We have ghost towns. Children tucked away from the world like sardines. The adults enrobed in their inner worlds of future uncertainty. No movement, no contacts, and even time seem at a standstill.
In all these are people in mourning, but no one is talking about them. They are those whose loved ones passed away from the Coronavirus. They did not have any power to prevent their losses. All of a sudden, their deceased beloveds have been stripped of their identities and instead tagged with numbers to count the amount of the diminishing population. The more they departed from us, the faster the decline in the global community of the oldest ones. They are the victims of injustice.
These defunct did not jump down from the heavens to the earth. They have families who care about them the same way you care about yours. Please, create a particular time to think about them. Send positive thoughts to them. Pray that Jehovah will comfort and give them His peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Jesus’ reaction to what James and John said was a perfect example of why revenge is a sin. On the other side of the spectrum were the two sons of Zebedee James and John who would take no nonsense from anyone. As a result of their brashness attitudes, they ended up earning from Jesus Christ the nickname: Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17).
There are the likes of James and John in our days, and they are in confinement like us. You may be one of them. There are times in the past when one of your family members must have hurt you so bad that you have made up your mind to make them pay you back. This person could be one of your parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles, or aunts. They could be your friend or even your children.
With them locked up in the same place as you, you are now planning your final revenge or you may have started acting out. I implore you to do a rethink. What do you gain from paybacks? Can you count how many atheists in this world insult Jehovah every day? Did he ever send fire from heaven to burn them alive? Besides, take our Lord Jesus Christ as another example. He was treated like trash on Calvary; still, He said, “Father, forgive them.”
David was a busy king. From a shepherd boy to a fugitive running to protect his life from King Saul, to his eventual days as King of Israel. There were lots of events (such as fighting wars outside of his kingdom and within his household) in his life that by the time he retired, he longed for peace.
« Prenez soin de vous »
Many of us, including myself, were like him. The past few years were full of tidal waves. I travelled across continents so frequently that I lost counts. I learned to keep souvenirs using my phone camera as much as I could. It was fun, but at the same time, my body was begging for quietness. The travelling effects began to take their tolls: mental fatigue, acne, mood swings and stress vertigo.
Many of you have been through this journey, and you recognise yourself in my descriptions above. Maybe you did not travel outside of your country, but you had a lot going for you that you ended up feeling like you were losing it.
Well, here is the perfect time to step back and take care of yourself. Squeeze your fingers, hug your body, as you look at this global lockdown as your time to rest. Create spaces to sleep more than you have never done in the past. The period is like preparing for a race because, by the time this confinement is over, there will be no time to play around. Think about the scenario where a shepherd opens the gate to let out his sheep; there, you will see his dog racing ahead of others. That’s how it will be when the pandemic is over, and that is very soon.
Therefore, prenez bien soin de vous – take care of yourself.
Thank Him for His goodness. Open your mouth and praise the Lord! The Alpha and Omega! Prince of Peace, Lord of lords, Lion of Judah, Emmanuel, El Shaddai-God Almighty. He is bigger than what people are saying. He is afraid of no one, and no one dares challenge His power. There is none like Him. He has been so good to us and always available anytime. Come on, praise Jehovah as if today is your last day on earth. Forget about your stress for now and instead tell God how grateful you are.
Jesus Christ first loved us when He wholeheartedly chose to push aside his comfort for our sake. He has everything but abandoned them when He put us ahead in the decision-making process of salvation. That is a love that cannot be bought in any supermarkets or sperm banks.
”Let us love, relentlessly ”
The same love of Christ is what Jehovah wants us to extend to others. The love that expects nothing in return. Let us continue to profess this love as we encourage others in this crucial time.
Already with increased globalisation, Individualism has overtaken collectivism. The more the availability of eased online social platforms, the more we see people locking up themselves, individually in their virtual world where they only control their existence.
Sadly, the current Coronavirus help create an intense aspect of the individualism, which is, Social Distancing (SD). I understand the aim of this is to curb the spread of the virus, but a more in-depth analysis of the true nature of SD reveal negative results.
What humans need is that spirit of concrete togetherness and not social distancing because it is through combined efforts that we can offer cares and excellent attention to the less fortunate among us.
Did you hear about the mass death of the older people in some Spanish deserted retirement homes? Do you have cases of spiral abandonment of the older ones during this time? Well, I have one to share with you. Last week, my 90-year-old neighbour’s sons came to move him out of his house into a retirement home. As a widower, he has spent at least the last four years living alone. Since last year the younger of his two sons had wanted to put him away, but the old one refused. I, too, wanted him to stay in his house until his last time on earth.
The ongoing Covid-19 seems to be the perfect idea for these men to convince their father to leave his house. The end of the story is, they prevailed. They came and took him away, and as son informed me, their father had no idea he is not returning home. They simply told him he would be safe at the retirement house during the pandemic.
For the past few days, we have been hearing news of the elderly dying one after the other in most of these retirement homes. That bothers me as I have no news of my neighbour’s whereabouts, and to avoid everyone panicking; I do not want to call his son. Besides, I never stopped wondering why none of them offers to keep their father in any of their respective homes rather than in a hospice.
People are running away from the most vulnerable people in their lives. Jesus Christ, himself was a victim of abandonment. Godly ethics of care demands we must stand by one another irrespective of the given situation. If those who were paid or not to look after these elderly ones in those Spanish homes chose to run away, where then is their heart of compassion?
Everyone is fleeing to save their lives. Jesus Christ did not. If only we can be like Jesus. He chose to stay and bore upon Him all our sins, pains, anxiety, troubles and dilemmas. Please, do not abandon your most vulnerable ones. It is a sin that God will not forgive. You can get away with it for a while, but it will always catch because God is watching. It is written, the Lord will visit the sins of the parents upon the children.
When in 1993 Lionel Peterson and his gospel band sang the song Peace, littledid he know we would need the assurance from its textual form. A quick click on the weblink or turning on the TV or radio brings nothing but frightening stories of countries after countries locking down.
“Jehovah is ALWAYS here! Stop panicking and go to Him.”
Apart from the physical manifestations of the Covid-10, the Coronavirus is causing psychological traumas in many people’s lives, in particular, the most vulnerable. They are those who venture into panic buying. Likewise, they have to panic over everything and by the end of this pandemic, they are most probably going to bear the long term brunt of it all.
The ultimate question is, is there any need for that? Is there any way for these people to manage their stresses and protect themselves from these catastrophic events? Oh yes, there is ONLY ONE WAY. God! He is our help in these present times of trouble, and His word will not be washed aside. His support equally means He is our Peace. It is written; Jehovah is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and He is our VERY HELP in chaotic situations like this Covid-19.
What is ravaging our world, and tearing it apart can simply be curtailed by God. A look to the left or the right proves that the Lord is the Peace we need. It is not the mask or the sanitisers that you and I need. God is who we need.
Everyone has something to say about this Covid-19. However, many people are buying into the negativities of this pandemic.
”Watch your mouth ”
You become what you feed yourself. In other words, your mouth produces your existence and everything you are or will be.
What is your language in such a time like this? Are you resigning to the fate of the world, or are you holding on to God’s promises of life through His words?
The story of Ruth began with unhappy tales that end well. A marriage to Mahlon was necessary for Ruth for her to get to her destiny. There was no child between them, and worst of all, Mahlon died within the space of ten years after his father’s death. If Ruth had not married Mahlon, she would not have met Noami who would later be her spiritual matchmaker to meeting Boaz. That was Ruth’s happy ending.
Jehovah, alone, decides the direction of our lives. Take, for example; Joseph suffered for thirteen years before his dreams came true. David waited for so long to take the throne, and he was always on the run, hiding from his opponent. For divine reasons, something or someone stood in their ways of breakthroughs for decades until God’s appointed time. These blockages were crucial to prepare them for their future successes. The tighter they became amidst their trials, the stronger they were when they finally took hold of their destinies.
I don’t know what you are going through right now. Likewise, you’re right to say I have no idea of the overwhelming ordeals you have, which now seem interminable with the current pandemic. Irrespective of what you have or what are your circumstances, do not hesitate to remember you are not forgotten. In a time like this, you will get to a point where you will think God is no longer there for you. At this point, pause to think about Ruth, Joseph, David and many people who had passed through periods of severe uncertainty, and came out stronger. Hence, you must not give up. Hang in there!
1. Spiritual Growth: Life is a battle. A newborn cries the moment he or she steps out into this world because of the journey of life ahead of them. Both the terrific time and then wrong time requires spiritual warfare. A busy time means lesser time for intensive spiritual activities. However, being lockdown means more time for those things that hardly matter in the past. Read the Bible and pray like never before. Sing and dance to praise, and worship songs.
“In a time like this…”
2. Parental Responsibilities: Do you used to be an active parent who scarcely spends time with your children? Then this is your lucky moment to renew your bond with them. Listen to them. Pay attention to what they are saying. Secretly watch them and see what you’ve missed out, and you will be amazed by what you discover.
3. Improvement of shattered relationships: For several reasons, many separated couples still live in together. They have been able to avoid crossing path, but now with the lockdowns, they can no longer run from each other because they are locked in together. This is their best period to forgive, to re-examine their priorities and relationships for final amendments.
4. Financial freedom: some folks are going to have to define their economic pathway after the loss of jobs, businesses and partnerships. They will have no alternative than to start anew, which is excellent. A new beginning is a good omen to coming to be one’s boss. Do not be afraid to go in that direction. It is your time.
5. Curbing bad habits: extravagant spending, smoking, insomnia and et cetera. Everyone has one or two bad habits, and this is what makes us humans. No outing ought to be no more shopping unless one is not sensitive to the tune of the day. Both outdoors and online shopping must stop! Save money for the unfamiliar days ahead. Stop spending. They say those who smoke are some of those affected by this virus. Then, why not put a permanent seal to smoking? Do not smoke yourself to the early grave. Likewise, many who are always on the road are now free to spend time at home resting to recover and heal their tired bodies.
6. Revelation of hidden truth: It is not far from the fact that you get to know your real friends in time of trouble. This is the perfect moment. Humans show their authentic selves in crucial situations like this. Pay careful attention, and you will soon find out who is and who is not your friend.
7. Learning new DIYs: Anytime spent on the internet should be worthwhile. This is not the time for Netflix, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or whatever platform. Instead, use the internet to learn new DIYs such as painting your bathroom, arranging your house, building cribs, planting vegetables, pleating hairs, or how to play the piano. You will be astonished by what you learn.
8. Awakening the creative: Writing is NOT a joke! Anyone who says writing does not require discipline is not telling you the truth. To be a writer, you have to write EVERY DAY. It does not matter what you write as long as you write. It is an excellent way of becoming creative. You have time now to start your writing career. Set up a time for it daily where you will not be distracted and get down to it. Same goes for painting or other creative arts. By the end of these weeks of confinement, you will have finish a novella, chapbook, or sets of creative projects.
9. L’amour est en Ligne: Love is NOT restricted to the street. You can meet him or her online, but that is if you can use wisdom. The online dating platforms can be saturated with dishonest people, yet that should not dissuade you because amid these false profiles are they good ones. Thus, search wisely, be straightforward, and be sincere, too, about you and what you want. He or she will show up. I am a witness to this!!
10. Being optimistic: “Say to the Righteous, it is well with them.” I am not the one who wrote that. The Bible says it, and it has lots of beautiful perpetual promises like this one. Hence why you must not bend over to any negative thoughts during this time. Stay positive. Stay focus. Overall, DO NOT FORGET Jehovah is with you.
Life is a moment. From the time a child is born to the day he or she grows up and die at old age; there are battles of life. One of such is now. Many generations have been through lots of pandemics, epidemic or whatever, and many of them can testify how they scaled through. The lesson learned in all this is what the outcome will be. This Coronavirus has an end like the previous one, and that tells us something significant. That is, life is momentary.
“Spend your time wisely“
Thus, the results of how we spent times during this lockdown are going to be seen after the pandemic is over. Are we coming out strong or broken? Can we be bold later on to testify of God’s immense presence throughout this ordeal?
I advise against spending time watching Netflix or lingering on any social media. It may interest you to know those who produced those films do not have any time to sit and watch them.
Be disciplined! Don’t mess up. Stay aware of your life as a Christian. I suggest you choose to do the following,
1. Pray. Sing praise and worship songs. Read your Bible daily.
2. Clean up the house, and clutters.
3. Write. This is the time to get back to that writing you’ve wanted to do.
4. Learn any new musical instruments.
5. Learn to paint or any DIY tricks.
6. If allowed, please go running or for a walk, and when you pray on the road.
7. Renew your relationships with your family and FORGIVE.
8. Avoid the TV, PLEASE.
9. DO NOT join to be an internet troll. Do not participate in filling up the Internet with junk videos of your activities. It’s wrong.
10. Stay positive. Remember, God is with you. Therefore, this, too, shall pass.
To the Pentecostals, it is a demonic attack. To some Moslems, it is “God’s punishment”. To the scientists, it is an infectious virus. To the atheists, it is a disease that came from bats. To the racists, it is Chinese disease. Thus, the ongoing Coronavirus, alias Covid-19 has several meaning attributed to it.
Flee from FEAR!
The fear that comes with knowing this virus is killing at unexpected fast pace leads to ‘Panic buying’, ‘irrational mood’, ‘unreasonable decision’, ‘emergence of false rumours’, and et cetera. The name you assigned to the virus determines how you will see it. Everyone, including Christians, wants a clear cut answer to this. The “why God, why?”, is no longer far from the lips. Fear is a destructive enemy from the Devil. Our Jehovah is not the author of anxiety, panic, useless talks, insomnia or negative thoughts.
If only Christians could learn to alter their perspectives and turn their fears around, they would be glad to discover the positive sides to this. A time like this is a time to get away from the noises of this chaotic world and move deeper into a strong relationship with the Lord. It is a time to worship and praise Him, and not a time to subscribe to Netflix. It is a time to pray for spiritual growth and not to a time to engage in rubbish discussions on social platforms.
What is your language? What is on your lips? How do you respond to others?
Countries lockdown and the world has come to a standstill. Many turned to the TV, Netflix, Canal+, while others turned to radio. I have heard other people choosing to read more than anything. The internet seems saturated with lots of videos of activities people are engaging to keep themselves busy while locked up indoors.
No better time to renew one’s relationship with God than now. He has been faithful throughout our lives before the starting of the pandemic. Thus, why should you forget to spend time more in His Presence rather than joining others in doing the things of the world?
Jehovah revealed Himself to Peter because the latter spent all his days walking and working with Christ. He abandoned his fishing job to consecrate his life full time to be devoted.
At the end of all these ongoing situations, Many people’s lives are going to change either for the best or the worst. The ones to who Jehovah reveals Himself will be the ones who will receive the permanent blessings and will not be shaken to the core by any of these disasters.
There can be no victory if God is not included in one’s plans amid any problems. The Bible says God is our real help and ever-present in the time of troubles.
This crucial time will test loyalty among us, and when these issues arise, we can rest assured our Heavenly Father will always be there to see us through. No doubt whatsoever He is Jehovah Shalom, providing us with His Peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Ehiyeh-Sh’Ehiyeh 
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