Basic

It has been a long week. My days have been so uncharacteristically slow, unhurried, and void of our usual ministry activities. I make it a priority to thank the Lord daily for the ministry He allows us to engage in. I don't ever want to be sitting idle because there is no one to minister to. This week I found myself reminiscing and recollecting my thoughts, grumbles perhaps, and prior days where I was simply exhausted in service. I took some time to thank the Lord all over again for the places He's opened doors for us to minister, and for the people He is allowing us to journey with.

This week my sweet daughter and I took the day to bake treats, and share them in the community. Selfishly, this was so that we could lay eyes on some of those in the community that we just wanted to make sure were doing well. We laughed, made a mess, and got such a blessing at the homes we visited. We didn't go many places, (don't worry, we distanced socially), because we used all of our ingredients, but each family had a story to share about their life or their day. It was really special. I was glad that she and I made memories together, and that we got to engage in serving together. One day we all went fishing, and another the boys chased that little white ball. My husband has been working on a project for the family, and we have been enjoying it this week. He built us an outdoor tv cabinet for watching movies. We are outdoor people. We enjoy a fire on the patio regularly. This week we have been on the patio each evening talking, and being present in each others lives. It's been nice. We engaged in a little tae-bo exercise yesterday, but let me go ahead and ease your mind- it was one session. I'm so sore today that if I sneeze it could pose a big problem. The boys have been mowing and enjoying the sunshine. We have had home-school as usual this week, but the afternoons have been full. We wrapped up the weekend tonight with making my favorite- Neiman Marcus Cookies. Needless to say, we practiced the art of being present this week, right where we were, and with the people God has blessed us with in our very own home.

Tomorrow, if the Lord allows, we will have church service, and I AM SO EXCITED! I have missed seeing the smiling faces of our faith family.  I missed our ladies Bible study last Sunday. I missed the kids we get to see at FCA in the high school on Wednesday morning. I missed our Wednesday night fellowship meal where I look over the room full of adults and kiddos, and see people talking, laughing, and loving each other. I missed my kindergarten class I get to teach on Wednesday nights. I missed serving the seniors we minister to at bingo on Thursdays. I have missed just being a part of something that gathers community. I have felt like something was missing all week.

This week my husband has been flooded with information from fellow Ministers whose aim is to be relevant and keep the church connected during a time of uncertainty and social distancing. I have been praying about how to continue ladies Bible study in the wake of being asked not to gather. There is a recommended platform that allows video conferencing and text communication. I downloaded the app so that I could see if this was going to be too over my head. I created my profile and prepared to try it out. I noticed after I created my account that it had my name and the word "basic" highlighted in red. This word stuck with me. I sit here typing tonight with so many thoughts in regard to this simple word. Basic.

Our young people today use the word basic, but it has a negative meaning attached to it. I consulted the urban dictionary for help defining the meaning for the word. When someone is labeled "basic" they are defined as being nothing too special, average. Another source says basic means someone who is only interested in things that are mainstream, or popular. Used to describe someone devoid of defining characteristics that might make a person interesting, extraordinary, or just simply worth devoting time or attention to. But, this urban definition resembles nothing from my younger days. Basics are important. Aren't they? Building blocks, foundational truths, the basics of life were what used to be considered how we lived our lives. Who decided to change such a word into the total opposite of it's originally intended meaning?

I remember a song from my younger days (1994) entitled Basics of Life, by the quartet 4 Him. I still hear the lyrics of the song in my head from time to time. The basics it speaks of are foundational, life building principles for the Christian. Basic, yet when we conform to the plan laid out for our lives our very existence becomes anything other than the urban definition of the word. There are some basic principles of a relationship with God that I just wanted to share. Basically, when I was living my life for myself, devoid of acknowledging Christ as Lord, I was living a life that was hostile to God. He had His sights set on me all the while, and even though I wasn't consulting Him, or the Bible about how to glorify God with my life, His basic love for me kept me alive. Once I hit rock bottom, God picked me up, loved me back to health, gave me purpose, and basically gave me a new identity. God's basic love for you and me means that there is nothing that we have ever done that can keep us from Him, cause Him to love us less, or cause Him to change His mind about sending His son to die for us. Basic.

I used to work about 30 miles from our house. I worked at the school my kids attended. One winter I remember not having gas money to get us to and from work and school. I prayed a specific prayer. I asked God to please provide the gas money or provide a way for us. When we pray we know the answer God gives will either be yes or yes. It is just according to how He wants it to play out. After I prayed, I went to sleep. The next day a beautiful blanket of snow covered the Tennessee valley and North Alabama. This particular snow closed down much of the state for one whole week. God didn't send gas money. No, instead He shut things down for a while. He answered my prayer. I never thought of asking Him to send a snow storm though. I just needed to get us to school and work, and I knew He had the answer for the situation we were in. He did that for me. He shut down cities for me. Wow. Just wow. I am still amazed when I recall His hand in this trial. In miraculous God fashion, at the end of the week we received money in the mail and we were able to fill up the gas tank.

Not everyone was happy about the snow, the cold, or the damages their property incurred over this beautifully cold mess of winter. Some elderly people struggle in colder months. Some people have no homes or heat for that matter. Some parents had to find someone to care for their children while they
continued to work, and struggled to afford meals during the daytime that the school normally provided. It wasn't a blessing for everyone. Some people lost their lives in car wrecks, and others in homes that trees fell on. What was a blessing for me in my time of distress was a burden on others at that same time in their lives. My prayer was basic though. I asked God to handle it, and He handled it as He saw fit. Basically.

Fast forward to this past week. This crazy virus that is sweeping the nation has people in a state of panic everywhere. Kids may be happy that they are out of school, but you talk to a parent who is having to school their kids at home who is not used to doing that, and they will tell you how unhappy they are about this. There are mixed reviews on people being off work, kids being home, college work being online, and cancellations of regularly scheduled lives.

Let's get basic here. The point of this whole blog today has to do with what you and I cannot see or say. Have you ever noticed an unseen hand in your life before? Somehow the money shows up for the bill? Somehow someone stops by to give you something they had no clue you needed? Somehow you get a text message that says exactly what you needed to hear? Somehow? Somehow situations resolve themselves and it happens in a way you wouldn't have chosen, and you are better for it? The scenarios could continue, but you already have a scenario in your mind. I believe God has allowed this virus for someone. A particular someone. Over the past week I have read about prisoners getting to walk out of jail as free men and women because of this virus. I read about student loans being deferred, mortgages being protected in economic hardship, evictions being unlawful for those who cannot work and earn pay, standardized testing not being required this school year, and many more examples of what appears to be a break in basic functioning of our world.

Everyday people pray to God for things as though He is a genie who is at our disposal to grant wishes for us. People give God a list of things they need Him to do, and then in prayer, tell Him exactly how to do it. Could it be that this virus is the result of a silent prayer? There is someone somewhere who doesn't know God in the personal sense, who has no idea how to even call on Him for help. There is someone somewhere who is struggling to make it all work, and they threw up a "God if you are real then show me", and then this virus and all of it's effects hit. There is someone somewhere who questions if God really cares about them, and because He allowed this virus they now see the break they are getting. There is a man somewhere who got to put on street clothes, and walk out of prison bars yesterday because of this virus. Someone got to be held in their unshackled daddy's arms last night because of this virus. So many different scenarios. So many different kinds of people enduring the same thing that you and I endure, but it may not be basic for them. Someone is getting to experience God's mercy and grace because of this virus! Someone is getting to see things through fresh eyes. Church, listen to me- God is at work here. As a Christ follower we shouldn't fear death. It will eventually come and not a moment before our sovereign God is ready for us. This virus isn't going to sneak up on you, kill you, and you stand before God, and Him ask why you are there 27 years and 2 days too early for your appointment in heaven. Our days are numbered. It is already in motion. Death is closer now than it was when you began reading.

This virus is for someone to come to know Jesus as the giver of life, and peace, and joy, and as a Father who brings redemption in our lives. I am excited for that person. Others are experiencing devastating loss because of this virus, you can trust that God has a plan for that grief and pain as well. Remember, what the enemy meant for harm, God used for your good. This is a time for us to cling to the basics. Love God, Follow God, Live for God. This in turn causes us to want to serve others and share our lives with them. Literally, tonight someone realizes that they never formulated the words to verbalize what they needed, but God heard their unspoken cry, and went ahead and met their needs for them. This is the God that we serve. The God who is omniscient (all-knowing, mind reading, Bible says He knows our thoughts before we think them....), omnipresent (everywhere at the same time, with me as though I am His only priority and with you in the same way and time), and omnipotent (all powerful). We do not love and serve a God who is writing the playbook moment by moment like the officials in Washington are, no He decreed all that would ever happen before He created you and me. It is all in the Bible in Genesis chapter 1.  He is not surprised by this virus. In fact, this is the appointed time set aside for someone to come to know Jesus as Lord of their life.

We are ready for this storm to be over, just like every other storm that comes our way. We must remember that if we are a child of God's tonight, we need to recognize that we are safe. We have life waiting for us on the other side of death. We need to realize that God has a plan for this virus that is claiming lives everywhere. He intends to be very present in people's lives. He has not left us here as orphans. He is near to us in this time. We must calm down. Resist the urge to panic and hoard toilet paper and bread. We need to be in prayer for the one He intends this time of sickness for. Pray that hearts will turn toward Christ for help. Pray that people will repent of their selfish pride and hostile lifestyles toward God. Pray that people who are walking in mercy and grace become excited for those who also are walking in mercy and grace as a result of this virus. Someone else prayed a prayer for their loved one to see God for who He really is. God is using this virus to do that as well.

We have to stop wanting every uncomfortable thing to be over. Labor, yes- we want it to be over. Kidney stones, yes- we want that to be over. Death, yes- we want that to be over when there is suffering. But what about spiritual death? It is the slowest death ever. Someone who is separated from God because of sin gets their reward here. Maybe they are rich, affluent in social circles, boast of fancy clothes and vehicles, etc; but if they are spiritually dying that is their eternal reward. They don't get to live for self here now, and then later as well. Pray for those that are lost in themselves. Pray that they come to the end of self and realize that there is so much to live for that won't come until after this life is over. The Apostle Paul said he counted it all joy to be in the midst of fiery trials where the trying of his faith created patience, endurance, and spiritual maturity.

Basic. I guess I am striving to be basic. The things in my life that are foundational involve dying to my wants and desires, and following God's basic truths for my life. Basically, God has a plan for everything that happens. He is not caught off guard. He is using all of this craziness with this virus for His good, and ours. Just lean in to Him. He knows your thoughts concerning this. Just be basic.

And if someone could help me get the word out to the younger generation that basic is where it's at, I would be so appreciative.

Basic.

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.       2 Chronicles 7:14