daily life as life goes on . . .

Today is mask day – along with tomorrow and the next day . . .

Readjusting to an unknown tomorrow transplants me back to the saying:

Tomorrow has it’s fill of evil (and viruses).  Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.  But seek first (every day) the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (life giving sustenance) shall be added to you.

Imagine memorizing those thoughts decades ago, when I was just a teen trying to figure out my life.  And now I’m retired and the relevance is as great as ever. 

Continuing on with A.B. Simpson (Record of Christian Work, Vol. 40 – 1921).

“The last thing in Paul’s watchword was work:  Not “I dream,” “I purpose,” or even “I will do,” but “I do.”  Paul gave no countenance to that abuse of God’s rich grace which encourages easy indolence and the kind of rest that does nothing because God will do all.”  (p. 625)

“All Christian unity depends upon oneness with the Lord.  The secret of Christian union is not platforms, creeds, or even cooperative work, but it is one life, one heart, one spirit, in the fellowship and love of Jesus Christ.”  (p. 605)

“All the victories of God’s Spirit and providence begin at the altar of believing prayer.  Let us store the heavens with prayer.  It always come back, and the longer it waits the larger the accumulation and the overflow.  You have no conception of the strength and satisfaction, as well as wide and lasting usefulness, which the ministry of prayer will add to the humblest Christian life.” (May 8, 1921 in section on Thoughts for the Day)

From the Record of Christian Work, Volume 40 (1921) – words of A. B. Simpson.  Simpson passed away in 1919 but apparently the journal continued to publish some of his devotional thoughts.  they also gave a positive review of Thompson’s biography of A.B. Simpson, published shortly after he died.  [Simpson was the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance church]

“When we cease from our works, God works in us.  When we cease from our thoughts, God’s thoughts come into us.  When we get still from our restless activity, God worketh in us both to will and to do his good pleasure, and we have but to work it out.”  (p. 968)

“Thanksgiving is the outcome of remembering the goodness of God.  Forgetfulness produces fretfulness.  Meditation inspires praise, which in turn fosters joy.”  (p. 906)

“True peace is found only in the presence and possession of God, which consists in believing his Word and obeying his will.  Worry kills joy, and gnaws out the very heart of gladness; but the death stroke to fretting care is, ‘Rejoice in the Lord.’”  (p. 825)

Our plight is the plight of the world.

The names given have ranged from China flu to CORVID to COVID19.  And I’m sure there were more names – some not so nice.

Various approaches to remedy the situation have been forwarded.  Some are spiritual, some are scientific, some are apathetic.

Let’s bring this down to earth.

What are you doing for Christmas (or Thanksgiving in the USA)?  Are you hunkering down at home?  Are you carefully (within some form of guidelines) planning a gathering?  Are you disregarding restrictions and trusting in prayer, or your age, or . . . ?

We are reassessing this once again.  Our physical context is one of prairie openness, no cases of COVID in our district, and somewhat isolated from hotspots.  Our social activities have changed in the last while – I’m actively involved in a college setting, my wife has employed others to assist in her job, and our destinations for travel are mostly to “hotspots”.

Discernment is our word for this moment in time!