Mandatory Stillness

"So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by."
Exodus 33:22

Photo by Ben White

The other day, Kevin and I ventured out to Aldi to buy some things we needed.  As we pulled into the parking space, I went into what I have come to call a "coughing fit."  No, thank the dear Lord, I am not sick.  I have had this cough for many years and it's triggered by asthmatic symptoms that are brought on by GERD.  But, if you were around me and didn't know that, you may take a few steps back when you heard me cough.  As I let the coughing fit run its course and took sips of water to try to calm it, I started calling on the Lord.  "Lord, please don't let me cough in there."  I didn't want to add any anxiety to anyone's already stressed-out state of mind.  Thank the Lord, He answered, and I didn't cough one time while we were inside the store.

As we made our way up and down the aisles, picking up things and putting them in our cart, I was brought to tears.  More than once.  Everyone was SO sad looking.  And anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE to meet people, talk to them, and interact.  I never meet a stranger and rarely go anywhere without connecting with at least one person.  During that shopping trip, I didn't get to do that at all.  Each time someone started walking down the aisle toward me, we both had the same knee-jerk reaction—to recoil from one another and avoid each other, as if we had "the plague."  Literally.

As Kevin and I walked along, my eyes fell on the Easter candy on the shelf beside us.  Through tears, I said, "This is so sad.  Children won't even get to have their Easter egg hunts this year."  Thinking about that and the high school and college seniors who won't get to attend their graduation ceremonies and how Zach's friend's cousin's "Sweet 16" birthday party had to be cancelled makes me so sad.  I can't help but cry.  These are once-in-a-lifetime events.  Moments that can never be relived.

Has the full impact of what is going on started to hit you with the force it is hitting me?  One of the Scriptures that stays most often on my mind lately is Luke 21:26, where Jesus said, "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

We are seeing these prophecies fulfilled right before our very eyes.  People are becoming downright faint of heart.  Who would have EVER thought we would see happen what is happening?  As I am writing this, the death toll in Italy is over 16,500.  Over 13,300 have died in Spain.  Over 3,300 have died in China.  Since the first diagnosed case of coronavirus in the United States on January 20th, COVID- 19 deaths have now passed the 10,700 mark.  By the time you read this, these numbers will probably be much higher, sad to say.

The Olympics cancelled—can you imagine the disappointment in the hearts of all the young people who have been training so hard nearly all their lives?  The Masters' Golf Tournament cancelled.  Whole sporting seasons cancelled.  Church services cancelled.  School cancelled.  Weddings postponed.  Everyone walking around at least six (now they're saying it should be ten because a sneeze can take that far to hit the ground) feet away from one another.  No handshakes.  Not even fist bumps.  Hugs?  Totally out of the question.  Scared to touch cardboard box packages the mailman delivers.  Afraid to open regular mail for fear the envelope may have live virus residue on it.  Airplanes grounded.

Who would have ever dreamed American families would be told to stay inside their homes or else face the possibility of jail time?

Thankfully, a "shelter-in-place" or "stay-at-home" order isn't a problem for our family.  I absolutely love, and I do mean LOVE, staying home.  We spend a great deal of time at home.  Since our wake-up call in early 2015, God has led us on a steady path to stillness.  We intentionally live out what some would call boring and very simple, basic lives - all this, as the world around us continues on at breakneck speed.  Until now.

  For those who live in the fast lane and are used to being extremely busy, these mandates must be a hard pill to swallow.  

I don't know if anyone else looks at it this way, but I believe GOD is trying to get our attention.  To slow us all down.  To make us stop and consider the spiritual condition of our world and how we have turned our backs on Him.  Could it be that since we refused to "BE STILL" on our own, God has forced us to?  Perhaps He had to remove all the distractions and the idols that vie for our time with Him and drag us kicking and screaming into a mandatory season of stillness?  I have a heavy burden on my heart about the spiritual reasons for all that is happening, and I will tell you that the things He has been revealing to me are extremely sobering.  At this point, I'm not sure whether or not He will have me share them here.

For now, I hope these Scriptures will be a comfort to you as you stay in your homes in such a strange and unfamiliar season of forced stillness.

"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him."

Habakkuk 2:20  (KJV)

"Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for He is springing into action from His holy dwelling.”  Zechariah 2:13  (NLT)

“In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His good presence; this will carry you evenly through your day’s business.”  William Penn

"Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."

Psalm 37:7 (NLT)

"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah."

Psalm 4:4  (KJV)

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."

Psalm 46:10,11  (KJV)

“When Christ delays to help His saints now, you think this is a great mystery, you cannot explain it; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. Be still, and know that Christ is God.”
Robert Murray McCheyne

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

Exodus 14:13,14  (KJV)

"Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."

Psalm 107:28,29 (KJV)

"Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes."

I Samuel 12:16 (ESV)

“If God is spending work upon a Christian, let him be still and know that it is God. And if he wants work, he will find it there–in the being still.” 
Henry Drummond

"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”  And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)

God has orchestated for us to be pulled aside, and we are now in a season that allows us to make the decision to choose that good part.  To sit long and often at Jesus' feet.  To absorb what He is trying to say to us.  To listen.  To stop squirming and trying to get away from Him in this mandatory stillness.

As chaos continues, we can allow the hand of our Savior to hide us "in the cleft of the rock" and shield us from all that is happening in our world.
What a blessed thought!

He Hideth My Soul ~ BESY Choir

Keep encouraged, dear friends!

God is with us still.

When Life Becomes Scary ~ Guest Post by Amanda Ashley

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You."

Psalm 56:3

Source

The world doesn't look the same as it did a few weeks ago. Most of us never imagined even three weeks ago that we could be facing what we are facing right now. We suddenly don't feel “safe.”  I've had my own share of fears and anxieties as we've watched this pandemic unfold.  Will we get sick?  Will our economy recover?  Will someone I love die from it?  Will my kids be okay?

While the way the virus is wreaking havoc is heartbreaking, there's something else that I have found breaking my heart.  It's the fear I see others struggling with.  It's the fear I see in the stranger's eyes at the grocery store as they move their cart as far away as possible from me.  It's the anxiety I see when the mail lady drops a package off to me at my house, placing it as far as possible away from me and instead of our usual chat she runs to the safety of her vehicle before I have a chance to share a moment with her.  It's the people online sharing fear-inducing article after fear-inducing article because they are downright scared too and desperately want their loved ones to be safe.

Many believers are also struggling with the same fear.  And I have to wonder – have we forgotten who is sovereign?  Have we forgotten who holds our hands?  Have we forgotten that the one who has numbered our days has a plan for each of our lives?

Please don't hear me wrong – I don't think we should throw caution to the wind and be reckless.  But even with safeguards in place we need to realize that we can only do so much and that ultimately it is God who is in control.

Yes, wash your hands.  Practice social distancing, and stay home, but as for the rest, put your trust in the Almighty Father whose plan is perfect.

How easy it is for us to trust God when everything is going well.  To praise Him when when life is feeling pretty good. But to trust Him when life has been turned upside down and is downright scary, that's a lot harder.

But you know what? God is not surprised by any of what is going on.  He knew what was going to happen.  He knows how this is going to end.  And He will be by our side every step of the way as we go through this trial.

He loves us deeply and wants us to find our strength and comfort in Him.  While so much of our life has been stripped away – our friends, our church building, our jobs, our access to certain stores and merchandise, our entertainment – one thing has not been stripped away and can NEVER be taken from us, and that is God.

He IS enough for us.

Friend, I know it's scary right now.  I know you are tired and weary.  I know you may be afraid of how this will all end.  I get it.  I've had my moments too.

Did you know that fear is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible?  God knew we would struggle with fear and so He was sure to give us plenty of scriptures to remind us that we do not need to fear but instead to keep our eyes on Him.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid.  Do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  - Joshua 1:9

During this difficult time we can cling to God.  He's got this.  He is with you WHEREVER you go.  Not just SOME places you go.  No, the verse says “WHEREVER.”  That means He is with you when you go into the grocery store and are worried you could pick up the virus.  When you go to pay your bills and are unsure how to pay for it all because you've been laid off from your job.  When you are in your bedroom and you shed some tears because you are so lonely from all this “social distancing.”  When you are so tired from caring for your little ones and can't call a family member to come over and give you a hand.

He is there through it all, for every single moment.  He is enough for you and will give you strength to persevere.  We can trust that His word is true and we can look to the scriptures to remind ourselves that God has promised that He will walk with us through it all.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring.  I don't know when this pandemic will end.  I don't know where our economy will be once this is over.  I don't know if we will lose loved ones or get sick ourselves.  I don't know how the other side of this looks like.  But what I do know is that God is there, loving us and encouraging us to have courage in the face of fear.  He is still on the throne.  He is still in control.  And He won't leave you through it all, not for one second.  

Bio: Amanda Ashley lives with her husband, three kids, dog, and chickens on her 2 acre homestead in Canada.  She spends her days homesteading, homeschooling, and working from home on her blog, Simple Life of a Country Wife.  You can find her over on Facebook, Instagram, or at her Youtube Channel.

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Please stop by and visit Amanda at her blog and social media sites listed above where you will find a wealth of homesteading information and Godly encouragement.

I Will Fear No More ~ The Afters

I so appreciate Amanda and all of the other guest authors sharing words of hope with us here!

Stay the course, dear friends, and keep looking up!

God is still with us.

May We Be Found Faithful ~ Guest Post by Debbie Harris

"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

I Corinthians 4:2

Source

There is much uncertainty out there over this current Coronavirus. With each new day we are learning new things, but we must remain optimistic and stay positive.

The world around us is in such fear, worry and panic - yet - the Bible tells us to ~

~Fear not ~

" Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not." Isaiah 35:4a

~Cast our cares upon God~ 

 " Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" 1Peter 5:7

~Be anxious for nothing~ 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

~Fret not yourselves~ 

"Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil." Psalm 37:8

God cares for us...let us never forget.

Christ warns against earthly anxiety  ~ Matthew 12:22-34 ~ Excellent reading material! Too long to type.

With the way people are stockpiling and we are finding empty shelves at the stores, may we be reminded of the Scriptures ~ 

"And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of a doubtful mind." Matthew 12:29 

God will provide for our every need, even when it looks bleak.

And finally,

  ~Be careful for nothing ~ 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.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 a good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:4-8

Keeping our minds on Christ...these Scriptures alone should keep us on the right track and positive.

We all certainly have extra time on our hands right now, so why not meditate on God's Word so that we will be prepared and ready to share with those who are lost and hurting. May we be ready at any given moment to reach out and encourage the souls God brings across our paths.

I believe our opportunities are great!

Jesus was compassionate and reached down to touch even the unlovely. Shall we not do the same for our fellow men?

During this time I have found myself looking for my daily dose of laughter with all the silly "toilet paper" jokes. There is certainly humor to be found. I believe God wants us to laugh and find joy in our circumstances. Laughter is healing and it does the heart good. Laughter weaves its carefree way through all those joy-filled, purpose-filled, spirit-filled blessings that God has for us. Only God, who knows us and loves us completely, has the power to meet our needs and bless our lives in so personal a way that we feel He is ministering to us alone.

Yes, even as I laugh a good belly laugh, God is meeting me right where I am!

A classic treatment for the prevention and treatment of viral disease is open air therapy.

There is an immune benefit to being outdoors and the worst thing for us is to actually stay indoors with our dry, circulating heat systems. For us, it's the dry wood burner stove.

There are studies to show that both sunlight and outdoors kills the virus.

So...get outside, open up your windows if you can and let the fresh air work in your favor.

Friend, find what makes you happy, what brings you joy, peace, comfort and bring out the best in yourself and in your home.

"Dear Lord ~ 

May we be found faithful during these trying times as we strive to live our lives for Your glory. Keep us focused on You and strong in our faith. Heal those who are suffering and heal our land. We give You all the praise and glory!"

Bio:  Debbie was born in Denver Colorado moving to the Vail area at the age of 10. She met her husband Randy while working as a ski chair lift operator while he was vacationing in the winter of 1977. They fell in love, married in April of 1979 and moved to Canada beginning their lives together. This April marks 41 years together.
Debbie is a retired health-care giver (retired due to health issues) and enjoys life at home while reaching out to senior citizens, mostly widowed women. Hospice is her passion, but she loves to show compassion and  spread love to others.
She has 2 beautiful daughters and 4 handsome grandsons.
Debbie gave her life to Christ 37 years ago and claims Mark 12:30 as her life verse. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. For this is the first commandment." 
Please visit Debbie's blog at She Graces Her Home, where you will find a wealth of encouragement, joy, and comfort in her heartfelt posts!

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Keep the faith, dear friends.  Keep pressing on!  God is with us.  

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."
Hebrews 10:35