ON GOD'S AGENDA...Everything Is Right On Time!!!

Eccles. 3:1  For everything there
is a season....

Coming in from my daily walk, I noticed the beginnings of a robin's nest being built just under my porch light fixture!  Ah Yes! I thought to myself it is indeed springtime. These little birds are doing just what God ordained them to do in this season...prepare for new life!  

I wonder dear sisters if we are as attentive to God's agenda as these frail creatures.  Are we preparing for the new life that is coming after this COVID-19 pandemic?

I know in the present climate of death and uncertainty it's hard to think about, but it is EXACTLY what we Christians should be doing!

 As a woman of God, I know in my heart that new life is coming!  In fact, it has already begun. Pull yourself away from the television and its repetitive pessimism and look out your window.  You'll see it too!  The days are getting longer. The grass is growing.  Trees are budding. Birds are singing.   Everything is right on schedule!

Now consider how this pandemic is peaking right as Christians celebrate the 40 day Lenten period.  (A time we reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that gives eternal life to His believers!  John 3:16 )  It is not unlike a time more than 2,000 years ago when God executed a Divine act on His agenda to get man's attention. I Peter 1:19-20

Now like then there was confusion, upheavals in the political-economic system, and the seeking of a solution for a national problem.  Even the faithful in the religious community experienced  a crisis of faith! (Read about it in the Gospels!!)  Paramount to it all was DEATH...not the deaths of many as we see today but one significant death. The death of our Savior that would draw the world's eye to Almighty God! 

The parallel between the prohibitions we're forced to adhere to and the practices among Christians brothers and sisters is striking:
                                 
LENTEN: Deep praying for spiritual cleansing                     
and repentance throughout the day.                            
COVID-19 
Hand washing, disinfecting, purging
of toxins throughout the day.

LENTEN: Removal of recreational distractions
(TV, social media, entertainment) to spend more
personal time with God.COVID-19                  
 Movies, malls, sporting events cancelled
causing more families to spend personal
time together.

LENTEN: Fasting or elimination of certain foods
for a prescribed amount of time.                            
COVID-19  
Limitation or scarcity of certain foods for a
period of time.     

LENTEN:  Disassociating socially from people
for spiritual reflection and self evaluation.
COVID-19: 
Social distancing to control or prevent spread of viruses.

LENTEN: Some practice abstinence (giving up sex)
for a period of time as they fast and pray.
 COVID-19: 
 Like most crisis, no doubt there will be many 
"Corona" babies born this fall and winter season.
                         
Here's the point I'm making:  God is in complete control and His timing, even for something as frightening as the Corona Virus is impeccable!  The numbers of illnesses and deaths are disturbing, but IF YOU ARE A BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIAN you understand according to the scriptures below.  That NO ONE DIES BEFORE HIS/HER TIME. 


⇰Every human being has an appointed time to die the moment they are born.
Hebrews 9:27

⇰Our life is not our own God has a right to claim it whenever He chooses.

I Corinthians 6:19

⇰Christians have angels guarding, protecting, and ministering to us as God wills.

 Psalms 91:11

⇰When death comes by COVID-19 or other means it's a "Win-Win"situation!

2 Corinthians 5:8

All of nature, obeys the Lord in everything, so should we. PRAY now for the witness of these NEW things in your life and in others when we get to the other side of COVID-19:

🙏 New Converts - As has just been said: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. (Hebrews 3:15)

💧New Thirst for God's Word - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, (I Peter 2:2)

💚 New Spiritual Growth and Character - But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

👥Renewed passion for ministry - For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR  scroll to the bottom of my blog page at  http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com  click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space. 

"FRIENDLY FIRE" - A Sister Pandemic!!

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters, but don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13 NLT)

When soldiers are in battle fighting a common enemy and intentionally or unintentionally turn on a fellow comrade it is called friendly fire! The name belies its logic, for there's nothing friendly about pain no matter where it comes from!  Yet Christian sisters (women who are supposed to love one another) activate friendly fire way too often!

IT'S TIME TO CALL A CEASE FIRE!!!!!

I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information, misinformation, and disinformation surrounding the Coronavirus, so I'm taking a break from the chatter to put the spotlight on a similar but more deadlier pandemic--Toxic Female Relationships!!!  

For too long we have been defined by men and culture by our stanky interpersonal, ministry, and work relationships with other women.  The result has been that we can't get a doggone thing done for the Lord, ourselves or anyone else!

DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU?  THINGS LIKE...

1.  COMPETITION - I'm willing to fight you for what I want!

2.  JEALOUSY-  I want what you have!

3. BETRAYAL - I gave you my trust and you didn't deserve it!

4. INSECURITY - I feel inadequate and defensive and somehow that's your fault!

5. BULLYING- I can't compete with you at your level so I''m bringing you down, girl! 

With the Coronavirus, health experts encourage anyone with symptoms to put on masks! I'm suggesting that Sisters in the Lord, take our masks off and deal with the situation. There's no better time then now.  The month of March ushers in the Lenten season (a period of  self examination, repentance, and renewal) and it celebrates women excellence. How about combining the two and doing a Spiritual reset with a Frienemy!

 Sister relationships are not easy!  They are complex, sensitive and very risky! ! But I do believe it's a risk worth taking.  The Apostle Paul thinks so too.   He tells members of the Philippian church to do a spiritual intervention between two ministry leaders:

  I implore (beg) Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of life. (Philippian 4:2-3).

Here's the  bottom line sisters...we need each other!  We also need a plan.  Click on the one I found in Christianity Today by Jen Oyama Murphy.  Ally or Adversary  Please read the entire piece!  She does a much better job than I could ever do explaining the urgency of the matter.   But I will  do a quick summary with my own translation to give you a jump start and set you up for victory ✌ over this Sister Pandemic:

✌ Admit there's a problem -(This sickness is REAL and denying it delays healing!)

✌ Name your hurts  -(Claim the pain, Speak it so God can fix it!)

✌ Own your desires and dreams - (Don't demand opportunities! Pray and work for them!)

✌ Wrestle with  God - (Don't put your identity in anything you can lose. Talk to God about it)

✌ Create community - (Build a network of support & advocacy.  Bond and have fun)

✌ Collaborate - (Share your natural and spiritual gifts! We're better together than by ourselves)



SISTERS UNTIL NEXT TIME...KEEP THIS CONVO GOING - GET RIGHT WITH THE LORD AND EACH OTHER! THIS IS A VIRUS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A CURE FOR!

If you would like to leave a comment please send an email to: sisters4sisters@att.net OR  scroll to the bottom of my blog page at  http://alittlewiser63.blogspot.com  click on the no comments by the pencil and it will change to a writing space.