7 Things the Coronavirus Hasn’t Changed

Life as we knew it has completely changed in the span of 5 weeks. So many things are different: seeing friends and family with 6 feet of distance, going to the grocery store gloved and masked, going to the doctor’s office for a checkup and having to wait out in my car until they call me in. Well, I don’t have to tell you–you already know all the things that are different. But if you need some good news today, then here are 7 unchanging realities for the Christian even in the midst of a pandemic.

Unchanging realities produce unshakable Christians. Yes, we’re scrambling and adjusting and hurting. But we have some precious truths to hold us steady in a topsy-turvy time.

Wonder of wonders, God is unchanging in his merciful disposition toward us: “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Mal. 3:6). God’s love for us (a love which he also produces within us by his Spirit) is one of those unchanging, imperishable realities that persist from this life into the next.

[TGC]

It’s Not Often in Life You Get a Do-Over (So Take the Do-Over!)

This was a great take on the things we clutter our lives with–whether that’s activities, commitments for work, church, or friends, or even our children’s sports and clubs. The author explains that we have the opportunity to evaluate what we want to dive back into or what we need to declutter from our lives once the world opens back up.

In God’s providence, he has taken nearly everything away from us for a time. In God’s sovereignty, he has interrupted so many of our habits, both good and bad. It is too early to be too confident in interpreting what he is up to in all of this, though we can be sure that it is for our good and his glory. But surely it will do us no harm, and in fact do us a world of good, to take the opportunity to carefully ponder how, as we emerge back into life, we can best deploy our gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.

[Challies]

Before the Day: Meeting Jesus

Before I had kids, I woke up early each morning to spend time with the Lord. After having kids, I so treasured my sleep that I usually woke up at the last minute as the kids were waking up. Time with the Lord became something I squeezed in when I could during the day–and sometimes it just didn’t happen. This author challenges us to give the very first of our waking hours to the Lord. I know depending on your season of life, it may not be possible and that’s ok. But I’m going to attempt what the author suggests and see if it makes my time in the Word more consistent. Hope you enjoy it!

If circumstances will not allow you to wake up early in a certain season, and all you can do is put on Scripture for five minutes in the car, there is nothing but grace. The morning is not holier than any other time of the day. It is simply untouched; it is before anything else, and that’s what makes it so beautiful. 

Once my feet are on the floor, I head to the kitchen table. I know the sun will be up soon and with it will come the rush to get ready for work, the demands for milk, and the frenetic search for matching socks. All of those things will still happen, but they won’t happen first. My heart will have had a chance to grow in the rich, healthy, and fertile ground of time with Jesus, making the roots that much stronger to hold me up all day. It’s not magic, but it is glory—morning glory. 

[Well Watered Women]

Loving a Friend Through Grief

Confession–I struggle sometimes to show up for my friends who are grieving. Not because I don’t care or don’t want to take the time, but rather because I don’t know what to say and I’m really fearful of saying the wrong thing. A few years ago, my friend’s father died unexpectedly. I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t want to be in the way. So, I waited a little too long to reach out and I know she felt uncared for in the process. A year ago, my close friend had a miscarriage. And although I didn’t know how to console her, I knew I had to show up, tell her I loved her, was sorry, and then pray fervently for her. She didn’t need me to say any magic words. She just needed my presence. The church body’s presence and care during a time of grief can be so healing and encouraging. There’s a reason we’re told to “weep with those who weep.” This article challenged me to love my friends who are grieving in multiple ways: to be there physically when I can, to be creative in showing love and concern when I can’t physically be with them, and consistently pray for them.

Grief is scary and pain is an uncomfortable topic, so knowing what to say and when to say it can be challenging. We often fear saying the wrong thing and that fear can keep us silent when our friends need us most. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to say the right thing or fix the situation; just say something loving. Keep it simple and honest. Share Scripture and ask basic questions. Leave the door of communication open.

[Well Watered Women]

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When Kids Won’t Bow to Your Idols

This article was so convicting that I don’t even want to comment on it. (Can anyone relate?) But I will say, I’m getting ready to potty-train my twins this weekend and yesterday my friends were talking about how well potty-training is going for them. I immediately began to fret–“What if my kids refuse to use the bathroom?” After reading this article, I realized putting so much of my identity in my kid’s behavior revealed I was worshiping the idols of comparison and performance. I hope you find it as challenging as I did.

Think of the times you get the most frustrated with your child. More often than not, it’s not their behavior that’s causing your response—it’s that one of your idols is being threatened. Trace your feelings back to the source. What’s in jeopardy? Your picture of how your child should behave? Your reputation? Your comfort? Our reaction to our kids’ behavior often has little to do with brokenness over their sin and a lot to do with how irritated we are that they’re threatening our own desires. 

When your child obeys, whom or what do you credit? Your new behavior chart? That book you just read? Your faithfulness? If it’s anything other than the grace of God, you could be worshiping an idol.

[TGC]

Teach Your Children Not to Follow Their Hearts

I can’t think of a Disney movie that doesn’t at some point in the plot allude to or explicitly say to the main character that he/she should “follow their heart.” That phrase is thrown around all the time and on the surface it sounds like good advice. However, following our hearts can be dangerous as this author explains. Therefore, we must teach our children not to follow their hearts but rather to lead them in truth.

Our kids need to know that our hearts were never designed to be followed, but to be led. They need to know our hearts were never designed to be gods in whom we believe; they were designed to believe in God. 

And they need to know that if they embrace our culture’s understanding of what it means to “follow your heart,” it will very likely lead them down all sorts of selfish and destructive paths, all the while telling them that they are simply being true to themselves. If Satan can keep our children’s eyes on their hearts, or what they think are their hearts, he will be able to blind them to the real treasure.

[Risen Motherhood]

Normal Again, Thanks to COVID-19

This Sunday, for the first time that I can remember, I got up early and made my family breakfast. Usually our Sundays are hurried. We wake the twins up, dress them, urge them to eat a quick breakfast, and then jump in the car and try to make it to church before the worship service begins. But lately, our Sundays have been leisurely and restful. I fully believe they’ve been more like what the Lord intended when He instructed us to honor the Sabbath. I’m as anxious as everyone else for life to return to normal, but I’m hopeful that some of these abnormal activities (like enjoying a meal with my family) and a slower pace of life will remain behind.

It’s no secret Americans live at a frenetic pace. Almost 40 percent of Americans work 50-plus hours per week. Pastors spend nearly three to four nights a week away from home. Students are involved in more extracurricular activities than ever before and being “so busy” has become our favorite humblebrag.

To be clear, [these things] aren’t inherently wrong. The danger is that they can become easy substitutes for the actual work of simply being a Christian. In a way, being a Christian as opposed to merely doing Christian things goes against the grain of our highly scheduled, efficiency-focused, results-oriented culture. Maybe it takes a global pandemic to make us realize we’ve made the Christian life more busy than it needs to be.

By God’s grace, life may return to “normal.” But by God’s grace, maybe we won’t. Maybe we’ll remain a bit “abnormal.” 

[TGC]

Have I Missed My True Calling?

“If you don’t wake up in the morning excited to pick up where you left your work yesterday, you haven’t found your calling yet.”

I’ve heard quotes like the one above before and invariably I think, “I was not all that excited to wake up this morning and change multiple diapers, deal with screaming, picky-eaters, and attempt to quell temper-tantrums.” On those days, I can become dissatisfied with where the Lord currently has me serving and feel purposeless. However, we are called to do all things for the glory of God and nothing done for Him lacks purpose. I hope this article is as encouraging for you as it was for me.

Think about something that once excited you. It could be something as big as a new car or as small as a new pair of shoes. Those first initial days or weeks were exciting, but eventually that excitement wears off. Does this mean the car is no longer worth driving? Or the shoes no longer worth wearing? Motherhood is exciting at times, but it’s not consistently thrilling all the time, and that’s okay. Here’s the thing: our callings aren’t only purposeful when they’re fun or exciting, they’re purposeful because they’re an opportunity to glorify the God who designed them.

Because of Jesus, we now live our lives for God’s glory, not our own. Whether we clean up messes or discover the cure for cancer, both may be done for his glory and the good of others. Knowing and loving Jesus injects purpose into everything we do no matter how “big” or “small” the world may view it. Because he transformed our lives, our outlook on life is transformed. Therefore, serving our families—whether as a full-time stay-at-home mom or a full-time working mom—can be less of a “have to,” and more of a “get to.”

[Risen Motherhood]

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Help for Quarantined Marriages

When you took your spouse “for better or for worse”, I’m sure you didn’t imagine that including “in social freedom or isolation.” Yet, here we are. Both spouses working from home, in tight quarters, with no social outlets available, and anxieties running high. A little bit of conflict is to be expected. But even in the midst of this hard and uncertain season, we can still love our spouse well, and God can still grow us and our marriage. This author shares three truths to remember as we walk through this season with our spouse.

When we’re faced with difficult days and our marriages are squeezed in confined quarters, remember that God’s grace is sufficient for each day. We can either look at what we can see—or we can lift our eyes to a hope beyond what we can see. And every day, we can look to the cross.

The cross was the darkest moment in history, and it was God’s initiative. God allowed his only Son to give more, and lose more, than you or I can—the riches of heaven, the worship of angels, even his own life. If you want to see the moment of Satan’s greatest apparent triumph, look at the cross, where surely he smirked at the Son of God dying alone and in agony. And yet what looked like Satan’s greatest triumph was in fact his ultimate defeat.

It’s not hard to imagine Satan smirking today, tempting us to frantically grasp for control, snap at each other, and doubt God’s goodness in allowing COVID-19—only to discover these circumstances have drawn us closer to the Lord in dependence and trust, and grown our marriage and family to reflect more of Christ. 

[TGC]

Trusting God After Job Loss

This pandemic has affected us all in different ways. But one of the most difficult challenges brought on from this virus is job loss. I know several of my friends have been let go from their workplace. With everything going on, it’s not the ideal time to be job searching. But even in the midst of joblessness and a pandemic, God is faithful. In this article, the author shares five ways to grow your faith after a job loss.

The emotional roller-coaster can be overwhelming when you lose your job. At times you may feel fine. And sometime regret sinks in as you think about things you could have done differently or said differently. Emotions can wreak havoc on anyone after a job loss, including a Christian.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he told us to pray “give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Jesus didn’t want us overly worried about the week, the month, or the next 10 years. He wanted us to depend on God for our daily needs. In the same way, we should take one day at a time after a job loss. Every day gets a little bit easier. Keep praying, keep talking it out, and keep seeking God. And even in a job loss, it’s good to remember that this too shall pass.

[Answers in Genesis]

Talking to Your Children About Suffering in the Midst of COVID-19

If you’re a parent of young children then I’m sure you’ve had to try to explain to them what’s happening right now, if for no other reason than why they can’t go to school or play with their friends. I thought this author did an incredible job of providing five biblical truths we can share with our children as we explain what is happening in the world right now.

The precautions we’re taking seem strange to us. They also may seem strange to your children. Your child may wonder why we are doing this for a virus. We’re not. We’re doing this for people. So, take this opportunity to talk to your child or teenager about what it means to love your neighbors (Matt. 22:39). God cares about how we care for the well-being of others in our community, especially the vulnerable. Help your child understand that their relationship with God is not just vertical but also horizontal—with other people. To be a Christian is to care about the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our neighbors. The truth that people matter will give your kids a lens for understanding why we should be taking precautions.

[Gospel Centered Family]

COVID-19: A Prolonged Sabbath in a Culture of Productivity

Although I’m already a stay-at-home mom, I’ve felt the pressure from our culture to accomplish something great during this quarantine, to not waste time, to be productive. My newsfeed is filled with images of crafts, home projects, and educational activities that my peers are completing. Yesterday, my husband even suggested that we use this time to learn another language. I feel the pressure to work hard, but maybe God is calling you and I to rest this season, to Sabbath, and if so, that’s ok. Our worth is not measured by our busyness or accomplishments but rather what was accomplished on our behalf on the cross. I pray we can all find time to rest in the security of what Christ purchased for us and enjoy a little bit of Sabbath while we stay at home.

It’s all too clear that I resist boredom and rest. Instead, I cling to the god of productivity, hoping to demonstrate my value and secure my success. The current quarantine has only heightened my resistance and raised my expectations. I’ve got more time; more must be done.  In this world, we can never be content to simply be; we must always be doing, making, producing, constructing. Our worth depends on it. 

The Scriptures speak of a different measure of worth and value. When God created Adam and Eve, he proclaimed, “It is very good.” He gave this benediction, not after a day of their fruitful work and production, but simply over their existence. God delighted in them because of their existence, not their work. And when the Father’s voice breaks through the clouds declaring his love for his Son, Jesus had not yet begun his public ministry. Atonement was not yet complete. God’s delight preceded  accomplishment. 

[Morning by Morning]

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Extras

6 Tips for Overcoming Virtual Meeting Fatigue

Has your whole life moved to virtual meetings? My husband, who is currently working from home, is constantly on Zoom. In addition, our church and small groups have started meeting on Zoom. Don’t get me wrong–it’s such a blessing to be able to work from home and stay connected with our church family. But if you feel like you’re living each day in front of a computer screen, here are some tips for overcoming virtual fatigue.

Christianity Has the Resources for Grittiness During Pandemic

My husband and I have had many conversations recently about what it looks like to live unselfishly and model Christ’s love during this pandemic. As we ourselves and our friends begin to tire of staying in our homes, we’ve had to remind ourselves that we are choosing to do so out of love. While we may not be considered part of the vulnerable population that this virus seems to prey on, we want to keep them safe even if it means sacrificing our comfort. We remember that Christ has called us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus modeled a sacrificial love and as Christians, we can do no less.

When death and uncertainty stalk the earth, and the cold winds of our finitude blow across the carefully constructed walls of identity, wealth, and privilege, the strengths of our foundations are revealed. The world hates the gospel in every age because it exposes the lie that we can, like little gods, build heaven on earth by being smart enough or working hard enough.

Our only hope in life and death is not that we have a four-month supply of toilet paper. Only one hope enables us to look outward to the needs of others when self-help is our overriding temptation. It is not a new hope, nor a fashionable hope, nor a politically correct hope. It is the hope of Jesus Christ.

[TGC]

Wives, Mothers, and COVID-19

I’ve just started reading in Exodus and I came to the part of the story where God calls to Moses from a burning bush. Moses asks what he should say when the Israelites ask who sent him. God answers, “I am who I am. This is what you say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.”’ (Exodus 3:14). As the author of this article explains, “This name is one of the richest names for God in the Bible. It is used to describe God’s eternal existence, His sovereign control over all things, His acts of redemption, and His covenantal presence with His people.” Even in uncertainty, we can have peace trusting that God is still the Great I AM and is still in control. Therefore, it is possible to have no fear of bad news.

Dear moms, we live in a time of great unknown. Don’t be surprised when you feel overwhelmed by bad news and uncertainty. Instead, turn to the good news. Look to Jesus Christ, the Great I Am. In the midst of this pandemic, know that He is present with you.

[Tabletalk]

When Our Children Suffer

It’s never easy watching a loved one suffer, whether that’s from illness, outside circumstances, or choices they have made. But I’m sure it’s particularly painful to watch your children suffer. In this article, the author explains how we can point our children back to the gospel as they suffer and help them weather a season of suffering.

As I went to my Bible for strength, God reminded me that he is also a Father, and he doesn’t always rescue his children straight away. He didn’t rescue his Son on the cross, so that he could rescue us from our sin. And he lets his children go through trials for our good and his glory. But he promises one very important thing—that he will always be with us.  

Our children need rescuing from themselves (just like we do), and it’s often the hard moments that God uses to point them back to him. So as I watched my children go through various trials, I could often see spiritual fruit coming out of the experience, and that encouraged me to trust that God knew what he was doing. 

[Risen Motherhood]

How Do I Find Joy in Hard Things?

Some days I struggle to be joyful. Going on day 28 of staying inside my home and only leaving for doctor’s appointments or groceries has left me struggling to rejoice on certain days. Or maybe you’re walking through a difficult season and just can’t seem to lift your head up to see your way out. Whatever the cause of our lack of joyfulness, God still calls us to “Rejoice always.” So, how we do that when our circumstances are less than ideal? In this article, the author shares 8 ways we can find joy during hard times.

Spending time in God’s Word is always a great way to navigate any difficult circumstances, but when I’m stuck in yuckiness or I feel like sadness has me paralyzed, I go to the book of Psalms. I so appreciate David’s honesty, the rawness of emotion in his words. As I read, I realize I’m not the only one who has ever felt this way. And guess what? God can handle it! 

Yet what strikes me the most—and what I really need to see—is the switch in David’s thinking that often happens in the middle of a Psalm. David starts off being afraid, angry, depressed. Then his perspective changes. He goes “into the sanctuary of God” (73:17); he “call[s] to God (55:16); he recognizes that God is his “fortress” and that the Lord will “let [him] look in triumph” on his enemies (59:9–10).

[Revive Our Hearts]

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Extras

Loving Your Neighbors at a Distance

I loved these creative ideas of ways we can still show love for our neighbors while we practice social distancing.

The Final Walk: How Harry Potter Helps Me Understand Jesus’ Love

As we approach Good Friday, I had to share this article comparing Harry Potter’s last walk to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross–spoiler alert, Jesus’ sacrifice accomplished so much more. But I’m a big Harry Potter fan and I thought the author did a great job of portraying the similarities and differences between the two, and reminding us that Jesus willing went to the cross that Friday and laid down his life to save ours, even while we were still sinners.

The thing that truly sets Jesus’ sacrifice apart from Harry’s is what he achieved. Harry may have saved the wizarding world from Voldemort, but he couldn’t bring back the friends who had already died or keep everyone he loved alive forever. When Jesus went to the cross it wasn’t a fatalistic walk to his own destruction so others could go on in this painful world a little bit longer. It was intentional. He and the Father had planned this before they created the atoms in cross Jesus carried.

It was all to save us from our sin: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). His death wasn’t the end. Harry may have survived because of the deep magic that protected him, but it didn’t make him immortal. Jesus rose from the dead because of his own power. He defeated death forever, so those who trust in Jesus will rise to enjoy eternal life with him. As I read Harry’s journey into the forest, I can’t help but remember what Jesus has done for me and turn to worship him. He accomplished so much more.

[Watson]

6 Lessons from the Severe Mercy of Covid-19 Pandemic

I’m fascinated by the effect this pandemic is having on Americans. Some of us, for maybe the first time, are slowing down our work lives and focusing more on our families. We’re spending time outside playing with our kids. We’re exercising more, reading our Bibles more frequently, and even connecting with loved ones on a regular basis. But what’s even more amazing is how this virus has wrested what little control we thought we had out of our hands. We’re coming to terms with our mortality and powerlessness. And in that gap, we are seeing eternity and Christ more clearly. Never have I been more aware of my need for Christ or my desire for loved ones to know Him. I pray our eyes would be lifted up and we would be comforted by the fact that we serve a risen Savior who has conquered death and extends eternal life to those who will follow Him.

While this pandemic is part of the cursed world we’re living in, it can and is being used by God to achieve His redemptive purposes. When it comes to Christians, this pandemic is a trial that can shift our gaze from the broken glories of this world, to the undying glories of the resurrected Christ. It can reorient our desires so that instead of yearning for worldly comfort, we seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

This pandemic heightens our ‘death awareness’: we become painfully aware of our mortality. Yes, it’s a confronting thought. But if we combine this death-awareness with the gospel of the risen Christ who has overcome death, we can become more captivated by the resurrected life to come.

[TGC]

Can We Count It All Joy in a Global Pandemic

There’s a lot to complain about right now–our lives have been completely upended. But there’s also so much to be thankful for as well. This article really struck a chord with me because it hits on something that I’ve been challenged by the last couple of weeks–that short little phrase in Philippians 4:4. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” We can rejoice even when our circumstances are less than ideal because we are rejoicing “in the Lord,” not in our current situation. Moreover, we can “count it all joy” when we face trials because we know that Jesus has successfully walked the same road we are and is now helping us through His Holy Spirit. Let’s be a people who are full of joy and rejoicing!

“Consider Jesus.” This is the key to suffering in joy, purpose, endurance, and perseverance. When we consider Jesus, we fix our minds on Him who went before us. Jesus endured so we could live as “more than conquerors” through Him (Romans 8:37). To “consider Jesus” as we face suffering and walk through a global pandemic is to remember that He is greater and He gives us the grace we need each day to “count it all joy.” It is, ultimately, to preach the gospel to our hearts and never forget its remarkable goodness.

[Well Watered Women]

Nothing is Certain Anymore–Nothing, That Is, But God’s Love

This article was such a sweet and timely reminder of God’s love for His children. I hope it encourages you as well.

We are living in times when nearly everything we thought was certain is suddenly uncertain. But in the midst of that uncertainty, one thing remains: If you turn to God, you never have to wonder what he thinks of you or if he’s going to help you with your worries, big or small.

He loved you so much that even when you had wandered from him, rejected him, scorned him, and insulted him, he gave his life for you (Romans 5:8). Jesus rescued you when you were his enemy and solved your biggest problem, and, now that you are his child, he will not abandon you to take care of the rest on your own.

[Greear]

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Extras

New and Notable Christian Books to Read for April 2020

Are you looking for some new reading material for your free time? Check out this great list Tim Challies put together of new Christian books.

Safe Under His Wings

I rarely think of the Lord in terms of a fierce mother who would go to any lengths to protect her young. But the Lord has been stretching my view of Him over the last several weeks. One way in particular is by allowing me to see how He is depicted throughout scripture as a determined mother hen who longs to hide her children under her wings. In this article I share some of the insights I’ve gained about the Lord’s desire to protect His children. Also, if you enjoy this article, I’ve included a podcast by one of my favorite pastors discussing Psalm 91. The podcast is located at the end of this blog post.

[GEM]

How Do I Talk to My Kids About Their Fears

Sometimes kids are afraid of the funniest things. My 2-year-old daughter is terrified of her hooded bath towel if it’s hanging up to dry. She’s fine if it’s folded or if it’s on her. But something about the way it looks when it’s hanging scares her. Other times her fears are not so trivial. As we’re in this uncertain time with plenty of things that could evoke fear, how do we come alongside our children and help them deal with their fears? This article provided a fantastic framework for helping children work through their fears and pointing them back to Christ.

Our problem––and our kids’ problem––with fear isn’t that we’re too afraid, but that we aren’t afraid enough of the God who is worthy to be feared. In other words, we need to help them see who God is through his word and, in doing so, help them increasingly put fear in its place, in light of his character and promises.

The good news about Jesus directly applies to our fears: The eternal Son faced and overcame the greatest of all fears––the just wrath of God––so we would never have to, and so we would never be alone in anything fearful. We can address our child’s fears with the living and active word: What about God’s character might we encourage them to trust? Which of his promises apply to their natural or sinful fear? Our aim is to direct their hearts to fear the Lord, which will give perspective to their other fears.

[Risen Motherhood]

Pregnant in a Pandemic: Coping and Hoping

There are so many concerns and fears that accompany even a normal pregnancy. With both of my pregnancies I felt as though I was holding my breath until I made it through that first trimester. Then there’s the 20 week anatomy scan. Once you make it through that, you have the actual birth and recovery. Not to mention keeping the newest addition to your family alive while you try to survive on no sleep. Pregnancy is difficult. And now with concerns about coronavirus, it may seem like a truly terrible time to be pregnant. But the Psalmist says that God knows every one of your days (and your baby’s) and it is written in His book. So it’s no accident that you’re pregnant right now during this season. And it’s possible for all you expectant mommas to have peace and rest in the Lord even through the uncertainty of this season.

I don’t know what God has planned for my life or my baby’s. But I cling to the tried and true words of Romans 8 that “for those who love God all things work together for good” and that “neither death nor life . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv. 28, 38–39). I don’t know what the next five weeks or five months hold, but I believe, as Adoniram Judson wrote, “The prospects are as bright as the promises of God.”

[TGC]

4 Things Our Children Will Remember About Covid-19

Isn’t it amazing that even little kids can pick up on when things aren’t quite right? My twins are only 2, but I’ve started hearing two sentences come out of their mouths that they had never uttered before: “Mommy’s frustrated,” and “Mommy’s sad.” Whether it’s because my husband and I are being a little snippy with each other or because I’m starting to show the strain of staying inside our home all day every day with two two-year-olds–they can tell things aren’t normal. So, what do I want my kids to remember about this season? I don’t want them to think back about how their parents were short with each other in conversations and anxious. I want them to remember how their parents possessed a peace that passed all understanding. I want them to remember a time full of joy and laughter despite being at home all day. I want them to recall how we trusted God and rejoiced together when we saw Him provide. What do you want your kids to remember about this season?

There’s nothing unspiritual about being concerned about your family’s safety and security. No one can guarantee that we’ll come out of this unscathed, but we do have a great opportunity to show our children how big we believe God is. The bigger our God is to our children, the smaller our challenges will seem to them, and us. I don’t want to sound ungrateful for whatever part the $2 trillion stimulus package will play to help us, but we should not place our trust in provision from the government. I suggest we flip the script of this story by lifting Jesus as the Savior He is, teaching them how He provided not only for our salvation but also our daily needs.

[Facts & Trends]

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Extras

A common question I have heard moms voice is, “How do I talk to my children about the coronavirus?” I think the answer is going to vary for all of us and change based on how old our children are. Regardless of age, they certainly know something is amiss. My twins are only 2 but they’ve asked why they can’t go to church and why their weekly visits with my parents have been disrupted. I haven’t really known what to say. So, I’ve included a couple of articles that I found helpful as I navigate what to tell my kids and how to ultimately point them to the hope we have in the risen Savior.

7 Tips When Talking to Kids About Coronavirus

How to Talk to Children About the Coronavirus

If you’re like me and struggling to come up with ways to entertain and educate your toddlers, then this article is for you. It has some great resources and suggestions for activities you and your children can do in your home.
A Support Guide for Parents Raising Babies and Toddlers Through the Coronavirus

Below is the podcast I mentioned earlier on Psalm 91. It’s a three part series, and I’ve linked the first message.

Psalm 91 with Pastor Willie George

Loose Lips Sink Families

Words are so powerful. As women we can tear down the men in our lives or we can build them up. We can choose life or we can choose death with our tongues. We can encourage or we can destroy. I struggle with my words. I am so prone to be critical rather than thankful. The Lord has really been convicting me of how careless my speech often is. A verse I’ve recently been praying over myself each morning is, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.” Psalm 141:3-4. This article looks at the devastating effect we can have with our tongue. I pray that we would be people who encourage with our words and point others to the gospel.

Your husband listens to what you say. So do your sons and the other men in your circle of influence. I realize this may not always feel like it’s true. I know there are times you feel you repeat yourself constantly or that the men in your life just tune you out, but it’s more likely that your words are having a huge impact. Eventually, those words are likely to translate into actions. With that truth in mind, it is important for us to evaluate what we say and make sure it is wise, helpful, encouraging, and a right reflection of who God wants our men to be.

For both men and women, our words have tremendous power. They can motivate others to live more like Christ or be exactly the push they need to make choices that are less than God-honoring. With that sobering reality in mind, consider how you talk to the men in your world.

[Revive Our Hearts]

3 Truths to Fight Your Fear of Failure

Confession time: I am terrified of failure. I am the very definition of a perfectionist and this fear of failure often keeps me from attempting things I would like to do or even feel called to do. I’m scared to lead a women’s Bible study because I’m afraid no one will come or they won’t like it. I wanted to start a blog for years–literally years–but my fear of failing kept me from doing it. What if no one reads it except my mom? What if I realize I’m a terrible writer and need to find a new passion? And on and on my list of fears goes, which is why this article was so challenging for me. The author shares three truths we can use to fight our fear of failure, reminding ourselves that we are not God and do not have to perfect. Even more amazing, God has justified us through the death of Christ, who was perfect, so even when we fail there’s grace for us.

So much of our fear of failure, and our resistance against anything that will make us look weak and incapable, comes from forgetfulness. We forget that only God is God, perfect in power, wisdom, and character. We forget that we are not like Him, that He made us flesh-bound creatures—molded in His image, yes, but with limitations that are good for us because they keep us dependent on Him. We forget how lifeless and empty and foolish are the world’s messages that deceive us into thinking we’ve got this and we’re enough. That is, until we don’t “got this” and we’re clearly not enough, so we feel even worse than when we started.

[Well Watered Women]

Watch Your Knowledge Diet in the Covid-19 Crisis

My social media intake has been extremely high. When all of this started a couple of weeks ago, my knowledge diet heavily consisted of Twitter, Facebook, and various news publications. My Scripture intake was significantly less than my social media. But as the days went on and my anxiety began to run rampant, I realized I needed more of God’s truth and less of the world’s. In this article, the author proposes a wisdom pyramid, similar to the food pyramid, which shows how much of each knowledge medium we should be “ingesting.” I found it super helpful.

A key idea in my wisdom pyramid is that social media should occupy the smallest (as in the “use sparingly” fats/oils/sweets category in the food pyramid) segment of our knowledge diet. The problem is, most of us have made this unhealthy category one of the staples of our diet. And that’s why we don’t know what, if anything, is true or trustworthy. That’s why anxiety and mental illness have been skyrocketing in recent years. Our diets are totally imbalanced.

There is not yet a vaccine to boost our immunity against COVID-19. But in terms of the many toxins of untruth and epistemological pathogens that make us mentally and spiritually sick, there is an immunity-boosting defense: wisdom. That’s why a healthy, wisdom-building diet of knowledge and information should be a critical priority for Christians in today’s uncertain world.

[TGC]

Four Reminders Amid Fear and Uncertainty

I’ve been very honest about my struggles with fear and anxiety the past couple of weeks. But as I’ve shared before, getting into God’s word and meditating on His promises stops fear in its tracks. This article was really incredible! The author lists four reminders of who God is that can banish our fears and fill us with peace.

There’s no force more powerful than God himself. From the largest galaxy to the smallest bacteria, our Almighty Creator spoke everything into existence. If this powerful Creator is the salvation and stronghold for his people, then there’s nothing we need to fear, except God himself.

We have hope even when facing a pandemic. During these chaotic and uncertain circumstances, people should see in us a peace that passes all understanding. Instead of God’s people operating in panic mode, we should show the world a people guided by wisdom, love, and hope.

[GCD]

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Extras

7 Days of Prayer for Trusting God

I know this season is uncertain. I could fill pages of my journal with all the unknowns of life right now. But as believers, we have a choice. We can allow the uncertainties to fill us with fear and anxiety or we can take our concerns to the Lord, who is unchanging and faithful. This article offers a prayer for each day of the week that helps us center our minds and hearts on truth and on our powerful God.

In the midst of these new concerns, believers in Christ have the blessed assurance that though we are uncertain of so many things, we are not uncertain of God. Oswald Chambers rightly said, “The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty.” God remains unchanged! He remains the One to whom we call upon and who will faithfully answer our prayers from his throne of grace!

This is the time to come honestly before our God with our fears and with our pleas. This is the time to seek God’s help to strengthen our trust in His sovereign goodness and power. [TGC]

Everything’s Canceled! Dealing with Disappointment in Pandemic

Before the Coronavirus really hit the United States, I remember looking at my Twitter feed and laughing that #canceleverything was trending. But a week later, when everything was truly being canceled, I was no longer laughing. In fact, I was disappointed. I was disappointed for my friend who had to cancel her baby shower for the baby who she has tried for years to have and finally became pregnant with through IVF. I was disappointed for my niece who is a senior and should be walking across the stage at graduation but isn’t going to now. I was disappointed for my friend who had to have a wedding with only a couple of people in attendance instead of the elaborate affair she had planned for months. So, what do we do when we’re disappointed that our plans have fallen through and does God even care? This article offers such an incredible perspective on handling disappointment and reminds us that the plans of God can never be canceled. Moreover, we can find comfort in the knowledge that Jesus understands our disappointment and longs to console us.

As we draw near to our faithful Savior in disappointment, he wipes away our tears, cures us of blindness to our sin, helps us to see the hurts and needs of others, and lifts our gaze to see how he’s at work in the present to bring about the redemption of all things. The marriage supper of the lamb is a feast that cannot be delayed and will not be canceled. The plans of God, often perplexing and always perfect, can never be thwarted.

[TGC]

The Life Changing Power of Pants

This article is not remotely serious. But I think we could all use a laugh. If you’re working from home and not having to appear in any Zoom teleconferences then you may be rocking your PJs all day. In fact, one of my friends who is an attorney had a blouse and blazer on top and then pajamas on bottom. However, Jon Acuff cautions that if we want to be productive, we should put on the pants. Hope this lighthearted article makes you laugh.

The work at home dream is that you can do your job in your pajamas. Is that what’s been holding you back all these years, belts? Is the most challenging part about climbing the corporate ladder that you weren’t wearing flannel? What about pants? How come we boast to each other that, “I worked from home today and didn’t even put on pants.” Was that previously an issue? You sat in meetings, furious at the corporate norms that kept you in pants. “I hate these pants so much. Someday, I dream of a world where I won’t be kept down by the pantiarchy.” 

[Acuff]

6 Ways to Lead Your Family in Isolation

This article provided some great ways we can use this quarantine time with our families in a positive way. We are stuck at home, but we can certainly make the most of it. The author shares 6 ways we can disciple our children and love them well during this season. I especially loved the idea of teaching them to serve. Kids are never too little to learn to serve, even if it’s just having them make cards for older people who are living alone. I hope it gives you some good ideas.

As we approach this unusual crisis, each household has a unique opportunity to disciple our children and grow relationally stronger. Too often our families rush from activity to activity, functioning like Airbnb and Uber services. This unexpected situation gives us a chance to love our closest neighbor: our family member. 

Often we want to parent on autopilot. During this time of turbulence, we have a time to grow in patience, active encouragement, wisdom, and leadership skills. The first place we live out the gospel is in our homes. Our children are watching. Do they see us anxious, or trusting the Lord? Are they seeing peace in us?

[TGC]

The Gospel and Our Finances

Isn’t it amazing how quickly our financial situation can change? Two weeks ago some of my friends had high salary jobs and now are unemployed due to our current economic situation. Since I live in Oklahoma, many of my friends have been affected by the downturn in oil prices. Others have jobs that have been forced to temporarily close or lay off workers because the business is deemed non-essential. I usually don’t realize how much hope I’m putting into my bank account or salary until those are threatened. Then it becomes evident that my hope was misplaced all along. In the face of uncertainty regarding our finances, I’m so grateful Jesus cares for us, knows our needs, and provides.

Jesus Christ is our only hope. It’s in him alone, not our money, that we find peace surpassing all understanding. He is the same yesterday when we had wealth, he is the same today when we have to find room in the budget for more diapers, and he is the same tomorrow when our child’s dare-deviled playground stunt results in an ER bill. While the future of our finances is often filled with questions, our future with him remains secure.

The gospel shows us how to face times of “plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil. 4:12). We can face each season, not with anxiety, but with perseverance and hope. We can seek perfect wisdom from our Heavenly Father and from the wisdom of older saints in our local church. And we can rejoice in peace knowing that, in any and every circumstance, it’s through Christ that we receive our strength.

[Risen Motherhood]

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Extras

Fear with Matt Lantz: Incredible podcast on fear that convicted me on such a deep level and revealed that I have misplaced my fear. I hope you’ll take the time to listen to it.

Fear is an emotional response to circumstances that we cannot control and that we perceive will do us harm. That emotional response always sends us looking for a Savior, something that we believe is bigger or stronger or otherwise able to subdue or get rid of whatever it is that is causing us fear.

The point in which the disciples were the most afraid is when the storm was calm. The disciples had a rational fear of death, except that Jesus is asleep in the same boat with them and he is the commander of the wind and the waves. When they realize that who they have in the boat with them is bigger and stronger and more powerful than the waves, they are afraid of him. Their fear was misplaced.  It was in the wind and the waves and death. But when they stand in front of a God who controls all of those circumstances, their fear is no longer misplaced, it is reoriented back to its proper object.

[Journeywomen Podcast]

Opportunity Knocks by Matt Chandler

A passage of Scripture that I’ve been meditating on is Philippians 4:4-8. My husband randomly picked this sermon, which Pastor Matt Chandler based on that exact passage. I love when that happens! But in the sermon, Matt discusses how during this difficult season the Lord is allowing us to lean into joy, generosity, His presence, and truth. It was so encouraging for me, and I hope it will refresh your spirit as well. [Village Church]

The Fear-Driven Life

Fear is everywhere right now. In some places it’s so thick you can almost taste it–it’s palpable. I see fear on the news, I see it at the supermarket, I hear about it in hospitals. But isn’t it incredible that God knowing how prone we would be to fear specifically instructed us over and over in His word to not be afraid? God knows that while our feet are planted on this Earth, we will be faced with situations that incite fear. Yet, inexplicably He wants us to “fear not” but rather confidently put our trust in Him. He is always trustworthy, no matter what is going on in our world. And I’m so thankful that His presence makes all the difference.

Ramon Presson writes, “The most repeated command in Scripture is ‘fear not.’ It appears 365 times—one for each day of the year—and is usually followed by ‘for I am with you.’ God would have us understand that factoring in his presence always changes the equation.”

[TGC]

A Christian Doctor Answers Questions About Covid-19

Isn’t the amount of information out there about the Corona virus staggering? In fact, it’s difficult for me to find articles on anything else right now. As I’ve shared previously, a lot of what is available to read has caused fear. Therefore, I wanted to share this article written from a Christian doctor’s perspective on the novel virus. It was so encouraging for me to read, as he pointed readers back to where their ultimate hope should reside–not in science but in Christ alone. I hope it fills your heart with peace.

We have to take our fear and place it before the risen Lord—because our faith is in a risen Lord who has conquered death. This is essential. Unless we take our doctrines—what we say about trusting God—and actually put them to work in how we think and act, we’re not going to have peace and we’re not going to be able to love others well.

When Christ came, he came to deliver us from the “fear of death” (Hebrews 2:15). That fear is something that can enslave us. It’s critical that we get that part of our theology straight. Christ came as a light into the darkness. The darkness is defined by fear and he came into that shadow of death and said, I’m a light and if I’ve come into the world as a light, whoever believes in me does not remain in darkness. And so we have to ask ourselves Do I trust God with my life right now?

[Crossway]

Redeeming the Little Moments of Motherhood

As a mom to two-year-olds, I often feel that the time I can devote to reading God’s word, praying, or meditating on a verse is so inadequate. “What good can God do in the five minutes I have to myself?” I ask. The answer–so much good. In motherhood or busy seasons sometimes it is hard to carve our that 30 minutes to an hour to read your Bible. But we must be faithful with the little moments that we do have and snatch them up because the Lord will certainly honor those few minutes leaving us refreshed and strengthened.

It’s true, in motherhood we lose our hours of free time. But if we begin treating our five-minute blocks as valuable, there’s renewed strength hidden in these little moments. Day after day, the Israelites gathered manna, and the Lord encouraged, “Gather…as much as [you] can eat.” But in God’s gracious arrangement, “whoever gathered little had no lack” (Ex. 16:16–18). Some days we may have a glorious time in the word, others, only a few minutes. But in the wilderness season, when children are young and time is scarce, the Lord is so gentle. He simply asks that we be faithful in the little moments we do have. 

[Risen Motherhood]

How a “You Do You” Culture Has Made Us Vulnerable to the Corona Virus

I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard the phrase “You do you.” I’ve also uttered that phrase many times to my husband–usually when he’s proposing some silly scheme that I’m not willing to go along with. However, I had never thought about how dangerous this simple phrase is if taken to heart. The author points out that as a culture who has adopted this line of thinking we are selfishly putting our own needs ahead of others–which is the antithesis of the gospel. Let’s reject the “You do you” culture and follow the example of our servant leader, Jesus Christ, who loved us enough to lay down his life for us.

So, what then can be done, at least on a human level, to stop the virus? Well, here’s where we come to a rich—and perhaps tragic— irony in the current situation: we can only stop the virus by doing what is best for others not just for ourselves. The virus will be curbed when people embody a spirit of self-sacrifice. And that requires a worldview that gives us a reason to deny ourselves. A reason to think of others.  In other words, we need a worldview that is about more than us. In short, “You do you” won’t work.

Revival rarely comes in times of plenty. Instead, it often comes in times of want. It’s when all our earthly comforts and securities are taken away that we’re willing to turn again—with renewed vigor and commitment—to the good news of the gospel which is, at its heart, about a man who laid down his life for the good of others.

If the first Adam embodied the “You do you” culture, the second Adam embodies the “You serve others” culture. After all, it was Jesus who said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

[MJK]

Never a Better Time for Family Prayer

In this article, the author shares how family prayer affirms four spiritual truths during times of uncertainty. After reading this, I realized how I need to make more of an effort to establish good patterns of praying together as a family. I hope you enjoy it.

As families are stuck at home, we have an opportunity to together take up the largely invisible, outwardly unremarkable tool of prayer. We can’t see the danger, but we know the One who sees everything. What’s more, the excuses for prayerlessness—too little time, too much going on—are wiped from the calendar. Evening activities have been canceled, and morning routines rearranged by an unseen foe, leaving families with only time and togetherness. There’s never been a better time to pray. Our prayers are not isolated, and neither are we. In the face of uncertainty and illness, we are not alone. When a family prays together, Jesus will attend every time.

[TGC]

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Extras

Upbeat Songs for Quarantined Kids (Free Playlist)

My kids love music and nothing makes me happier than hearing their little voices singing “Jesus Loves Me” in unison, even if off-key. So, I loved this list of songs for quarantined kids to listen to, dance to, and sing to. I hope your kids enjoy it as well! [TGC]

A Prayer for Working from Home

If you’re one of the many who has traded in their office for a small spot at the kitchen table then this prayer is for you! [TGC]