DebraJ
Super Moon
These days of sheltering at home against the coronavirus have seemed dismal and dreary, at times, like the clouds and rain that have poured down on Southern California these past few weeks. But Spring is also in the air and new life is sprouting from the abundant waters that have showered the earth. God is still at work…though we may not always see Him in every moment.
This morning I got up before 6 and sat down with my cup of coffee to pray and read from God’s Word. As light began trickling in, I looked up at the perfect moment to see a break in the clouds. There in glorious splendor was a full moon shining brightly, filling the sky with light.
My iPhone camera doesn’t do it justice
This wasn’t just any full moon! This was a super moon, at its closest point to the earth in its monthly orbit, making it larger and brighter as it reflected light from the sun. NASA says this was the largest of the full moons of 2020!
What a special gift…and another thing that assured me God is still at work. Even though I may not always “see” Him, when I look for Him I can – and will – see the evidence of what He’s doing.
Like this super moon, I am reflecting Jesus to the world around me. The closer I am to Him the brighter and fuller the reflection! And it’s when times are darkest, that He shines brightest.
My prayer is that I would reflect Him accurately, in every thought…every word…every action, remembering I might be the only evidence some will see of what He’s doing. I want to reflect His beauty so others can see God is still at work and that new life is sprouting up from the abundant waters that are showering the earth…so they can find new life in Him.
Isaiah 55:10 – 11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty.”
Isaiah 66:23 “”From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me”, declares the Lord.”
Lord Jesus, help me stay close to you so I can reflect your love and grace and peace to everyone around me. I love you so much. Thank you for loving us more.
COVID-19 Update
Things have changed so drastically, so quickly in recent days. The novel coronavirus outbreak came on us as fast as an early spring storm: clear blue skies one moment; dark rain clouds storming down on us the next. Our regular-everyday-freedoms have been replaced with stay-at-home-isolations and quarantines. To protect the most vulnerable from COVID-19 our needed hugs are no longer safe and social distancing is imperative. Yet this loss of human contact creates a huge hole in each of our lives.
As we navigate this storm together, I am thinking and praying for you, your families and loved ones. May God impress on each of you that we are NOT alone. Let’s reach out to those around us through phone calls, texts, emails or social media, offering or asking for help and encouragement. As uncertainty surrounds our health and financial futures, I am asking God to provide for each of us according to His boundless resources. He is our Good Shepherd; we don’t need to worry. May He to bring healing to the nations.
Each of us can only do a small part, but together, and with God’s help, we are like a mighty army. We will get through this together and be stronger as a result. Please comment, or click “contact” on the menu, if I can pray for you for anything at all.
Psalm 23: 1 – 2 (ESV) “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
Philippians 4: 6 – 7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Click here for more information from the CDC: https://www.coronavirus.gov/
Thoughts to Begin a New Year
I’m praying through several scriptures that the Lord laid before me, to set as my scripture focus for 2020. I’ll be choosing one to memorize and focus on throughout the new year, although I would love to memorize them all. See if any of these touch your heart as something the Lord would have you ponder throughout the year ahead.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139: 23-24 NLT
“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1: 6-7 NLT
“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy…” Psalm 16:11 ESV
“Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10 ESV
I love all four of these passages, but with the crazy chaos in our lives these days, I think the Lord is telling me it’s this last one I need to focus on over and over: Be still. Be still and know. Be still and know that He is God.
Yes, in these days and for whatever may lie ahead, this is where I need to land.
Love you all, my friends! May you have a blessed and Happy New Year as the Lord leads you each day of 2020!