Is this a wake up call?

I can't pretend to understand why God has allowed this global pandemic to hit the entire world. I have my own thoughts and speculations, none of which I can say is directly from God, but from reading the Old Testament and seeing how God wiped out the entire population because of their wickedness, only saving Noah and his family, I have to wonder if maybe we're experiencing the same thing just in a different way? I saw a post on Facebook recently that said, God got tired of all the fighting so He sent us all to our rooms. LOL! If you read the book of 1 & 2 Kings and see how God blessed the nation whose King honored Him and what happened to the ones that cursed God. You see it over and over again, all throughout scripture, that God is merciful. He gives His people many chances to turn and repent and turn away from our idols, to refocus on what's important, to seek Him and His will for our lives. To live according to the scriptures, to honor and obey His holy word. But then I do believe there comes a time when enough is enough and He is grieved by how we are acting.

I wonder if God ever looks down on His creation sometimes and thinks the same as He did in the days of Noah? Genesis 6:5-8 says "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he made man on the earth, and it grieved him to the heart. So the Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

Our world has turned so far away from God. We idolize Athletes, Actors/Actresses, our kids, Money, & Success. We don't like a person or politician or President, so we feel we have the right to just blast them all over social media. Not giving thought to the fact that the he/she is a human being, with a heartbeat just like you an me, yet we say the most vile and wicked things to tear them down and smear their names. Why, because we have freedom of speech? That's bull! How about treating others the way we would want to be treated? Can we think for a minute before we tear someone down for the whole world to see?

I'm not saying we can't share our opinions, but can we do it in a kinder way possibly? We praise the wicked. We allow murder in the form of an abortion and say it's the woman's choice and right, when clearly the Bible says, it's murder. *Sidenote... If you don't want to have a child then you know what the solution is right? I'm not talking about having an abortion either.

I pray that during this time of isolation, God will find favor with us as He did with Noah and his family and that people will begin to realize what is important. That we will turn from our wicked ways, repent and turn back to God. A Nation that blessed God, God blessed. A people that honored God, God blessed. Hopefully we have all learned a great lesson in this? I know I have. I have taken this opportunity to give more time to the Lord through reading or studying His word. I've spent time with my kids in ways I wouldn't have been able to if I were working or being busy about all the other "stuff" I was involved in. As hard as it was at first for me, being the extrovert and people person that I am, I have really grown quite content with my new normal. I don't want life to go back to the way it was. I do miss being able to fellowship with my church family during the week and on Sundays. I miss hanging out with my friends and giving hugs to everyone, but I have not missed the busyness of life and all the added activities we put on ourselves. Family has a new meaning to me now and I wouldn't change that for anything.

I would challenge you to take some time and think about this and how maybe you can make changes to put God first in your life. To re-prioritize things and get back to the simple things in life. Like eating dinner around the table together instead of running through a drive thru because you don't have time to cook at home. Going on neighborhood walks or hikes. Spending quality time together! In the end, when you stand before the Lord, what's really going to matter? That's what we need to consider :)

Love you all - praying you find comfort and peace during this time. XO, Nic -