Isaiah 25:1-9
O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
2 For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigners' palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt.
3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, 5 like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.
6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
In Texas, this week:
People are talking about how this Pandemic has affected them and those they care about: the upheaval and the news telling us new horrors of reason and unreason.
And to be very honest, this is about the same story as Sweating Sickness in England and Black Plague in France. This is the mind of pandemic on the rev up of try and try and try and find pain. Pretty historically accurate.
This week I've been told about 5 lifetime friendships. Maybe six. In fact, seven.
People. Oh gosh, what you goin' to do with the fallen culture and People?
In fact, People are the discussion. In fact, it is the Relationships and this Pandemic creating the stir. The downheartedness. The Care. The wonder where we are going. People are actually very distressed about each other.
And if we start with 'The Pinnacle" of the worry. The Bone Deep Worry.
We find the worry is that culture has been having problems. People aren't gathering in homes to have cake and watch the game. The national level of friendship before the Pandemic was two. You get to have two friends. Go forth. It's not what we grew up with. It's not the culture of Birthday parties, baby pools and hot dogs.
I'd like to tell you Seven examples of family and friends worrying about each other and the tremulous concerns for society and self. I think you will be encouraged.
Because I want to Live, I'm going to positively "Change" "The" "Names."
Life Situation One
The family divorced. The father announced the wife wasn't grand enough to advance his aspirations and being father to this group was not to his taste any longer. The family left, left. They spread their wings and find company where worthier endeavors can be found. And the leftovers aren't warm. And the tangles will continue.
This one is mine.
I have one side to report this is on an uptick.
The people who didn't talk, suddenly do talk, and during the Pandemic will have fuss ups and dust ups and try again. This is one of the seven events of friendship discussed this week.
And it's mine. And its warmer as July compared to January. Thank God. Pandemic time did something positive.
Life and the Situations Two
A different Family. They are in the same history boat as my family. And in the middle of years of dust ups and the dust downs and the 'tell off'. They are struggling in the crisis of Covid. Come to the hospital? Now? Heroism and variables of cohesiveness. I'd like to report. Heroism is being coupled with Valor we can relate to. Not self-sacrifice of die now, it's so awful. Instead, this Valor makes us all want to Live. The answer has been achieved reaching out the first responders.
Here are the fake names: Betty and Mildred are sisters.
They play checkers with the game of life and the blessings and curses. One has looks and disasters and substance abuse and a lifetime of marriage. One has kindness, career, a new family, and overcoming. A year it's warm, B year it's off. Add in Hurricanes and horror. Now put Covid in with co-morbidities and the desire for reconciliation in heroism. How did they do? I'd say both sisters are to be proud of. And we are all concerned with our nation and future. The First Responders found ways for this family to be close and far enough apart. No one abandoned their responsibilities and because of the diligent fight for the real peace and not the nicey peace, sustainable lifetimes are going to happen.
Life isn't perfect, and they sort this out well. This week is no exception. It is not exaggerated to say this week is life and death for this family. And no one has gotten through this without life making permanent changes. The Solutions are working. And found together.
We are praying for Life for Mildred and peace in the Lord for Betty. The miracle they have found to be family in life and death time. Amen in Jesus.
Isaiah 25:1-9 ~ LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
This is Life Situation Three
Long-Time Friendships
Bob is really upset, his voice drags when he speaks.
He has made the dreams he had 5 years go happen. His extended family is feeling secure in their home and family and plans. Surrounded with people happy with what is what.
He wants to make changes. A lot of this is relationship people to people. It's every day the same worries. Same job, his peers have the same problems. Same drive to and from work. Bob has two elderly parents. Bob is throwing substance on to the fire of trapped and bored and fried. His problem is basically revolving around the people he cares about, as well. He genuinely likes his peers, but their coping mechanism of aging is topless bars. He isn't happy white-collar friends, goals met, at the shake 'em ups. Bob wants to leave. His spouse is happy and wants life to be secure in this insecure time. Living the dream during Pandemic.
Bob is probably going to be ok.
He has genuine friends Bob can call and talk about what is going on. Bob's wife is informed, but wants security during Pandemic. Bob's concern is probably the alcohol. Good Bob is very left-wing, who isn't sure about what the news is showing at night. Worried to watch. Worried not to watch. He has plenty of right-wing friends, and he is concerned at the level of anger. And wonders how we all got here and what will we do.
Pandemics happen in times of discomfort, we discuss History. These have a way of creating waves that last two, three years of Pandemic and then three years of calming back down to find relief life didn't end.
On a Christian Blog, we would ask what to do with Jesus?
Howdy Neighbor ala Homer Simpson isn't really going to work here. Jesus is the Cornerstone. Not what do we do about Jesus! But there, really, is a lot of prayer going on. And the good buddy Bob is so worried about, who is right wing is going to pray for Bob as well. Bob is worried about a right-wing friend and about two shake em ups. Bob is a good man.
In this set of concerns, are five friends.
Hay, Hey
This is Life Situation Four
This is the Friendship Concern Section of behavioral changes and friendships.
A friend of mine is very concerned.
Belinda - Her dear, dear friend knew she was Very Republican and her very dear friend, Sassy, was Very Liberal, since the last war. They knew very well indeed knowing they were vast oceans apart politically. And for over a decade they got on as peas in a pod from a different mother. Sassy and Belinda really enjoyed telling their friendship and tales. Like lines on a highway, they knew how to change lanes and how to relate. Until the second month into the Pandemic. Suddenly! The sky was falling. Because of Headline Daily Disaster List on column seven, subset B. Lies, lies, one side tells lies.
Now they have zero communication as Sassy said no more. Column 7, subset B is now in prosecution in the News Column Row Three.
Suzy has a similar concern. Another friend has decided it's the end of the world, and they don't speak much. Calls go unanswered. And more calls go unanswered. And sometimes one is returned. But life is making this friendship more difficult.
But Belinda and Suzy have something in common. Both have a family who has decided family takes care of its own. More financial sharing, more time together. Milestones and upheavals bring these families closer.
As Christians, we see God is interweaving His Plan of hope and a future in the middle of the waves Solomon says good news and bad news is from the hand of God Himself.
This is Life Situation Five
Stella has always been a good girl. Sadly, she wasn't one cut out to be as successful as her parents were. Such a great person, except she is a little shy. And the art project went well, but if she was more self-assured her hair would look better. That fashion is so great on everyone, and good on Stella too, but why did she pick that green color? With more help from Magnificent Mother, Stella will live a better life. Understanding Mother is always right. Do more chores, Stella.
Pat was a fabulous son. Sadly, he isn't a great Christian, like the rest of the family, but he's gaining in strength. It's because he isn't generous. He quits when he should press farther on. Sometimes Pat is astonishingly kind and generous, and we are surprised greatly. But we remember he did do some things back then. Lately, he is too discouraged, but people weak in the Lord do get so discouraged. We have to pray for the rest of us to do better than Pat. He is a good son, we just need him to be more like Sam. Sam is stellar.
Not everything in the Pandemic is bad. I have a good friend who is spending time away from the constant compliment that begins to sound like a backhanded drip. Sometimes time spent from the family forest is better to see the line of the trees.
God has a way of taking time out to help us see how we need each other in Mercy and Grace. God be with the families who enjoy putting one down to elevate another, to put the other down. Put downs are not necessarily wisdom.
This runs in politics, the office and friendships. And even in Network News. God is the One who will Bring His Goodness into Fruition. We all must Love ourselves.
God Bless us to Pull Together.
Let us love one another. Love covers a multitude of sins. And be as wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove. Amen in Jesus.
This is Life Situation Six
Anything you can do, I can do better.
People have reached the time they are Weary. You will find out the car has been washed once in a year. Haircuts are vastly different, not to mention hair color. Weight gain is considered both politely and impolitely.
And really, most of us feel more like the first red tractor in the field photo at some point this week. But Hmmmmmm, the song is going to be sung by the people who are tired of feeling like the first tractor. My tractor is bigger than your tractor. My tractor is mighty lovely and fine.
Corrie Ten Boom said when you feel powerless, feel prayer. Prayer is when we believe God is God and His Plan is working. Mercies renew each day. Pandemics end. Relationships repair with time and prayer and patience and persistence. Persistence in finding the Blessings. Persistence in being a Blessing.
Yes, we arrived at the Pandemic in a cross-cultural time.
Historically, yes.
Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure
to give you the Kingdom.
Abba, Father God,
Bless us with All Your Willing Favor.
We will seek and find You First.
Help Your Blessings pour upon the lives
of those we Love
to
Fill them with Your Grace and Goodness.
In Your Good Plan
and in Your Goodness
of a Hope and Future.
We will Prevail.
Bless Elliott to heal in Your Good Word.
Bless the real people in these situations.
To have Love and Faith and Hope to Share.
In Jesus Christ
Our Salvation
Our Joy in You, Father God.
Amen.
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