What a beautiful day. God is so faithful and this is truly a day He made…I will rejoice and be glad in it. Social distancing has done amazing things.  In isolation, I have turned to God and had time with Him in prayer, worship, and study.  My prayer as I study Acts with CBS this year has been to see the church of Acts alive and well today. Honestly I prayed that prayer with a laugh of …yeah..not going to happen but wouldn’t it be nice?

But friends! Have you seen it? Have you heard it? People all over the world are reaching out to their neighbors, friends, family. We are sharing what we have with others! We are spending time connecting with family. We each have gifts given through the Spirit – and isn’t it crazy to see so many using their God-given gifts and talents to love our neighbors!

I have spent some time this morning in church with Daniel Martin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VeBBq2nbUs&t=6s) and was reminded that we can be CALM in these times.  Let’s Celebrate who God is!  Let’s Ask God for help! Let’s Leave our concerns with Him and Meditate on good things…true things…lovely things. The Lord is in control ALWAYS.  The Lord is here ALWAYS! Jesus is sovereign, always! 

Then curiosity got the best of me and I went to see what his wife taught…also so thankful that I finally get to hear her teach… and so my friend walked me through the goodness of Psalm 23. What a comfort to the soul.  You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aHfv4T3eRU&t=8s

Of course, my longing is for my own church and so I went in search for Pastor Jon’s message and was blessed to hear him encourage us to serve one another with our gifts and talents!  Connect during this time. Reach out to those who may be lonely.  Do what you can to ease the burden of others. You can see Pastor Jon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_bD5EXmPW4&t=0s

But one of the many treasures of the church is Emma.  She took us in her backyard to see if we could see ways to celebrate who God is..He is worthy of praise and we see that even in the dirt!  See her message to the young disciples here (and yes…I consider myself young as you should as well) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVeNJFHUVWc

If you know me, you know that I love to be a part of the praise band at Covenant and love to worship not only on Sunday mornings but during our time of practice on Wednesdays as well!   What a blessing to see a spotify playlist (https://open.spotify.com/album/0NGmtUx2BoGIxzfaCmLj4O) for the congregation as well as some youtube videos of awesome praise and worship.  God is so very good.  He is a Way Maker, Miracle worker, Promise Keeper, light in the darkness – I could go on. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCV_2H9xD0)

Just when I thought it was time to get out of my jammies and make some breakfast for the hoodlums in the house – I got an email from my BIL to check out the church service at Village Church in Baldwin with Pastor Stu…(or Shtu? 😉  The time in prayer blessed me.  But when I realized that my sister, Aaron, and sweet Marah were there in worship… Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit 3 in one!!  To be a part of 3 part harmony to the Lord with my family was indeed a sweet time of worship….maybe not to my sleeping family but …God is so good and and will NEVER leave or forsake us.  God is 100% in control.  We can believe in God!

But friends – no surprise that Psalm 23 was read again.  No surprise that the same themes came through the worship songs and messages and prayer.  And thank you Chris Tomlin for writing the song I needed today!

Through it all – It is well – let our eyes be on the Lord, the author and perfecter of our faith. May this be a time that we cling to Him.  He is able to do exceedingly more than we could ever ask or think. Can we pray together?

Father,

We praise you for you are our creator, our sustainer, our mighty warrior, our healer, our all in all! We look to you in this time and pray that as we seek you, you will build in us the faith and love to move mountains in our communities and homes. May we be prompted by your Spirit to see ways we can serve friends, neighbors, and family during this time of uncertainty. There is nothing that has surprised you.  Nothing that you don’t know. We call out to you for our country, our world, our leaders, our communities, our loved ones.   Help us be the church that you began so many years ago..A church that seeks to give of our gifts and talents freely.  A church who loves and encourages and reaches out to those in need. Let us be a light to those in the darkness.  Let us see ways to serve and bless others. Help us be your hands and feet!  It is in Jesus’ holy and precious name we ask these things.  Amen.

Friends, God is with us. You only need to call out.  We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. But God is ABLE! 1 Jn. 1:9 – if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  What must you do to be a child of God?  Believe in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ who was the perfect lamb of God.  He made a way for each one of us to be made right before God.  The blood of Jesus washes over each of us and covers us when we make the decision to ask for forgiveness and believe in Jesus.  God looks at believers and does not see any sin.  He doesn’t see the shame, but He sees a person washed whiter than snow by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save you and me.

For God so loved you, my friend, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Be blessed this day, my friend.