Tag: COVID-19

L-I-S-T-E-N: Six Ways to Avoid Pandemic Distraction

Jeannie Waters38 Comments on L-I-S-T-E-N: Six Ways to Avoid Pandemic Distraction
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“I can’t listen,” complained our youngest granddaughter when the adult conversation in the car prevented her from hearing her favorite song. We smiled at her use of “listen” and turned the CD player volume up. Problem solved.

Most listening challenges are more complicated.

This morning as I read a devotion, the stone deck fountain played soothing, peaceful notes as the water trickled down its sides. The sound provided perfect “background music” for my study and reminded me of God’s peace that flows in the hearts of believers who trust Him.

In prayer, I released some anxious thoughts that threatened to engulf me. With a desire to hear from God, I picked up my study Bible and began to meditate on a familiar verse.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

A sudden buzzing sound pierced the quietness of my reverie. I discovered the source of the noise about twelve inches to my right. A giant carpenter bee hovered over the deck railing, playing dissonant notes with its wings. The awkward insect then lumbered along the underside of the wood looking for a spot to nibble out a hole.

The volume of the buzz not only distracted me from sensing God’s peace, but it also harassed me with thoughts of whether carpenter bees sting.

If not, I’ll stay. If so, I’ll move. I can’t remember. Should I shower the bee with insect spray or allow it to go on its merry way? Oh, well. He’s now busy with chomping.

image by Deedster on Pixabay

Although my bee watching lasted only a few minutes before I returned to my devotional reading, I realized later I’d forgotten about the sound of the fountain, its representation of God’s peace, and the verse I’d planned to study. The distraction caused me to lose focus.

In the same way, pandemic life can fill our thoughts with a cacophony of disturbing news reports that are conflicting and constantly changing. What works today may be labeled ineffective tomorrow. Case numbers decline, and then they increase. Politicians pontificate, and doctors direct.

The barrage of information can incite apprehension and fill us with uncertainty. A friend recently told me she burst into tears when the television news pushed her over the brink.

When the buzz of newsfeeds and anxious thoughts divert my attention from hearing God’s peace and direction, I feel like echoing my granddaughter’s statement: “I can’t listen.”

The same is true when my appointments with God are interrupted by a text reporting a friend’s positive COVID-19 result or my own thoughts about increased local cases, or even a carpenter bee going about his God-designed tasks.

Has the volume of virus clamor hindered your ability to listen to God? How can we focus on His truths amidst pandemic distractions?

Consider the LISTEN acrostic below and meditate on the verses. Then, please share your thoughts on avoiding pandemic distractions.

L-I-S-T-E-N: Six Ways to Avoid Pandemic Distraction

L: List concerns in a prayer journal and share them with God in prayer.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6

I: Ignore distractions.  

 Cease striving and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

S: Study the Word.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

T: Thank God for His presence and provision.

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 136:26

E: Exercise self-control by tuning out negative attitudes and social media comments.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8

N: Note important truths God teaches you and commit to obey His instruction.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

Luke 11:28

Bible verses are from the NASB.

Some Trust in Chariots

Jeannie Waters30 Comments on Some Trust in Chariots
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My daughter’s attention was riveted to the tale of a brave mongoose who protected an Indian family by fighting cobras. Proud of my efforts to introduce her to classic literature and convinced she was now old enough, I read the story she’d selected, a cartoon-illustrated version of “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” by Rudyard Kipling.

Have you ever made what you deemed a wise decision but lived to regret it?

“I loved Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Mama. He was brave. But, Mama, what if cobras get into our house? We don’t have a mongoose. Can we buy a mongoose, Mama?”

“Honey, cobras don’t live in our part of the world, and no, we can’t buy a mongoose.”

“But one could come here, and get under the house, and come into my room,” she responded.

“I promise you cobras don’t live in our country. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi lived in India, and the author made the story up. It’s not true. Now go brush your teeth and get ready for bed, and I’ll come pray with you.”

“But, Mama, one might come here. I can’t go in the bathroom. Ask Daddy to check it first.”

Even after my husband checked, our little bookworm refused to budge from the sofa.

Oh, I know what I’ll do. Surely this will convince her.

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“Let’s look at the globe. Here’s where we live, and waaaaaay over here, on the other side of the world, is India. That’s where the story took place. Look at the huge oceans between us and India. See? No cobras can get to us.”

“They might be able to swim, Mama.”

Why did I read that story at night? Why did I read it at all?

No amount of words or geography lessons from tired parents could solve the argument.

Maybe if she talks to Daddy. She thinks he knows about everything, especially animals.

“Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you call Granddaddy and ask him about cobras?”

She called my dad and returned from the kitchen smiling. “Granddaddy said cobras don’t live here. They live in India, and that’s far away. Granddaddy knows everything. I’m going to brush my teeth. Can we read “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” again tomorrow night?”

What? That’s exactly what we said. But she believed her grandfather because “he knows everything.”  

Whom do you believe when you face fears? During the Covid-19 pandemic we hear advice from an alphabet soup of “experts.” CDC, WHO, FEMA, FDA, FOX, CBS, CNN, etc.                                

In addition to the acronyms, we’ve garnered advice from pastors, family, friends, social media platforms, and others. “Facts” presented by one source are disputed by another or changed the following day.

Three feet apart or six? Wear masks or don’t? It’s safe to go out; no, it’s not. Asymptomatic persons can carry the virus; no, they can’t. The conflict can frighten us and rob us of sleep.

Whom are we to believe? Who is credible? Are our sources basing their commentaries on God’s Word?

Satan, our enemy, uses fear to attack our peace, a fruit of God’s Spirit within believers’ hearts.

News updates serve a purpose, but they can also become incubators for panic. What protection does God’s Word offer?

When David faced physical enemies in battle, he said,

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20:7

Some of David’s enemies depended on horse-drawn chariots and mighty warriors to wage war. Armies with this equipment and personnel often decimated opponents on the battlefield.

When fear rears its ugly head, it’s easy to turn to the arsenal of strategies we’ve used in the past with some measure of success.  Although we should utilize God-given skills and resources, placing our faith in God is vital if we are to win against distress. His gifts equip us, but we depend on Him for victory.

Depending solely on our own abilities, money, the help of others or information brings short-term success at best and does little to yield long-term peace. Let’s ask ourselves: Where does my dependence lie today? Where do I turn when I’m afraid or anxious?

Some versions of Psalm 20:7 substitute remember or boast for trust. Surely David recalled the numerous times God granted him military and personal victory as he counted on continued protection.

Does remembering God’s work in your life fortify you to face uneasiness?

Remembering a few of God’s many names helps us focus on who He is—His character.

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)

Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is there.)

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will provide.)

Jehovah Raah (The Lord my Shepherd) 1

Do one of these names of God or others comfort you in otherwise scary times?

In child-like faith, our daughter believed her granddaddy because of his proven record with her. In child-like faith, we can run to our Abba Father when enemies assail us. He actually DOES know everything and He cares for us.

Meditating on God’s names and His character reminds us of who He is. Perhaps in the face of battle, David focused on God’s faithfulness, His sovereignty, or His strength. Maybe at other times, the shepherd-king considered God’s lovingkindness or His longsuffering with His people.

Which traits of God help you to trust Him?

Whether our fear stems from the coronavirus, relational issues, financial concern, events in the news, or other sources, God’s names and His character remain the same. I hope you find encouragement today in the peace God offers to His followers. Jesus said,

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

Try listing the names of God and His character traits. Concentrating on one per day and finding related Bible verses helps us conquer anxiety.

Do you know someone who needs these truths? When the peace of Christ fills our hearts, others are drawn to Him. Hearing the way God calms our fears can encourage someone else.

Please share how concentrating on one of God’s names or an aspect of His character helps you fight fear.

This week when news alarms us, let’s say with David,

…We trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20:7

Bible verses are from the ESV.

1 https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm

Images from Pixabay.com

Sharing Hidden Treasures During the Pandemic

Jeannie Waters30 Comments on Sharing Hidden Treasures During the Pandemic

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“Hey! Look what I found,” my husband said.

In each hand he held a hidden treasure he’d discovered amid cleaning products under the kitchen sink. 

“That’s amazing,” I exclaimed, “Fantastic! I didn’t know we had any, but they were there all along.”

An observer would have guessed we found gold nuggets. Hubby didn’t find gold, but maybe better than that, he scored, not one but two—drum roll please—containers of Clorox Wipes!

Have you laughed with excitement when the grocery order contained toilet paper? We’ll tell great-grandchildren one day, “You think you have it rough? During the Covid-19 pandemic, we couldn’t find soap or toilet paper.”

When we discover empty store shelves, we frown on hoarding. How dare people snatch up an excess supply when others have none! (I must admit a critical spirit toward some of those folks welled up in me.)

Then I thought…

The next time a pandemic threatens to erupt, I’ll buy lots of toilet paper and sanitizer, and…I won’t be caught short-handed again. I won’t hoard like those other folks, but I’ll buy more than usual.

Wait a minute. What was I thinking? Will I be tempted to hoard like those I criticized? Will I focus on the value of sharing or the advantage of hoarding? Where will I place my trust?

Father, forgive me for a critical spirit and for depending on my buying power instead of trusting You to meet my needs.

Another thought surfaced as I remembered our treasure from the kitchen cabinet.

What other hidden treasures do I possess that were there all along? Talents? Abilities? Knowledge? Material things someone needs? What experiences do I have that would be a blessing to those who are suffering during the pandemic?

What a shame to hoard what others need.

Why did God bless me as He did? What did I learn from the experiences He allowed? Which of God’s treasured gifts remain hidden and unused in my home or my memory?

What if I discovered the hidden treasures once again and used them for His glory and the good of others? Surely, that’s what He has in mind.

During the current pandemic:

Some have lost loved ones.

I know how it feels to lose a dad and a mom, and I have friends struggling to cope with the death of a family member. How could I help?

Some have lost income.

My husband once suffered job loss through no fault of his own. In that hard season, God provided. A young woman I know missed work for two months. Could I encourage her with a small gift and Bible verses that helped me?

Some are ill or fearful.

I watched my mom minister to my dad who had an incurable disease. I cared for my mom when congestive heart failure advanced. How can I pray for and encourage those who are ill or fearful?

Some are doubting God’s care for them or regretting the decisions they made.

We’ve all been there and understand the need for prayer and Bible study. Would a devotional book help? What about a listening ear?

Sharing our hidden treasures

What’s the common denominator of these situations? The need for comfort. Read what Paul wrote on this subject:  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

Am I hoarding in my heart the treasure of comfort God gives? How can I share it with someone He loves?

Prayer is always a wise response. Telling someone you’re praying for them and providing a visual reminder in a card or letter can encourage that person.

Sometimes, however, we are also called to action—to be the hands and feet of Jesus as it were.

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Does someone you know need…

  • a friend?
  • a call?
  • a meal?
  • a monetary gift?
  • a greeting card?
  • a service like shopping or lawn care?

These acts of kindness bless those who suffer. Just as a pot of soup can warm the body, flowers in a jar can brighten someone’s day.

Consider these words:  

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  

James 2:14-16 ESV

I’m thankful for Clorox Wipes and other daily supplies—more so now than before. However, I’m amazed by the gift of salvation, as well as God’s comfort and other treasures He provides.

Let’s find opportunities to share His comfort with others.

What hidden treasures do you possess? How can you share your treasures in the name of Jesus with someone else? I look forward to your comments.

Images by Pixabay

“Gather” from a Distance

Jeannie Waters30 Comments on “Gather” from a Distance

The childhood memory of going to a summer drive-in movie with neighbors produces an ear-to-ear grin on my face. The moms sat in lawn chairs and shelled butterbeans. The kids fished icy bottles of orange or grape sodas from a cooler to wash down salty, butter-laden popcorn.

I don’t recall the title of the show, but I remember the excitement of gathering with neighbors at the drive-in theater.

Fast forward several years to last month…

“Hurry please, so we can sit–I mean park–on the front row,” I said to my husband as we visited a local church’s drive-in service. We stayed in the car (social distancing, you know) and listened to praise music and the sermon via an FM radio station. Voices soared from car interiors as we held cell phones and followed song lyrics posted on the church website.

When drivers started their engines after the final prayer, joy bounced from one car to another like rays of sunshine as we waved to strangers and listened to music. Warm smiles from parking lot attendants spoke the final “Amen.”

At drive-in church, coordinated outfits and the familiarity of our normal seat mattered not. Gathering with the family of God did. The Bible addresses fellowship.  

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Current mandates prohibit congregating physically, but many of us can gather in cyberspace, and we can certainly encourage each other in a variety of ways.

Isn’t connection via technology a blessing during these shelter-in-place days? Last week we joined our Sunday School courtesy of Zoom technology and participated in our church’s live-streamed time of worship. I’ve enjoyed Bible lessons, pretty memes, encouraging posts on social media networks, and e-cards.

How has technology enhanced your isolation days?

As we enjoy “gathering” on devices, my heart hurts for those who cannot join us due to a lack of computer access or the inability to use it. My ninety-six-year-old mother-in-law, a godly saint, doesn’t own a computer and can barely use the telephone due to neuropathy in her fingers and failing vision. Do you know others like her?

Fear creeps through healthcare home hallways and stalks elderly residents who can’t go out or entertain guests. Some fail to understand why family members and friends don’t visit.

A video of a friend and her sister greeting their mom through a large window of the assisted living facility thrilled my heart. After checking with the staff via phone, they yelled messages to their mom and held up corresponding signs. What joy their creativity sparked!

For some, human interaction and gathering are severely limited or non-existent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Does God’s Word address this dilemma and offer guidance? Consider these verses:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Romans 15:1-2

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Maybe we need some old-fashioned ways to connect or “gather” from a distance without technology. How about these?

  • Wave enthusiastically to those we pass.
  • Call those who cannot text or receive emails.
  • Send cards and letters to those who can’t communicate electronically. Tuck Bible verses or homemade bookmarks into the envelopes. Call to chat and discuss the verses once the mail has arrived. End in prayer or sing a hymn.
  • Post encouraging Bible verses on signs in the yard or hold printed messages up to windows.  
  • Add family and pet photos to care packages. Chat about the photos over the phone.
  • Order a meal to be delivered and include dessert if diet allows. Plan to talk over coffee and dessert and pray together.
  • Start a magazine subscription for someone who can’t access the issues online. Call after each issue arrives to discuss a favorite article or photo.

Do you think these ideas would soothe lonely hearts and include folks who aren’t tech-savvy into Christian fellowship? Initiating conversation requires little. I always say, “A teaspoon of effort yields a cup of joy.”

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

1 Corinthians 10:24

Won’t you please share examples of reaching beyond technology to “gather from a distance?” I look forward to your ideas or observations.

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Bible verses are from the ESV.