God is the strength I need.
His forgiveness stays me
On the course I must walk.
His love echoes forgiveness.
No longer shall I seek
To be confined
By the things of this world,
But walk in newness of a life
Engrafted in Jesus,
His ways,
His forgiveness,
And His love.
We believe that life will change.
Stores will reopen their doors,
People will return to work.
Joy will fill our lives once more.
But as we linger in this isolation,
We wait...
holding our loved ones close
perhaps not in our arms,
but in our hearts.
This is the dilemma to stay or to go -- to serve my world and risk infection, or to stay home in its relative safety and wait for the plague to lift. A rigorous watching of the news tells me I may remain isolated for days, perhaps weeks, but my life is passing too quickly and there is much to be done. Lord, give me the wisdom to do what You want that my life will be useful to others even in ways I may not comprehend as I give, I pray, I share, and I wait.
Walking alone in this crisis we would despair if it were not for the love of God Who leads us. His wings of protection, they cover us, His love shines down upon us, and we are not alone. Sing a new song of rejoicing each day that we are alive despite the plague and the isolation and the fear that surrounds us. We will do what we can do, walk where we can walk, and wait upon the Lord to turn the tide of illness that pervades our land. Tomorrow the reality of days confined may set in and we may wonder "Where do we go from here?" But right now, we will remain at home, snuggled between the safety of reality and fear as we wait for the sweet release to venture out once more to laugh, to feast, to play and not worry about tomorrow.
This is the new normal-- to rise in peace and listen to what God speaks to my heart about my assignments for today. Loving others from afar, I sew face masks for my neighbors, my family, God is good to give me the ability to reach out while we remain apart. Lord, help me to meet these challenges, to dream of freer days as I write, I sew, I work in my garden coaxing new life to grow in my heart, my neighborhood, my city, and my world.
Our eyes are now open. We see that life is fleeting. Storm clouds may gather While the sun continues to shine. Let our lives reflect Your love, Lord. Help us to leave a legacy of peace and caring and hope. Chains fall off when we realize that the world was not made by our own hands, but God who controls the universe loves us, and understands our needs, our hopes, our chaos, as life collides with our own plans. Let us leave the future to You, as we await freer days to run, to gather together, to clasp hands, to sing.
There's summer in the air. The grass is turning green, new buds form and pop open as if following an unseen commander. God has placed everything in His time, the seasons, the ocean tides, the stars in the night sky, the rotation of the planets. How, then, can we doubt His magnitude or His love for us that He gave us this beautiful world in which we thrive? Father, help me not forget Your deity and continue to trust in Your wisdom as I remain confined in my home, still and quiet, and seeking You.