“Be thankful” in spite of everything going on right now….

As hard as it’s been to deal with this awful COVID-19 pandemic, we have to remember to be THANKFUL that it didn’t happen 40 or 50 years ago before personal computers, Internet or cellphones came onto the scene, allowing people to speak to - and even SEE - others all around the world!

A few decades ago, there would have been TRUE isolation, as your ONLY options for socializing would have been to either visit or call someone on a physical land-line.  And, depending on where you lived back then, chances are good that you would have had to deal with telephone “party lines” – sharing access with countless neighbors – waiting your turn to use the phone!  (I remember those days all too well.)

Back then, we had TV, radios and record players, but we didn’t have movie recording capabilities.  And we definitely didn’t have streaming services for movies!  You either watched whatever was presented on the three broadcast channels you had to choose from, or you actually went to a movie theater (which would have been closed during a worldwide pandemic).

Oh yeah, and let’s not forget, there were no “remote controls” to change channels in those days.  You actually had to get up off your duff and walk across the room to turn a knob. 

Oh, how the world has changed over the last several decades!!!

YES, dealing with this pandemic is hard.  But at least there is opportunity for remote classroom teachings; and you CAN chat with, and even SEE distant loved ones via various devices and social media.  Today, you don’t even have to go to the library to do your research; you can simply "Google" everything.

While what we’re undergoing is tough, it’s also a great time to simply be thankful for what we DO have and what we CAN do during these dark days.  Scripture commands us to be thankful in everything and to remember, with reverence and awe, whom we are serving:

Colossians 3: 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.

14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body. And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (CJB)

Hebrews 12:25 See that you don’t reject the One speaking! For if those did not escape who rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven. 26 Even then, his voice shook the earth; but now, he has made this promise: “One more time I will shake not only the earth, but heaven too!”

27 And this phrase, “one more time,” makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. 29 For indeed, “Our God is a consuming fire!”  (CJB)