A New Normal

Mainstream media was irritating and has become even more so since covid.  I tune out the talking heads on a regular basis.  One would hope, with all that our nation is battling, there would be a laying down of swords and a meeting of the minds for the greater good of the citizens of this nation.  Besides nasty politics as usual, I’ve had my cup full of grim predictions.  I’m kind of fed up with having covid projected into the future.  Can’t we get through this first then look forward?  And, again, why does the future have to be so grim?

There is one thing, though, I have heard, that I hope is true.  I hope life will never be the same.  I  hope it’s better.  I hope husbands and wives have taken this time to reconnect and dream again.  I hope parents have taken the time to reintroduce themselves to their children and are reminded of what a blessing they are.  I hope children have come to respect and appreciate their family more than stuff.  It would be wonderful if we as a society move once again toward placing value on people over possessions.

I hope the single person has used this time wisely.  I hope they have carefully weighed the relationships they are currently in or were considering entering.  I remember taking a dating sabbatical and concentrating on prayer and the Bible and becoming the type of mate a man would want rather than finding the type of mate I desired.  On the surface it might have seemed lonely, but it wasn’t.  My trust and expectation in the LORD grew exponentially during that time.

I really hope the U.S. citizen, especially those whose states are under the control of power-hungry, illogical, irrational governors, resists socialism and appreciates capitalism.  More than that, I hope we as a people repent of our ingratitude and appreciate the value of a land whose motto is, “One nation under God.”

I hope in general for a quieter, slower, kinder world.  I don’t fear the “reset” button, I long for it–along with new, improved life on top of that.  I refuse to be discouraged.  God said He’d work all things for good to those who love Him who are the called according to His purpose.  Quite frankly, it’s been a l o n g time since my hopes have been this high.

My greatest hope is that we won’t have “church as usual”.

I was going through a really rough time several summers ago.  I asked the LORD why it was so hard.  He said satan had come to distract and discourage me.  He saw light and movement all around and didn’t know what was happening but knew God was on the move so came to thwart my focus.  I look around the world and wonder, Was this Word just for me at that time?  I don’t think so.  I think satan has come to distract and discourage God’s expectant remnant because he sees the Spirit of God weaving heavenly works all over the place.  All he could think to do to prevent a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, one which the remnant has been praying for, is to saturate our land with sickness.  More importantly, let fear run rampant.  We cannot be in fear and faith at the same time.

So it is my greatest hope that when church families join together again there is a spiritual power, the likes of which our generation has never experienced.  I hope God’s kids have taken this time to repent and recharge and coming together is much like that of a husband and wife who look forward to their reunion after an extended, forced separation.  You know what comes out of reunions like that?  Babies!  Lots and lots of babies!  Get ready, people of God.  He’s coming on a wave.  Don’t be swallowed up by it, ride it with Him.  Covid pales in comparison to what God has planned.

Yes, things may never be the same again, and in a sense, I sincerely hope they are not.  I hope people return to the greatest commandments, the two on which the Mayflower Compact were based: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself.

I hope people’s vision has changed.  I hope we choose to look up.  I have.  For there lies my Hope.  There lies my Redemption.  There lies the Answer to my everything.  I refuse to let grim predictions sully my soul.  I hope you’ll join me in this rebellion.  Let’s remember the only voice worth listening to, God’s.  The only hand worth holding, God’s.  The only future worth seeing, God’s.  The only life worth living, God’s.  The only victory we’ll be celebrating, God’s.  To God be all the praise, glory, and honor, Amen.

I love exercising to this song!