Gina's Story
God is speaking love and encouragement through His people.
Gina is a "card sender." It was something her late mother did. When she inherited her mom's stacks of greeting cards she wanted to carry on her mother's legacy. Before the COVID crisis, Gina taught water exercise classes in a senior living facility and also had an Alzheimer's Support Group. She writes:
"Now, with quarantine, I've truly had to "up my game." Many in the senior population that I work with do not have the technology to stay in touch. They are the generation of true letter-writers - so I've been keeping in touch with them through their means of communication - snail mail! I send them encouragement and meaningful Bible verses. I just want them to know I am praying for them, and that I MISS them! It's a small way to show the love of Christ and Good News during this time of social distancing.
Joanne's Story
God is moving in our hearts, minds, and in our families.
During this time of isolation, Joanne has been a part of a Small Group study on Zoom facilitated by Cindy Howard. She shares,
"This study has made me think deeply, a lot of thinking about my past. One of our lessons was about barriers to trusting God completely. It caused me to ask God, "Why were some things so hard. Why did I feel like a failure in some aspects of life, like parenting, especially with one strong-willed, independent child?"
I asked God to show me His perspective on this. He gave me a vision of working with a wild horse. I could tame the horse some with treats and bribes. I could fence it in a corral but it would just run in circles, and we would both be unhappy. I could even tie it to a post and really restrict it, but that really caused stress for both of us. I found that it was best for me to let the wild horse run free and come back on its own terms. We were both much happier.
Then God showed me that this was my parenting style with my strong-willed child and it was ok. I did the best thing I could do in the setting. I was not a failure. This took away a barrier I had in my relationship with God that had been there for over 30 years. This has given me much greater freedom to trust God in other things as well. Praise the Lord for the many ways He brings about growth and change to our lives.
Brad's Story
God is moving through transitions in our workplaces.
Brad works for Mediacom and usually goes door-to-door selling cable and internet services. But during the pandemic, he now drives around in his car for six hours a day verifying that addresses exist. Listen in as Brad shares his story:
"On Friday afternoon I was in the parking lot of an apartment complex verifying addresses in my tablet when I noticed a homeless man digging through a dumpster. Immediately I remembered what I had read that morning in Isaiah 58. Well, I didn’t remember it all so I opened up my bible app, re-read it.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Isaiah 58:6-7
I started thinking and praying about what God wanted me to do. After quite a while I drove over to him and asked if there was anything at all I could do to help. His response was, “No, I’m good.” I could tell right away that it wouldn’t be a good idea to press it. I think it would have offended him more than anything. So I told him to have a good day and drove away.
Reflecting on this, since there was nothing I could do for this gentleman, God must have created this situation in my life for my good, not his. I think God just wanted me to have a WILLING heart to do whatever He wanted me to do. If I continue to have a willing heart to seek His will and obey there are many benefits mentioned in Isaiah 58:8-11 that I believe can be expected and even include healing for my body! Go check them out for yourself!"