Looking back, it's hard to believe that it's already three months since the Bell's Palsy episode, which caused me to make major changes in my life that had nothing to do with the global pandemic or lockdown.
The timing however, couldn't have been worse when it came to having to be in the hospital.
For those who are not familiar with Bell's Palsy, it has many of the same symptoms as a stroke victim, but thankfully it isn't that. Besides from specific facial exercises, there really isn't a cure except for prayer and time.
When the incident first happened, I wasn't able to do much especially in the writing area because of how it affected my physical vision. This is partly why I haven't been able to post as regularly as usual.
What upset me even more was not being able to keep up with my schedule and life vision. Everything would have to be put on hold and my bubble of moving forward was burst.
One week after being diagnosed at 5:30 a.m. on May 19th, 2020, the Holy Spirit gave me a message. For two hours I intently listened and wrote down what I heard in my spirit. In the beginning I felt the message was just for me and so I never shared it.
Frankly not everything made sense to me then, because I don't participate in some of the things He spoke of during that time. However, now I realized that the message wasn't just for me but was to be shared at the proper moment.
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Pioneering through the Crisis
For months our world has been changed and so has our way of
thinking and going about life. We’re not
experiencing just one worldwide lockdown, each of us is experiencing our own type
of lockdown emotionally as well as physically.
Those
who are in good relationships have taken this time in stride and are
experiencing positive results based on their attitude going into the
pandemic. They’re intrigued finding new
ways to stay virtually connected through modern technology, and welcome this “stress-free”
time to slow down taking in the simple things in life all while enjoying their
families to the fullest.
Let’s
not forget that anyone who lives in an area that has a yard or outdoor space
available to them doesn’t feel quite so cut off from the world. Having the ability to go outside and still be
a part of the environment lowers the risk of falling into depression
significantly.
A
time of reflection and “finding myself” has become clearer in 20/20 leading
them to pursue their life goals with gusto.
They’re embracing the opportunity no matter how short it may be to take hold
and make the most of this moment in time.
Others
have felt trapped in solitude and struggle with the current events of life. Along with loneliness from the lack of
interaction with co-workers, friends or family, millions have also dealt with non-employment,
tragedy, illness and even loss of a loved one.
One
of my childhood friend’s mother left for Heaven in early May. Three days later his father asked him to
deliver the eulogy. Gladly he accepted
and prepared for it immediately. Little
did he realize the service would be postponed until mid-August because of the quarantine.
Standing
in an open courtyard last week with few friends or family present, he spoke
with a quivering voice stating how difficult it was not to be able to share this
in the midst of those she loved. His
only relief was knowing that she was with her Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Sadness
and heartache are real. Some are stuck
in unhealthy relationships which is taking a toll on the entire family.
Children are experiencing negativity,
physical or emotional abuse as illegal substances and alcohol rises behind
closed doors.
No
matter how you are perceiving it, universally daily routines have been
interrupted and may never return as we once lived. With so much time having passed since the
first orders were given concerning staying safe at home, people have
psychologically taken on new perspectives, mindsets and identities with the
forming of new habits.
As
events in life happen, people ultimately change whether they plan on it or not mainly for survival and staying sane during such chaos. Many new behaviors will become permanent or
what some call the “new normal”.
When
we first moved, my mother used to refer to it as “pioneering” through a crisis
or situation as in the early settler days of America when families grew closer
and were tightly knit. Gatherings with “outsiders”
only took place a few times a year, and bible reading was a nightly event in
each household after dinner.
People
spent more time on home priorities including caring for their own families and
community. From what I’ve been studying,
hearing and reading, even with the pandemic calming down society is less
inclined to go back to normal socializing, even at a safe distance.
Re-entry
into society with limited restrictions is still going to be slow, and that’s
not such a bad idea really. Depending on
who you spent your lockdown time with, will make a difference in how quickly
you are able to respond to the changes that have taken place and will remain in
effect.
Solitude
Living
With
all the changes what can we expect to happen next? Is there hope beyond this lockdown that
people can cling to, and how do we prepare for the unknown?
We
have to seriously look at what we’ve been doing with the time we’ve been given
in this so called “solitude” living.
There are lessons to be learned from the scriptures when the people of
God were faced with challenging times.
I’d
like to direct you to a passage in Exodus where God gave direction for the Israelites
that was nothing short of miraculous. Anyone
who is about to venture into a different way of living needs guidance and
instruction, but mostly they need hope to get through each step, day by day as
they face challenges.
We're no different than the Israelites back in Moses’ time, in needing something to hold on to that
reminds us that things are going to get better.
Moses looked to Jehovah, the God on the mountain. Today our hope is in that same God, but our
message is found in the gospel of Jesus found in the Holy Bible.
Delivering the Treasured
Message
Turning to the Bible book
of Exodus chapter nineteen, one of the many conversations between Moses and Jehovah
takes place. It gives details of how God
was going to do wonders among the people after they were delivered out of
bondage.
They couldn’t imagine
how this could happen, but the Israelites willingly listened for instruction. It would be two months after they left Egypt
that the LORD would reveal Himself at Mount Sinai.
The first time Moses
climbed the mountain to appear before God, the LORD gave instructions for him
to give to the family of Jacob and the descendants of Israel. He reminded Moses of what He did to the enemy
and how He delivered them out of captivity.
Now I doubt Moses
forgot how the Red Sea sucked up all the Egyptian soldiers by the hand of God who released the raging waters that allowed the Israelites to pass through on dry
ground. Why was it important he be
reminded?
It was a word-for-word
message Moses was to deliver to the people reminding them of how God kept His
covenant promise. Jehovah heard their
cries and delivered the Israelites out of the oppressive hands of Pharaoh, He
fed, led and kept them safe daily. This
leg of the journey would require them to faithfully keep their part of the covenant
and trust Jehovah in ways they never had.
God’s message through
Moses to the people of Israel:
“Now if you will obey
Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the
peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to Me.
And you will be My
kingdom of priests, My Holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6 NLT)
Moses did as the LORD
spoke and gathered the people giving them the message of how special they were
to Him. The Israelites agreed to do
everything the LORD commanded even though they may not understand what He was
doing; Moses returned to the mountain to relay their response to the LORD.
Here is what most
people miss in this passage. They
remember God said He would speak through Moses, because basically, that’s
what He was already doing. The
Israelites received the Word of the Lord in their hearts that they were Jehovah’s
special treasures, and there would be a thick cloud as evidence He was
present.
What we fail to
realize is that not only did God promise to come in a thick cloud so the people
could see something was about to happen, they would also be able to hear the
conversations between Moses and the LORD for themselves! This is huge!
Sure, the Israelites
knew they were favored by God in how they were delivered out of bondage, but this
is beyond what they asked or thought could happen. Favor came on the entire
nation of Israel to hear the voice of the LORD give instruction for the people
when they obeyed and were faithful to the covenant, which included not
worshiping other gods.
“Then the LORD said to
Moses, I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can
hear Me when I speak to you. Then they
will always trust you.” (Exodus 19:9 NLT)
Don’t you think it
made Moses’ day when God called him by name?
It shows that they had a relationship that was more than superficial,
but personal.
God didn’t have to do
anything but keep things as they were between Moses and Himself. He chose to give special favor to His treasured
friend so that the people would trust Moses when he gave instruction for the
journey.
Notice the point
wasn’t so the people would trust God, but that they would believe the messages
delivered to them by God through the "messenger" prophet Moses in the future. God was
planting seed into the mindset of the Israelites. It was another unselfish act of God to
demonstrate His love for His special treasures.
Believe that You Are
Special
Talk and praise are
cheap when they don’t have love to back them.
In this lockdown situation people are really finding out the true colors
of others and how they feel about them in the way they are responding to
individual burdens.
Feelings of loneliness,
depression and anxiety are overwhelming, because some can’t fathom what it means
to be loved unconditionally. They don’t
see a way out or hope beyond this lockdown.
Crying out in desperation they don’t feel heard or special in what they
are going through, because so many others are experiencing the same thing.
This is why the message
God spoke to Moses to tell the people was so important. Jehovah wanted them to know their cries were
heard and that they were His own specially loved treasures.
I can’t recall a time
when someone praised me simply because of who I was. Nor do I remember anyone ever saying I was special. In fact, I was told
the exact opposite! Not thinking I was
important really didn’t give me much confidence in succeeding in life, but that
changed through learning about the love of God through Christ Jesus.
Coming to the
understanding that God loves you not because of your gifts, talents or special
abilities is eye-opening! I think of it
like this … God loved me so much that He picked special skills and selected attributes
that would make me who I was, and I would love who I am (learning to like myself came first).
God already loved and fashioned me into who I am because He wanted me to love what He loved – me! He planned for and wanted me, not someone "like" me, but flesh and bones literal me who He knew would mess-up and not always get things right!
I am favored by God not because of what I can
bring to Him or do for Him, but because He first loved me so much that He wanted blessings to
always be in my midst my entire life.
I totally get how King
David felt when he wrote Psalm 23.
“Surely goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my
life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord (and His
presence) shall be my dwelling place.” (Psalm 23:6)
These
aren’t just words to make him feel good when things were going bad or when he had passed on to glory. They were
words of hope for the living here on earth that helped David cope. He knew that God’s promises were real and
for him. They are just as real for us here and now!
In
verse six the term “goodness” means in the widest sense it is God’s pleasure to
present to His precious treasure the most beautiful, best, bountiful, kindest,
loving, cheerful things shall be in his favor (yours, mine or anyone who
believes).
His mercy on me is
kind implying beauty, favor and goodness.
This mercy gift of favor will follow, run after with intent to pursue, chase
or hunt after me my entire life.
When you wholeheartedly believe
this is true, the way you handle the unexpected challenges of life will be different
because you are expecting God’s covenant favor to always be with you. It’s a game and life changer!
This Week's Challenge:
Walking in Treasured
Shoes
We are all either followers
or leaders; at times we are to be both. The
question is which do you want to be and which are you actually called to be?
Not all of us are
called to be a Moses, but all believers are called His special treasures, that
means we too are responsible for a specific task that will benefit the Kingdom
of God. How you receive the Word of God
in your spirit will determine the depth of favor that God will distribute to
you.
This week I’d like you
to put yourself in the shoes of the treasured Israelites. Remember the times God has brought you out of
a bad situation and into safety. Recall
how He heard your prayers through heartache or sorrow and was willing to provide a solution.
Then put yourself in
the “special” shoes of Moses. Did he see
things as hopeless? Think of his relationship
to the people and God, and the calling on his life.
How did Moses prepare
to hear the voice of God that was different from the Israelites? What was special about Moses that God was
able to use him differently than the others?
"As
shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel
of peace." (Ephesians 6:15 NRSV)
In
other words, prepare yourself to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability,
the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news of the Gospel of
peace through Jesus. That will take
belief and hope in a God that speaks to those who keep His commands.
As you engage with people,
think back on the last time anyone said that you were special or a treasure to
them. What effect did it play in your
life?
Have you put on the
special treasure shoes of belief? God is
waiting to come to you with answers and solutions that will bring favor into
your life, but He needs you to obey and keep His covenant in order for Him to
reveal Himself to you.
During this time of
separation from the public, don’t separate yourself from God and from His favor. In this uncertain time, God is the only One that knows the future, so why not put your hope and trust in Him?
Face it, people will forget you, but God won’t.
He has always called you by name, because He loves you like no one else does or can.
“Fear not, for I have
redeemed you;
I have called you by
your name; You are Mine.
For I am the Lord your
God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
(from Isaiah 43:1-3
NKJV)
There is not one thing
God doesn’t know about you, and He loves you anyway! Isn’t it time you become one of His special
treasures? Read here to find out how.
Next time we'll continue with the second message God gave Moses for His special treasures.
P.S. I have to report that God is faithful and my healing has been progressing steadily. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I love and appreciate each of you!
Until next time, special
treasures merit God’s favor!
“I love
giving favor to My special treasures.”
- Jesus
Christ
Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
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Disclaimer
Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Scripture
reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible
Hub.
*Unless
noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.
Note:
When used, the words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because
we give him no place in our lives.
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