quarantine...

This is the view out our living room window. It's one that has become very familiar over the past week now that we are following the recommendation to shelter in place.

We were eased into social distancing. Slowly events that we had scheduled were cancelled, including basketball practices, tournaments, doctor appointment, business trips & even the Junior Prom.

Not to worry, Ashlyn & two other students from the Junior class wore their prom dresses & suits to school on what would have been the Friday before the prom & what turned out to be the last day of school for the foreseeable future. Ashlyn & her friend received cheers from the other students as they entered school, not allowing the coronavirus to rain on their parade.


Not long after this, groups of 10 or more were prohibited. Not to be detoured from worshipping the Lord we enjoyed streaming church services as a family from the comfort of our living room. After all, the church is the body of believers & not just a building.

The very next day the order to shelter in place came & we obeyed the governing authorities. It's been a week of quarantine & we have found many ways to occupy our time.

art & schoolwork...





reading books...

playing with (aka tiring out) Pepper...


watching Gilmore Girls...

cooking delicious & creative food with the ingredients that you have...



eating nutritious food in the presence of some who just don't understand the concept of social distancing...
streaming tv shows & movies...

completing puzzles...


getting outside for some fresh air, walks & basketball...







In addition to all this I am spending time in God's Word knowing that my only hope is found in Him. This is a time when we could easily fall into fear, anxiety, anger or despair. Everywhere we turn we are smacked in the face with news stories, statistics, sickness & death. But we need to remember that fear does not come from God.

1 Timothy 1:7 says "...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" This means that with God, there is NO fear. I would argue that the opposite is also true; without God there is fear. The power that He gives us is His strength that gives us what we need to endure every trial or threat that comes our way. The love is a selfless love that centers on pleasing God and seeking others' welfare before one's own. In this present circumstance this could mean not hoarding groceries, toilet paper or hand sanitizer. It could mean following the governing authorities recommendation to stay inside so as not to further the spread of the virus to others. Considering others more important than your self. The spirit of self-control is having confidence in every situation because we recognize the sovereign nature and perfect purposes of our great God. He has a plan. We may not understand His plan but we can have assurance that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him & are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

I keep coming back to the time documented in Matthew 14 when Jesus' disciples were on a boat in the middle of the sea & in the middle of the night they looked out & saw Jesus walking on the water. They were terrified & they cried out in fear. But Jesus calmed their fears, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

Then Peter answered Jesus & asked to come out on the water if it is really Him. Jesus directed Peter to come out onto the water to him. Peter stepped out of the boat & walked on the water to Jesus. But when Peter saw the wind he was afraid & began to sink. He cried out to Jesus to save him & Jesus immediately reached out his hand & took hold of Peter. Jesus asked Peter, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

So many things about this passage are relevant to what we are all going to right now:

First, God always comes to meet us. It doesn't matter how far away we are both spiritually & physically. God pursues us just as a shepherd seeks out his one lost sheep. Nothing can separate us from Him.

Secondly, Jesus knows our every fear. He is aquatinted with our grief. His life on earth gave Him the ability to experience all the things that we do in this life. And when Jesus saw the fear of His disciples He calmed their fears by letting them know that He was there. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He calms our every fear just as he did for the disciples.

Thirdly, just as Jesus heard the cries of his disciples that night, He hears ours. We can call out to God when we are afraid.  In Psalm 1 David says "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me & heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." He cares about us & He hears us when we call. So pray. Call out to Him. Tell Him your fears. He already knows them so you might as well share them with Him.

Fourth, Peter was walking on water! Walking on WATER! That must have been an incredibly exhilarating feeling... right up until the moment when he took his eyes off of Jesus & began to sink into that water. When we are surrounded by the winds & battered by the waves in this life the only way we will not be overwhelmed is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. With one single word he can calm the storm. With His Word He calms our hearts & gives us lasting peace.

Lastly, we can have faith in Jesus. Jesus saw our greatest need in this life - salvation from our sins, & was willing to sacrifice Himself as payment for our debt. If He was willing to suffer & die in our place then we can trust Him in all areas of our lives. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

What I have seen more & more in the past week is how God is sovereign over all things. God is GREATER than any pandemic, any virus - any THING we encounter in this life. He is 100% sovereign & at the same time He is 100% good. We can fully put our trust in the Lord in times of uncertainty knowing that He is in control.

I find that in times of trouble we see everyone's true cards. You can hide them for a while but you really see them when difficulties arise. So...examine your cards - is your confidence in the Lord? Is your joy in life conditional? Is it based on your health? Are you trusting in modern medicine to save you?

The pastor of our church has been doing a series on the plagues in Exodus. Coincidence? I don't think so. I believe that it's fully God aligning what He wants us to hear with what is going on in our world. If you are interested in hearing the sermons you can click here. The church has had to go to live streaming of our services on Sunday mornings. They are Sundays at 10am. Here is the website if you'd like to join us!