Squeezed Till Dry!

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Are you listening to the news about the corona virus? I think most of us have been keeping updated with the news about the corona-virus at least part of our day. I am surmising that you are hearing what I am…this crisis is nearing it’s natural end. This is the news we have been waiting for! As the medical and economic experts have their heads together and are trying to come up the the best solutions for all of us, and the vaccine is being administered, we have placed our trust in them. I am not giving my opinion on the good, bad or ugly of all these things, I just don’t have that kind of wisdom. But, it does appear that some of the social distancing and other instructions have been working, and the actual cases have been dropping. This is all good news! So, this will propel us back into some kind of a ‘new normal’. Again, the experts will describe to us what that means and what we need to do to be in compliance with their new regulations.

What I have been thinking about, and actually praying about is this; since I know that God does not waste a crisis, (He does not create the crisis, just uses it), have I learned what I needed to from this crisis? I implore us all to reflect on this. It will require us to become introspective. Think! I know it will still be some time before we all get back to work, church activities open up, sports and entertainment return, but, I’m asking about you, your personal life. What did you do while you were home more than usual?

I heard a Pastor friend today say in his sermon, he actually saw God squeezing out a wet sponge until every drop was squeezed out of it. Every drop of everything we knew we should do, but did not make the time to do before corona. Every drop of the bad habits we keep promising to change-but don’t. Every drop of being more consistent with our prayer and Bible study habits. The changes we have had to make in our lives should make us stop to think. Did I make the most of a bad situation? Did I spend more time connecting with loved ones by phone etc. Did I help where I was able to? Maybe make masks? take meals? give money? Pray?

Maybe you have done these and more, but before this ‘restricted ‘ time comes to an end, take some time to reflect on these questions. Then make the changes. There is still some time, but it’s growing short. Soon the vaccine will have given us the desired ‘herd immunity’ and we will return to all the activities that kept us running morning, noon and night. Soon we will be in our own zone once again and forgetting that there are still people isolated in nursing homes, homeless and cold on the streets, alone in prison, confused about a decision. Let’s think about those less blessed than we are, and continue (or begin) to bless them!

You have heard me share about the fundraising arm of our church. At our women’s meeting the CEO of Keystone Mission reminded us about the people out on the streets and under bridges that have nowhere else to go! We need to always keep these people in our prayers, and on our giving list!

James 2:14-17 (KJV) 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.

Just a reminder, when God finally squeezes every drop of change for our good out of this virus ‘sponge’, the sponge will be ready to receive all the blessings He has been waiting to pour into us! He knows what we need to do. Ask Him to tell us where we still have some things that need to be squeezed out. He will! Only then will there be room in us for the blessings to be poured in!

Ask yourself; Has everything that does not please God been squeezed out of my life? If the answer is no, get busy, your time is running out. Our ‘new normal’ is just around the corner! Your blessings are waiting.