Thankful in the Storm

I have not written any posts these last couple of weeks, not because I haven’t had anything to say, or because I haven’t had time. The fact is I have had a lot of opinions I would have liked to express, and one of the repercussions of COVID-19 is that I have lots of free time on my hands as it brought to an abrupt end a very busy period in ministry.  However, just because I have something to say doesn’t mean I should say it.  I have found there have been a lot of misinformation and falsehoods being disseminated through not only social media, but also mainstream media.  It is an irresponsible practice to publish all that comes our way, even those that may look godly as they may not be of God.  So, during this period let us pray for discernment and take the time to wait on God to know what to say, when to say it, how to say it and to whom to say it. In addition, another important question to ask ourselves is, “Why are we saying it?”  God is very much concerned about the motives of our heart. Therefore, let us make sure that the attitude of our heart is one that God would be pleased with.

Now that I have gotten that out of the way, I will get on with what God would have me say at this time.  Last week, I had a dream that I had my own house and there were a lot of people over moving around.  I stood on my front porch beside one of my guests and as we looked at an orange tree in my yard I complained that I could not get any oranges now as they were all green.  The person showed me a fruit that was almost ripe near the top of the tree, and then another that was fully ripe above that.  I had not looked up and I wouldn’t have if I didn’t have someone to point me in the right direction of the fruit that I longed for that were there ready to be picked.   Sometimes we miss the blessings that are in our midst, and we may need someone to direct our attention to the good work that the Lord is doing in our lives.  Our focus should not be on what we do not have, but rather we need to shift our perspective to see clearly that we are being blessed even in this chapter of uncertainty, which is sure to make the history books. God did not stop driving home this point to me. It was either that day or the next, I am not remembering which now, I was packing lunch bags to bring to my children since there is no gathering at church right now and I had the food for their snacks for church. Plus, I wanted to check in on them and give a couple families groceries, but I had no fruit to put in the lunch bags.  I decided I shouldn't worry about it as I couldn’t get any fruit at that time.  While packing the bags, the phone rang.  It was a neighbor who said the Lord had clearly told her to buy oranges for me while at the supermarket. I thanked her, explaining that I started rationing oranges just that day.  But, on hanging up the phone, I realized the oranges were not for me, instead God had supplied the fruit for my children’s lunch bags.  God had provided in my lack, and the next day when I brought groceries to one of the families in need, the grandmother gave me more than half a dozen oranges.  My Heavenly Father is not a God of lack, but of abundance and does the impossible by making a way when there seems to be no way.  Consequently, we can trust Him to take the wheel and navigate us safely as we journey down this challenging road that COVID-19 has put us on.  

The whole world is going through a major crisis, yet we now have the opportunity to step back and see God at work, making a wonderful message out of a mess.  If you are not seeing God’s goodness, then you may be too focused on the storm because His mighty deeds are right in front of you. There are treasures in darkness and riches in secret places for you at this time. (See Isaiah 45:3).   Even as I am writing this post, my internet has given out.  By all indications, it should be working.  As I go to my offline Bible to verify the verse I am writing, this pops up as the verse of the day - When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.  Psalm 94:19 NASB.   I do admit to having a bit of anxiety at the thought of losing internet since it is my primary connection to the world as I am at home like many people who are trying to be socially responsible, practicing social distancing by not going out to socialize in order to decrease the rapid spread of the coronavirus.  Yet, even in my anxious thoughts God has comforted me with the fact that I have electricity, so I can continue writing and not lose my train of thought.  I recognize I need to focus on what He is doing right now and what He is speaking to my heart.  So, losing internet at the moment is a good thing, because it offers another training ground for God to teach me to rely on Him and look to Him alone in moments of doubt, fear and anxiety. 

The internet is now back up, and the craziest thing is that WhatsApp was working, but I couldn’t get on to any other website or app on my phone or computer.  I got a call from a friend on on the app, so I spent most of the time writing this post or talking while the internet was down.  God cares about the littlest detail, therefore He even gave me activities to keep me occupied when I couldn’t get fully online.  We don’t want to miss that He is giving us a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61: 3 NIV

With so much time being spent at home, it is a period to build broken families, to rest in Christ so He can restore our hearts, and to strengthen our relationship with Him.  God wants to fill us up with Himself, but in order to do this we can’t be full of ourselves.  We need to get rid of our hurts, fears, anger, pride, unforgiveness, and all that would block us from being filled up and running over with His Spirit and love. 

Let us take this time to reflect on the goodness of God, in spite of all that is going on around us and to give Him thanks in this storm, while not taking our eyes off Him and His amazing deeds.  I pray that if you cannot find the blessings by yourself, that God will send persons to you to help you see your blessings, so you can do as the song says and count your blessings to see what the Lord has done. As a result, you will definitely want to give Him thanks in this storm.

The Day When Jamaica Changed, but God Didn’t

March 10, 2020 will go down in history as the day it was announced that Jamaica had its first case of imported coronavirus. Just a couple hours after the Jamaican minister of health calmly delivered this alarming news, supermarket shelves were emptying of what many deem necessary for their survival.  I must admit the next day I went to the supermarket to buy toilet paper, not actually knowing why I was going to purchase this item as I was not out of it.  However, I was concerned about reports that supply was short around the world. Someone explained to me after that people were buying a lot of toilet paper just in case they had to stay at home for a long time. That is understandable, but as God would have it, I forgot the toilet paper since I was too busy staring at stark shelves that had no rubbing alcohol, alcoholic wipes or hand sanitizers.  I remarked later on one of my social media sites that I was glad I am washed in the blood of Jesus, because there is little else to keep me clean.

Panic had already held a stranglehold globally before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, while world leaders searched for a panacea to assuage the fears of their citizens.  Amazing cures of how to stave off the disease, which range from chopped garlic cloves being boiled in water, to gargling with salt water, and drinking overproof white rum three times daily with only a little water if necessary have propagated from nation to nation.  In one country, fourteen people died in a night after drinking high-grade ethanol and methanol in an ill-fated attempt to keep free of the virus. 

A spirit of fear has resulted in a number of irrational behaviors, even in Christian circles.  I have been swamped with voice notes from so-called prophets who claim to speak for God as they pronounce His judgement on humanity through the spread the coronavirus. There are also those who are selfishly playing on people’s fear of this virus to promote their own agenda.  The truth is there is much that is not known about this disease, but this hasn’t taken the Lord by surprise.  Our God goes ahead of us just as He did when He sent Abram into the unknown.  We cannot focus on COVID-19 and take our eyes off the Conquering Lion on Judah.

Yes, Jamaica changed in a matter of moments.  Flights have been restricted from certain nations to this popular tourist destination; our track and field students can’t participate in Penn Relays, or our beloved Boys and Girls Champs; schools and businesses are closed; carnival cancelled; and this country which boasts the record of having the most churches per square mile has been encouraged by the prime minister to close its churches' doors and instead have sermons over the internet.  Nothing is the same, except God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So, in this time of instability, we must stand firm on our solid Rock and make Him our foundation.  Let us not give in to conspiracy theories and rumors, but search for the Truth Himself. 

The best remedy I have found that has been disseminating through the internet is Psalm 91, which states:

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.  v. 9-10

God is our refuge and we should abide in His shadow.  Do not get distracted by distorted statistics, which do not tell the whole truth.  At the time of this writing, just over 60,000 coronavirus cases are active, of which over 54,000 are considered mild conditions, while nearly 69,000 have recovered.  Of the approximately 5,000 deaths most have had underlying conditions, which caused complications.  We must exercise vigilance and wisdom, so eat and rest well and do not worry as the Bible repeatedly states.  Instead, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Facing Fear

Recently, I have become quite shocked to see how fear has overtaken Christians.  Now, just days ago, I was speaking to a young man about his fear as he rubbed his marijuana in the middle of his hand.  He acknowledged that he was paranoid as he anxiously eyed the foreigners who walked with me because he was fearful of the coronavirus like so many have become.  I cautioned him about the use of the drug bringing on paranoia, but he felt being paranoid was quite acceptable because of the worldwide pandemic. I have found that Christians have no less trepidation about the disease than this young man who uses a mind altering drug.  Lately, I have a greater understanding of 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV), which states for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  I have encountered many Christians who have irrational thoughts about not only coronavirus, but many other things like the fear of lizards. I know many big strong Jamaican Christian men who are scared of lizards.  They would never sleep in a room, if they knew that a croco lizard was in it.  I must admit that I was overcome by the fear of this type of lizard also, but then I have discovered that this is a learned behavior, so, I had to unlearn it and now, I will not go petting the lizard, but I will have sweet sleep with it in the room as long as it doesn’t try to be my bedmate.

I have other fears, though, like driving on Jamaican roads with mini-van drivers and route taxis, who fearlessly maneuver the roadways, illegally driving on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic daring other drivers to quickly move over to the sidewalk in order to avoid an accident.  This is too much for me sometimes and I believe that God hasn’t given me a car because He knew that I just couldn’t handle driving these thoroughfears, oh sorry, I meant thoroughfares.  But, over this past weekend as I examined the foreboding of so many of us Christians, I recognized we were not walking in faith and we cannot keep on masking fear with the disguise of wisdom.  The fact is, we are afraid of a lot of things that’s why I do not have many Christians wanting to help me in volatile inner-city communities.  The Lord is not only speaking to Joshua, but He is proclaiming to us, have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NASB).  Without a doubt, God is with me, even on the scary Jamaican roads, therefore, I can drive boldly.  So, bring on the car God!!! And Jesus, You take the wheel.

Knowing that I am a more than a conqueror through Christ, who loves me, I can fearlessly face my fears of marriage, success and rats.  Okay, maybe not rats right now.  This is a process and I am not quite there yet, but it is sinking into my heart and mind that there is no fear in love. Therefore, I must be immersed in the love of God, so that His love will drive out all fear.  And, I in turn can drive out courageously on Jamaican roads.

I will confidently say I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 (NASB).  I will keep my eyes focused on Him, though the winds of change may blow fiercely and storms may stir up.  I can confront the unknown as I stand firm on the solid Rock, knowing that the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 (NASB)

If the Lord is your rock, why should you fear?