During our Tuesday evening Zoom prayer meeting, Pastor Harris asked participants to share praise reports from the past week. I told of my neighbor’s backhoe accident in which a tree blocked the brakeless machine from tipping completely over with him in it. He is recovering, with bruises and a concussion, but he is alive! I prefaced my praise report with a Bible passage which caught my attention that day, and has held it since.
“The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth, and for evermore. Praise the Lord,” (Psalm 115:17-18, emphasis supplied).
There were some chuckles when I finished, and Pastor Harris said, “Ouch and Amen!” He understood my perspective. I don’t want to be reckoned among those who are physically dead, “asleep” in death (John 11:11-13), or among those who are spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). So, I must give a praise report whenever and wherever possible.
In Ministry of Healing, Ellen G. White wrote:
Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house? (MH 251.3).
The recent and ongoing Coronavirus developments have focused many people’s attention on panic, groaning and complaining, not on praise. But recalling the last two months, I find much to praise God for:
My husband’s second cataract surgery was moved forward several weeks, nicely concluded and partly healed before clinics closed to “flatten the curve”. The eye surgeon phoned to assess his recovery and offered to see him if necessary, but Skip is able to wait until the clinics reopen.
Our son Elijah’s work projects have shifted away from large cities, giving us the pleasure of his company every evening, not just on weekends. Having many customers home-quarantined allowed his company extra time to remodel their newly-acquired building and move their office equipment to the new location without the usual interruptions.
I was conflicted about my summer schedule. I had planned to attend the General Conference session in Indianapolis, help in the Fulcrum7 booth, and I needed to plant and tend my garden, too. When GC was postponed to 2021, I was free to put in a full garden. “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
We had saved a friend’s special heirloom corn seed from Colorado. I optimistically planted it early, not checking the frost dates at all. We had several freezing nights after it came up. The young shoots turned deathly pale.
“It’s your garden, God,” I told the Master Gardener. “If you save this corn, I’ll thank you. If not, I’ll learn my lesson and replant.” My corn kept growing, and it was all green underneath. Praise God!
When churches closed their doors for the Coronavirus, I expected to lose a busy Lent month’s pay from the Lutheran church where I play the piano. When March ended, I received a kind note and a check for the regular amount. What a blessed surprise! I am still practicing, hoping to resume my music there shortly.
At my husband’s suggestion, I bought an extra package of toilet paper, just before the panic began. We have not run out, even with extra house guests.
“Mom, Dad, can Moses stay with us? Ouachita Hills Academy is closing early for spring break because of Coronavirus,” Elijah explained.
His former roommate, now a senior, had previously been a welcome guest in our home. Yes, we would host him again. We enjoyed two weeks of his company, and his tech savvy came in handy several times.
Our church had recently upgraded its audio and video systems in anticipation of streaming future services. Elijah and his boss installed the equipment and it was ready to go. With a handful of participants, we held our first live-streamed church service early in the Coronavirus shutdown, with no major malfunctions.
“I glanced back to the sound booth, saw Moses and Elijah there together, and knew we had nothing to fear,” chuckled Pastor Harris after the service. Amen!
Our phone rang one Sunday evening. An Adventist nurse needed an overnight bed once a week between her shifts at the local hospital. We are much closer to town and have an empty “Grandma house” across the lawn. We welcomed her. I’m glad we can do something to help.
Early in the global panic, I went out for groceries and spotted a man I recognized, shopping in the produce department. He is wheelchair bound, but gets around town independently in his specially fitted vehicle. We had not seen him since he attended a few nights of our prophecy meetings a few years before.
“Dear God—quick!--what is his name?” I prayed as I walked toward him.
God answered immediately. “Hi Bret! Nice to see you. Didn’t you come to our prophecy meetings?” I greeted him. As we chatted about current events, he offered some “private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20) of prophecies to explain world trends.
Seizing the opportunity, I suggested he would enjoy reading The Great Controversy and offered to retrieve one from my car. Not only was he interested, he waited for me at the checkout to make sure I didn’t forget. I have not seen him since, but I pray he is reading and savoring this timely book.
A friend mentioned she is reviewing its last ten chapters to find light on what these world shutdowns will lead to. The prophet Daniel told us this would happen: “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased,” (Daniel 12:4). What a blessing we just studied his precious Bible book as a world church!
Now don’t kid yourself. I’m not ecstatic about the many adjustments and inconveniences flowing from this global Coronavirus trial. It would be easy to spend my days whining about all the frustrating details, worrying I might be the next victim, gluing myself to all the scary videos online.
But Jesus said the godless Gentiles’ anxiety is not for us. He gave us a higher mandate: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” (Matthew 6:33).
Indeed, God has provided for our needs (Philippians 4:19) and many of our wants during this time. We have food, clothing, shelter, money for our bills. As a bonus, we await the proffered stimulus check (More money for God’s work, too!).
Speaking of God’s kingdom, how is our world church doing? Is the gospel work shut down? Well, I recently watched our General Conference Executive Committee hold its 2020 Spring Meeting via Zoom, and I was greatly encouraged. God’s hand is evident in the previous year’s financial report. And as we face an uncertain financial future, church officers are going forward--on digital platforms, with financial strictures--with courage in a certain Heavenly Father.
Somehow I feel sure the savings to be realized from the cancellation of airline tickets, hotel rooms and per diem allowances associated with the previously-normal world church business meetings will help stretch God’s means globally to cover any predicted shortfall. GC Treasury staff believe faithful Adventist members will boldly advance in mission and faithful stewardship, as our representative leaders cooperate in new ways and display godly teamwork in the belt-tightening efforts. For this I also give a heartfelt thanks to God.
And have you seen the plethora of churches, conferences, ministries, evangelists holding live events via Facebook, YouTube and Zoom? Did it take such a world-shaking event to get us up to speed with technology? Thank God for all those potential viewers, stuck at home, looking for something to do, something new, some explanation for these crazy times.
God’s remnant church truly has answers “for such a time as this!” (Esther 4:14). I am hearing stories of God’s people sharing Zoom services with visiting relatives, texting links to testimony videos to long-distance relatives, all with positive responses. Don’t miss the opportunities!
I realize many have suffered, yet I am thankful my family is healthy and virus-free. Our training and experiences at Weimar Institute and Lifestyle Center of America guide our health habits. Daily contrast in our showers, daily garlic in our plant-based meals, fresh well water, fresh air and sunshine… God’s medicine is good medicine. What have we to fear? Praise Him! Gratitude is good medicine, too.
God’s Messenger advises us,
If we would give more expression to our faith, rejoice more in the blessings that we know we have,—the great mercy and love of God,—we should have more faith and greater joy. No tongue can express, no finite mind can conceive, the blessing that results from appreciating the goodness and love of God. Even on earth we may have joy as a wellspring, never failing, because fed by the streams that flow from the throne of God. (MH 251.6, emphasis supplied).
The dead praise not the Lord; are you alive in Christ? Prove it! Take a few minutes to write a praise report and submit it to Fulcrum7.com. Let us treasure this blessed assurance: We are continually in our Father’s care. “This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.”
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord (Psalm 104: 33-34).
Holly Joers is counting her blessings in rural Arkansas, and reviewing God’s prophetic timeline with special interest. “Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand,” (Daniel 12:10).