Category: Health

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Isolation- How to Survive

Christian and Isolation

With this coronavirus outbreak we have and are having to face new challenges that we haven’t had to deal with before. For some this is causing a lot of fear and anxiety while others are just going with the flow. We are all different and handle situations in different ways to each other. As Christians we are lucky that we have a hope and know that Jesus is with us ever step of the way.

To help surviving the lockdown I thought that I would write down some ideas to help get you through:

  • Firstly some of it is about looking at the situation from a different perspective or point of view then we otherwise might. We know that the mind is a powerful thing, so for some of us it might be about trying to look at this situation in a new light. View this as a “staycation” rather than being stuck and that maybe we have been given this time for a reason. This will help us to cope easier.
  • Create lists- if you have to work from home, write a list of what you need to do so that you remain productive. Personally I am more productive in the morning than in the afternoon, when I am working from home- so I do most of my work in the morning. You could also create a list of what things you could do while at home such as projects you have put aside for years because you haven’t had the time or things you should do like clean your car!
  • Another list to create is activities to help you stay occupied and productive during this time, as this will help ones mood. If we stay in bed or in front of the TV it will create our mood to be more depressed and flat, which wont help for survival during this time. It also doesn’t help ones health. They say if you get up and make your bed you are more likely to be productive and enjoy your day.
  • Some people are realizing that they don’t have any hobbies that they can do at home. This might be the time where you can learn new hobbies via online courses or YouTube. For those who have had hobbies in the past- you can relearn or pick it up again such as learning an instrument.
  • Learning new skills is always great. We often don’t have time for this but now is a perfect opportunity for us to do it. There are a number of places offering online courses. You can do a range of courses and even spiritual courses to help grow your faith too. They say- knowledge is power!
  • Exercise- it is important to keep exercising, as the body needs it and to maintain ones health. Exercising helps with anxiety, worry and depression- very important for ones mental health. There are YouTube videos showing different workouts you can do at home (inside and outside). Also don’t forget to get outside in the fresh air- walk, run or bike.
  • Stay connected with others- this is so important as we are created as relational beings. We are called to help encourage each other and to build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11) for it isn’t good for man/woman to be alone (Genesis 2:18, Ecclesiastes 4:10). It is especially important to keep in touch with those who are on their own or elderly. Loneliness affects ones mental health and increases things such as suicide rates. It is super important to stay connected with each other and especially to help ones faith stay strong. #weareallinthistogether
  • Staying connected with God- this is the time that we need to stay even more connected with God than ever, not lax in our faith. God is the provider who says that He will meet your needs and fight your battles (Philippians 4:19, Exodus 14:14). He will look after you as you claim His promises (Isaiah 46:4, Psalm 91). God out of His love has forewarned us that things like this would happen before His coming (Matthew 24: 7). Some ways to stay connected and to grow in faith is keeping regular devotional times, praying, Bible studies on your own or with others via video chat (zoom), Bible courses online, listening to sermons, Christian music, keeping church via zoom every week (my church is doing this), memorizing scripture, create your own spiritual studies, videos, blog site or podcasts.
  • If living with family- this is a special time where you can bond even more strongly together. Have games nights- board games, charades, and croquet, create videos for sharing, competitions, or doing a jigsaw puzzle together.
  • Spring clean- this is the perfect opportunity to do a clean of all cupboards and de-clutter. Create a pile for rubbish and a pile for the second hand store to donate. This will certainly make you feel good afterwards- will I know that it does for me. Those of us in first world countries have way too much stuff- more than we need.
  • Get cooking- often with busy lives we don’t have time to try new things like healthy food or baking. Now is the time to try those recipes you’ve been wanting for a while. You could even have cooking competitions with friends or a bake off. One thing I have wanted to do is make bread- so this is something I am going to give a try during this lockdown.
  • Create a blog- time to put those creative thoughts out there for others to see. It could be on anything such as food, travel, fitness, crafts or a ministry.
  • Pamper night- have fun looking after your skin with face masks or a candle lit bath.
  • Keep immunity up- it is so important to look after your health. This can reduce the chances of getting sick or even if you do get sick you will recover a lot faster. Nutrition is super important so make sure you have lots of fruit and veggies, have high antioxidant foods, smoothies, or try a plant based diet as this is more healthier for you. I am not sure how many people realize that a lot of diseases like coronavirus came through the consumption of eating meat. Having a good sleep- not going to bed too late and having a regular sleep time helps you to not get run down and to maintain your health. Try also having a rest day every week- my rest day is my day of worship where I go to church and reconnect with God and others of like faith as it says we should in Exodus 20: 8-11. This will also help with stress and anxiety, as stress is harmful for your health.
  • Other ideas one could do to survive this lockdown could be read a book, create a photo book, learn hand lettering, paint, make bath bombs, write letters, gardening- planting veggies.

These are just some suggestions to help inspire you and to give you some ideas.

Stay safe and keep looking up!

Much Love.

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Covid-19 – Where is God?

Where is God

In just a matter of weeks the world was gripped with the knowledge of a new disease that had rattled China forcing the country into a lockdown. We all looked on in amazement, as this was something unseen before and even still as we watched never really expected this outbreak to affect us personally. All of a sudden as cases swept across the world, surreal moments occurred with country after county going into lockdown, closing their borders and restricting everyday activities, creating a new norm for the time being.

As we come to grips with what has just occurred some are wondering where is God in amongst this situation, especially where certain countries have seen a number of deaths, unemployment rising and as a result some are questioning where is God? How can we deal with this situation as Christians, is God really still there in the pandemic?

Particularly in a situation like this one, it helps to firstly look and remember who God really is. God is not some being that we can put into a box nor can we limit Him in His abilities. God is God, a supernatural being who created humans so that He can have a relationship with them. God doesn’t change, as He tells us in His Word in the book of Hebrews 13:8 that He is the

“same yesterday, today and forever.”

He is still the all powerful God who parted the Red sea, all loving God who sent His Son to die on the cross and mighty God who created you in His image, who loves you with an everlasting love that He deemed you worthy to pay the penalty of the cross so that you may have an everlasting life with Him. God is still in control- even in this situation. Even if it doesn’t look like He can be and the situation looks really bleak, He is holding you up, the world in His hands and has a purpose for allowing this to take place. As we have been shown His abilities through countless accounts of His leading, guidance and protection throughout the Bible.

Unfortunately we live in a sinful and fallen world where we will go through trails and tribulations but God says that He will carry us through, that we wont go through more than we can bear, and promises to supply our needs (Philippians 4:19). We also have a blessed hope in this situation. God loves us so much that He shared with us through His Word various situations that would happen and take place throughout history (history books prove that these events came true). God has given us all the signs and wonders because He doesn’t want anyone to perish but all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9) and be able to live with Him forever. That is how much He loves us!

One of these promises that God shares with us, is that He will come back again a second time- His second coming. He gave us signs to help us know when His coming is near so that we may remain awake. God didn’t have to do this but He has chosen too for He wants all of us to come into a saving relationship with Him before it is too late. Some of these signs that God shares with us we can find in the book of Matthew in chapter 24. One of these signs in particular is that there will be a rise in pestilences (diseases) in the world. We have been seeing a rise in outbreaks such as SARS, bird flu, swine flu in the last number of years and now Covid-19 that has become more global than the rest. God who is all knowing, the alpha and omega (knows the beginning and the end) knew that this was going to take place and out of His love has warned us so that we may know when He is coming back soon to live in a world where there is no suffering, pain or death- because He loves us that much.

He is allowing us to go through these trails so that we may grow in our faith, trust in Him and that hopefully we may draw closer to Him and be saved.

It is our time to shine as Christians, be the calm in other peoples storms and share the love of Jesus for He is most certainly still in control and He is there amongst Covid-19, just like He will continue to be as He has been through out history and will continue to look after you. Let us come together to encourage one another, build each other up and help our neighbours at this time, for we are all in this together.

Much Love.

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Do we really need to belong to a church to have a healthy Christian walk?

Holy Bible

To answer this question we need to look at the existence of churches in the first place, why and how they were set up. A lot of people when asked about the origin of the Christian church, point back to the time of the apostles after the death of Jesus. Where they went from house to house, town to town, preaching and sharing the Word of God to both the Jews and the Gentiles. This has also been used as an excuse as to why some Christians believe and feel that we don’t have to meet in a church/ organized church but can have what is known as ‘home church’ instead or just keep their day of worship at home with just their family. One point to remember here is that back in the apostles time gentiles were not allowed to go into the Jewish synagogue to worship or certain parts of it, so they had to meet in places where they all could gather together, both Jew and gentile to hear the message of God being taught, before creating their own building as they grew in number. In certain areas because of their geological location there might’ve only been a handful of believers in God, so as a result they would meet in someone’s house for church because they either didn’t have a building to use or the affordability of one as well. There are a few factors to consider when looking at this reasoning.

For me the idea of church goes back even further than that of the apostle’s time. We can even look back to at of when the sanctuary was built in Moses time. God asked specifically for a sanctuary to be made as a replica or pattern of the Heavenly sanctuary, where He gave clear instructions in the way things should be built and done within it. Note to remember- only the ceremonial side of the sanctuary/law was done away with at the cross because Jesus was the official sacrificial lamb, that came to pave the way of salvation for all, from sin. Those ceremonial practices where symbolic, pointing to the coming lamb.

One of the reasons as to why He asked for a sanctuary to be built was so that He may dwell among His people (Exodus 25:8). He also used the sanctuary to reform the children of Israel’s character and to point them back to Heavenly thoughts, which is the same for us today. The principles have not changed, as God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). There is an extra special blessing for those that keep the Sabbath and come into a place where God’s presence dwells, just like in the sanctuary in Moses day.

We are created in the image of God and are designed as social beings intended to have relationships with God and one another. God tells us not to stop the meeting of coming together as found in Hebrews 10:23-25, for a lot of good reasons. Apart from there being a place where He dwells (and yes He does also dwell in our hearts), church is a place where others of like faith can encourage one another through what is going on in each individuals lives, teach children how to walk rightly, to live an abundant filled life through the virtues and to learn about God. A place of spiritual growth, understanding gained and to be challenged otherwise one can become stale in their Christian walk. If you don’t ask questions, find out others perspectives and only gain your spiritual food off a sermon you watch on TV, no real growth will happen.

Church is also a place of accountability or should be, learning how to connect with others, learning to work with different types of people, and their personality types. You can achieve more as a body united, be a greater witness and empowered than just on your own. Going to church isn’t about yourself (though one grows by attending church), but about honoring God, as He’s the head and what He has asked us to do.

Sabbath is that time set apart to spend with God as He instituted right back at creation, to connect with people of like faith, and to support others on their spiritual journey within your faith. It’s about God and not about what we want. If we are not getting spiritual food in church, how can we change that? Could we be the one to give the spiritual food, which in turn will help you, as you remember 90% of what you teach? I encourage you to be the change you want to see. Is it about you or about God?

Food for thought…

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Visitors, will they be back?

Welcome Please Come In

There it was! The same universal, worldwide sign, so recognisable and even though the words may sometimes be in another language, I can still tell what it reads. It was my church family on the other side of the world. With great anticipation and excitement, I walked across the street and stepped in the doors to fellowship with those of like faith, my brothers and sisters in Christ, on the other side of the world. I walked in, sat down, no one came near me and no one spoke to me. Suddenly someone approached me and sat down. This was nice I thought, only to have them ask and gesture for me to move along the pew so that their friends could sit next to them. When I was unable to move any further as I had reached the end by the heater, I received a dirty look because this now meant that there wasn’t enough room for all their friends to be able to fit and they wanted me to vacate my seat. The sanctuary was so full that day that there was actually no seats left for me to even move to as some members were having to stand at the back due to it being all full. Throughout the service I kept on getting glared at so in due course when the service ended, I quietly got up, walked out of the church unnoticed, and off down the street the way I came.

One of the most exciting things for me on my ‘big trip’ was this moment, where I was about to go to a church in another country other than my own, but only to come away with questions, disbelief, and amazement. This was only one of my experiences.

What do you think of your church? Is it a friendly church? Welcoming? Hospitable? Or do you feel that it may be only because you already know people there and have friends that attend? How would a visitor feel about your church whether they be a member from another church or someone off the street?

These were just some of the questions that I started asking myself during and after my big overseas trip. Growing up in the church, I always knew people. Through attending youth camps and other church gatherings, I developed great friendships with others in different parts of the country. Whenever I visited, they would welcome me into their church, introduce me to other church members and plan social events. I always felt welcomed! I was really excited to visit other churches in different countries and to experience their church as every country may do things slightly differently even though we share similar beliefs. It would be the first time that I was the observer and the visitor that no one knew. Unfortunately my thoughts were only to be completely changed.

Now don’t get me wrong, not every church I visited was lacking in hospitality, as I did have great experiences also and met some really great people whom I still keep in touch with. I am truly thankful for those amazing memories and great experiences. But I can’t say the same for all the churches I visited. Now thankfully I am someone who doesn’t mind spending my day of worship to myself in another country and I don’t rely on others to do that for me. I am also someone who doesn’t get offended easily so these experiences haven’t changed my faith in God and I still 100% believe in the faith. This experience was great and has taught me a number of things and made me question, what is my church like?

Now I am not saying that you all of a sudden have to open up your homes to every visitor who walks through the door, but i know that if it was someone else who experienced some of these receptions and a lack of interest or welcoming, that this could’ve really affected them. I looked the part of a well-groomed Christian all dressed in my best. But I wondered if I wasn’t, would people have made more of an effort, thinking that they could convert someone or win a soul to Christ? But because I was already a Christian, does that mean that I didn’t need that welcome?

We have no idea where other Christians or non-believers lives are headed and what they have been going through. What if I had walked away from God and just decided to try and come back, so yes I looked the part because I already knew about dressing right, but I walked into a church as unfriendly or as rude as I experienced. Would that person have stayed or become discouraged again?

We need to remember the principle spoken about in Matthew 25:31-46, when Jesus was talking to His disciples about how others are treated, which in turn was showing how you were treating God:

“The righteous will answer Him, saying ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see you a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” (vs 37-39)

The key point we need to remember is:

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, You did it to Me.” (vs 40).

We know this verse but how many of us stop to ponder it and its meaning. If you keep on reading from verses 40-46, you will find out how upset God is when others are not taken care of by those who know God. Just like the verse above, Jesus also says:

“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” (vs 45).

As God’s followers, we are called to care, look after, welcome all those whom we come into contact with, as we are a reflection of Christ to others and we may be the only Bible some people see, through our actions and words.

So I want to encourage you to take a serious step back and look at your church. our churches should be one of the happiest places to come to as we are all coming together to worship our Creator with the amazing truths that we have. We are a helping and healing ground to all that we come in contact with. What can you do to make your church more welcoming? or what can you do personally even if other members won’t get on board? What you do or don’t do will have an affect on others lives.

Let our churches be praised for being the inviting, welcoming place that new or old comers love to dwell as we dwell in the presence of God.

Much Love

Sash

Shame It Needed To Be Said

She was on holiday and called in to your church to worship, but oh dear me,
No friendliness was shown, so after the service she left immediately.
She wasn’t impressed, and no doubt God wasn’t either, for it’s His church, you know,
And His church isn’t exclusive, so back again she’s hardly likely to go.

She had the whole day to kill, could’ve done with an invite to lunch, some friendship,
But no one seemed to care, and why lack out the front door she was soon seen to slip.
And no one feeling guilty — some witness, I must say — so why’s anyone there?

Well, for the little good they’re doing; and I thought that Christ we’re supposed to share.
Oh, she visited another church to worship. Was it yours? Fared better there,
Because at least one person responded, maybe you, but I still thought, “Oh dear.”
Only one person? And how many others were there? Yes, what a tragedy,

So I guess they might as well shut shop, for why would Christ want to be there? Or me.

By Lance Landall

(www.poetrywithamission.co.nz)

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