This has been a week of rejoicing and grieving!
 
Rejoicing in our Fellowship as a sister in Christ has gone home to be with the Lord.  It was unexpected and sudden.  Sudden to us, but not to the Lord.  She now stands pain free in Glory seeing her Savior, Christ Jesus, face to face.  We miss her presence here on earth and her thoughtfulness to us.  I know that there are those who only knew her through the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and birthday cards she lovingly created, but through them you were able to know her love.
 
As members of God’s family we grieve for all that is going on in the world.
There is turmoil throughout.  And we, Believers, look to Holy God who has all things well in hand.  We, His people, throughout the world are to be the expression of His love for the world through Jesus Christ. 
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16      
 
As members of the family of God , the apostle Paul tells us that we are to:
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor (loud quarreling), and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:31-32 
 
Earlier in the chapter Paul is beseeching the Ephesians and us, Believers, to walk worthy of our calling.  (Read Ephesians 4:1-6.  Better yet, read the whole chapter.)
 
As Believers we live under an open heaven!  We can go to our Heavenly Father in prayer for all who are mourning the loss of loved ones caused by COVID 19, and for those who are the victims of the rage that is being spewed out in country after country.  Let us pray for God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding for all those in leadership, at all levels.  Wisdom from above!
 
This is what Paul tells us in Romans 11:33-36,
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
      ‘For who has known the mind of the LORD?
       Or who has become His counselor?
       Or who has first given to Him
       And it shall be repaid to him?’
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.” 
 
We, too, need wisdom and James 1:5 tells us that we need only to ask, 
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
However, verse 6 tells us,
“ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
Verses 7-8 tells us concerning this man,
“For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
 
Let us pray that the eyes of our understanding be open to what the Lord wants each to learn through all that is happening.  And let us pray for the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit to do God’s will and to do those good works that He as prepared for each of His workmanship to walk in.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10
 
To our natural eye everything appears out of control, BUT GOD IS IN CONTROL!
It is our Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ who is the only one who can bring order, comfort, healing and justice in this chaos.  And in His perfect time it will be done.
 
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  Colossians 3:16
 
Oh precious Lord Jesus we love you, adore you, praise you and give you all the glory!  Amen