Corona Devotionals

Ready for the  gloom  to stop hovering over you?  Ready for the  darkness  that  is  the Corona Quarantine to be filled with light?   Me too!   I was getting stuck in the Corona mire.  Of my mind mostly, but beyond the mental piece (which is not small!), there are physical and emotional pieces to this journey too.  And it can make us feel glum.  Covered in gloom. But I am TELLING you, the best prescription for "getting better" in this life, is JESUS.  His Word is like taking a nap, an aspirin, and a bowl of chicken soup --all rolled into one!   If you need a shot in the arm--let Jesus administer it through His Word and the hope of it.  He sees us where we are at, and He gives us an answer.  Indeed, He IS the answer! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom  for those who were in distress... ~Isaiah 9:1 That's us--He is talk...

Is anyone else feeling scattered and completely dried out ? Life doesn't look like it used to.  It doesn't feel like it used to.  And I have no clue when any semblance of my old routine will reconnect me to my previous activities, norms, people and pleasures.  I am scattered. And " completely dried out" fits too.  Perhaps I used to be somehow energized by the frantic pace of pre-Corona life.  It was hectic, but I liked the crazy.  And while I have also learned to appreciate the slower/hermit atmosphere of the Corona quarantine: even with open slots for naps and family four-square games in the evenings-- I am still feeling a dryness.  A loneliness for inward satisfaction in all of it, and an outward desire for the breath to come back into our lives. Even as our hearts ache for direction and revitalization: God speaks words of promise into our today and tomorrow in Ezekiel Chapter 1.   Ezekiel was a prophet that would talk to people ab...

What would bring you "pure joy"? A decadent dessert? Getting to sleep in? A certain amount of money? No health risks No Corona! God is so  different from me.  His idea of the joy we should find comes from a COMPLETELY different angle than I would ever consider.  But when He speaks--there is always a deeper truth in His words than in my shallow worldly wants. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,   3  because you know that the testing of your faith  develops perseverance.   4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature  and complete, not lacking anything.   5  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,  who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.   6  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,  because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.   7...

With the kids being home (and outside) all the time, there is always new dirt and mud leading in from our back door.  They take off their shoes, but it (still) somehow multiplies and compounds. It was driving me crazy, but then I realized that the dirt is an evidence of activity, exercise, camaraderie, fun and fellowship that our family is enjoying during this Corona season. Sometimes God uses simple or frustrating things to open our eyes to bigger things that He is doing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 32  There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk,  and they begged Jesus to place his hand on  him. 33  After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit  and touched the man’s tongue.   34  He looked up to heaven  and with a deep sigh  said to him,  “Ephphatha!”  (which means  “Be opened!” ).   35  At this,...