If someone would have told me on the first day of Spring 2019, that on the first day of Spring 2020, we would be experiencing a global health pandemic that is shutting down houses of worship, schools and sports seasons, travel, businesses, restaurants etc. I would have scrunched eyebrows thinking there was something wrong with this person!
With that said, I still love Spring! I am coming to a greater understanding that the only thing that matters in life is that unbelievers hear about Jesus and that believers are being discipled/mentored. This is why I love Ecclesiastes so much. Everything is vanity/meaningless without God. I love Spring and its glorious, colorful, fragrant rebirth of vegetation. All of Creation points to the Creator Triune God. I love and am very excited that Spring brings longer and warmer days; however, without God the days are just days. Seasons are just seasons. Everything is monotonous with nothing new under the sun.
I find it fascinating that youth who have no issue staying indoors playing video/computer/electronic games for hours on end can be seen outside playing and roaming the sidewalks. All of us are wired to rebel against anyone who advises not to do something (even if it is for the benefit of ourselves and society at large). May we grow in wisdom this Spring (or Fall for our Southern hemisphere brothers and sisters!) and allow God to grow us and mature us in this season. As life brings death and death brings life, we know that none of this is meaningless for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Father God, help us to be Christ to those in our midst today, whether it is in person, talking on the phone or through text and email. Lord God, thank You that You are in our midst. Thank You Lord that we are not a people without hope. Lord God, may this trial refine our faith, molding us and shaping us to be more like You. Thank You God for this reader. May this reader come to know You and Your Word more in this new season of life. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Blue Collar Theologian 
” the only thing that matters in life is that unbelievers hear about Jesus and that believers are being discipled/mentored”
Amen!
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Happy Spring!
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🌹🏵💐🌸🌼
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Amen.
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Spring on display will be a perfect distraction from the current woes of this global crisis. Any day now the Texas wildflowers will be showing their faces. Looking forward to it. Stay healthy & safe, Mandy. God’s great grip – Alan
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Same to you, Alan!
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Amanda again your belief shines throughout your post. Thank you for your prayers and knowledge.
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Hi, Pearl! Thank you for reading and encouragement! I appreciate you! Love and blessings!
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What a different Spring than last Spring!
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You ain’t lyin!
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Answering your question: we hanging in here in California. Picked up lunch at a restuarnt take out. Our state still allow take out. But they told me they might close next week with food shortage, lack of sales, etc. But we are making it. By God’s grace! Thanks for asking
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Thank you for asking about our elderly congregation. There’s some language barrier since they are primarily immigrant background but I”m definitely in-tune with the Senior Pastor and deacons and have our congregation ready to help. I’ve been telling our English Congregation (I’m the English associate pastor) to be prepare that this year we’re going to probably have to help a lot of people financially and physically in the case of our own congregation, the elderly congregation and also outside our church. So far it seems we haven’t been able to do much yet since there’s families helping the elderly, government resources in our more lower income community but I’m not counting on that to continue.
So there’s a lot of calling and checking up on people including my evangelistic contacts who are not believes. I’m also praying a lot for the medical proffessionals in our church and our ethnic group does have a higher percentage of medical professionals in the US. I also have been talking to our deacons that we must also accept that our church fund is probably going to be doling out a lot to help people. I’m ready to take a salary cut if it means people get their bills and rent paid.
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Jim, you and your family are amazing! I have spent most of my working career with the elderly and it breaks my heart to see how they are super suffering around the globe right now. I wonder what the aftermath of all of this will be! I am praying for you and thank you so much for this update!
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Thank you so much for your prayers and support Mandy
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