What the heck do I know?!

It is a crazy, anxious, difficult time. I was hoping to kick off my first blog with a fun, irreverent message that would reflect the salty flavor to come. But being tethered to crisis changes things; probably for the good. We'll leave the absurd for another time and focus on the more passionate encouragement that's needed. Corona-vid is on its march. No one knows how bad it will get. But here's what I know:

I've seen more families walking together around my neighborhood the past two weeks than I've seen in nearly twenty years of living here. Every single person I have talked to during the crisis has shared at least one very good thing that is coming out of it for their family. Good ol' Romans 8:28 says that "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." But could it be that God is working this one seemingly very bad thing for everyone's good?

What if God is pushing the pause button so that people can see the fruitlessness of their busy-ness? What if God is forcing families together again so that they can experience the real joy that such closeness brings? What if God is re-focusing people on the one thing they truly need: Him? But people are dying. Yes. But what if God is providing His mercy even in those circumstances? What if He is calling people home to heavenly paradise? What if He is saving them from more difficult trials in the future? What if He is re-focusing our attention on the elderly and the vulnerable so that we remember the tender care we should be giving them? As viruses go, this one isn't even all that deadly. What if He is helping prepare us for something worse on the horizon?

Lot's of "What if's." So let's stick to the facts. Let's stick to what I know. God loves me. And God loves you. That's something to hold on to when the fit hits the shan.

HE loves you. The amazing creator of all things created, perfect and holy and all-powerful. HE loves you. He set the foundations of the earth, put the planets in motion, and placed the stars in the sky, and HE loves you. He made the birds and the beasts, and gave them each unique features and sounds and colors. He created color! He’s an amazing artist who paints beautiful sunrises and sunsets and oh, by the way, the clouds are his footstool. And HE loves you. He knows when one bird falls from the sky and there are hundreds of billions of them. He gave the horses their strength, to allow men to climb on their backs and then race unflinchingly into the clamorous, crashing, crushing, bruising battle of swords and gunfire. HE made horses that way! And HE loves you. HE knows the future and the past, and isn’t bound by time. HE created the earth and its mountains, its oceans, and gave it light. All with just his words--HE spoke it all into being! And HE loves you. HE defines righteousness, perfection and loving-kindness. And did I mention HE is your #1 Dad ... and HE loves you? He’s the coolest, greatest, wisest and all-knowing, omniscient and all-powerful, the one and only God. And HE, HE sent His only begotten Son for the sole purpose of living, so that He could die for you, so you could be his child. Yes, HE loves you! That's what I know.