I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3)

Today is my mother’s birthday. I’d mention what precise birthday this is, but the number has always been an unmentionable part of the remembrance. Since it’s her birthday, I’ll respect that wish and simply say that her years have made her all the more precious. 

More important than the number is the person, anyway. Today is exceptional because my mother is more so. My mom has always been my best friend. I know I can talk to her about anything, and she will always make me feel intelligent, talented, and beautiful. While the truth is that I am far from those things, as long as she thinks I am, that’s all that matters to me. 

My close bond with my mother intensified when I was fourteen after my brother was born. She and I shared an intense adoration of him as we watched and recorded every milestone in his life. Such a thing bonded the three of us, actually – and such a bond can never be broken. 

Six years ago, right after leaving my controlling husband, I took my first European trip with my mother. She always wanted to go to Italy, and I knew I had to take her there. What started as a week-long trip with a tour company ended up as a two-week-long annual excursion that my friends and co-workers now regularly inquire about. 

“Where are you going this year, Sara?” they ask, as they stare in wonder at the trip photos that grace my office. 

My mom and I have seen things others can barely envision. We’ve had experiences that few people could ever understand. While our journeys are memorable expeditions filled with beauty and majesty, they are also fraught with fear, tension, stress, and anxiety. We are two women traveling alone, after all, in foreign countries where we don’t speak the language. It’s only by the grace of God that we’ve made it through and come out smiling.

I am a combined travel planner, trip coordinator, driver, cook, security guard, and escort on these trips. We stay in rental apartments where the locals vacation and stick to a tight regimen of travel from town to town nearly every night. 

We’ve gotten lost in the dark woods with no cell signal in Sangerhausen, Germany, and had the lights go out in a building hallway while trying to find our apartment in Salzburg, Austria. We traveled at Mach speed on the German Autobahn in construction and rain with my contact lens nearly popping out of my eye and run to a train while dragging 50-pound bags of luggage in Rome, Italy.

In Genoa, Italy, we almost ran out of gas with no idea how to work the gas pumps in a deserted gas station. We prayed incessantly for safety while driving on the left-hand side of the road while seated on the right-hand side of our rental car in Edinburgh, Scotland. And on and on the stories go. I could give countless examples of God’s promised protection and provision while on these trips. 

But when detailing the trials, I must also chronicle the blessings we experienced. The God-moments that we have had are astounding. The most monumental was our chance encounter with Pope Francis in St. Paul’s cathedral in Rome. There was also the time we missed a turn near Garmisch, Germany, and nearly ended up in a parade – complete with horse-drawn carts, traditional costumes, and a full-blown blessing of the animals’ celebration. 

Whether it’s taking a cog-wheeled train to the highest station in the world in Switzerland or walking in on a BBC taping of a Wednesday afternoon church service in celebration of the Protestant Reformation’s 500th anniversary, the memories of my trips with my mother are resplendent with awe and wonder. 

I no longer refer to our trips as “vacations.” I now call them our “FROG Adventures” because we Fully Rely on God the entire time we are traveling. There will come a day when I will transfer my journal stories into mini books, detailing all our experiences. They are too remarkable to keep to myself. 

Unfortunately, this year, due to COVID restrictions, we’re unable to travel abroad. Instead, I will see my mom in Colorado, where she, my brother, and I will traverse the Rocky Mountains rather than the hills of foreign soil. It feels different, but any journey with my mother is a blessing. She is precious beyond description, to be sure. 

And so I end with the petition, “Above all, love one another deeply.” (1 Peter 4:8). We don’t know the number of days we will have with our loved ones, so each one is a gift to savor, cherish, and store in our memory banks. 

As for you, mom, I can only say, I love you beyond measure. You are of infinite value to me. While I’ve never been as smart as you think I am, I am the wealthiest person on earth to have you as my mother. 

I have countless, bejeweled memories of time spent with you, Mom. Thank you for believing in me. You are my most cherished blessing. For now and forevermore, I love you greatly.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:15)

We spend most of our adult lives in the workplace. Our understanding, intellect, and energy are infused into our jobs. I’ve always believed in the Biblical directive to “work as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Translation? I serve God by working to the best of my abilities – and then some – at all times. 

But what happens when we feel overlooked, overloaded, and overwhelmed by our workloads? And how do we respond when we experience injustice and indignity in the work environment?

I can answer both these questions, as I’m living these two experiences right now. Oftentimes, we lose heart – and our hearts are what empower us to rise above and prevail. In other words, these two combinations can wreak havoc on our ministry. I’m working hard to modify such an outcome, with God’s help. 

During our COVID work from home period, half the administrative assistants in my company were terminated. We became the least necessary of all workers for our corporation. While my executive retained me and laid off three of my peers, her actions did little to reassure me of my value. Her follow-up was to advise me that she was “doing all [she could] to keep me employed.” Small comfort, indeed.

Now, more than ever, the value extracted from the work I perform is nearly non-existent. 

Worse yet, one of my former peers was brought back to fill a created position that is now above me. Needless to say, this elevation further undermined my sense of worth in the workplace. 

I’m striving to accept this shift in the environment without becoming embittered by it. One way I do so is by wearing a rubber bracelet to work each day with the simple message, “I am second.” The words serve as a constant reminder that I must always place God and others before myself. Each morning I pray to be the person that God wants me to be. I am His servant, first and foremost. 

I am working to give my soul’s disquiet to God. It’s a daily struggle that I am praying God gives me the strength to overcome. 

As surely as I pull weeds from my garden, I consciously choose to yank out the root of bitterness I’ve felt trying to embed itself in my psyche. I can’t sway others, but I can discipline myself, and the formidable battle to do so is one I can’t afford to lose. 

Whatever controls me wins my heart, soul, and spirit.

May God grant me the strength to keep Him first in my life. My job is not to right wrongs or correct injustice. My goal is to keep Christ at the forefront of my existence and end the conflict in my head. It’s time for a ceasefire as I surrender and give the battle back to God.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:35)

In 1976, my mother, sisters, and I moved from Papillion, Nebraska to Woodlawn, Maryland – a suburb of Baltimore. In many ways, this move changed my life. I was an awkward, pimply-faced sixth grader with little glasses, buck-teeth, and twin braids, transplanted from the cornfield to the coliseum. The culture shock was unquantifiable and fitting in was never an option.

In Nebraska, I walked two blocks to my elementary school. My best friend had horses to ride, and her father bred black Angus cattle for a living. Apart from the harsh winter snows and unpredictable summer tornados, life in Nebraska was pretty great. I felt safe, secure, and happy. 

In contrast, being bused to a Baltimore County school meant I had to walk four blocks and cross a busy street to wait for a school bus to escort me to middle school each morning. Once on-board, I was lucky to find a seat. No one wanted to sit with the misfit and her duct-taped, antique saxophone case.

Most days, I walked back and forth on the moving bus while students shifted to the middle of their seats to prevent me from sitting with them. I would frequently sit on a seat’s edge, wherever I could find one, to keep the driver from yelling at me to sit down. The trip home after school presented the same problem in reverse – complete with plenty of mockery and name-calling.

Besides the above, I had a skin problem. I was white in a school that was ninety-eight percent black. I was the outcast, the outsider, the persona non grata. I will never forget the student who decided it was his mission to teach the “prairie girl” every four-letter word he could think of during art class when the teacher wasn’t listening. I felt utterly alone and afraid in nearly all of my classes. 

Nevertheless, it was during this time that I sought God.

My mom always listened to daily radio sermons when I was growing up, and as a gawky teenager, I made a conscious decision to do the same.

“Insight for Living,” with Dr. Charles Swindoll, was my favorite program. I tuned in to Pastor Chuck’s messages each weeknight and studied along with his mail-ordered, sermon notes. By doing so, I learned to lean on God when the world rejected me. I knew that my Heavenly Father never ceased to love me – in spite of my awkwardness – and His love strengthened my soul. 

I know what it’s like to be bullied, to be shunned by others because of the color of one’s skin. While a lot of forces were working against me in middle and high school, I always knew that God accepted me. His plan of salvation is for everyone – in spite of their skin color or appearance.

Perhaps one of the earliest songs I remember learning was “Jesus loves the little children,” whose words said, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” 

Political correctness would deem those words inappropriate now, but the message is as relevant today as when I first learned it. Jesus loves us. The pigment of our skin was created by God and shouldn’t matter to anyone. Jesus told us to love one another – without judgment or discrimination. We are commanded to love everyone – regardless of skin color or nationality.

Racism is a perpetual problem in every culture. Throughout history, humanity has seen hatred, prejudice, and hostility expressed from one people group to another – frequently due to skin color, nationality, or religion. For example:

• The Assyrians captured and enslaved millions of conquered foreigners in the 9th through 7th Centuries. (1)
• Greeks, Romans, and Babylonians continued this practice. 
• Roman persecution against Christians began under Nero in 64 AD and continued for over two centuries until 313 AD – killing hundreds of thousands of Christians. (2) 
• Jewish populations were expunged from European nations in Europe in the Middle Ages. (3)
• Jews and Muslims were forced to convert to Christianity in 17th Century Spain. (4)
• Pioneers worked to eradicate North American Indian tribes while settling the mid-west in the mid-1800s. (4)
• Between 1915 and 1920, the Turkish government massacred approximately one and a half million Armenians. (5)
• Joseph Stalin is believed to be responsible for the execution of an estimated one-million Russians between 1936 and 1938. While his initial exterminations were aimed at members of Lenin’s Communist Party and Bolsheviks, Stalin’s massacre included “peasants, ethnic minorities, artists, scientists, intellects, writers, foreigners, and ordinary citizens.” Stalin’s bloodbath continued with the killing of women and children for the perceived liability of their husbands and parents. (6)
• Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party killed an estimated six million Jews between 1933 and 1945. (7)
• The Hutus massacred hundreds of thousands of Tutsi’s in Yugoslavia and Rwanda in 1994. (8)
• Sudanese military groups killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions of Darfur refugees, beginning in 2003. (9)
• Current estimates attribute genocidal levels to the millions of Christians killed, uprooted, kidnapped, and imprisoned in the Middle East in an ongoing struggle. (10)

In response to the above, I suggest that we do not have a skin problem in the world; we have a sin problem. Evil and ethnic hatred exist. There is no disputing that reality. 

Nevertheless, so does love – and there is no enmity in love. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

As history has proven, we may never eliminate societal prejudice, racism, and malice. It has always existed, and likely always will. 

Nevertheless, we can purposely endeavor to love one another. The Bible tells us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

Far better than anything we could ever preach is the outward demonstration of Christ’s genuine love that lives inside every believer.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,” (John 13: 34-35) C

Color blindness starts with us. No matter how someone treats us, where they were born, or what they look like, we are directed to demonstrate love. Such affection shows what governs us and who we belong to.

After all, they will know we are Christians by our love.

References: 

1. 2019, June 10. Ethnic cleansing. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/holocaust/ethnic-cleansing
2. Lunn-Rockliffe, S. 2011, February 2. Christianity and the Roman Empire. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/christianityromanempire_article_01.shtml#:~:text=Christians%20were%20first%20%2D%20and%20horribly,destroyed%20much%20of%20the%20city.
3. 2019, June 10. Ethnic cleansing. 
4. Ibid.
5. 2019, October 31. Armenian Genocide. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/armenian-genocide
6. 2018, August 21. Great Purge. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/russia/great-purge
7. 2019, June 10. Ethnic cleansing. 
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid. 
10. Wintour, P. 2019, May 2. Persecution of Christians ‘coming close to genocide’ in Middle East – report. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/02/persecution-driving-christians-out-of-middle-east-report

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

Gardening requires faith. We take tiny dead seeds, place them in the ground, cover them with dirt, give them water, pray for sun, then hope that our efforts won’t be in vain. Sometimes we’re rewarded with considerable crops. Other times, we see little reward for all our valiant endeavors. As I lifetime gardener, I can fully attest to both outcomes. 

This year, for the first time, I planted everything in my garden from seeds. I’ve previously seeded beans, corn, and leafy vegetables but this is the first time I’ve tried seeding tomatoes. I’m not sure I would have attempted to do so were it not for the suggestion from a co-worker of mine.

After learning we were fellow gardeners, my friend told me he had purchased an abundance of tomato seeds for his brother and offered whatever remained to me. A kind gesture, I thought, but I was wary about the results. Growing plants from seeds can be hard. I wasn’t quite ready to try tomatoes this way.

While working from home during the COVID pandemic, I emailed my friend for assistance with a work-related matter. After thanking him for his help, I asked him how his garden was doing. In his response, he detailed the health of his hydroponic plants, then reminded me, anew, about his remaining seeds. I asked him to tell me what varieties he still retained.

Rather than sending me a list of names, my friend sent me a link to the descriptions of his heirlooms, and I was immediately hooked. From his inventory, I chose the following: 

• Azoychka – Russian yellow. An abundant producer with a slight hit of citrusy sweetness.
• Black Prince – Three to five-ounce fruit. Dark brown with red interior. Originally from Irkutsk, Siberia. 
• Jubilee – Drought-tolerant yellow. Southern heirloom. Heavy producer. 
• Hillbilly – A West Virginia heirloom, the marbled yellow and red coloring remains inside and out. Beefsteak tomato, producing one to three-pound fruit. 
• Mr. Stripey – Beefsteak variety with yellow-orange flesh and subtle red striping. Two-pound slicing tomato.

When the day came to plant my seeds, I was shocked at their minuscule size. The tiny, flat particles looked so small and frail that it was hard to imagine a large plant growing from something so diminutive. I planted three seeds per mound and hoped that at least one would survive. Months later, I’m excited to say that I now have thirty-seven thriving plants from my original twenty-four mounds – some of which are now nearly shoulder-high. 

While planting my seeds, I was reminded anew of how Christ spoke of our need for faith by using a common seed in His illustration. There are so many lessons to glean from this comparison.

I must have faith to believe in a God I can’t see. Just as I can’t see the mature plant when I bury its seed, I witness evidence of plant maturity everywhere I look. From the beautiful mimosa trees in my yard to the hundred-year-old live oaks in downtown Savannah, all plant life grows from seeds.

I may not see God but the evidence that He exists resides in everything from plants to the molecular structure of my body.

My faith reminds me that Christ’s perfect sacrifice provides the only means for my eternal salvation. I may want to take credit for the growth of my plants, but the fact remains that humans have very little control over the force of nature.

Similarly, I may try to earn my way into heaven by leading a good life and helping others, but the Bible reminds me that all my “all [my] righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6). “For by grace [I am] saved through faith; and that not of [myself]: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Even a little faith in Christ can turn impossibilities into possibilities. Faith in myself is not enough. I can’t make a tiny seed become a big plant – but God can. Let’s look at the impossibilities of DNA, in general. Human bodies contain approximately ten trillion DNA cells. If all these cells were joined together, they would stretch from the earth to the moon and back to earth one thousand, five hundred times. (1) How all this information can be housed in our bodies is unthinkable, and yet scientific study has proven it to be a reality.

Such intelligence and intricacies did not incidentally appear. Such impossibilities do not just happen. “With God all things are possible.” (Luke 1:37) It takes more faith to believe in random creation than to acknowledge the reality of a divine Creator.

From an insignificant seed – whether tomato or mustard – miraculous things grow. From tiny faith, incredible blessings follow. 

Just as I believe my plants will grow, I believe that God will take care of me. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) I’ve seen this fact proved over and over again in my personal life. God has sustained me through every challenging situation I’ve ever faced in life. That’s a fact that can never be disputed.

From the moment I accepted Christ into my heart, my life has never been the same. He has taken my small faith and made it grow large enough to move mountains – or grow tomatoes. Nothing is impossible with God. 

Reference:

1. Braganza, M. 2016, November 6. Your DNA can stretch to the moon. Retrieved from https://www.dnaindia.com/technology/report-your-dna-can-stretch-to-the-moon-2270567#:~:text=Every%20human%20being%20has%20about,and%20come%20back%20four%20times.

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Since the dawn of creation, man has been trying to recreate the Garden of Eden. We plant, nurture, and cultivate flower beds to enjoy the beauty of our landscapes – always seeking perfection in doing so. Such plantings give us peace and happiness as we wonder at the artistry and sweet fragrance that flowers bring to the world. My yard is no exception. 

Since moving into my home in the summer of 2018, I’ve been slowly adding flower beds to my yard. My original plantings were influenced by cost – meaning, I could only afford clearance plants or items that were on sale. When many of my flowers died, I learned to create garden plans, pick better plants, check them for optimal health, and pay more attention to the soil and upkeep. This year, my gardens are thriving. 

Gardening is an active hobby. Digging, planting, staking, weeding, watering – all these things take time and hard work. When I look at my gardens now, I know that every lovely flourish was hard-earned through the incalculable cost of my sweat equity. 

This year, for example, I purchased a dump truck-load of garden soil that could only be unloaded outside my yard. Slowly, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, I moved the dirt from near my front driveway to my backyard vegetable garden: 45 wheelbarrows, in all. 

Once this garden was complete, I carted additional loads of dirt to create a new flower bed, then supplemented old plots of existing, sandy soil with the richer dirt where former plantings weren’t doing well. Each of these jobs required the hard work of shoveling soil, pushing the heavy burdens to the gardens, cultivating it, and going back for more. It was hot, sweaty, filthy labor, not for the faint of heart. 

Last weekend, while preparing to cut the grass in my yard, I spotted a hole under my fence, made by one of the armadillos that dig in my yard for grubs. While kicking the soil back under the fence, a movement caught my eye that made me jump up and back in alarm. 

A little over a foot away from where I had just kicked the dirt sat a young, two-foot-long copperhead snake. As I ran into my house to grab my camera-phone, I kept repeating, “Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!’ I knew that snake, young as it was, could have dealt a painful bite to my bare ankles and legs. There was no doubt in my mind that God protected me. 

As I watched the snake move across the back perimeter of my yard, it struck me how often God protects me from things that I so seldom give credence. There is never a day when the Devil is not seeking to steal my joy and focus my attention on anything other than my blessings. How often do I acknowledge these protections? Not often enough. 

I work hard – both at home and in the office. Since our workplace reduction a few weeks ago, I’ve been serving eleven-hour, stress-filled days, with little security that my position will remain. I focus on every mistake that I make – and I make plenty – as I try to keep up with my heavy workload. My workplace insecurity and duties often carry into my dreams, whether I want them to or not. 

But aren’t anxiety and insecurity tools of the Devil? Of course, they are. I dare say they may be some of the most powerful tools in his arsenal. 

“[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

“You’re not worthy,” he tells me. “You won’t last long. You can’t do anything right. It’s only a matter of time before you will fail, and you, too, will be gone.” 

Are such observations accurate? Of course not. God knows I strive to perform above and beyond what’s expected of me. Am I perfect? Far from it. Do I make mistakes? All the time. Nevertheless, I can’t focus on my imperfections as they will always remain and don’t make me who I am. 

Rather than listen to the lies, I choose to focus on my blessings. I have a job when others do not. I have food in my refrigerator, a beautiful home and yard, money in the bank, a dependable car to drive, and I am healthy. More importantly, my family is healthy. Many others cannot say the same. 

There will always be a snake in the garden, seeking to cause me fear and alarm – slithering about as he strives to redirect my attention away from the beauty and blessings that surround me. By focusing on God’s Word, the promises He made never to leave or forsake me (Joshua 1: 5), and all the ways God has protected me in the past, I have all the tools I need to resist Satan’s deceptions. 

The Devil told his first lie to Eve when he said to her, “You will not surely die.” The existence God created for humankind was lost when Eve disobeyed God. Her utopia ceased and was replaced by the pain and hardship that has plagued humanity from the moment that first, fateful apple was eaten. Sin bears consequences. God’s warning was true, as is every other word that He gave us in the Bible. 

• I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)
• For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)
• My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2)
• Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
• The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. (Romans 8:16-17)

God loves me – wholeheartedly, passionately, completely. I am His beloved child, and He will always take care of me. While bad things may sometimes happen in my world, I cannot live my life in fear of the same. 

Beware the snake in the grass, beloved. Satan is always waiting to strike and cause us harm. 

But God’s Word, His love, and His protection are always with us. He will never allow any harm to come to us without it being for His purpose. Such a thought gives me comfort. May it do the same for you today.

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

Three weeks ago, my employer implemented a COVID-19 Reduction In Force (RIF) with 699 permanent terminations and furloughs of bright, talented, intelligent people that would have never been let go, outside of a global pandemic. 99 of those individuals were in my department. But for the grace of God, I could have easily been number 100. 

Our corporate president announced the impending action the day before the cuts were made, and I knew I had limited time to send a final note of encouragement to co-workers that would soon lose their jobs.

In my position, I have the unique privilege of being the primary communicator of tech-related messages to our administrative staff around the world. Ten weeks ago, when our work-from-home journey began, I started sending weekly messages to my fellow admins, offering them digital tips, tricks, and inspiritment.  

With each mailing, I heard from more and more of my recipients who frequently told me how much they appreciated the messages and forwarded them to their teams. While I knew the tips were helpful, I often heard that the motivation was more appreciated than anything pertaining to their work-product. These were thirsty people needing much more than water to satiate their bone-dry souls. 

It’s such a simple thing to thank, elevate, and motivate others – yet how seemingly rare.

Recently, I had begun ending my weekly messages with the simple sentence: “Never forget how important you are.” Again, such a simple phrase with such power to reshape one’s fragile self-image. So often in life, we feel undervalued and insignificant. Perhaps we are not as imperative to the world as we would like to be. Nevertheless, each of us is significant to God. 

In this particular case, as in the Biblical tale of Esther, I felt that I had been given this platform to provide inspiration in “such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) I’ve adopted the message I sent that fateful Friday to this platform, where I’m free to speak of my faith and God’s love for all of us. This message is for you, dear reader – with the truth of the Gospel behind it.

You are important. 

God loves you, and you are of infinite value to Him. No matter what you do and no matter what happens in your life, you are of immense importance to the Creator of the universe. Such a reality is life-changing.  

Don’t forget who you are outside of work.

For most of us, our identity stems from what we do for a living; what we know, how well we do our jobs, how highly we are esteemed in the workplace often forms our self-perception. Don’t let your employment determine your self-worth. No matter who you are and what job you perform at work, who you are outside of your profession is what’s most valuable to the world. 

Demonstrate love. 

Be kind. Show compassion. Remind others of their importance. Such a mind-shift has the potential to reshape your entire existence. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) 

God loves you. He’s not impressed with your title or how high your last raise was. Work stature is fleeting. God’s love is perpetual. Let that reality fashion your identity rather than what your nameplate says above your door. 

You are valuable.

What I want you to hear and hold in your hearts is that you are unceasingly valuable in God’s eyes. Your existence makes a difference in the world. Our worth must run deeper than what we do for a living. We are so quick to place our worth on the appraisals that the world gives. It is important to remember that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die for us so that we could spend eternity with Him in heaven. (John 3:16) 

• Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26)
• Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12: 6-7)

You are a child of the King.

No matter what happens to you in the workplace or the world, you are a beloved child of God, an heir to His kingdom. What higher calling, what greater esteem can the world hold than that? “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17)

You are amazing.

God created unique, remarkable you. No matter who you are, what you’ve accomplished, or not accomplished in life, God created you to be precisely who you are. Your journey, your existence, your path is original, and you are amazing. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

Above all, never forget how important you are.

There is only one you and you are irreplaceable. Nothing will ever change that. Believe in your value, and remember that you are wondrous. Never lose sight of that reality. “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139: 15-16)

Kind words are like honey: sweet, sustaining, nourishing. What you say to others in the time of their greatest need can be life-changing. Think before you speak. Choose your words wisely. Pray that God will give you the proper thing to say when it is most needed. You will never regret doing so. I know I never do.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46: 1-3)

The devil loves to steal our joy and peace. I believe it’s no coincidence that the coronavirus became most active in the United States right before Easter – closing churches, invoking fear and stealing the unity felt by Christians around the world celebrating Resurrection Sunday.

Up until a few weeks ago, my joy was unwavering. While the mountains were quaking around me, I refused to give in to the panic and fear I saw washing over others. I know how blessed I am to have a job where I can work from home, and I’ve felt incredibly protected throughout the pandemic. My job, family, and home were all safe. I refused to give in to fear for the future. 

Two weeks ago, my insulating walls came crashing down. 

It all began with a text from my sister, telling me to check my email, as our father had died.

Our dad told my sister, years ago, that his family was the Army. That came as no surprise to me as I have no memory of ever living with my father and only retain a few random memories of brief interactions with him over my adult life. I’ve always known that my dad’s world was the military, rather than us. That’s who he was, and I accepted that truth long ago.

Instead, I claimed my heavenly Father as my real dad. I’ve always felt that way. No earthly father could ever compare to the love that God gives me. 

Nevertheless, this was my earthly father, and the loss of anyone always brings me face-to-face with my mortality. In a time when every other news report is focusing on deaths in our country, this reality became more pronounced. 

Just before dawn the next morning, I had a disturbing nightmare of being chased by a demon. I woke with a silent scream caught in my throat. I seldom have such things, but this one was vivid enough to prevent me from returning to sleep. 

By the time I climbed out of bed, a jumble of thoughts had filled my head. Have I done enough with the life God has given me? What does my future hold? Does my life matter? How much longer will I be able to keep the job I have – given the current economy? What will I do if I lose my job? How long will I be able to pay my mortgage? 

By the time I logged on to my computer, I was a bundle of nerves, sadness, and trepidation. I know the name of the demon in my dreams. His name was Fear. 

Try as I might, the fears kept compounding inside my head. By the end of the day, I was a quivering bundle of emotions, not knowing how to get past my sadness without the grace of God. 

I walked to my vegetable garden, determined to dig in the dirt, and let my thoughts go. Purposely, I clicked on my favorite Pandora station, deliberately choosing to re-engage my thoughts in contemporary Christian music. 

The first song that came on was “We Believe” by the Newsboys. The lyrics follow the apostles’ creed with a powerful mantra of what we all, as Christians believe. 

In this time of desperation

When all we know is doubt and fear

There is only one foundation

We believe, we believe

In this broken generation

When all is dark, You help us see

There is only one salvation

We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father

We believe in Jesus Christ

We believe in the Holy Spirit

And He’s given us new life

We believe in the crucifixion

We believe that He conquered death

We believe in the resurrection

And He’s comin’ back again, we believe

While listening to the song, my spirit was strengthened. As I looked down at the soil in my garden, I noticed seedlings pushing up from the dirt. New growth. From what once appeared dead, new life had formed. If I didn’t believe that would happen, I wouldn’t plant seeds. If I didn’t trust God with my future, my spirit would stay in despair, underground, never pushing forward and blossoming back to life. At that moment I made a conscious decision: I would not give in to sadness and fear.

Two days later, my boss called to tell me that another workforce reduction would soon take place. My job was safe, but other positions would not be. Her call validated my earlier apprehension.

Nevertheless, God was protecting me – yet again. I would not surrender to anxiety.

Bad things happen to all of us. We are never promised a happy tomorrow. Loved ones die. We lose our jobs. Our future is uncertain. I believe everyone in the world feels this way right now. 

Yet, with God, there will always be new life. He brings us out of the grave every day. We cannot live our lives in disquietude. We serve a risen Savior who is in control. He knows everything about our past, present, and future. Even the hairs of our heads are numbered (Luke 12:7). He watches over our coming and going, both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:1). God promised us that He will be with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9).

I believe that with all my heart. I believe in God, the Father. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Spirit. And He’s given me a new life. I believe. 

He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. (Isaiah 26:5) 

Last weekend, I witnessed, firsthand, the empty streets of Savannah. Today, I caught a glimpse of the larger world outside my fair city, and what I saw astounded me. 

Never before in the history of man has an event so entirely altered the way our society operates, travels, educates, and thinks. Schools, businesses, and even whole cities have effectively shut down due to COVID-19. This pandemic didn’t just affect one community. It has impacted all life on our planet. 

YouTube is full of videos showing wild animals wandering empty streets where bustling traffic would have prevented their passage just a few months ago. The videos of mountain goats wandering the streets of the Welsh town of Llundadno, and a young family of Egyptian geese walking across an abandoned Israeli airport tarmac are particularly striking.

Earlier this year, it would have been hard to fathom the emotions generated by the sight of empty thoroughfares in New York City, London, and Paris. Now, such images have become symbolic of the world shutdown that has become our new norm.

This Easter, my friend Patty and I watched Andrea Bocelli’s live-streamed concert, “Music for Hope” – filmed inside and in front of Italy’s gorgeous but empty Duomo di Milano. Bocelli promoted the event as a prayer, not a service. As the renown opera singer told the Associated Press, “I will go there to pray, and I’d like to think that everyone listening to me sing, can pray with me.” (1) 

While the music brought tears to my eyes, a few impressions stood out for me in the orchestration. 

1. My mother and I were incredibly blessed to visit many of Italy’s grand cathedrals in both 2014 and 2015. While we never visited the Duomo di Milano, we were privileged to tour St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Duomo di Firenze, which boasted many of the same design attributes. Memories of such places are even more precious to me as we face this year’s travel ban;
2. Europe’s grand cathedrals have no equal in America. That’s just a fact; but
3. More importantly, empty streets remind me of the greatness of God. 

While I’ve heard friends call the emptiness of formerly bustling cities frightening and almost eery, my perception is far from fearful. To me, the absence of people in places formerly known for their dense populations is a stark reminder of how frail we are compared to our omnipotent Creator. 

Cities speak of man’s prowess and power to build, control, and manipulate. 

Empty city streets remind us of our vulnerabilities and insufficiencies. We, who think we are the grandmasters of our destinies, are fallible. Our false bravado and egocentric personalities have been brought low by a humble contagion.

We are not invincible. We need God. More than that, we need a Savior. No matter what we build with our hands, no matter the legacy we believe we are creating, no matter the wealth we amass or the following we create, we are nothing without God. He humbles the strong and elevates the weak. God controls all the forces of the universe – including the coronavirus. 

Prosperity gospel preaches that God only wants to bless us. Such doctrine is untrue. God is not just a loving grandfather, eagerly bestowing good gifts upon His grandchildren. To believe such a thought is not only anti-Biblical, it will inevitably end in massive disappointment.

More so, such ideals diminish the power of God. As Job told his wife, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)

Colossians 1:16 reminds us that, “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” 

Nehemiah 9:6 says, “You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You.” 

And finally, Colossians 1:17 reminds us that, “He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together.”

And sometimes, God uses grand measures to remind us that we are nothing without Him – grand measures like COVID-19.

May we never discount God’s ability to elevate, sustain, and save us. We may be small, but our God is great. 

Reference:

1. Trepany, C. 2020, April 9. Easter Sunday streaming guide: Kanye West with Joel Osteen, Andrea Bocelli, and more. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2020/04/09/easter-events-stream-andrea-bocelli-kanye-west-joel-osteen-more/2965689001/

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)

There is never a day when I don’t value the presence of God in my life, but times of crisis magnify His greatness all the more. With all the uncertainty in the world right now, I can’t imagine facing a global pandemic without Him. It must be hard to be an atheist in a time of global calamity. 

According to a 2019 Pew Research poll, 4% of Americans identify as atheists with 5% more claiming agnosticism as their religion. (1) Dictionary.com defines an atheist as “a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.” An agnostic is someone “who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.” In short, atheists deny that God exists while agnostics maintain that the existence of a supreme being is unknowable. 

I once worked with an agnostic who claimed his self-knowledge was more significant than belief in a supreme being. He grew up Catholic and hated the principles of confession and penance, thereby causing him to disavow anything involving those religious tenets. I tried reasoning with his logic, reminding him that God desires a relationship with us, not our religious rites, but he refused to alter his mindset. I cautioned him that if he were wrong, he’d spend all of eternity separate from God. 

“If I end up in hell, so be it,” he said. “Stop trying to convert me.” 

Sobering words, but I respected his wishes. My friend couldn’t stop me from talking about my faith or praying for him, but I never pressed him to alter his beliefs. That decision was between him and God. 

Yesterday, I volunteered to assist in the packing of food boxes at America’s Second Harvest. For two hours, I heaved cases of walnuts, split-peas, soups, tuna fish, peanut butter, canned pears, chickpeas, applesauce, green beans, and 60-pound bags of rice to create boxes for mobile kitchen giveaways in the Savannah area. Altogether, we packed 315 boxes with 7,875 pounds of food. According to the volunteer coordinator, that was enough to provide 6,562 meals to hungry families in our area.

While it felt good to do something to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, my experience was tainted by the t-shirt worn by one of my fellow volunteers. My chosen apparel advertised my employer‘s name, but the man helping me haul cases of non-perishable goods sported his agency’s name across his back – the Coastal Atheists and Secular Humanists (otherwise know as CASH).

Helping others gives me joy as I do so in service to God. My volunteer service is an extension of the love I feel for Him. I believe that if we love God, we will also love others and strive to share His love for them in everything we do. 

How appropriate, I thought, that this group’s acronym embodies materialism rather than the transcending value of a higher calling. CASH, whether it’s the name of a group of “freethinkers” or the means of purchasing goods and services, can never fully satisfy us like God can.

Even more so, how sad it must be to live through the unseen battle of a global pandemic without the full assurance that God is in control. Without that security, there can be no real satisfaction and no certainty. How empty one must be to identify this way.

I’m glad I don’t share such sentiments.

Instead, I take comfort in knowing that everything – including a previously unknown viral strain wreaking havoc in the world – is under our Creator’s control. As God tells us in Psalm 50, “every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” (v.10-12)

There is no panic in a pandemic with that knowledge.

As for me, I prefer God over CASH – each and every day – but especially during a crisis.

Reference:

1. Lipka, M. (2019, December 6). Ten facts about atheists. Pew Research. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/06/10-facts-about-atheists/

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)

Certain events shape our lives by affecting the way we perceive the universe and our existence in it. In my lifetime, I will always remember the day that Ronald Reagan was shot, watching the Twin Towers fall on 9-11, and how St. Patrick’s Day 2020 marked the beginning of my work from home experience during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Across the globe, beaches, businesses, and even churches remain closed. U.S. unemployment figures rose to a record high of 3.3 million claims in the past week, exceeding previous totals of 695,000 applications in 1982. (1)

Three days ago, America claimed the dubious distinction of surpassing the rest of the world in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases – at 81,321, with over 1,000 deaths. (2) As of today, that number jumped to 121,000, with over 2,000 deaths. (3) 

Perhaps more disconcerting was a recent afternoon news story quoting Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the U.S. According to Fauci, America could see “millions of cases,” with worst-case scenario estimates of 200,000 deaths. (4) Shocking as that sounds, it’s important to note that CNN later clarified by stating, “The headline and this story were later updated to convey better that Dr. Anthony Fauci was offering a possible estimate based on his interpretation of the coronavirus models.” (5)

While such information is daunting, we must remember that over 330 million people live in our country. (6) Also, March 18th statistics published by the World Health Organization, have shown that more than 85,000 persons have already fully recovered from this disease. (7) 

As frightening as the headlines are, we can never forget that God is in control.

While working from my screen porch with my kitty co-workers and a view of my glorious back yard, I can easily disconnect from such headlines. Spring is in full bloom in coastal Georgia, with all the spectacular splendor that accompanies it.

I started cutting grass in mid-February and have been refreshing my flower and vegetable gardens since the beginning of March. The days are warm and sunny, with flaming cardinals, black-capped chickadees, and a scarlet-topped woodpecker keeping me company, each day. While social distancing may force separation from my fellow office workers, I’m never alone. God is always with me. I feel His presence every moment of every day.

Before I began working remotely, my workday started with a 5:20 am wake-up alarm, 6:35 start to my commute, and an average return to home at 6:00 pm. I used to walk during my lunch break but haven’t done so in almost two years. Stress increased my blood pressure, and little blue pills kept my stomach from churning itself raw. 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve instead seen the sun shining on my yard, felt the breezes gently caressing my bare feet, and finally learned all about the secret life of my pets – who, I can now report, mostly sleep and watch birds all day long. The physiological effects of remote work have done my body and spirit good. My blood pressure is down, my stomach is happy, and I feel protected beyond belief not to be touched by virus-related sickness, concerns, or fear.

God has given me great peace and shelter through this panic-strewn pandemic. Such a blessing isn’t lost on me. Simply stated, social or physical distancing does work – in more ways than the apparent avoidance of the disease.

I am incredibly fortunate. I have a job when others don’t. I am perfectly healthy while others are in the hospital. I have money in the bank, whereas many are standing in an unemployment line, worrying about their next paycheck. I have a thousand blessings and appreciate all of them. My heart aches for others who are not as fortunate.

A week ago, my friend Patty and I dined out at one of the last remaining restaurants to have an open dining room in Savannah. While I was a bit nervous to eat in a public place during these precarious times, I fully understood the precautions restaurants were taking to stay open, and was happy to support the service industry in their desperate need for paying customers.

Nevertheless, it felt surreal to eat in a near-empty facility. Unlike previous experiences, I found myself pondering random things such as the bare hands of our waitress, the proximity of other patrons, the restroom faucet I had to touch, and the rigor of my hand-washing routine. 

While I always enjoy the companionship of my friend, there’s no doubt that COVID-19 has changed the way I perceive formerly normal activities such as dining out with loved ones. Different as it was, we appreciated our meal together and felt privileged for the shared experience. 

Despite the great food and company, what I will remember most about the occasion was the shift manager’s words as he walked around the dining room. 

“Jesus has it under control,” I heard him remark to individuals seated near us. 

“Amen,” I said as I turned around to see him. “Thank you for saying that.” 

“It’s the truth,” he responded as he walked over to our table. “Everyone is worried, but I’m a big believer. He has it under control anyway. I’ve seen it. I know it’s true.” 

I thanked him again for his bold message while we gathered up our leftovers for the journey home. Never before, I thought, has a BBQ plate of pork ever tasted as good as this one, served with such a savory side order of faith and trust. 

There’s no doubt this pandemic is unprecedented. Never before in my lifetime has our world seen such a global pestilence as COVID-19. For those whose jobs are lost, loved ones hospitalized, and finances ruined, it may be hard to imagine what tomorrow will bring. 

Nevertheless, we must refuse to submit to the panic, fear, and trepidation we see around us. No matter what happens, Jesus has it under control. We live in His world, and nothing catches Him by surprise. God created the universe, and everything in it is under His care and governance. 

As the headlines grow more somber and the virus comes closer to each of us, may we always remember that we are never outside of Christ’s care and compassion. Jesus has it all under control.

References: 

1. Rushe, D. & Holpuch, A. (2020, March 26). Record 3.2m Americans file for unemployment as the US tries to contain Covid-19. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/26/us-unemployment-rate-coronavirus-business
2. McNeil, D.G.Jr. (2020, March 26). The U.S. now leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/health/usa-coronavirus-cases.html
3. Cole, D. (2020, March 29). US could see millions of coronavirus cases and 100,000 or more deaths, Fauci says. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/29/politics/coronavirus-deaths-cases-anthony-fauci-cnntv/index.html
4. Ibid. 
5. Ibid. 
6. Ibid.
7. Guzman, J. (2020, March 18). More than 82,000 people have recovered from coronavirus. The Hill. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/487280-nearly-70000-people-have-recovered-from