Author: Jayne Lawson

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:21

I have done a lot of traveling in my lifetime. I have visited all 50 states of the United States. I have traveled to 6 different continents and over 50 different countries, but there is one place to which I always return. That place is my home.

My home is nestled in the rural northeastern part of Georgia. There are huge pine trees that sway in the afternoon breezes. There are cardinals, finches, and doves that visit in the morning light filling the air with their songs. There are the blinking sparkles of fireflies on warm summer nights, and there are the occasional crystalline snowflakes that fall to the ground during the cold winter months. My family has made many precious memories here, and I treasure this place. No matter where I go, it is here that you will find my heart.

I have one other place that I cherish, and my heart resides there as well. It is a place where I can listen to the voice of my Lord as He speaks to me. It is a place where He draws near to me as I draw near to Him. It is a place of comfort, peace, help, guidance, and great love. This place is found within the pages of the Bible.

When I read God’s Word, I am swept into the presence of the Lord. Verse after verse touches my soul and provides the closeness I seek with my heavenly Father. There is nothing more that I need when I am in this place with God. I cherish the history of His people, the poetry of the psalms, and the revelation of His plan for the church. I bask in the richness of the epistles, and I embrace the hope of the gospels. The Bible is always beckoning me, and each time I open its pages, I find myself coming home once again.

This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord, you know I have no friend like you,
If heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

(from “This World is Not My Home” by Albert E. Brumley)

“Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.” – Psalm 140:13

**********

How long has it been since you’ve been home?

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” – Psalm 34:17

I cannot count the times I have called upon the name of the Lord when I have been in trouble. Sometimes the trouble directly impacted me, like when I was diagnosed with cancer. Other times the trouble indirectly affected me, like when my granddaughter broke her arm. Regardless of what type of problem occurred in my life, the Lord was ready to hear my cry and deliver!

Today, I reflected upon Psalm 34:17, and it occurred to me that there was another kind of trouble that often invades my life for which I do not often call upon the Lord. That trouble is the kind that invades my mind.

Psalm 59:1 states, “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.” Sometimes my worst enemy is my own mind. I conjure up imaginary woes that often never materialize. The “woe” that most often pervades my thoughts is the “fear of tomorrow.” The “what-ifs” can be endless! When I look around at the world situation, I feel a cold and calculating fear begin to rise from the pit of my stomach. As it spreads its insidious fingers into my psyche, I feel a growing uneasiness envelop me as I begin to worry about the future.

There are other mental worries as well. Is this lump a cancer? Will I become a burden to my family? Will my finances be enough to live on? Will our government collapse? Is it safe to go to out in the community? Once one fear is dispelled, there are others waiting in the wings to take its place and continue chipping away at my well-being. How do I combat such a relentless enemy? I cannot fight these fears alone for I am weak, and the fears are strong. What do I do? I do what I should have done long ago. I take these “fears” and bring them to the throne of grace. I cry until the Lord, and He delivers me as He promised.

The Bible reminds me…

1. “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – 2 Timothy 4:18
   1. No matter what comes my way, physical, mental, or spiritual, the Lord promises to deliver me from EVERY evil work!

2. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
   1. It is God alone who will do the work to protect me, and He will!

3. “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.” – Proverbs 4:5-6
   1. The way to freedom from fear is found in the Word of God. It is His wisdom alone that shall preserve and keep me!

4. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10
   1. When I am held in God’s mighty right hand, I have nothing to fear. He promises to give me His strength to endure and be victorious!

5. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” -Psalm 34:19
   1. As a Christian, I am not immune to the trials and tribulations of this life, but I am promised that my God will deliver me from them ALL, physical, mental, or spiritual!

God tells us in His Word that we are not to worry about the “what-ifs.” There is enough of the realities of today with which to concern ourselves. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34) Tomorrow is beyond our ability to do anything about it today. We need to leave that to God. He can do a much better job than you or me in handling the problems of the future. Depending upon the Lord is the key to the elimination of our fear. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I have spent way too much time focusing on the fears of tomorrow when I should be centering today’s thoughts on the Lord. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) When I do what He tells me to do, I find the fears that threaten to engulf me are replaced by the sweet peace of God! “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

When shadows fall and the night covers all
There are things that my eyes cannot see.
I never fear, for the Saviour is near.
My LORD abides with me!

When I’m alone and I face the unknown
And I fear what the future may be,
I can depend on the strength of my Friend!
He walks along with me.

How can I fear? Jesus is near!
He ever watches over me!
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.
How can I fear with Jesus?

(from “How Can I Fear?” by Ron Hamilton)

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” – Ephesians 4:23

**********

“Meet your fears with faith.” – Max Lucado

“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” – Job 22:21

I remember once seeing a bumper sticker that stated, “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.” Nothing could be more true today than this statement. Not a day goes by that isn’t filled with growing unrest, escalating anger, and rising hopelessness in our world. Even as our nation grapples with governmental chaos and public riots, the citizens cry out for peace!

The Bible tells us in the last days, people will be crying out for peace, but it will not be found. Some will try to bring about peace by negotiating with the discontented or changing the laws, but these attempts will fail. Their methods will bring neither true nor lasting peace.  The peace they offer will be merely a small and ineffective bandage on a gaping sinful wound that oozes wickedness and evil. “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14

There is only one true source of peace, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can provide the security the world seeks. He alone is the balm that brings peace to the soul. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Our responsibility is to show the world the peace of God through our lives. We are not to respond with words of hatred or disgust, but rather we are to offer hope through Christ. We are not to hold ourselves up on a higher plane, but rather to be humble in spirit as we share the true source of peace. We are not to even think evil of those who oppose us, but instead we are to love our enemies. Not only that, we are to pray for them. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:44)

Additionally, we must be different than the world. If the world cannot see a difference in us from those who seek to destroy, from those who spew words of hate and discontent, from those who point fingers in judgement, we are no different than them, and those who are lost will see absolutely no reason to come to Jesus. Why? Because in their eyes, they will already be there… they will see themselves just like us. Therefore, we must strive to avoid every appearance of worldly evil in our own lives to show that Christ has made a difference in us. We must be set apart from the world in our words, our actions, but mostly… in our hearts. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

We must share the only real way to true peace with a lost and dying world with a heart of Christian love. Make your social media posts genuinely full of the love of Christ. Let your conversation with others, believers or otherwise, be sweet and honoring to the Lord. Let us be the shining light on the mountaintop that will point others to Jesus. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)

People are craving peace in their souls. We have the answer they seek! Our responsibility is to share it with others any way we can. In doing so, we will reflect the love of Christ to a world that desperately needs Him and His peace that truly passes all understanding.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

There is peace in the name of Jesus,
There is peace in the name of Jesus
He alone is the way, you can trust Him today
There is peace in the name of Jesus…

There is life, there is joy, there is peace in the name of Jesus!

(from “Wonderful Peace” by W.D. Cornell & “There is Peace in the Name of Jesus” by Ron Hamilton)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27

**********

“What peace can they have who are not at peace with God?” – Matthew Henry

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” – Malachi 3:10

Yesterday was the first day in 12 weeks that I was able to go to church. To say it was a wonderful day is a huge understatement. Although I kept my “social distance” and wore my mask throughout the entire time I was there, worshiping with my church family was to my soul what a desert wanderer must feel like when he stumbles into an oasis filled with springs of cool, refreshing water!

There was such turmoil and uncertainty in the outside world, but here in my church’s gymnasium (our makeshift sanctuary that keeps us all at least 6 feet apart), there was the sweet presence of God, and with it, His promise of peace. As the music filled the room, it reminded me that God is supreme, and He is all I need in a world of chaos and trouble! As I listened to the choir sing, the words reminded me that God is never caught by surprise at circumstances that arise; He is always in control of all things, and He is aware of each of us and how we are impacted by those circumstances. Truly, my God is supreme!

The question then becomes “Does God care about me?” In the overall scheme of things, am I important enough for God to care about me as an individual? After all, I am merely one in billions. The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” As I listened to one of our missionaries speak about the faithfulness of God, I was reminded that God really does know me personally and by name! Isaiah 43:1 states, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”

The Bible also clearly states that God cares even about the most insignificant things about each of us, even the amount of hairs on our heads! How could He not care intimately about each of us? “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke12:7)

Not only does God know us individually, He knew each of us before we were even conceived!! We were in the mind of God, and then He created each one of us! Jeremiah 1:4 states, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…” How awesome is that? Not only is He our God, He is our Father! “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26) He is our Creator! We belong to Him, and He promises to take care of us in all situations.

God wants us to give Him all our worries and concerns, and He promises to take care of those for us! “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22) He will provide what we need when we need it to insure that we will endure whatever comes our way. He will uphold us by His mighty right hand!

We need not fear about what might happen tomorrow because God’s got it covered. The “what-ifs” can be so frightening and depressing, and God tells us we don’t need to be speculating about the future. Instead, there are enough things to focus upon today whereas we need not concern ourselves about tomorrow. God already has tomorrow handled today. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)

God promises to take care of us, meeting our every need, no matter how dismal things may seem in the world around us. The chaos in our land did not take God by surprise; the virus did not catch Him off guard; the racial tensions and riots did not creep up on Him unawares. Our omniscient heavenly Father remains supreme and continues to do all that He has said He will do, including taking care of His children. The outcome is already planned by God, and by His might, it will come to fruition according to His divine will. There is no power on this earth that can thwart Him.

So do not let fear control you. Do not let the lies of the world trick you into believing that God has forsaken you. Do not abandon the hope that is in Him. Instead, claim each and every promise that He has made in His Word. Each one is a certainty for God does not lie. He is faithful today as He was yesterday, and as He will be tomorrow.

Remember, God knows when just one little sparrow falls from the sky because He cares about each single bird that He created. Yet, the Scriptures tell us that we are more important to God than one bird, and Matthew 10:31 affirms that. “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”  Clearly, if God cares so much for one little bird, how much more must He care for you and me?

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

(from “Does Jesus Care?” by Frank E. Graeff)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)

**********

How great the Father’s love toward us!

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:13

At the start of each day, I must decide what I am going to wear. The clothing that I choose depends upon several factors – the weather, my planned activities, what is clean, etc. I don’t really give it much thought otherwise. When I am finished dressing, I am ready to go out and face the world.

But what if I left my home without any shoes? Can you imagine what would happen? Whether it’s going for a walk, shopping for groceries, or going to church, I need to be wearing my shoes! If not, my feet would be unprotected! No matter what I have planned, my footwear is a very important part of my wardrobe. I better be sure I have the right shoes on!

But what about the other items of clothing? Aren’t they just as important? Absolutely! I must be sure I am wearing everything I need to prepare my body for whatever the day may bring and to protect it from any harm. I must also be prepared for the unexpected. I may need to carry an umbrella if rain is in the forecast, a coat if there is a chilly breeze, or a hat and sunglasses if the day is hot and sunny. Every piece is important to my well-being!

What about my spiritual clothing? Do I pay as much attention to what I am wearing to prepare my soul for the day? Without a doubt, the answer is yes! Like a knight in days of old, the Christian is to be clothed in protective armor. The Bible refers to it as the “armour of God.” Ephesians 6:11 states, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Just as it is important that our bodies be prepared physically to face our daily lives, the same is true for our souls. We are told in Scripture that we have fierce enemies in the spiritual realm. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Because of the ferocity of our enemy, much of the Christian’s armor is protective in nature. The truth of God’s Word must encircle the believer, and His righteousness must protect the heart (v. 14). If we do not read the Bible and hide its words in our hearts, we become susceptible to the enemy’s deceptions. The Word of God is our only defense against the sin in this world. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, it was the Word of God that He used to successfully combat the evil of the devil (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Our next piece of armor is the shield of faith, which must be carried to repel whatever wickedness the world and its prince throws at us (v. 16). To fortify our faith, we again must cleave to the Word of God and its truths. Lastly, our head must be fully protected. Our minds must be secure in the salvation of the Lord (v. 17). Once we have accepted Christ as our personal Saviour, we have the assurance that God’s gift of salvation is ours forever. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13). Now that we are spiritually protected, we are ready to clothe ourselves in what we need to wear in order to do God’s work.

These last two pieces of our warrior’s armor is intended to equip us to do battle on God’s behalf. To carry the good news to others of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers, our feet must be securely shod with the gospel of Christ (v. 15). Through the study of God’s Word, we become “fully weaponized” to distribute the words of life to a lost and dying world. But we will face relentless opposition. Therefore, we must also carry with us the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), so that we are prepared to fight the enemy at a moment’s notice (v. 17). As Jesus demonstrated, it is only through God’s Word that the battle will be won!

Just as we would never leave our homes physically unclothed, so we must never be spiritually naked, vulnerable to the spiritual forces surrounding us. Each day of our lives, we must make a determined effort to put on the whole armor of God. If one piece is lacking, we risk being severely wounded by the enemy, becoming an ineffective soldier in God’s army.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed. 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

(from “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” by George Duffield, Jr.)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” – 2 Corinthians 10: 3-4

**********

“Fight your battles through prayer, and win your battles through faith.” –  Luffina Lourduraj

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” – 2 Corinthians 9:15

The coronavirus was first reported in Georgia on March 2, 2020, and its first death in the state was reportedly March 12^th. On March 14^th, our governor declared a public emergency, and our world began to change dramatically on March 16th when public schools were closed. Like many others, our family voluntarily quarantined itself believing this would soon pass, and life would return to normal. We were wrong. On April 3^rd, Governor Kemp issued a “shelter-in-place” order for all Georgians until the end of the month. I thought that was the light at the end of the tunnel. However, on April 30^th, the governor extended the order until June 12^th impacting those deemed “medically fragile” and aged 65 or over.

Although I am just shy of 65 years old, my physician told me that I had to remain “sheltered-in-place” for health-related issues until the order expired in June or the cases of covid-19 began to wane in Georgia. Since I am retired, life didn’t really change a great deal for me except in one major aspect, and that was being able to go to church. While my church had a livestream program already set in place long before covid-19 was even heard of, it was not the same as being in the actual sanctuary worshiping with one’s brothers and sisters in Christ. For the first few 11 weeks of quarantine, my daughter and her two girls watched the church services with me at home, while my husband and son-in-law went to church to run the sound and livestream broadcasts for our pastor. Last week, my entire family was finally able to go to church, but I still had to remain at home watching church via the livestream broadcast.

Well, today is my Independence Day! I am free from the ”shelter-in-place” order and eager to rejoin the outside world! My first venture will be on Sunday when I will finally be able to join my church family in person and worship with them! I am more excited that I can even express!

This reminds me of another time when I was set free. For me, it was on March 10, 1968. That was the day that I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour! I can still remember the exhilaration of being freed from the bondage of sin! Even as a 12-year-old, tears of shame quickly became tears of joy as I knelt at the altar of my small church in California and gave my heart to Jesus.

It has been said that a person doesn’t know what he or she has until it is no longer there.  In regard to my salvation, I didn’t know what I was missing until Jesus came into my life as my Saviour. While the thrill of being free from the covid-19 quarantine is great, it pales in comparison to the freedom I have in Christ! The coronavirus may return, and I may be once more “sheltered-in-place,” but I will never be in bondage to sin again! According to John 3:16, when I accepted God’s gift of salvation, I was promised eternal life with Him in heaven! Now, that’s true freedom!

So long, I searched for life’s meaning
Enslaved by the world and my greed
Then the door of my prison was opened by love
For the ransom was paid, I was free

I’m free from the fear of tomorrow
I’m free from the guilt of my past ooh!
I’ve traded my shackles for a glorious song
I’m free, praise the Lord, free at last!

(from “I’m Free” by Bill Gaither)

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – John 8:36

**********

Freedom is never free. The price for my soul’s freedom was paid for at the cross of Calvary by the Son of God.

“Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;” – 1 Chronicles 16:12

Today begins my 7^th week on my health journey. I must confess it was a bit disappointing when I did my weekly measuring this morning. There was no change to record! No weight or inches lost! I knew I hadn’t done anything off program, so for a time, disappointment threatened to be a dark cloud over my head today. But then, I took a moment to reflect on where my journey has taken me over the past 42 days. Physically, I am down 19 pounds. I haven’t gained anything back, and I’ve been able to follow my program without much difficulty. Spiritually, I have been reading much more of God’s Word, and I have been learning to listen to Him as He speaks to me through it. I have experienced growth in my prayer life, and I have found ways to serve Him while “sheltered-in-place.” Not bad for 6 weeks!

Reflection is important. Stopping to take time to look back over where one has “traveled” is a major component of moving forward. One of the things I have learned through my personal reflection is the importance of seeing the “big picture.” In my Christian life, it is important to look back and see all the great things God has done in my life. When I recall some of the life events God has brought me through, I am filled with gratitude. For example, when I reflect on the turmoil in my childhood, this hindsight (which is always 20/20) clearly reveals His work in laying a foundation of faith in my young life that would not come to fruition until years later. When I think back on how He cared for me years before I made a decision to accept Christ as my Saviour, it is truly humbling. It reminds me of Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He loved me and cared for me greatly before I ever chose Him to be Lord of my life. That’s so amazing to me!

There have been times in my life where God did seem very far away. I often lost sight of Him, and I felt so alone, but looking back, I know He was with me every step of the way. In reflection, I can see God so clearly in my life that I realize I was never abandoned by Him, and I know now that I never will be. That’s what reflection does. It reveals how the individual threads of life join together to make one beautiful tapestry woven by the hand of God.

So, when I reflect on these last 42 days, I definitely can see God working in me, and I praise Him for that! He has blessed me beyond measure, and I know He continues to walk with me on this incredible journey I have begun. Without a doubt, I am in a much better place both physically and spiritually than I was 6 weeks ago! So, with that in mind, I head off into week #7 with my hand in His, continuing to do what I know is best for my body and my soul!

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

(from “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by Thomas A. Dorsey)

“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” – Psalm 95:2

**********

There is no sweeter way to walk through life than with Jesus!

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

I try not to spend too much time watching the news, but like a moth attracted to a flickering flame, I am drawn to it. Corruption in government, coronavirus, protests and riots, rising unemployment, mandatory vaccinations, bad weather… nothing positive with which to fill my mind. I try not to worry, but I do, and frankly, by scrolling down the news feed on my phone, I find that I am cultivating that worry until it results in a terribly unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach that refuses to subside.

What am I doing?? This is pure craziness on my part! I recall a phrase from my youth: “Garbage in, garbage out!” The referral is that whatever I put into my mind will eventually spill out into my life through words or action. I have been putting such negativity into my mind that it is going to start oozing out to those around me, thus spreading like a… well, for lack of a better word, like a virus.

There is a cure, however, and it brings peace to my soul. I find that when I fill my mind with the things of God, peace comes. What things? Here are some precious nuggets that I choose to put into my mind these days.

• Music – When I close my eyes and listen to godly music, I am enveloped by His sweet peace. The beautiful words of hymns like “I’d Rather Have Jesus” or “Because He Lives” are a balm to my soul.
  • “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)
• Scripture – Bible verses remind me there is always hope in Jesus. God’s promises to save, keep, and deliver me through this earthly life are non-negotiable. What He has said, He will do, and I trust in Him. In a world of uncertainty, His Word gives me hope.
  • “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
• Thanksgiving – Taking time to reflect on the blessings of my life gives me a different perspective that gives me peace in my soul, and compels me to thank God for His goodness toward me.
  • “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
• Others – A phone call, a written note, a delivered meal, a morning visit, a prayer on their behalf… there are so many ways to reach out to those who are in need, and every time I think of others before myself, my heart is blessed in the joy of simply loving someone as Christ would have me do.
  • “And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isaiah 58:10-11)
• Prayer – Sharing my worries with God is liberating. Knowing that the things on my heart are relinquished to the One who can handle anything and everything brings comfort and peace.
  • “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
• Service – Putting my Christianity into action helps me remember that my faith is not in vain. I serve a living Saviour, and there is a world that desperately needs Him. Jesus alone is the answer to all the turmoil in the souls of men. It is my responsibility to share the gospel, and when I do, I am content, no matter what is happening in the world around me.
  • “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:26)

When worries threaten to overwhelm me, I remember that my peace is found in Jesus. He has overcome the world and this is what He has promised me. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) So, I turn on some godly music, open the Bible, and let the Holy Spirit fill me with the peace of God!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

(from “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8

**********

If worries can distress Christians, imagine what someone who doesn’t know Jesus might be feeling these days. Someone must share the hope of Jesus with them. Will it be you?

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” – Ephesians 4:26

These days there are a lot of things about which to be angry. Our government has become very divisive, creating so much political chaos that it has angered the nation. The global pandemic has resulted in rising unemployment and closed businesses, angering laid-off workers and small business owners. Individuals are reacting angrily to the request to wear masks to help decrease the spread of covid-19. Recent rioting, a result of various acts of violence, has occurred in many major American cities, and angry cries for justice fill the air.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, anger is defined as “a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism.” Anger often leads to words or acts of hostility, and as it escalates to rage or fury, violence can occur. Anyone who has watched or read the news lately has seen evidence of escalating anger across our country. Anger is a natural emotion, but it cannot be allowed to develop into a full-blown rage. Regardless of whether it is justified or not, anger is not productive. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Anger is a very destructive emotion when it gets out of control.

The Bible tells us that we should not end our day with unresolved anger. If we do, there is a good chance it will allow Satan to get a hold of our spirit. Ephesians 4:26-27 explains, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.” I have always thought of this verse in terms of my family members, especially my husband. If I was angry with him, I knew it was right to talk it out that same day before we fell asleep. Now, I can see how this verse is applicable to events on a much larger scale.

Most of us were stunned when we read of how out-of-control the recent rioting had become. Rioters were breaking into closed shops and looting. Government buildings were being set on fire. Law enforcement officers were gunned down as they tried to control the violent mobs, and all the while, onlookers cheered the perpetrators. Clearly the anger in the people had risen to such levels that sin had taken a firm hold of them, allowing Satan to find his place in their hearts and subsequently, their behaviors. Satan’s stronghold became more evident as lawlessness, chaos, and sin spread like wildfire.

Social media posts were filled with anger as written words spewed out hatred and violence against anyone whom the writers chose to attack. Facts became unimportant, and if they were presented, they were often dismissed. Those whose anger festered and grew relied only on their own opinions and feelings. This is a dangerous practice. The Bible tells us that our hearts, our feelings, are unreliable when it comes to judgment, often twisting the lies into false truths. Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” So, what can we do?

God’s people can pray! James 5:16 reminds us that, “…the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We can pray for our country and its citizens. In 2 Chronicles 7, God is speaking to Solomon regarding the nation of Israel. He is telling the king that if the nation sins, but then repents and returns to the Lord, He will forgive them and heal their land. Since God is immutable as He states in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…,” it is reasonable to believe He will do the same for America if her people repent and turn back to Him. That will only happen through prayer. “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). We need to be a people on our knees for the healing of America!

Is it wrong to be angry? No, but it is wrong to let anger control you, and lead you into sinful behavior. We should try our best to avoid anger. The Bible reminds us, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” (Psalm 37:6) Additionally, Ecclesiastes 7:9 states a person with uncontrolled anger is a fool. “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”

Remember, desiring justice is not the same as harboring sinful anger. Anger at the sinful behavior of others is not wrong. It is when the anger is unrestrained and gives rise to vicious, abhorrent, ungodliness that it becomes sin. A wise man will take time to calm himself, think things over, then try to work out a solution through communication with the offenders. As ambassadors of Christ, we should strive to resolve issues in ways that would honor the Lord. It will take much prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), much conversation (Matthew 18:15), and much forgiveness (Colossians 3:13). Above all, we should strive to love one another as Christ has loved us. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)

Angry words, oh, let them never
From the tongue unbridled slip;
May the heart’s best impulse ever
Check them ere they soil the lip.

“Love one another,” thus saith the Savior;
Children obey the Father’s blest command;
“Love one another,” thus saith the Savior;
Children obey His blest command.

(from “Angry Words, O Let Them Never” by Horatio R. Palmer)

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” – Ephesians 4:29

**********

Take time today to pray for healing in our land and our hearts.

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.” – Psalm 113:3

Although I am retired, I still have a fairly busy life. I don’t think I could name exactly what it is that seems to keep me busy, but my retirement is definitely not as “unbusy” as I thought it would be. Because of this, I still use a calendar to keep track of birthdays, church events, camping trips, and other goings-on in my life. I also have a phone that constantly sends me reminders of more regularly scheduled activities like taking medication, dental appointments, and even when to eat (as if I really needed that!) Anything that is important to me, that I want to be sure I don’t forget, is usually on my phone, and its alarm alerts me when the time has come for me to do something. Why do I do this? Because I do not always remember to do what I need to do. No matter how important they are, I can be so involved in other things that without a reminder, I forget to do them.

Perhaps I should include these on my phone reminder list as well:

• Praise the Lord today – “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:2)
• Study the Word of God today – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
• Take up the cross of Christ today – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
• Pray today – “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12)
• Encourage someone today – “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)
• Rejoice today – “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
• Thank God today – “Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.” (Psalm 75:1)

I think it’s time for me to update my daily agenda…

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

(from “Take Time to Be Holy” by William Longstaff)

“Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.” – Isaiah 58:2

**********

What’s on your agenda for today?