Staying Connected

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned so many households and routines upside down. In our case, David is now working at home in his new office in our closet. Closets, I have found, are extremely versatile. This closet has served as a bedroom for Josiah first and then Chaeli. It has also served as a sewing room for me where I cut and sewed Mary's Glinda costume. Now, it is a home office for The Professor. This week he begins teaching virtually, which is actually not a big adjustment for him, since he uses Zoom often in his work. This has been a huge challenge for many professors, but it's a win for the geeks. One huge benefit for our family of this outbreak is the limits on travel. I know some may be really disappointed by this, but for those of us with spouses who travel often for work, it's a win. In fact, I am even hoping that once people see how much can be accomplished virtually that his future work travel will be reduced!

For the kids, we are continuing with school as usual. On Tuesdays, they take classes at a Learning Center through our charter school. Those classes are now virtual and are 45 minutes each rather than 90 minutes. The kids no longer have soccer or swimming, but they have still been able to get exercise running, riding bikes, jumping in the trampoline, and even climbing up and down their triple bunk bed. Really, who needs a climbing gym? At first, the closure of pools was an adjustment for me. I just really like having a little bit of time when the house is actually quiet. Crazy, I know. So, now we have a mandatory quiet time in the afternoon. One hour of reading in your room. Even for Mama. It is the highlight of my day because it is the time when I am able to read and study and reflect on God's Word, which is the source of any strength I possess.

While these changes have been minimal, our church lives have been changed significantly. Our lives are centered around our church and church functions, so we spend a lot of time there. Bible studies, AWANA, Youth Group, Maintenance Team, and Sunday Worship. I didn't even realize until now, that with all these combined, some fraction of us are at church six days out of seven. Of course, since the stay at home order, none of this is happening at church. But, that does not mean that it is not happening. Our leaders have worked very hard to establish ways in which we can remain connected as a church during this stay at home order and for this I am extremely grateful. Below are some of the ways:

1. Online worship services--We continue to worship with our church online.  Our pastor prepares and delivers sermons to an empty sanctuary so that we can worship as a family at home. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to preach to an empty sanctuary not being able to see the reactions on people's faces or whether anyone is even paying attention at all. I found that it's actually really helpful to pretend I am actually going to church and to shower and dress and do my hair as I would for a Sunday. Since I know there are more distractions at home, I found that I am actually more vigilant about preparing ahead of time. 
2. Online Bible studies--Another one of our pastors continues to lead us in a study through the book of Ephesians. I am thankful for his commitment to the word and helping us to study it accurately. It must be so awkward to speak to an empty room and to prepare a power point that you show to no one, but we really are watching!
3. Virtual Small Groups--I have been able to meet with my Bible study small group virtually and, actually, we have drawn into closer fellowship having deeper and more meaningful conversations. Sometimes, I feel so awkward when there is silence, so I just start talking, but silence isn't as awkward when you're online, haha. 
4. Devotions--Our church leaders have been recording and sharing videos about their reflections through the Word in light of the current events. These reflections have been so encouraging because they are so real and open and honest. They share their struggles and thoughts and what verses God has been using to encourage them.  
5. Children's Ministry--I think all of us involved in Children's Ministry are concerned for the children in our church. We don't want them to become spiritually impoverished during their time away from church. Each ministry has sought ways to connect with the kids. Chaeli's teachers have been recording videos of her lessons for us to watch at home. It has been great to see the lessons and the enthusiasm the teachers bring to their lessons. For the elementary kids, we have been recording videos every couple of days to share our thoughts from our studies through Ephesians and fun activities to do at home. The youth group has gone above and beyond, continuing to hold virtual youth group Fridays and Sundays as well as extra devotional time during the week. 
6. Watch Parties and More--Beyond that there are watch parties and so much more that are available for us to participate in, though I haven't been able to take advantage of those yet.

I am so blessed, but still there is an inner longing to actually see my brothers and sisters and especially my Kinders in person. Virtual hugs and kisses to all!

Let the Love of Christ Shine!

As COVID-19's imminent descent upon Orange County transformed from hoax into inevitability, I observed charitable offers from members of our community. One woman offered to pick up groceries for anyone at risk in our community. Other did the same. Honestly, I was ashamed. Ashamed that the thought of even extending such an offer had not occurred to me. My thoughts had been focused on my family, in particular shielding my family from the virus in order to protect others. I have six kids, ranging in age from three to thirteen. The ones under ten (four of them) do not understand the concept of personal space, so maintaining a distance of six feet is a near impossibility. While I have tried to teach them how to cough into their elbows and how to wash their hands with soap and water, they still need to be reminded and retaught. Beyond that, they simply do things that are really gross just because they are curious. Sometimes I like to imagine their questions for a laugh. Hmmm...how far CAN I stick this finger up my nose? Oh, ok, that far. Well, now, what's THIS and what does it taste like? Hmmm...not good, I wonder how FAR I can flick it.

Sadly, since then, this love and concern for others has dwindled. On Wednesday, our community management made the decision to close the neighborhood pools. (No, that is not a typo. Pool is plural. We have four!) Some of the lap swimmers questioned whether it would be a possibility to keep one pool open with appropriate safety precautions, such as providing hand sanitizers for opening the gate, closing off the showers and bathrooms, and requiring sign ups for usage limiting the swimmers in the pool to three at a time. All that love turned into hatred meted out over email. Responses in disagreement to the request were unkind, harsh, and judgmental. [Y'all know I am a lap swimmer. I swim three times a week, but this was NOT my proposal. For the record!] But, what happened? Why did the love so quickly turn to hatred?

Along with some other members of our church, I have been memorizing 1 John, one chapter a month. 1 John 4:19 says: We love, because He first loved us and 1 John 3:16 says: We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us. Jesus left heaven, a place of pure holiness and perfection, to come to earth, to live among sin, for one reason: LOVE. He, the Creator of the world, became part of Creation, experiencing things such as sorrow and pain and betrayal and weariness. The most mind-blowing part of it all for me, though, is that He paid the ultimate price of death and separation from the Father not because I am so full of love for Him. Not because I am so worthy of His love. Not because I have done anything for him. Not because He had anything to gain by doing it. He died for me because of His love. 

So, now the question I am asking myself is what is my purpose here and now? It seems that 1 John 4:19 says my purpose is to love. To love in the way that Christ loved: sacrificially, expecting nothing in return, even to those who are unlovable. I haven't thought that there was much of a way for me to shine for Christ in the midst of this pandemic aside from continuing to care for my family. But, the recent exchange of emails amongst the members of my community has shown me that maybe God placed me in this community in order to express His love at this time. I am endeavoring to reach out to some of the individuals, who seemed to express vehemence, to see if they need any groceries or prescriptions or other errands. I pray that Christ's love, which is the same yesterday and today and forever, may shine through all of His children now more than ever!

Worship from the Heart

During this time of social distancing, our beloved pastors have been sharing videos with personal reflections to encourage us spiritually during this chaotic time. This morning one of our pastors encouraged us to use this time wisely out of love for Christ. Whatever we do with any extra time on our hands, let us use the time to worship Christ. As I spent some time thinking through this exhortation and how to apply it in my life right now, I decided to use this blog as a place to reflect on what God is teaching me in my devotional time with Him through the Word. I am by no means a Biblical scholar, so I am sure there will be things I share that need correction, but I welcome that because I love the Lord and my desire is to know Him and to make Him known. I believe that a key ingredient to fulfill that desire is understanding and applying the truth of His Word in my life.

This morning, I was reading chapters 11 and 12 of Genesis. These are two chapters of the Bible that I have read often in my Christian life, but still something stood out that I had not noticed before. Chapter 11 recounts the story of the Tower of Babel, where the people try to build a tower to reach to the heavens. God puts an end to it by confusing their language resulting in the scattering of the people around the world. What's so bad about building a tower? I encourage my three year old to build towers a lot. She loves it. She builds it as tall as she can and then she knocks it down. But, is this passage saying we should not be towers. I believe the problem is found in verse 4, "...let us make for ourselves a name." So, then I thought maybe the problem is not with building towers but making a name for yourself.

In chapter 12, God calls Abram to serve Him and promises him, "...[I] will make your name great." This made me stop in my tracks. What? A great name? Isn't this why God dispersed the people in the last chapter? Abram obeys God and leaves, following Him towards the land of Canaan. Twice, he stops and builds an altar to God. Having a great name is not the problem. The problem is the motivation. Abram did not seek the name itself. He sought the Lord. He followed Him wherever He led and worshiped Him along the way. The people who sought to build a great tower, on the other hand, worshiped themselves not God.

The big takeaway from these two chapters for me is that worship is a matter of the heart not the externals. The external (a great name) is in itself neither right nor wrong. The motivation can either be from a heart of self-worship as in the Babel-builders or from a heart of God-worship as in Abram. What does this mean practically? Well, if I write, may it be for the glory of God. If I homeschool, may it be for the glory of God. If I teach, may it be for the glory of God. Satan is so crafty and sneaks in wherever he can with the temptation to make a name for ourselves. Let us fight against that with the power of the Holy Spirit that we may know God and make Him known. May He receive all the glory and the honor and the power!

Till next time!

Different Yet the Same

So much in our lives has changed as a result of the spread of coronavirus to the US. Schools are closed. Restaurants, if open, only offer take out. All sports and events are canceled until further notice. The shelves and freezers at the grocery stores are bare. At the beginning, it really felt like I was watching a movie being played out in real time. Now, it seems as though I have finally adjusted to accepting social distance as the new normal. At the forefront of my mind is this thought: While so much has changed, so much remains the same.

Recently, I began a new Bible reading plan. I chose this plan because it had readings along with a journal for adults, teens, and kids. Coincidentally, last Friday, the day's reading was Job 1-2. Job experienced so much suffering, pain, and loss, things I can't ever imagine going through. Others in time and history have experienced pain, but what is unique about the book of Job is the glimpse into the spiritual realities at work. We see that God allows Satan to bring the pain and suffering, but that He is in control. It is clear that God is in control because He places a limit on Satan, that Satan may not take Job's life. This remains the same: God is in control.

Dear Coronavirus, I will not be shaken. No, no! I will not be moved. Why? Because my loving and faithful and omnipotent and unchanging God is in control.

Being a family of eight living in a three-bedroom home does not allow for much privacy or social distance indoors. We all have been rubbing against each other, creating quite a bit of friction. Arguments. Name calling. Doors slamming. Yet, what does this all reveal? Our hearts are sinful. They are desperately wicked. What do we see when we look deep within our own hearts? This past week, watching the interactions of my children is like a window into my own heart, revealing selfishness, pride, anger, greed, hate, impatience, and more. This is not new. This has always been the case, ever since Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden.

Dear Coronavirus, When I see the depth of my sin, I will call out to God and He will forgive me because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross for me. You cannot accuse me. I belong to Jesus.

Every time I read the latest news about coronavirus, I read different opinions from well-renowned scientists. Not one of them knows for certain what will happen. Not one of them knows for certain who will require hospitalization. None of them knows for certain how long the virus will spread or if and when it will mutate. If man had the power to stop this virus, certainly it would have happened by now, before so many lives had been lost. But, the truth is that man is and has always been powerless. Man cannot stop the coronavirus, nor can man deal with the problem of sin. God is the only one who can heal our bodies and our hearts. As we see the limits of mankind, may we see the awesomeness of God.

Dear Coronavirus, Whatever you are, God is more. My purpose in this life is to bring Him glory and honor and praise as long as I have breath. This I will do because God is!