Christian in a Crisis
Over the last month or so, the world has been surprised and panicked with the escalation of the latest virus. I'm sure you've read, seen, and heard plenty of reports from enough people who are far more knowledgeable than I am on this sickness. So, I don't plan to give advice.
I'm just trying to process how I should react and act as a Christian in the 21st century facing a major crisis.
No, I haven't run out and bought a stock of toilet paper. To do so seems somehow selfish and inconsiderate of others to me. If I get to the point where I've run out and there's none left in the stores, I'm gonna trust that the Church I belong to will take care of me and the others needing toilet paper. That's what we do for each other. Wipe, if needed, too.
Yes, I'll be sensible and wash my hands a lot. And yes, I'll obey government and municipal regulations that get put in place to mitigate or contain the spread. (Yes, I'm sad flights aren't allowed, and so I had to cancel a long awaited April European river cruise to celebrate my hubby's imminent retirement.)
But no, I won't isolate myself completely from others, staying in my home like a hermit for the next unforeseeable future. I don't see Jesus ever doing that in the scriptures, and I won't either.
It is at times like this that people need the peace and healing prayers their Christian friends and neighbors can impart. We can stand in the authority of Christ, lay hands on the sick, and watch miracles happen. Acts of compassion are often followed by miracles. Jesus went to those with leprosy, he put his hands on them, and he prayed for their healing.
In the meantime, I'll stay productive in my work each day. I won't pace about my office in a frenzy. I'll continue writing the fiction book I'm currently about 40% into. And here - I'll show you one of my last projects that recently came to fruition:
This series of Read It, Write It, Live It scripture writing journals now has five available. For those of you that want a new way of studying the scriptures, writing out the Bible verses may challenge you and help you apply the Word of God into your life in a new way.
Each day, you are given a few verses to read. Then you have a space on the page to write them out. Finally, the next page gives you a place to compile your thoughts and reactions to those verses - the Live It part of the study. At the end of each book, a summary area allows you to put together the main things these verses have taught you or how they've changed your life.
All are now available for purchase on Amazon. I plan to add more topics to the series in the future. Today we are exactly one month out from Easter. If you want a meaningful way to spend time in the Bible leading up to this important holiday, perhaps the Easter one would be a good place for you to start.
In the meantime, I'll be praying that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds, in Christ Jesus," my friends (Philippians 4:7).
Stay well.