These Times

Is this really happening?  It takes me a long time to process things.  It does.  Even now as my friends check in on me and I am reading news articles and processing information, I am in denial.   I don't think it has all hit me.  School closing?  Working from home?  I was one of the ones who didn't buy a ton of toilet paper.  Now there is a shortage and I have teenagers at home, teenagers with fast metabolisms...  Let that stay there for a minute.  I'm not going to say no to a proffered roll so... If you have extra, keep me in mind.

I think of how little germs are.  I think about how big God is.  Today at church, Malachi, the associate pastor, preached on Psalm 46.  I'll copy and paste it below.  If we are going to trust in God, then we are going to trust in God.  I am not tempting fate right now by refusing to wash my hands and going out into the world.  I am sitting here, in front of my computer and I'm doing what I have always done.  I'm writing and sharing thoughts with the world.  There are moments that I tell myself that I should be more scared.  But I have lost... a lot and God has always been there, taking care of me and showing me the way to go.  I have made mistakes... Oh Man!!!  I have made so many mistakes.  It is more common for me to mess up than to not mess up.  Expect messes from me!!!

I don't know what will happen.  You don't know either.  Only God knows what is next.  All of those dystopian movies that have dominated television, movies and booklists have prepared us for what will come next.  Have we been getting ready for this for the last decade?  I don't know.  God is sovereign.  Be safe and pray, Friends.  Trust in the Lord and Praise God!

Psalm 46 English Standard Version (ESV)

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[a] A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present[b] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
2. Psalm 46:1 Or well proved