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

Absorb Me

There are times when I feel quite alone in this world. That's when I reach for you. You are always there by my side. You comfort me when I am afraid. You encourage me when I feel unworthy. You remind me that I am loved, seemingly saying, "Hold me, open me, absorb me."

There have been times when my eyes have become weary from examining you and I simply draw you to my chest, close my eyes and drift off to sleep. There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with You - reading your Word.

Your Word comforts me. It truly does. I can be depressed or sad but picking up my Bible and reading certain verses always lifts me up.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." - Psalm 119:105

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

"May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word." - Psalm 119:169

Few people on earth can comfort us the way God can through His written word. Our biggest problem as a people group is that we don't spend enough time reading it. We don't make enough of an effort to apply it to our lives either.

Many times I have found myself watching the news or some movie on television and suddenly stop and ask myself, "What am I doing?"

"How is this honoring God right now?"

That's usually when I pick up the remote, turn off the world, and begin reading my Bible. It doesn't take long before I am in a better place - a different world - where God is all around me and I feel like I am home.

Maybe I'm weird. Maybe? Probably. But it just feels right when I am immersed in my reading. It's like I am becoming part of the book itself. I'm not reading myself into any of the characters in the Bible but it's like I am there with them - a witness through my reading.

So many of life's problems can be put in their place simply by knowing God's truths. They comfort us in times of trouble. They truly are a light unto our path.

Thy Word - A Mullett Family Video

The Corona Prophecy?

I'm no Biblical scholar, that's for sure. But when I came across Jeremiah 19 in my reading yesterday I couldn't help but think that what I was reading was meant for us during this time of viruses and death. Read it for yourself and tell me if you don't agree.

I'm not going to copy and paste the entire chapter here. There's a link at the end. But I will write down all of the verses I underlined in my Bible. You tell me if this doesn't apply to this time we are going through right now.

Verse 3: "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring such a catastrophe on this place, that whoever hears of it, his ears will tingle."

Verse 4, 5 and 6: “Because they have forsaken Me . . . and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents . . . which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind . . . that this place shall . . . be called . . . the Valley of Slaughter."

Verse 8: "I will make this city desolate and a hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its plagues."

Verse 15: ““Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.’ ”

Yes, I have cherry-picked some verses here but as I read the text of Jeremiah 19 I couldn't help but think about the Covid-19 situation in our world right now. Are we in the midst of a catastrophe (verse3)? Yes. Have we forsaken God (verse 4)? and slaughtered the innocent (also verse 4) through abortion of our young? Yes.

Are cities being made desolate because of the plague (verse 8)? Yes. Have you seen the pictures of all the empty streets lately? And we all know what caused it. the plague of the Covid-19 virus. And who brought the plague? Could God done this as a warning. Why?

"because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.’ ” (verse 15)

In my opinion, the time for repentance is now. Last call for the freedom train! Like I said, I'm not a prophet or biblical scholar but I do read the Bible and I do know the characteristics of God. The entire Bible is about Him you know. He HAS done something like this virus thing before. The Old Testament is full of examples.

Does God change? No. Does His nature change? No.

Well?

Whether this virus is of God or not, I do not know. But I do know this: Jesus will return one day. I don't know what that day is either. But I know that when He DOES return we should be found ready. And that is our question. Are we ready? Is Jesus Lord of your life? If He is then this last passage of scripture should bring you hope.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

The Sign Of The Broken Flask

Underline This!

Do you underline verses in your Bible? Or use a highlighter to mark your favorite passages? Which chapters are filled with the most ink in YOUR Bible?

Psalms is a good book. Proverbs, John, Romans - I think I've underlined something in every book in the Bible. And then there's Isaiah. Oh my, what a book!

If you are looking for things to underline check out the Book of Isaiah. Specifically the 53rd chapter. Half of the lines found in chapter 53 are underlined in my Bible. Here's an example:

"Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:4-6

Amazing words! Especially when one considers that Isaiah was talking about Jesus' crucifixion . . . 700 years before Jesus was even born! It's a prophecy!

Here are some more words to underline in your Bible:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever." - Psalm 23

Those to are good words, worthy of remembering.

Here's a fun little test you can give yourself. It's an indicator to see if God's words are underlined in your heart and in your soul.

We are going through a tough stretch right now. There's lots of stuff going on. As a Christian this is actually a very exciting time. Why? Because the Lord is drawing near. Are you ready? Here's your test.

Question #1 - Are you nervous and worried about what's to come in the world?
Question #2 - Are you afraid of the future and what it might bring?
Question #3 - Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?

If your answer to Question #3 for you was 'yes', the answers to Questions #1 and #2 had better have been 'no'. If they were not, you should re-read Psalm 23 again and retake the test.

Jesus has promised that He will never leave us, He has told us that He loves us, and He has told us that He WILL return. He has told us in The Bible what the signs of His coming will be. They are happening right now.

Are you ready?

A Mother's Eyes

It has been said that "eyes are the windows to the soul." That couldn't be more true than for mothers whose children are sick or hurting.

One of the many blessings that God has given me is to serve the people of our community each month at Ruby's Pantry. People from all over Central Wisconsin to come to Waupaca to get some groceries for their families.

My volunteer job is to pre-register all of our visitors - most of them are mothers trying to provide for their families. My job might sound like a frightfully boring thing to most people but it has been a blessing and a privilege to be able to look into the eyes of ALL comers and to be able to ask them questions about important things. Life, family, God.

Some people are pretty good at hiding their emotions and some are actually fine and smiling, but the eyes of a mother who has a struggling or hungry child are the most wide open "windows of the soul" I have ever seen.

This past Saturday I was able to talk with a mom who, just one year ago, was seeking prayers for her struggling children. We prayed together for her family on a very cold day last February. This year the mom came up to me in the parking lot and told me about her children. All were doing fine. One had even received a promotion at her job.

"Wasn't it just a year ago we were praying for these children who are now so doing well? God is good!" I asked. Answered prayer.

Another mom was there picking up food for her daughter-in-law who was working and couldn't attend. Another was there because she had just been laid of from her job. But the most powerful conversation I had in the parking lot was with a mom who couldn't find formula for her young son.

I have seen lots of pictures on Facebook of people hoarding supplies when this virus hit - toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, - but I have not seen any pictures of people hoarding baby food. Yet, shelves in grocery stores are more lean than normal these days. Innocent children, suffering, has got to be my number one hot-button issue.

We had no baby formula that day. We never do actually. But what we DID have plenty of was caring people volunteering their time, and an abundance of prayer. All people in need of prayer were prayed for, whether they knew it or not.

God provides for His children. It not always what they want but it's usually exactly what they NEED. These are trying times to be sure. If you are trying to get through this virus thing on your own I wish you well. Wouldn't it be better to walk with someone who has promised to never leave you or forsake you?

God lifts us up on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31)! He restores our soul Psalm 23:3)! He gives us peace (John 14:27)! His Word is a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105), a very present help in danger (Psalm 46:1).

Doesn't that sound like something we all NEED right now? If you don't have a relationship with God, if you have never met Jesus on your own personal road to Damascus, this is a great time to do so. SO, what are you waiting for? Talk to Him! It's easy, yet it may be the hardest thing you've ever done.

Tell Him you're sorry for ignoring Him, apologize for your sin and seek His forgiveness. He will do both of those things for you but you MUST ask. And then follow Him. Learn from Him. He is a wonderful teacher, and He loves you.

Make your faith and salvation the best thing to come out of this virus situation we are in. Then, you can look back on this time of strife in our world, and smile.

"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

Go Freely

I saw some advice from Martin Luther this past week. Written in 1527 as the world faced a deadly outbreak of bubonic plague, it seemed like pretty sound advice to me so I shall repeat it here and follow it later as I volunteer at the Ruby's Pantry food distribution later this morning.

"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.

If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.” - Martin Luther

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns." - Matthew 24:45-46

It is wise to use precautions while this virus surrounds us but we are also Christians. We are not to have a spirit of fear. Therefore, when there is a need, we should act, if it can be done in Jesus' name. Otherwise, what good is our faith?

Be safe out there. And serve The Lord.