Pandemics and Jesus !!!

We are all going through some pretty tough stuff right now, this pandemic is messing with all of our heads at some point or the other, there is no denying it. Most of us have never seen anything like this ever before.

A few years back I was at the ICO in London  for a 6 week stint of blessing. It was one of the amazing experiences in my life so far.  In that time I was like a duty officer and as a result of that, I  tried to care for those around me.

On one occasion one of our group from Africa became very ill..... I wont go into all the detail but we found ourselves at hospital with him and trying to work out what was wrong for him.

That night at the hospital a nurse was on duty helping...she shouldn’t have been there, it was a double shift or something, but she was there and it just so happened she came from the same African country that our ICO officer did. Was able to communicate easily with him in his native tongue.

They sorted it.... but she told us later, that if he had been home he would have died.... for the medical processes he needed would not have been available to him at his home.   A miracle and the work of God right in front of our eyes I believe. He later returned to the group...well again.

Anyway ICO finished and we all went our separate ways.... I joined Jules in a holiday, well she joined me... and we celebrated our reunion after 6 long weeks, we travelled to Paris, and then to Budapest... and it was when I arrived in Budapest that I started to feel unwell, it was horrible for me and also for Jules, I was stuck in bed in the hotel.

We were only there for a few days before returning to London and were supposed to go to Scotland and Wales ...needless to say I remained ill for 2 weeks or so....close to pneumonia and whatever else it was. 

Why this story here in my blog... well, while we are going through this new pandemic, understanding how it is caught in some ways... I reflected upon how I got sick that day in Budapest.

I must have caught a bug from somewhere somehow.... none of us are immune from catching bugs and we all must do what we are asked to protect each other at this time of Covid.... whether it is from someone’s sneezing or coughing or a bug on something we touch.... well somehow I got a bug and  I was very unwell.

We all must do what is needed right now, wear the masks, wash our hands frequently and stay home if we feel unwell.

But I pondered what it might look like if we were so intentional at sharing the love of Jesus and allowing Him in us, to be come a pandemic of love and mercy and grace ?

Leaving the mark of Jesus wherever we go.  Intentionally or unintentionally...

I dont want to be immune from His love and touch on my life. I do want to remain healthy at this time and safe, from Covid..... 

but I also want to be filled to overflowing with Jesus and His love and I want to share it everywhere I go.

By the way my sickness was nothing to do with the African Officer, it was something completely different. Just in case you were confused.

I guess for me I question my own personal influence and interaction when it comes to the Jesus inside of me. ( I am not questioning yours ) I am questioning just how infectious with Him I am.

I know its almost tacky..... especially right now...but this world actually needs a pandemic of Jesus’ love and forgiveness and Salvation right now.  Something that makes a difference to the world like COvid has.

Just a thought. 

Grief... Sadness... desperation.

In my quiet time today, I was drawn back to a very significant time in my life.

I was reading Mark 12.. around people jockeying for position in the crowd. Looking to be honoured and rise above others. 

 It took me back to when a group of us visited India for a mission trip a number of years ago, and how we were treated when we were in the presence of the local Salvos. 

In some ways it was very honoring...but in other ways it made me feel uncomfortable, being placed up front and “on show”.  

Anyway... our team had just arrived, and trying to catch up on jet lag and rest before we started our month long mission immersion experience where I was team leader.

2 weeks before this trip my dear dad had died and we had had his funeral in Perth and I had returned home to Melbourne, leaving my Mum alone. I was heart broken but felt like I should go to India nevertheless.

Thought I was going ok.

However that first night, after the smells and tastes of Indian food(I am not good on that stuff), tiredness and huge feelings of homesickness for me personally I was not in good shape. Add to that a bit of travel sickness from the back seat of the van we were in, well I went to bed and prayed and wondered whether or not I would be able to lead this team at all, seeing as I couldn’t seem to get to lead myself.

I was like this for a few days, ringing home helped me a little, but I was feeling a whole mixture of grief and abandonment and isolation, and just wanted to go home. I seriously wondered how I could possibly lead the group for the next few weeks.

It had come on me by surprise really, but I was in deep grief for my dad.

Even now as I write this, I miss him and mum so much... they are both in heaven now. These people gave me life and shaped me and my DNA is from them(and my God).....

Anyway...a few days later we kept going and were on the road to the North of the State, a fairly long drive I remember...  I learned to sit in the front, so there I was in the front of the bus, our Indian driver speaking small amounts of English.... and I had nodded off.

I had been praying for strength and peace that I might be able to do what had been asked of me for this trip by TSA.

And as we drove and I slept and others in the bus also slept... I was awoken by the driver pointing me to observe a sea eagle that was on a bridge as we approached it.   In my daze of waking I was surprised by the eagle...but more surprised by the driver who had no idea about me and the way in which God speaks to me...about and through the presence of eagles.

And in that moment God spoke to my heart saying all would be well for me.... That He was with me, That He would carry me, that He himself would sustain me and that I would get through.

It was a super special moment for me. The driver had no idea, but God and I did.

That’s how it has been my entire ministry life actually... God speaks to me through eagles, and in that time of utter despair He reminded me that He was with me, as He has reminded me again this morning. 

That in the middle of this desperate situation in the world ...He is with me, He is with us, and calls us to draw near to Him and be strengthened by His Spirit and allow the peace of God that passes any kind of understanding to lift and settle us.

I continued on that India trip, and we all started to do our work, and it finished well and I returned home obviously and knew that God had done a number on me that day in that bus with a man that knew nothing of the way that God spoke into my soul. 

But he (the driver) became a messenger of Jesus that day for me.

I pray that we each will find ourselves in the situation where we can be messenger for Jesus today and point people to the hope in HIM.

Is God angry at the World ?

Another new week begins, 2020 what an absolutely crazy year.

This morning in my quiet time, I have started reading the book of Mark again in the Bible, and today in chapter 5... The words of Jesus came to a man facing the death of his daughter... “don't be afraid, just believe...”

We all face trying times, things that upset and hurt us, things that confuse and bewilder us, and things that just simply make us angry.

Well I have watched it around me, the world is in a state of disarray... we have conflicts between countries, we have faced the craziest of bushfires, in Australia, and now this world wide pandemic. It has led me to think through various times in history when the world has faced trauma, and yet seems to regroup and survive.

As a Christian, I can’t help but ask myself the question where is God in this situation ? Did He create it ? Was He is so angry at this world that this needed to happen ? Does He care ? Does He know ? What will happen next ? Does God exist ? If He does why wont He fix it ?

Do you ever ask those kinds of questions ?

Do you ever get angry and frustrated and fed up ?

Well think of that man back in Jesus day, told to stop troubling Jesus, because its now too late, his daughter has died and its over.  Can you imagine how that bloke must have felt that day ? Angry ... desperate...despair...deepest pain imaginable....sadness... and frustration that he couldn’t save his own daughter.... and then Jesus says.... don't be afraid, don't be worried or concerned, Just believe.

I could imagine the guy saying...its all right for you Jesus, my daughter is dead...what am I supposed to do now ?    And Jesus words..... ring loud......  “JUST BELIEVE”.

I think back in history and what Has happened in various times..... without explanation I will mention some of them here...to cause you to think it through as well.

• Noah and the flood and the ignored warning to the world.
• The Tower of Babel and the separation of people groups.
• The coming of Jesus and His life and death and resurrection.
• The book of Revelation and prophecy of a future yet to be seen.(being ignored by so many)

And also to mention other events of this world,  - world wars, other virus plagues, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other serious activity leaving hundreds of thousands dead.

And Jesus words... ring loud....... “JUST BELIEVE”.

What is God saying to us ?

Are we ready for the return of Jesus ?   Seriously ready ?

What will we be doing when He returns ?

Will we be preoccupied with our careers ? Money ? A relationship ? Sin ? Earthly Strategies ? Structures ?

Will we be preoccupied with .......................................? (Fill in the blank)

I pray we will be preoccupied by Jesus and in getting our world ready for Him, for me we seem to be in a time of preparation.  We must not miss that.

And so ..... Jesus words to that man that day, still ring true for me, and hopefully for you also...

Don’t be afraid...

Just believe.