Remember to Call Upon the Lord, He Cares

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In my last post I described how God has blessed my family during the pandemic and how He is keeping both His general promise to provide as well as a more specific promise He has given to me. But the last month and a half has not been all peaches-n-cream. (Haven't heard that one in a while.) We lost a family member who contracted COVID-19 while living in a nursing home. Another family with whom we've been close also lost a person to COVID-19. With family and friends working in healthcare, we live with a constant threat of seeing others catch the disease and that's just the start of the stresses we have faced.

Some of those stresses have been both a bother and at the same time humorous. Before now I never had to try to plan when we would need to order paper towels or toilet paper. A miscalculation there could lead to days of...discomfort. But what I see on the news and in my region are no laughing matter. In both I see high unemployment. I see neighbors who are worried about paying for food. I hear and read reports of people who are afraid that they will not be able to pay their rent or their mortgage. I see people, real people, who are suffering as the coronavirus tries to destroy our land.

For the record I do not believe this pandemic is a punishment from God. Jesus bore our punishment on the cross, giving His life for the world (John 3:16). Based on these facts I believe this illness to be one of those unfortunate things that happens in a fallen world. I do believe that God is available to us all, ready to heal and to give hope. He is ready to join us in our struggles, to guide us forward in dealing with life. He empowers those who call upon Him, meeting needs both supernaturally and naturally through His church. We need only call upon His name.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)

Christians are not immune to suffering and this pandemic has something for everyone. We can try to deal with our troubles on our own but this is the path to failure. This is a time when we need to call upon our Lord knowing that He cares. He cares about your finances. He cares that you feel alone and/or overwhelmed. He cares about your physical health. Whatever it is, He cares. Don't suffer alone. Reach out to God and to His church through whom He works.

Stay At Home Orders and God's Blessings

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It has been a strange and uncomfortable month and a half. I'm one who likes to plan and to know where my next several steps will go. But as any follower of Jesus can tell you, this is not how God works in our lives and the current pandemic amplifies how much I am not in control. As I write this there is no sign of when things will open up where I live. And then there are the real causes of stress. From dealing with the death of a family member who contracted COVID-19 to the stress of knowing a number of people who work in healthcare, there are plenty of things in my world right now trying to get me down. Where can I find peace and stability? I find it in my relationship with God.

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

We are fortunate in that both my wife and I are still receiving paychecks. My wife works in healthcare, essential to our current crisis. My employer is doing its best to keep staff members employed until we can get back into the building. We are blessed to still have jobs when so many have lost their livelihoods. Something like 30 million people have filed for unemployment in the United States. I suspect that number will go up and I pray for those who are struggling to make ends meet.

In my 30+ years of following Christ I have seen God keep the promise of Philippians 4:19. I've lived through times when we weren't sure how we would make it financially. In those times God has found a way. Sometimes He provided by sending unexpected money: a gift or a bonus that arrived just as we needed. We've also had times when the same amount of money seemed to cover more than it did the month before. I have seen God provide and it is a blessing to know that He will do so no matter what happens tomorrow.

Not only has He provided, He has blessed. Right as the stay at home order kicked in for our area the television in our family room broke. God provided for a new one with more features and a larger screen than the old. I guess we could debate if that's a need or a blessing. With two teenage boys, I say it's both. We were able to pay cash and still buy my wife what she wanted for her birthday, again paying cash. I thank God for both blessings as well as for the blessing that is my wife.

Philippians 4:19 is a promise and a blessing given to all believers. Alongside of it I have a more personal promise that is a blessing during this time. Years ago God promised that I will not lose my day job and will not leave until it is time to start my next career. Based on His promise I can relax knowing this pandemic will not cost me my job unless it is time for something new. Knowing that God has a plan is one of the greatest blessings anyone can have and a great comfort during this unusual time.

How has God blessed you as He guides us during this pandemic?

The Chase

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I recently watched the season finale of Chasing Classic Cars on Motor Trend Network. This reality show stars Wayne Carini, owner of F40 Motorsports in Connecticut, who buys and restores classic cars. The show follows the process as he visits homes and barns in search of cars that might turn a profit. In the finale Carini spoke of how nine out of every ten leads he receives wind up without him purchasing a car. I tried to wrap my head around a 90% failure rate. Beyond the financial considerations, what makes that one out of ten worth the chase? This must be an example of someone pursuing their passion and a great example for others learning to do the same.

The connection between career and passion has long been a tough thing for me to wrap my head around, as one of my symptoms of growing up in a codependent household is a view of work that is very limiting. I was told growing up that work was all about the paycheck and that I should find something to do that is legal and that makes a lot of money. Passion and loving what I am doing were not part of the equation.

Even as I saw it in the work lives of others, I remained convinced that passion was something a man and a woman had for each other. Passion for work didn't add up until a friend of mine told me the difference between a job and a career. By his definition a job was something you do just for a paycheck, whereas a career is something you build because you want to build. I thought the difference was whether you are hourly instead of salaried. My friend opened my eyes in a way that allowed passion and love to finally become part of the career conversation.

I'm now learning to bring passion into my work, although sometimes it still seems like a foreign concept. When I heard Wayne Carini make that 9 out of 10 comment, a light bulb came on. What I've seen over several seasons of Chasing Classic Cars is passion and I started thinking about the things that I would be willing to do even with a 90% failure rate. Writing immediately came to mind. For now I still have my day job which I am thankful for especially as I see so many losing their jobs during this pandemic. As working from home gives me a chance to really examine what I do on the day job, I am also looking forward to my own chase. I am looking forward to doing something I can be passionate about. Now, where's my pen?