For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  Galatians 5:13 

This morning I woke at 3 am with an extremely heavy heart.  I imagine that I was not the only one awake in the night.  Many people I know are concerned for their families and their countries.  My father-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer last week.  A dear friend is living her last months on this earth and I know her condition weighs on her family.  Some of my family members and other friends are struggling with their own major health and financial predicaments.  There are people I know who have no job.  Very often my heart causes a prayer about these situations to race to the throne of Heaven.  However, this morning none of these things are what brought me out of a deep sleep, weary with the burden in my mind and heart.

Ephesians 4:29-32  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  

I pray this post brings the intended grace in my heart to the reader.

What was my burden?  You, my fellow Christian sisters, are who woke me.  I see the unrest and turmoil happening around the world, but MORE important to me is the unrest and turmoil happening in our own churches and in relationships.  COVID has brought difficulties for many, the greatest one, I believe, is the isolation it has brought into our lives and into the church.  During this isolation, the devil  has been able to whisper his lies into our hearts.  “The preacher is picking on you in his message.” “She doesn’t like you anymore.”  “She has become a snob.”  “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”  “No one cares about you.”  “God is not big enough for this pandemic.” It seems like we have decided to make our decisions about church and our Christian brothers and sisters based on these lies of the devil. 

As I left the warmth of my bed and entered into my prayer closet, I thought about the churches that have re-opened and put in place the social distance requirements in order to be good citizens, as we should be.  However, where are the people?  Even in my wonderful home church, I miss seeing some of my dear friends.  Some are truly cautious about the pandemic.  However, some have just found it easier to stay home and watch online. They have believed the lie of the devil that says no one will notice that they are missing. I see people posting about going to the store, or coffee, or playdates, or shopping, but not church.  We need each other! Ladies, you never know how much it means to someone else just to see your smiling face, hear your laughter, and share your prayer concerns.  YOU are truly missed!!  Awake out of your lethargy!!!  PLEASE!

I can sense there is a division. I have even overheard people say they do not like their pastor anymore.   Really????!!  Is this what the world will know about the church?  That it cannot stand during difficult times and is divided?  The Bible says to not let the sun go down upon our wrath.  It feels like there is a whole lot of sleeping going on while people have discord in their hearts toward each other. 

1 Corinthians 3:3-5  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

I would like to remind you of the same words The Holy Spirit spoke to me this morning, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood.”  Can you not see what the devil is doing?  Our churches are starting to mirror our nation.  However, we have the Holy Spirit living within us and we do not have to act like the natural man!!  We have a choice!!  1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Please remember and remind those who you influence that the devil wants to use this past year and the coming years to render the church ineffective.  He does this through discord.  A church will become stagnant and die when the Lord withdraws His hand. And mark it down, dear sister, the Lord will withdraw His hand from our churches if we do not believe and practice by love serve one another. Love for the leaders in your church.  Love for those who need room to grow.  Love for each other.  Love for the lost who have not yet been part of any church. Love for those around that world that still need Jesus!!

1 Thessalonians 4:8-10  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.  9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  10  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;