Is God involved in the COVID-19 Virus? Or China? Or What?

Good morning everyone. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

   We worry, we stress, we complain, we walk in fear, we tread with anxiety, and for what?  I can't touch anything I may get the virus.  I can't go anywhere I may get the virus. I can't.......I can't...... and on and on.

   We buy toilet paper by the groves and hold it hostage.  No anti-bacterial wipes, no hand sanitizer, (this makes sense) no water, no eggs, but there is lots of alcohol available.  What are we doing? Becoming desperate!!!

   People are scared and we hear and see a lot about prayer or praying.  Some say this will be a spike in church attendance once it is over.  After 9/11 there was a spike in church attendance, briefly, and then in less than a year it dropped off again.  Why?  The 9/11 was in New York, it outraged Americans near and far; but, it did not have a lasting effect.  Why?  It was short lived - meaning the towers went down and within a few months it was not a hot topic any longer and did not directly affect most Americans.

   Sometimes God has to get our attention.  I am not saying God sent this virus, nor saying that China sent the virus (or even George Soros).    What I am saying is that many are beginning to pray and if this virus was over now, many would be back to their normal lives and not even thinking about God, His involvement, or even His existence.

   After the multiple years of WW II households were strong in their belief in God and attending church regularly.  Something had happened that caused many eyes to open and look for the only HOPE there was and is--which is GOD!  Then as we moved further away from  WW II, around the mid 70's, attendance in churches began a gradual, then steep decline.

  Maybe this is the situation in today's world.  God has been out of the picture for a while as the news bombards Trump, the news reports gay/lesbian/transsexuals rights and agenda, the liberal views are forced upon us and if we disagree we are haters, bigots,  or terrorists.  Well, now, on social media, news, radio, etc. I am hearing more about pray for.............; or we need prayer..............; please pray for............!  WHY?  People need HOPE! God is hope!!!

  Hmmm, maybe God is trying to get our attention.  We have been an arrogant peoples, conceited, with a lack of humility.  Oh, yes, we still care about things. But, only things that are important to (us) ME!   The bleeding heart commercials about animals being abused; aid to illegals,  yet care not for the homeless veterans, or just homeless,  and abortion is supported , even up to full term. With these examples we could go on and on. But wait; what are we doing? Where do we go?  What is our hope?

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

   Daniel 9: 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

  Please replace city with AMERICA and by your name with ONE NATION UNDER GOD and take this meaning to heart.  It is not our righteousness but GOD'S MERCY.  We, Americans and peoples world-wide, need to call upon HIS name.

  Thank you for reading with me this far.  I do hope it makes sense to you. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Let us do good, not grow weary, and be positive Galatians 6:6-10

Good morning fellow Christians.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

  

   Here we sit in America and around the world, "stuck" at home, having to actually be a........what's that word.......oh yeah....."FAMILY"!  We, humans, have a tendency to complain about the littlest things but let us look at the picture in a different light.   America has 329.45 million people; 85,381 cases of COVID-19, and just over a thousand have died.  If you wish to take time to do the percentages then a very small percentage are ill.  However, we still need to be cautious and use our God given intellect to discern the right thing to do.

   Doing the right thing is really brought to light in Galatians 6, verses 6-10. Look up, God is there and waiting for us to call upon HIS name. 

   Please read these scriptures, digest them, and reflect on the whole world scene.

  Galatians 6: 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

  THOUGHTS:  What have we (humans) sowen?

                      Did we sow from the flesh?

                      Did we sow from the spirit?

                      Stay strong and grow not weary of doing good!

                      Our time to reap will come!

                      Then we will be able to do good to all!

 May this touch you as it has me.  Do the right thing!  God will approve!!  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The sky is falling - the sky is falling - said none other than Chicken Little

Good morning fellow Christians.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

   Remember the story of Chicken Little?  Chicken Little lived in Oakey Oaks and one day while walking a bird flying overhead dropped and acorn.  It just happened to hit Chicken Little on the head.  Oh, My, where did it come from?  The sky must be falling, he must warn everyone that the sky is falling.

   Okay, a little kids story and we know the sky is not falling.  However, the real moral of the story is to have courage, even when it feels like the sky is falling.  Well, here we are in America and around the world and the sky is falling.  Not really, we have an epidemic on our hands called COVID-19 of which we must deal with.

   We cannot tread in fear; yet we must not travel with no abandon.  We have experts who are working to cure the virus and then we must rest in the fact that God gave us the intellect to think, reason, and act accordingly.

   If I don't want to be snake bit, then don't walk into a den of snakes.  This is the same; we must take precautions to do what is logical and sensible.  Buying all the toilet paper in town is not one of these.  Bagging myself up in garbage bags and home made masks is not one of these.  We are told distance - 6 feet - only essential work places and businesses are to be open.  Okay, we can live with this.

  There are several things you and I can do -  1) remember who is in control - GOD; 2) use some email aka Pray; 3) obey the authorities and use good judgment in our daily functioning.  Very simple.

  God is in control - begin the day with the LORD's prayer - Matthew 6:9-13.

  Prayer - Philippians 4: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

  Also 1 John 5: 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

 Then obey the authorities - Romans 13:1 All of you must obey those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God.

   No, Chicken Little, the sky is not falling; just a situation that God is in control of and we just need to maintain our courage, be wise, and live for God.  Thank you for reading today.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The constant media bombarding of the virus causes FEAR!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO FEAR!!!

  FEAR, in and of itself is anxiety caused by real or possible danger or pain.  Fear can control a person.  Agoraphobia is a fear of going outside. This often leads to a fear of leaving ones house.

   Autophobia or monophobia is the fear of being alone.  Scared of being isolated, left by oneself and this leads to other anxieties or disorders.

   Anthropophobia or anthrophobia is the fear of people. Being so afraid of being around people that it interferes with your daily life. Sometimes called SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder).

   And then we come to Haphephobia - the fear of people touching you.  This is more than cringing when someone gives you an unwanted hug, is in your personal space, or possibly just touches you.  This phobia can cause panic attacks, hives, fainting, heart palpitations, hyperventilation or even nausea.

   This seems to be what we are going through at this time. Stay in your homes, only go out if necessary, don't touch others, don't touch your face, don't eat out, no movies, gyms, etc.  There is something to be said for being cautious and safe.  God gave us the mental ability to logically know what to do.

   However, hysteria or haphephobia may override our God given sense and we fly into panic mode also know as FEAR!!

  Psalm 56: 3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. (4) In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? 

  1 Corinthians16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. (14) Do everything in love.

  John 14: 27 Jesus says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

    Yes, we are going through a scary time right now.  Many of us have been here before.  When I graduated high school there were 2 choices:  College or Viet Nam - yes, this era was a scary time for most males in America.  

    From April 2009 to April 2010 there were 60.8 million cases and up to 18 thousand deaths in the USA; and up to 500,000 deaths world wide from the H1N1 virus. This has gone away.

    From the Ebola virus (2014-2016) there were just over 18 thousand deaths world wide with 15 thousand confirmed cases.  This too, has since gone away.

   What we have now will also go away, but my question to myself, you, and others is:  Is God trying to get our attention? (Remember the plagues of Pharaoh?)  Are we going through this trial to help us become closer to God? Realizing Jesus is the Messiah and our Salvation?  Hmmm!  Food for thought!

Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

(do not fear)

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Yes, we are BLESSED!!

  I woke to this song today.  It means a lot to me and I just wanted to share the lyrics with you.  My mind and heart are struggling to be in-sync and this song helps.  Also, I would ask that you throw this into your prayer time, that my heart, your heart, it all be in-sync with the LORD's.

  Lord, I Need You

Matt Maher

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
Where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
When I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Christy Nockels / Daniel Carson / Jesse Reeves / Kristian Stanfill / Matt Maher

Thank you for being here with me today. Love you all. 

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Judges 11:29-40 Be careful what you promise God!!

Good morning to everyone on this rainy day.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!

   Starting with verse 29 Jephthah crossed Gilead and Manasseh, through Mizpah of Gilead and then advanced against the Ammonites.  Now verse 30 is crucial to Jephthah's victory and tragedy both.

  Verse 30/31 "And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: 'If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.'"

   He fought and was victorious over the Ammonites, devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith as far as Abel Keramim.  Israel was victorious!!

   Now comes the tragedy----as Jephthah returned home in Mizpah, the first one to come out and greet him was his DAUGHTER!  His only child; he tore his clothes and cried, "OH!  MY DAUGHTER!"  Then he told his daughter of the vow he made to the LORD.

   Now, here is a girl who must have been very in tune with God as she replied to her father:  "My father, you have given your word to the LORD.  Do to me just as you promised, now that the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.  But grant me this one request.  Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry."

  After two months of weeping with her friends she returned; her father did to her as he vowed and she was a virgin.  This started an Israelite custom that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

   Such a victory for Israel, yet ended in tragedy and sadness for Jephthah.  He made a vow to God and kept that vow.  How often do we, modern day Christians, make a vow to God, then all goes well and we forget the vow.

   How true are you to God in obedience, study, and in vows?  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Judges 11:12-29 Do you want to negotiate or fight?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!

  Well, first I must apologize for not getting to my study on Monday.  Just one of those days when suddenly you look up and it is gone.

  Judges 11:12-29.  We have been talking about Jephthah, who is the child of his father and a prostitute and had been run out by his brothers.  Now they needed a leader to fight and they come to him.  He agrees to be the only leader and now the conversation with the king to whom he will be fighting.

  Verse 12 starts with Jephthah sending a messenger to the Ammonite king saying basically why do you wish to fight us.

  Verse 13 the king says Israel came up out of Egypt and took away his land from the Amon to the Jabbok, all the way to the Jordan.   So, why don't you just give it back peacefully.

  Jephthah explains when Israel came out of the Red Sea on the way to Kadesh they sent a messenger to the king of Edom asking permission to pass through his country.  He would not listen, nor would the king of Moab so Israel stayed at Kadesh.

  Then they traveled through the desert, skirted the lands of Edom and Moab, passed along the eastern side of the country of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon.  They did not enter the territory of Moab since Arnon was its border.

   He continues Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon and said let us pass through your land to our own place.  Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory, called his men together and camped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.

   Verse 21 Then God made Israel victorious over Sihon and they took over the land of the Amorites, taking all from Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.

  Verse23 He says basically God drove these people out, it is our land and why don't you take what your god Chemosh gives you.  What our God of Israel gives us we will possess.  Are you better than the kings before you? Why do you wish to fight with Israel?  Why didn't you retake the lands around you?  

  I have not done you wrong, yet you wish to wage war against me.  If that is the way you want it the LORD, the Judge, will settle this dispute between the Israelites and the Ammonites.

  Verse 28 The king of Ammon blew off the information and warnings from Jephthah. 

  Verse 29 "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.  He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

   So you see, all America should see----DON'T MESS WITH GOD'S PEOPLE!!!

I do hope this is a study you can enjoy.  Tomorrow, do not say or promise things you may regret later.  Thanks for reading. Love you all. (p.s. see map below)

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny