True or False

Philippians 1:18 But so what? Just this, that in every way whether by false or true motives, the Messiah is being proclaimed. Because of this, I rejoice and will continue to rejoice.

Are things really as bad as they say? I am not sure how to answer that question so I will leave it up to those in authority to work out. The thing I do know is a new weapon has been released that is more deadly than all the other weapons put together. That weapon is the power of the tongue.

It seems when something is said long enough and loud enough by the news media that one’s mind can become a breeding ground for confusion and fear. The problem is the next step after confusion and fear is usually chaos.

A good example of that is, on the news the other day there were two elderly ladies actually fighting over toilet paper in a grocery store. Toilet paper may be essential for hygiene, but it is not essential for life. However, when confusion and fear set in it doesn’t seem to matter.

Sometimes when fear is released, it’s possible for typically peaceful people to become almost animal like in some of their actions.  The results can even be, fighting over things like toilet paper.

 It is frightening to think about what the tongue is capable of. James 3:8 says, “the tongue is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison”. Wow!!! Is that true? Verse 10 says that, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing”. That means that it is possible that the fear and chaos in these two women in the grocery store, could have been the results of repeated bad news.

Thank God there is another side of the coin and I chose to take the other side. I choose to agree with our text. “That in every way whether by false or true motives, the Messiah is being proclaimed … and I will continue to rejoice”. In other words, there is a faith side to even bad news that builds our hope … it is the knowing that even this “shall come to pass”. Luke 16:22

I refuse to judge these two ladies whose faith may have been overcome by the fear that was produced by continually hearing bad news on television.

Father,

Help us to be truthful in reporting bad news but also help the last words we speak to be words of hope. In this time of uncertainty help us to practice servanthood and love on a higher level. Help us to share what we have by meeting the needs of the elderly, the frightened and those who have lost hope.

Amen

Nothing But The Blood of Jesus

Because of the coronavirus the atmosphere has completely changed in the last several weeks. There are fewer cars on the street, theme parks, theaters and clothing stores are closed, and even grocery stores are only open a few hours a day. It is a strange feeling. It is almost as if the whole world is playing the child’s game of hide and seek. The problem is, we don’t know what direction to start looking.

As for me, I am trying my best to abide by the wishes of our President and not congregate in groups of more than ten people. However, sometimes in trying to use my time wisely, (which is the most precious thing I have), it can be quite a chore.

For example: I am embarrassed to say that I slipped the other day, (in the using my time wisely department), and even made friends with a squirrel. Maybe I am worse off than I thought.  Anyway, I named this squirrel Henry and I feed him three shelled pecan halves in the morning and three in the evening. When I am late in putting the pecans out, Henry comes and looks in the back door at me.

Is it possible that because of the coronavirus … that my ministry has been reduced to only being an apostle to a squirrel named Henry? Lord have mercy … I’ve got to get out of this house.

The pandemic that the world is going through is no laughing matter, but neither is it a time to run scared. I am aware that there are many who are afraid and confused right now and don’t know what to do. Some are not even sure how they are going to pay their bills because they can’t go to work. Others have small businesses and shops that will probably close because they have only been operating on a shoestring budget in the first place. Still others will have to use their small savings accounts to make ends meet. 

Regardless of the fear that so many people are experiencing right now, I refuse to mock or make fun of them because they are scared or confused. My job is to bring peace to them by re-introducing them to the Lord of peace. Jesus is and has always been an antidote for the carnivorous as well as all diseases and issues … it is called the Blood of Jesus.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.