March 23, 2020 – Click here to listen
Our world is in a mess and I wonder if God is trying to get our attention by allowing Satan free rein. Just when you think things are getting better, something else disastrous happens. Now is the time for Christians to rise up and be Christians. What do I mean by that? People are enduring serious heartbreak in their lives, some because of the Coronavirus, others are financial, others are having problems coping with isolation, and then there are those who are enduring life and death struggles not even associated with the virus. Christians should rally around them and offer comfort and exude hope through Christ even in the worst circumstances. One thing everyone can do is offer a few words of encouragement.
I wanted to give a couple examples of how meaningful it is to others it is to demonstrate the love of Christ to those in need. PLEASE don’t think of this as me trying to convince people I’m a good guy. I’m not – I’m just an ordinary person trying to offer encouragement any possible way I can. I prayed about whether or not I should even write about this subject for fear of that happening but the Holy Spirt convinced me I should. I thought and thought and thought about how I could do it without using actual examples of me encouraging people, but again God led me to do it in this manner.
My good friend from Houston lost her dad early Sunday morning, not due to the virus, but from complications from a stroke. She wrote and asked for prayer and I did so and passed it on in Words for the Day in the hopes that others would do the same. A subsequent e-mail from her in abbreviated form is below:
Dad’s health went suddenly from bad to worse. His heart had a large blood-clot and was only functioning 23% . . . when I came to his room he recognized me but I saw so much fear in his eyes: he had a tube down his throat to help him breath, machines beeping all over the place, and had to be restrained since he had tried many times to get out of bed. All he kept saying in French was “Allez, vines!” (Come on, let’s go)
I’m thankful that me being there calmed him and he squeezed my hand when I spoke in his ear that everything was ok. The doctors offered to try and help but assured me that things were not going to get better. I prayed and heard myself say no, that was enough . . . So they started removing everything . . .
Hospice care was to be the next step and he was transported to a very nice place not far. It has been very hard to watch him suffer like this. He squeezed my hand again this morning when I talked into his ear; telling him not to worry about me; that I was going to be ok, I was not alone, that my friends, my church family, were there to help me if I needed anything. That Jesus loves him, and it was time to go with Him . . .
Bob, I thank the Lord who took me to a Yahoo’s article where I read an excerpt of your book “Miracle on Luckie Street” which touched me. HE allowed me to contact you, you then you kindly replied, asked for my address to mail me your book . . . and because I did read your daily messages to Dad (In French, his mother tongue) he one day “shocked” me as he had my French Bible in his hands and had started to read it!!!!!! (Being raised Catholic, like me, we had never read it) Dad did accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior!!!!! To look back at my Father’s journey into Jesus’s arms, gives me so much joy as I’m here in the room with my Father . . . I will be ETERNALLY GRATEFUL to you Bob . . . Now I just wait for God’s will in HIS timing. There will be more tears on my part I know, but no more pain, nor suffering for my sweet Dad.
Keep doing what you are doing, Bob!!! You are reaching people!!!!
P.S. All is well with my Soul
Another reader wrote this last week:
Thank you for your Word today. I always enjoy reading them. Today my mom is in the ICU. She is 87. She has had schizophrenia in this life. She is a wonderful soul though but had a hard time here. They told us to prepare as her organs are shutting down. She does NOT have the corona virus. However due to the hysteria, my family may only go up to see her one at a time and only for a brief time. We are not allowed to stay with her or be there at night. She was in the ICU a few weeks ago as well. We were able to stay all day and night. I’m glad we could do that then. My husband and I have worked in hospitals for three decades. I understand the precautionary measures. However, I would have liked to be with my mom at this time of her life ending.
Would appreciate prayers. If she passes, we need to travel out of state for burial. Not sure how that will work these days. Would appreciate prayers that God makes a way for us. God is good all the time and I love him so much for everything and especially for my mom. Seeing her on her knees when she was out of her mind was what brought me to Christ. She knows the Lord and will be with him in paradise soon with no mental illness. Praise God! Thank you for reaching out to us each day.
And another reader who has been diagnosed with a nasty from of cancer that has spread throughout his lymph system and endangers his life and on top of that he is facing personal problems of a magnitude that would discourage any of us. He wrote:
First thing I did this morning was read “Words for the day” . . . Great Message, and thanks for reaching out once again on my behalf. I promise you – I can feel those Prayers. I know God gives each of us Gifts to share with others. And it is abundantly clear that he has given you the ability to encourage others in their times of distress. Those encouragements are priceless!! In my case, it gives me the strength and determination to fight, knowing I have a partner in Jesus and the help of the Holy Spirit. Today I intend to fight even harder – encouraged by your friendship and support . . . Thank You!! . . . from the bottom of my heart, my friend . . .
This is but a small sampling of scores of similar messages that I receive each day and every week. You would be surprised how many people are hurting, sick, despondent, lonely, fearful, depressed, and looking for answers. I hope that you might be inspired during this time of social distancing and uncertainty to give new meaning to your life by making yourself available to pray for others and offer them encouragement. If you personally don’t know anyone, then please contact your local church and tell them you want to pray for others. I assure you they will have a prayer list that is long. Aside from achieving one’s salvation nothing is more important than spreading the Gospel and discipling the nations. I believe that one very good way to do that is to take time away from your ordinary activities to reach out and serve someone. The Bible states that we should so let our light shine that others might see it and Christ would get the glory. It might be similar to what I do in helping people you have never even met daily, or one of your close friends. All of us need the hope of Jesus Christ, especially in these difficult days. Don’t look inward at your own problems and inconvenience – Look outward and find a way to encourage someone who needs it.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.