Tag: pandemic

Think on These Things

Jeannie Waters39 Comments on Think on These Things
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Who’s that singing?

I peered through the glass of the storm door and discovered a little sparrow belting out an aria on the deck.

The sight beyond the sparrow quickly turned my smile into a frown. Thin-stemmed, summer plants drooped over the edges of pots and cried for replacements. The grass, drained of summer’s lush green, imitated a worn, beige carpet.  

The typical mid-autumn scene looked drab and colorless—much like how the uptick predictions of coronavirus cases and recent political controversy make me feel.   

As I concentrated on the bleak picture, the little feathered songster hopped onto a deck table where a flat of pansies waited to be planted. She cocked her head toward me and chirped loudly as if trying to get my attention. Then she perched on the edge of the plastic plant tray and thrust her beak in and out of the pansies several times.

“You’re not a hummingbird seeking nectar. Why are you poking your beak into the flowers?” I asked her as if she could understand.

The sparrow may be hunting for bugs, but she seems to be pointing to the pansies. Is she directing my attention away from withering drabness to a prettier sight?

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Ahh—the pansies. How beautiful they are with dramatic yellow and purple petals and center markings that look like tiny faces.

These fall flowers are so friendly, just like my little visitor.

I’m thankful God used His floral and feathered creations to divert my attention from a negative view to a positive one.  

In this world, it’s easy to focus on what’s wrong or scary or frustrating and forget what is right and hopeful and beautiful. This current season is the perfect time to follow the teaching of Philippians 4:8:  

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

I can choose to lament over the wilting plants and brown grass scenarios around me or I can plant my purple and yellow pansies and enjoy the song of the sparrow, knowing each season has a beauty of its own.

I cannot, however, live with my head in the clouds and a permanent grin on my face. Simply employing the tactic of “positive thinking” or looking at the world with a Pollyanna perspective is not what the verse means.

We should keep abreast of the news, take care of our responsibilities, and address life’s challenges. However, when our thought patterns stay riveted on the negative, we drift toward despondency, fear, and anxiety.

How are we to direct our focus?

When we read, study, and share biblical truths with others, we can maintain a perspective of life that pleases God. All of the adjectives in the verse are illustrated in the Bible. The more we study His Word, the easier it is to view the world—the good and the bad—through the lens of Scripture.

How can we take care of daily responsibilities while concentrating on “these things” mentioned in Philippians 4:8? Here are a few suggestions.

Five Ways to “Think on What is Lovely” As We Acknowledge Life’s Realities

  1. After watching the news, why not pray for our leaders as you take a brisk walk to look for bright red berries or golden leaves.
  2. When you’re walking to your car, notice the way an oak leaf twirls to the ground or the way a squirrel hides treasured acorns. Thank God for His provisions during all seasons and ask for His wisdom to manage concerns.
  3. List the adjectives in Philippians 4:8 and note examples of each during the week. Find Bible verses that align with each one.
  4. Cut small branches from a pine or cedar tree and put them in a vase of water. Inhale the woodland scent and thank God for His strength and His creation that surround us.
  5. Notice different varieties and colors of pansies. List the unique ways God gifts His people to serve others throughout the seasons. Ask Him to guide you to His plans for your gifts.

Let’s allow the sparrows of life to point us to the pansies and allow God’s Word to guide our thinking and our choices as we thank Him for our blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear reader friends. How do you maintain a biblical perspective on life in this season?

Finding Pandemic Gratitude and Service

Jeannie Waters28 Comments on Finding Pandemic Gratitude and Service
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The little bird figurine in the photo above sits on my kitchen counter and reminds me, “Every day is a gift from God.” I gave the bird to my mom to encourage her when she struggled to maintain her usual optimism in the face of congestive heart failure and muscle weakness.

My mother longed for the former days of good health and the freedom of independence when she could meet friends for lunch and shop for groceries.

As the current pandemic continues to stretch across the months of 2020, we too long for the former times—for the good health and freedom of pre-COVID days. We pray for the restoration of health and for release from viral fear that plagues so many.

Like me, I’m sure you’re hoping life returns to normal soon.

I miss “normal” blessings like hugs, visits, and handshakes. Mask-free breathing and fellowship over coffee would bring relief. The thought of going to a movie or attending a local theater play delights me.

How do you manage the lack of the “normal” you prefer? Here’s how my mom responded to her lifestyle changes:  

During one of our daily calls, she admitted, “I felt a little down this morning and had a pity party. Then I told myself, ‘You have plenty to be thankful for. Look at the blessings God has given you. Stop fretting over what you can’t do and do something for someone else.’”

She followed her own advice. That afternoon she prepared a dish of chicken and dumplings for a friend who had weekly chemo treatments and then addressed cards to some church members who in her words, “have far worse problems than mine.”

My mom missed the good ole days—the days before the effects of illness and aging restricted her activities. However, despite hindrances, she thanked God for His blessings and looked for ways to serve others.

Despite our pandemic hindrances, we can express gratitude to our heavenly Father and then ask Him to reveal the ways we can bless others.

Instructions in the verses below can lift our eyes from circumstances we don’t like and focus our gaze on the One who designs the gift of daily life. Ask Him to show you creative ways to meet the needs of others.  

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

Proverbs 3:27

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Are you ready for gratitude and service? Does your heart feel lighter?

The sun’s up, my friend. Let’s tear the wrapping from this new day, thank our Lord for it, and use the time to bless others because after all, “Every day is a gift from God.”

In the comment section, please list an item from your gratitude list and share an idea for blessing someone else. Hearing from you encourages me and other readers.

Bible verses are from the ESV.

The Safest Pandemic Fellowship

Jeannie Waters16 Comments on The Safest Pandemic Fellowship
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After facing 2020’s canceled events with minimal social time, safe gathering opportunities fill my heart with joy. Family, friends, and Christian fellowship brighten our days.

Last week one of our granddaughters was giddy with anticipation to visit Poppy and Gigi (that’s us) for the first time in months. She danced around the room and with top-of-her-lungs excitement, shared her good fortune with siblings.

Two days later I was the giddy one. Our son invited us to join his family at a state park where he’d discovered a secluded, crystal-clear stream.

We waded, splashed, found wild muscadines, and watched a toy boat float in the current. We laughed when our grandson covered my feet with sand and applauded when our granddaughter climbed a fallen tree and jumped into the water below.

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The fresh air and shady stream of our private haven delighted us, and family time refreshed our hearts.

Additional blessings–Sunday school Zoom meetings and online prayer with friends–refresh my soul and offer connection. I’m grateful for those opportunities, but in-person meetings are one step closer to the norm—warm pre-pandemic fellowship. Would you agree?

Last week when our ladies’ Bible study resumed, we skipped coffee, snacks, and hugs and viewed the masked faces of classmates from a distance. Still, we relished assembling to study God’s Word. 

Even more important than gathering with family and friends is the privilege of one-on-One meetings with God. No safety measures or protocols hinder our joy or personal connection to Abba Father.  

… In Your presence there is fullness of joy …

Psalm 16:11

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

We may not be able to participate in all the gatherings we’d prefer to join right now, but we can be just as excited to spend time with God as our granddaughter was to play at our house or as family members were to wade in the stream. What if we replace the time we mourn over lost opportunities with quiet times of worship?

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Spending time alone with God in our own private haven offers the peace and joy of His presence and prepares our heart to hear from Him as we pray and study.

When I take my Bible, a journal, and a mug of coffee to our deck, the freshness of morning and the melody of songbirds create a sanctuary for worship and conversations.  

Do you have a favorite haven and a designated time for meeting with God? What joys do you experience as you “gather” with Him for fellowship?  

Bible verses are from the ESV.

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

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