COVID 19 ENCOURAGEMENT EPISODE 03

Hi this is Chris Benjamin, the director for the Salvation Army sound just we want to take this opportunity to share some additional messages of encouragement from some of our hosts from shows like 24th of life in a heartbeat.

We just pay the abuser an extra blessing to you. If they are a sham with a friend for life that take this time to give you little bit more encouragement about what times that were going through the land and how everything is panning out. I'm currently at work right now just understanding social distancing and practicing at all of our employees are out right now I working from home that is quiet in here it's it's it's real different and down and in some ways that can be disconcerting, but the but the truth of the matter is, is that we want that just come into this time with a positive outlook, you know, as believers, as children of God. He just exhorts us in his word over and over again to not fear and die to rejoice in him. And we know that ultimately God is in control. In this circumstance. He wasn't surprised by what is taking place.

He certainly did not do this to us, but I do believe that God can work.

The good through it on and he wants us as his children just to continually keep our eyes on him to look to him. It's funny we get. You know, I think there's ways that we can not make light of the situation but certainly not be downcast or downhearted about things I stayed home yesterday to out to be with my son who is doing online learning with his school and now I thought was going to be a support to him. But the truth the matter is I think is a little bit of a pain to him in regards to the fact that he was try to take tests and do a project that he had online.

You do a presentation for his class and that the dog was barking. There were people outside work in our house banging in and in the testing that he takes you know every every noise kind of put a red flag out there like someone talking or is cheating and so today I decided just to give him a little bit of a break and incoming here, so we discussed giving grace right I mean understanding that were all wrong can it taken this in stride and and meeting room for grace, but I did want to just give you a little encouragement from God's word if that's okay with you and hopefully will be helpful to you. I do think of myself as a very positive thinker.

I tried to to always think you want what is God trying to teach us what is God trying to teach me what is it that he he's wanting us to learn and I think you know really he's just teaching us to lean into him 222 rejoice in him.

To allow this time to be a time of rest to be a time where we we seek his face and down and understand that he's found us, you know, much like our kids you know they don't worry necessarily about what is food where food is coming from. They don't worry because were protecting them in the same way God does that for us in God's word and Philippians 4, beginning with verses four and going through verse nine, Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi and he says this to them. He has rejoice in the Lord always. I will state again rejoice, let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Amen.

He's near he's here with us. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything in every situation, by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus. And then he goes on to say. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Whatever review of learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put into practice in the God of peace will be with you. I love those verses and I love the fact that, especially at the end, you know it's our choice. It's our choice to think about the things that are lovely, impure and excellent the things that are good our God is good he hadn't left us.

He hasn't forsaken us and so when we put our our our mind and our thoughts on him. He promises us that his peace will be with us and that science will encourage you today maybe fear has gripped your heart. Maybe you feel panicky maybe just feel like things are out of control and of our our schedules are normal in and you know it's a little sad for me to be here without our employees. But the truth of the matter is, God is still on the throne.

God still loves us.

He is in control and that he's not gonna let us slip or fall. He doesn't sleep. He doesn't slumber and die and so as long as we ground yourself and him. As long as we put our trust in him and our faith in him know that he won't let you slip. He loves you. We love you. Thanks for taking time to listen to this and we just pray God's blessings upon you during this time that were praying for you