring has arrived by interpreting signs, just like Jesus said. However, not ALL people can tell "the signs of the times." That ability is God-given and only a child of God can see such a thing.

I can write stories about it. Those who believe in God can read my words and know what I am talking about. But those who don't believe in God will quickly dismiss my words as trivial, even meaningless, because they don't believe in God. They have not received the Holy Spirit.

This saddens me. I look at the news. I read my Bible. My interpretation of both those things tells me that we are in the last days before Jesus returns. And, once Jesus comes back, we who believe will be departing this world. It says so in the Bible.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

There are those who don't want to hear these words. Some of them even profess a faith in Christ. How can one be a Christian and not want to talk or hear about His glorious coming?

My wife was walking by one of her gardens today and noticed that the daffodils had sprouted. "That's funny," she said. "They weren't there yesterday." The Lord's return will happen rather quickly too, more quickly than overnight. Scripture says it will be "in the twinkling of an eye."

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

And this is the tough part. No matter what I say, no matter how many of these stories I write, no one, and I mean NO ONE, will come to a saving faith in Christ UNLESS God wants it.

"No one is able to come to Me unless the Father, the one having sent Me, draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day." - John 6:44

But I keep writing. Why? Why keep writing even though it might not do any good? Because, it might. God might use these stories in some way, to touch somebody's life to the point where they might start to question the secular news feed. They might pick up a Bible or read the verses in these stories and might feel convicted enough to start asking questions.

Please, if you don't know Jesus, if He is not Lord of your life, ask Him TO be! The signs of the times are all around us. Jesus can return at any moment. There won't be an opportunity to plead for inclusion. It will be too late.

Everybody has time on their hands right now. The whole world has time. Use this time to seek God. This virus situation could be the last call before we hear the trumpet. Don't be left behind. Please.

50 Reasons We Are In The End Times

Lean On Me

One of the coolest things about this whole virus situation, if one can be found, is how people have found ways to be "together" while still being apart.

The first example I observed of this phenomenon what a guy visiting his dad in the nursing home. Although the nursing home was on lockdown, his son still visited his father through the window in his dad's room.

My family has done a similar thing - sending videos and pictures back and forth to one another. Any way we can still stay in touch is a good thing.

Text messages have increased in frequency. People are checking in with friends and family members to see how they are doing. That's wonderful.

Prayers have increased as well. I have been praying and reading more than I ever have. That's great!

I have found that my late night prayers are always calming. I wake up in the middle of the night, all worried about something. But then I pray, and continue praying until I fall asleep. I wake up in the morning and all of my worries are gone.

Being isolated is a hard thing to do when we love spending time with people that we love. So, send a message, make a phone call and make someone's day in the process.

On my birthday last Saturday I received a call from a childhood friend wishing me a happy birthday. Totally unexpected yet very much welcomed.

No one likes to be alone - at least MOST people that is. Is there someone "alone" in your life? Write them a letter or a short note. Send someone a text or call them up and tell them you miss them.

We all could use a little encouragement these days. Encourage someone today!

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." - Hebrews 3:13

Bill Withers died last week. He was a song write and performer. You will recognize this song of his. Jesus "sings" these same words in The Bible.

"Lean on me, when you're not strong. And I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on."

Lean On Me - Bill Withers

Your Help

When you get into trouble, where do you look to find help? The first thing many of us think of is the police. "Better watch out cuz I'm calling the cops! 9-1-1 baby!" But sometimes it can take 10-15 minutes before the police arrive. A lot can happen in 15 minutes. Are you prepared to deal with all of the things that can happen in a quarter of an hour, filled with desperation? Probably not.

Where do you look for help when you lose your job or have no real source of income? Many turn to our government for help with food assistance, disability checks, or low-income housing. Those things CAN help but they can also become habit forming leading to downright dependence on our government.

How about a serious illness? Lots of people are concerned about that right now. We go to the Emergency Room, see the best doctors and specialists but even THEY don't have a clue sometimes.

There really is no place to turn in this world if we truly want to be 100% safe or 100% healed. Even our faith in Christ doesn't prevent disaster from striking our lives. Christians are martyred everyday for they faith.

The thing we have to remember is this: "It is appointed unto man once to die, but after that, the judgement." - Hebrews 9:27

But then it's too late to ask for help. We need to ask for that help now!

Look, lots of restaurants are closed right now. You can't go there and get a meal with everything shut down. But you CAN call in ahead of time and place an order. Then, when you arrive at the restaurant, you can get just what you came for. But without calling ahead, you'll just be sitting there in the parking lot . . . forever.

When we place our faith in Jesus a lot of stuff begins to happen. We no longer become anxious at every little thing that crosses our path. We receive a sense of "God's got this." We also receive forgiveness of all of our sins - MORE weight listed off of our shoulders!

Where do you get YOUR help. Here's where I get mine.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
2My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth." - Psalm 121:1-2

Praise You In The Storm - Casting Crowns