Category: COVID-19

Articles that address practical living during the time of social distancing and quarantine.

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Don’t Let Corona Knock You Out

No matter who you are, you are going to get hit with body shots. Keep your hands up and your feet moving or you may wind up on the canvas.

Did you know that former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is about to get back into the ring at the age of 54? They used to call him Iron Mike and The Baddest Man on the Planet for good reasons.

Tyson threw vicious body shots.

Tyson is returning to face 51-year-old, former heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. in an eight-round exhibition, on 12 September at $49.99 pay per view.

Mike Tyson has been out of the ring for 15 years, but videos of the former champ in training are impressive.

Speaking of videos, I recently watched young Mike Tyson deliver an impressive array of knockout punches on YouTube. Of note, vicious blows to the body almost always preceded his knockout punches.

Punches to the body are called body shots. In life and boxing, body shots are designed to set you up for a knockout punch.

Outside of the ring, body shots come in the form of annoyances, disruptions, delays, denials, arguments, breakups, setbacks, incompetence, etc.

No one is immune. You will get hit with body shots.

It does not matter your age, gender, race, tribe or creed, you are going to get hit with body shots. How many body shots have you taken recently? More than you realize I would venture to say.

We’ve been pummeled by COVID-19 for months. Don’t let Corona knock you out. Keep your hands up and keep your feet moving.

Like you, I have family and friends in the service industry. They tell me the people they serve are growing weary. Optimism is waning. Pessimism is setting in. Generally speaking, people are discouraged.

On 31 March, I began co-hosting virtual prayer meetings with Dave, my friend and prayer partner. Encouraging others is a central theme of our virtual Warrior prayer sessions.

Last Friday, we co-hosted Warrior#36. As always, we ask the Lord to strengthen and encourage others. Prayer combats the effects of body shots.

A week after launching the Warrior series, I started this blog. I hope you are encouraged by these articles because I receive encouragement writing them.

Encouraging others helps ward off the effects of body shots, but sometimes the blows will get to you. A word on that in a minute, but first a salute to some of the most essential persons (MEP’s) among us.

Great encouragers are MEP’s in the corona-era. My dentist is an MEP. The fact that he had to shut down his practice for four months due to the pandemic robbed many of his greatest attribute.

Encouragers like Dr. Epstein are most essential persons MEP’s.

As good as he is as a dentist, his natural giftedness as an encourager was sorely missed. Dr. Epstein has been my dentist for over a decade. He always makes you laugh and puts a smile on your face.

He bounces off the walls with energy and tells these incredibly funny stories. Sometimes he tells stories that have his staff shaking their heads. They enjoy working with him and I can see why.

I had an appointment with him some years ago when business was not good.  He was low on energy and had no funny stories. While I was sensitive to his feelings, I had to make a point.

I said, “Doc…you can’t be discouraged. We all depend on you to be encouraged.” Thankfully, by my next appointment, he was bouncing off the walls like his old self.

Hang around MEP’s. Better still, be an MEP! MEP’s offset the effects of body shots. I should know.

Hurricane Isaias was a body shot that really weakened me. My family only suffered eight hours of power outage, but I was weakened by other blows before this one landed.

Hurricane Isaias damage in Newport News, VA

Thank God during the Warrior#36 prayer meeting, MEP’s in the group encouraged me and pushed me back into the ring.

Allow me to wrap this up with a great Christmas story.

There was a Christmas decorations contest at work one year. Some sections relished the competition, but my teammates and I were indifferent.

A few days before the awards ceremony, I received another in a series of non-selection notices for job applications I submitted. Each notice was a body shot.

The day came for the awards for Christmas decorations . They started with 4th place, 3rd place up to the grand prize. What I did not know was there was recognition for the section with the least amount of Christmas spirit. Oh Lord!!

They read this Scrooge-like narrative about how this sad section showed no Christmas spirit. Wouldn’t you know it; I was the only person in our section present for work that day.

I had to accept a piece of coal and the mocking jeers (mostly in fun) of our organization on behalf of my section-BODY SHOT!!

I headed to my office, coal in hand.  I had taken too many body shots. I was discouraged. I made it to the end of the day and headed to the parking lot.

Then something REALLY strange happened. I heard these words out of thin air, “accentuate the positive; eliminate the negative.” It sounded like a song, so I looked it up on my phone.

I heard “accentuate the positive; eliminate the negative.”

It turned out that a guy named Johnny Mercer wrote a song in 1945 with that title. I could not believe the lyrics:

You’ve got to accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative. And latch on to the affirmative. Don’t mess with Mister In-Between

You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum. Bring gloom down to the minimum. Have faith or pandemonium’s liable to walk upon the scene.

To illustrate my last remark. Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark. What did they do just when everything looked so dark? Man, they said “We’d better accentuate the positive”

“Eliminate the negative” “And latch on to the affirmative” Don’t mess with Mister In-Between. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3jdbFOidds

I am certain that the Holy Spirit whispered that to me. If there is no one else around to encourage you, encourage yourself in the Lord! (1 Samuel 30:6)

Draw near to God! He will enable you to stand in the face of body shots. You will not fall victim to a knockout punch.

On the contrary, God will put your enemy on the canvas for good, and your hand will be raised in triumphant victory! God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

PS: Be an MEP to someone today and everyday!!

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COVID-19 & The START OF Something Big

Reframe your setback. Make it your springboard and the start of something big!

“Nobody said that life is fair.”  That’s what Major A, my Executive Officer (XO), 1/23rd Infantry used to say when we were stationed together at Camp Hovey, Korea, 1978.

I partly agree. Life is not fair. Some people get breaks that others don’t receive. Take our main character. The evidence suggests that he grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. 

He may have grown up in a “gated community” that required an access code for entry.

People from every nation, tribe, and tongue filled the marketplaces he visited as a youth. His developmental years left an impression. The strict faith tradition of his parents shaped his upbringing, as did the multiculturalism around him.

He was a brilliant student, and his parents decided he would receive the best education possible. He was sent over 500 miles from his home in Cilicia (in modern-day Turkey) to the capital city.

Among his tutors and mentors was Gamaliel, the most revered educator of his day. It didn’t take long for the young prodigy to impress the esteemed professor.

No need to envy others. God has a plan only you can fulfill.

The lad possessed intellectual curiosity, was a gifted writer, had a knack for picking up foreign languages, and was very competitive. Then there was that unique attribute that set him apart. He possessed an unusual zeal for the Jewish faith and the traditions of the elders.

He advanced far beyond his peers in mastering the law and the prophets. Consequently, the high priest and other religious elites took note of him. As he matured, he was given considerable authority and he made the most of it.

He knew the chief priests wanted to stop the spread of Christianity. He saw the destruction of the church as an opportunity to make a name for himself, so he violently persecuted the followers of Christ even to foreign cities. (Acts 26:11)

He had Christians beaten in many synagogues to get them to renounce Christ.  He had Christians cast into prison. He was consenting at the death of Stephen.

En route to Damascus, his heart filled with murderous rage. He was on the doorstep of the city when it happened.  A heavenly light knocked him to the ground; then he heard a voice.

Men traveling with Saul heard a voice but saw no light. (Acts 9:3-9)

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul was blinded and enlightened at the same time.

He was dumbfounded and in utter dismay to learn that the Jesus he was persecuting was both Lord and Christ.

Jesus told Saul to go into the city and await instructions. Saul was without sight, without purpose, and without direction for three days. He was also full of remorse, vulnerable, and painfully aware that he had made a lot of enemies. 

Some would say, “he only got what he deserved.” Major A would chime in with, nobody said that life is fair.

Too bad people say these kinds of things when you are hurting. They’ll write you off, cast you out, and leave you on the roadside, bruised, broken and naked, but not Jesus. The Lord had a plan for Saul.

Jesus told a disciple named Ananias to go and lay hands on Saul to receive his sight and to give him a message. Ananias was wary of Saul; nevertheless, he went.

Jesus told Ananias exactly where Saul was staying. Ananias laid his hands on Saul and his eyes were opened. Ananias then relayed the message:

“Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.”  (Acts 9:15)

This message was an invitation to Saul to change course and start over. The message included a warning:

 “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16)

God gives warnings like this not to discourage us, but to build our resolve for the battles ahead of us. Suffering is part of the process. (Luke 14:28-33)

God’s promises are invitations to do His will. If you are willing to endure the process, you can accomplish just about anything, but the process is the issue.

Make a firm commitment before starting. The process defeats many.

The process is going to try you, frustrate you, and drain you; the process may turn family and friends against you. The process is not undefeated, but the process defeats many.

On the flip side, the process builds character and takes the committed from glory to glory and from faith to faith.

Saul decided to take God up on his invitation. Damascus became for him, the start of something big.

Regarding COVID-19, nobody said that life is fair. There have been people affected by the virus and people AFFECTED by it. In other words, COVID-19 has been an annoyance to some and DEVASTATING to others.

Whether we have been affected or AFFECTED, what are we going to do about it? How are we going to move forward?

You can look at COVID-19 and the effects of it any way you want.  You can see tragedy, setback, frustration or opportunity.

Let me tell you this. If you are a student of the Bible and know the God of the Bible, it is HARD to see a post-COVID-19 future without hope!

Our God is the God of all hope! If I could locate Major A today, I’d request he add “but God” to the end of nobody said that life is fair.

After Saul accepted God’s invitation, he did the hardest thing required in pursuit of any noble ambition. He got started:

Immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:20-21a)

Saul turned that fiery zeal on full-force for the cause of Jesus, and it cost him. The Jews plotted to kill him, and the governor tried to arrest him . He had to be lowered out of a window in a basket to escape Damascus.

The process almost got Saul killed from the start. He returned to Jerusalem to join the followers of Christ only to discover they were afraid of him. God told him he would suffer.

Saul continued to be a witness; he also continued to suffer.  (2 Corinthians 11:23-33) He never allowed the process to defeat him. Rather, he allowed it to forge him into perhaps the greatest champion for Christ in the history of the church. More on that in the coming weeks.

Name your setback: COVID-19, divorce, job layoff, emotional or physical abuse, or in Saul’s case, Damascus. Reframe your setback. Make it your springboard and it can be the START of something big.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin. (Zechariah 4:10a)

Get STARTED!

God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

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How to Break Out After the Pandemic

Crisis conditions are ideal for your release from cages of routine, frustration and mediocrity.

“Some of you feel like you’re just been thrown away and put into prison and God has thrown away the key.  But the Lord says ‘I have not forgotten you. I have not forsaken you. The doors of the prison-house are going to come open.” -Cindy Jacobs, 8 October 1998.

I invited Cindy Jacobs to speak to our prayer counselors at CBN. It was like a storm blew through the National Counseling Center. You can check out her ministry at Generals.org.

I had long since left the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), but I thought about Cindy’s words. I was alone in an apartment on a temporary assignment for 90 days in the DC-area.  It was the fall of 2014. I felt like I was in a prison and God had thrown away the key.  Ever felt like that? 

There are all kinds of “prisons.”  As for me, my job back home had become a prison.  The job was interesting at first but after nine years it had become stale.  I was very frustrated.  I could not stomach the idea of returning to that role in 90 days, but I didn’t see a way out. 

My heart was crying out so loudly that I didn’t need to verbalize a prayer.  Ever been there?  Thankfully, God heard the cry of my heart.

I was ironing clothes one evening and I heard a YouTube video that spoke to my situation.  Bishop T.D. Jakes began describing the plight of a lion locked in a cage in his message, the “Lion’s Lair.”

Born to live in the wild and run free, the cage became the lion’s new normal.  The lion was confined for the benefit -the entertainment- of others.       

Despite efforts to tame the lion, its instincts would not allow it to become comfortable in the cage.  The lion looks at the bars and roars its disapproval. 

Jakes said, there is a roar within us when we desire to escape the parameters of our situations. He said that we all live in cages. “It may be spiritual, moral, or emotional cage.” Then he spoke the magic words, “You can get out.“

How do you get out of an abusive background when it has become your normal?

I thought Bishop Jakes was speaking directly to me. I began to imagine what getting out would be like. Soon afterward, I began taking the first steps on what became a year-long walk to freedom.  It was hard, but along the way, I discovered what it takes to get out.

There are three critical components to a “jailbreak.”  Your escape will involve a crisis, courage and crushing.   Step number one: embrace crisis. 

Don’t fear the crisis!  Crisis is a means that God uses to bring change!  Ironically, crisis is a also a vehicle God uses to bring promotion to people.

His courageous response to crisis change the course of history.

A crisis brought Moses from the prison of a desert to a victorious encounter with Pharaoh. His courageous response to the burning bush-crisis led to the emancipation of God’s people.

David broke out of a prison of obscurity with his courageous response to a crisis in Israel. Goliath was his name. A rock to the forehead of Goliath made David a “rock star,” – a champion in Israel.

How many people appreciated the firefighters and other first responders in New York City prior to the crisis of 9/11?

Heroism is being redefined during this pandemic by the courageous actions of first responders around the globe. Don’t fear the crisis. RESPOND with courage!

Know who he was before the pandemic?

Did you know who Dr. Anthony S. Fauci was before the COVID-19 outbreak? Dr. Fauci is a household name now. He has emerged as one of the most influential people in the world. Nothing flips the script like a crisis. Courageous responders break the confinement of barriers and emerge the better for it.

Don’t become stagnant because of COVID-19.  Be cautious.  Be guarded.  Be safe.  But be courageous. Respond and move forward.  This pandemic will be the demise of some and the catalyst of promotion for others.  Now, back to my long walk to freedom.

I found the perfect opportunity to break out of my current job situation.  I just needed my senior executive’s endorsement. I got on his calendar to discuss the proposal.

As I sat outside of his office, I had a very uneasy feeling.  I was invited in. He immediately made it clear that he REALLY did not like my proposal for change.  This was a one-way conversation. He concluded his remarks, pointed to the door, and shouted: “hit the road.” 

 It was humiliating to be treated in this manner, but the Lord spoke to me immediately.  “He just kicked you out of his office and into your future.”  That was encouraging for the moment, but despair quickly set in. 

That night I took my son to see a play at his community college.  I don’t think either one of us was particularly interested in seeing the “Wizard of Oz,” but he got extra class credit for attending. 

I watched the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion come to a crossroads. Their friend Dorothy was taken captive by the Wicked Witch of the West. It was a simple decision: fight or flight? They chose to fight. I sat in the theater and made the same decision.

Out of weakness they became strong.

Rarely do things change apart from a crisis.  Crisis is the seedbed of courage.  Doctor Myles Munroe once said that “crisis is the enemy of tradition and the status quo.”

Fight or flight?  How badly do you want to escape the parameters of your situation? How badly do you want to break free?

I threw caution to the wind. I set up an office call with my senior leader’s boss using his open-door policy.  I told this high ranking official that my executive was unprofessional, unreasonable, and unsupportive.  He listened to me-a midlevel employee! When my senior leader found out, he went into a rage.

I took a huge risk, but it paid off.  After some infighting I was allowed to work for a different leader in another part of our organization for 60-90 days. During this time I was to try and find another job. Well, 90 days passed and I had not found another job. 

It was nerve-wracking. At any time after the 90 days, I could have been returned to my old job.  This is the final phase; the crushing. 

I started my job hunt in January 2015 and did not find a new job until October of that year.  I was turned down for job openings on three different occasions.

I only got the job in October because the individual that was selected, turned the job down at the last minute.  Each non-selection notice was a crushing experience, but I got out!!

Cold and miserable in the Mohave Desert. My heart was crying out for a change.

That prison break gave me five years of experience in my lifelong calling to develop leaders. Instinctively, I knew that God had something more for me.  My pursuit of freedom was worth it.  It was worth getting crushed, and crushed again. 

Cindy Jacob’s was right. God had not forgotten nor forsaken me. The prison door did come open. T.D. Jakes was right. I could get out. I did get out. You can get out too!

The knowledge gained along the crushing path to freedom will liberate you and equip you to help others gain freedom. Jesus was crushed for the salvation of many.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

If you are not a Christian and would like to become one, please follow the guidance at the following link: https://dreamprayernetwork.com/gods-plan-of-salvation/

God Bless! You can get out!! Kevin

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No Sanctuary in Spiritual Warfare

Don’t allow him to gain a foothold in your household when you have the authority to cast him out!

“The Passion of The Christ,” portrayed a very real but shadowy figure who would prefer to remain anonymous.

I waited all year for our family vacation in the Carolinas. We all needed a break. Three of us were involved in major job-related transitions. The holiday season was busy as usual, but that didn’t matter now. I signed out of the office on Thursday evening, and that Saturday morning we were driving south to paradise. That’s what I thought at the time (smile).   

During the drive, I reflected on what I said to our prayer team the previous Sunday before service. We needed to continue praying for our church over the holidays I said. Some could afford to take off but not us.  In my view, we were still on duty so to speak.  

Long and boring hours but someone has to stand the watch.

It was natural for me to feel this way.  Someone always had to be on duty when I was in the military.  Thanksgiving or Christmas it did not matter.  Someone was on call 24/7.  We know that the devil never takes holidays off.  He is always looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Before the prayer team dismissed, I felt prompted to encourage us all to pray for our families throughout the holidays.  We must not give the devil an inch. (Ephesians 4:27)

I want to pause here to make a point and put a spotlight on the devil.  Did you know that many, perhaps most, American Christians do not believe he exits? This is tragic because the devil is the most disruptive and dangerous when he is unrecognized.  His ability to conceal his identity and activities is part of his agenda.

According to the Barna Group, four out of ten Christians (40%) in the U.S. strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective.  In my opinion, the root of this “symbol of evil” deception is Biblical illiteracy.  Note the survey results below:

In the Bible it is written that Satan is a fallen angel.  He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (Isaiah 14:12; John 10:10) Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8) The devil is the ruler of this world system and has fallen angels -demons- that extend his influence. (Mt 4:8-9; 12:22-26; Eph 6:11-12)

The Bible reveals that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14) The Word of God also makes it clear that Christians are not under the devil’s rule or authority. (Colossians 1:13) On the contrary, we have dominion over him.  Jesus said “don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) Thank you for this detour. Let’s resume our blissful journey to paradise.

I was so happy when we arrived at our timeshare unit.  Vacation at last!  I felt like shouting out the word made famous by the character Quasimodo in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Perhaps you recall that Quasimodo rescued the gypsy Esmerelda from the gallows, and then carried her to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral.  The hunchback then lifted her above his head and cried out to the cheering thousands below, “Sanctuary!”  Quasimodo felt he had rescued her into a safe haven away from her accusers.

The Classic Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Archdeacon Frollo.

Sadly, Esmerelda was deceived by the evil Archdeacon Claude Frollo.  The Archdeacon concealed his identity (sounds familiar), led her away from Notre Dame to apparent safety, and then off came the disguise.  Frollo pressed Esmerelda to submit to his lustful desires or face the gallows.  She refused and he gave her over to the royal soldiers and she was hanged. 

Neither the Cathedral nor our timeshare unit proved to be a Sanctuary.  There is no Sanctuary in spiritual warfare.  Don’t ever let your guard down or take your armor off.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)    

I should have remembered. God always uses our family timeshare experiences to test our willingness to love one another (smile). Testing is what happens when you place a husband and wife, and three adult children (one daughter was away this year) together in reduced living space with one vehicle for an extended period of time. It can be fun.   It can be a real challenge.  

Tension, difficulty and disagreements are normal in healthy families.   In the family context, we can learn essential conflict resolution skills.  We can learn to defer to one another, and to practice self-control, but make no mistake about it.  The devil is out to destroy families because families are the foundation of churches, communities and nations.  

Think about what is happening to families in America and around the globe. Safety measures made necessary by the COVID-19 outbreak placed families in unfamiliar territory.  Families face unprecedented restrictions and there is no clear end in view. The pressure keeps mounting; stress levels are rising and there is no Sanctuary.   

My wife homeschooled. Its not for everyone.

I recently heard the Surgeon General recommend steps to reduce COVID-19-related stress.  He suggested that we eat well, exercise and get the proper amount of sleep.  He also recommended that we pray! Regarding spiritual warfare with the devil, the Bible gives clear direction. 

The Bible teaches us to submit ourselves to God.  We are to resist the devil and he will flee from us.  (James 4:7) God’s presence in you as a believer is greater than the power of the devil.  (1 John 4:4) If you have not received Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you the way at www.dreamprayernetwork.com/gods-plan-of-salvation.  

Well, our holiday vacation came to an end.  Upon reflection, I should have paid more earnest attention to the guidance I passed along to the prayer team.  I should have been more watchful in prayer over my family. 

It was a great and difficult vacation, and I learned a valuable lesson. You may feel like you have earned or deserve a break. You may feel like you have reached a safe haven, but there is no Sanctuary in spiritual warfare.  I have been applying this lesson over the course of this pandemic.

Please give special attention to your family during the remainder of this crisis.  Keep your armor on.  Don’t allow an Archdeacon Frollo-type spirit to gain a foothold in your household when you have the authority to cast him out!  Pray for your loved ones, family members, and those in your sphere of influence. Pray for your neighbors. May the Lord mightily bless you and your family for the duration of this pandemic and beyond. God Bless! No Sanctuary!!

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, Says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17

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How to Prepare for Life After the Pandemic

It is more important to think about who you will be rather than what you will do once the pandemic ends. 

It was a great privilege just to be in the class.  This five-day course had some fancy title but it does not matter much now.  I was attending this class at the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of VA.  The Professor had a Ph.D. from Harvard and had been teaching at Darden for over 45 years.  He said a lot of things that week, but I will never forget the very first words out of his mouth. 

He said, “…you know, I believe it is a privilege to be able to think.”  Those words hit me like ton bricks back in the Spring of 2014, and let me tell you why.  I was working a full-time job.  I was in a developmental program at work.  I was serving in multiple capacities at church.  I was teaching a college class.  I was striving to be a good husband and a Dad.  Then of course there was the yard, the house, and the many other things clamoring for my attention.  No matter all this activity, I felt like I wasn’t doing enough.  Can you relate?

Take advantage of this pause to refresh and reset.

Then as now, there is very little time to think.  Well…that’s not true anymore is it? Millions of Americans, and untold millions around the globe have seen their nonstop activities come to a grinding halt in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.  We now have plenty of time to think. Here are some things to think about.

I find it interesting listening to people talk about what they are going to do once things go “back to normal.”  I heard a woman say, “I am going to put on my tennis shoes and run all over the church with excitement once we can gather again.”  I heard a guy on the radio say, “I am going to take pleasure in putting on a shirt that has buttons for a change.”    

What about you?  Will you attend a sporting event, go to a movie, hang out with your friends or go to your favorite restaurant?  What will your post-pandemic “go-to” activity be?  Allow me to offer a thought here.  It is more important to think about who you will be rather than what you will do once the pandemic ends. 

Your Future Matters. Think About it!

I retired from government service at the end of December 2019.  During my last five years, I had the opportunity to coach over a hundred emerging government leaders on their professional development and careers paths.  I also had the privilege of working closely with a number of high-ranking federal executives. 

Both emerging leaders and executives -in most cases- had one thing in common.  They had great clarity on what they did, but little clarity on who they were.  This observation held true for those with a range of 10-40 years of service.  Few could pin down a defining purpose for their lives.  Humorously, two executives told me, “I have no idea what I am going to do when I grow up.”  Not surprisingly, as they pondered retirement, they had no idea of what they would do next.

A life that is more rewarding, fulfilling, and impactful awaits those who know who they are and understand their purpose.  Mark Twain said: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”  If you want to know the answer to the “why” question, go to the source. 

The Bible makes it clear that God created all things.  It is recorded in the Psalms: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.”  (Ps 139:13-14)

It seems plausible to many that God created them, but what if I told you that God has a plan for your life?  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) To know Jesus is to begin the journey of self-discovery. 

You can know Him by confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9-11) If you do so, the Bibles says that you are saved. Easter celebrates the resurrection. If you have received the free gift of God’s salvation, past or present, please read on a little bit further.

If within your heart you take Him in, new life will begin. Jesus is that kind of Friend!

Seize the opportunity to reset for a better future.  Dr. Robert Redfield, Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director is reporting that the virus is beginning to stabilize around the country.  Ask God who He created you to be.  Ask God what His plans are for you.  After asking these questions…listen.  In fact, keep asking and seeking Him and you SHALL receive an answer (Matthew 7:7-8)

A more rewarding, fulfilling and impactful future awaits you.  Take advantage of the remaining days of social distancing and restrictions to refresh and reset.  It is a privilege to be able to think.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

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How to Combat COVID-19 Despair, Dread & Dismay – ADAPT

A couple of weeks ago, I drove by an empty parking lot at Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News, VA, during normal business hours.  Curiosity led me inside the facility and all but four stores were closed.  What an eerie feeling.  I saw about five or six people in the mall.  As I walked around, I felt a foreboding sensation similar to when I deployed to the Horn of Africa back in 1993.

Vacant During Business Hours

It was a cold night in April 1993 when elements of my unit, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, boarded buses and departed Ft. Drum, NY for Somalia on what was advertised as a peacekeeping mission.  In less than 48 hours, we arrived in hot and humid Mogadishu, Somalia.  After months in the frigid North Country of NY, (it snowed the day after we left), we had to adapt to a drastic change in weather conditions.  This was the first of many adaptions.

I will never forget that drive from Mogadishu International Airport to our headquarters at the United Nations (UN) compound.  It seemed like you could reach out and touch the hundreds of Somalis going about their normal business as we drove by.  My friend, the unit logistician, was fascinated by the sights and scenery of a foreign country.  Not me.  I felt tension in the atmosphere. 

As the weeks went by, insurgents began firing mortar rounds into our compound at night.  I remember a round exploding while we were watching a movie in our makeshift tent theater.  We did not stop watching movies.  We adapted.  We moved the theater indoors. 

Fortunately none of these rounds resulted in casualties.

Matters grew worse.  On 5 June, 24 Pakistani soldiers from our compound were killed during a site inspection in Mogadishu.  Despair, dread and dismay were in the atmosphere, but there was no time for that.  We adapted.  We moved from a peacekeeping footing to a warfighting posture. 

Things got very intense over the next couple of months, but in August 1993, all 1st Brigade personnel –over 500 of us- returned to Ft Drum with no loss of life or major injuries.  Our emotional stability was tested often, but we never caved in.  We always adapted.                                                          

Increasingly dire forecasts associated with the coronavirus pandemic caused me to reflect on my experiences in Somalia.  We left Ft. Drum thinking we were supporting a peacekeeping mission, but in a matter of weeks we were in a shooting war.  At the outset, COVID-19 was perceived to be under control in America, but things got out of hand in a matter of days.  Indeed, President Trump declared that we are at “war” with an “invisible” enemy.   

We are facing a crisis on three fronts.  We have a health crisis; a financial crisis and an emotional crisis.  Multiple initiatives like social distancing are being taken to adapt to the health crisis.  Our government is providing $2 trillion in relief funds in response to the economic fallout, but addressing the emotional crisis is another matter entirely. 

Prescribing measures to combat emotional issues like despair, dread and dismay is difficult.  The emotional arena is complex and very personal.  Physical exercise may help some, and engaging with friends may help others, but there is a more effective and underutilized resource available.

I submit to you that this underutilized resource may be gathering dust in your home or just a click away on your computer.  The Bible -God’s word- has powerful promises that if received and believed, will enable you to wrestle despair, dread and dismay into submission.  God’s word is powerful.  God’s word is enduring.  God said that heaven and earth will pass away, but “My word will not pass away.”  (Matthew 24:35)

Adapt to the changing environment now!  COVID-19 forecasts are not encouraging.  Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), warns us that the next two weeks could be the worst.  Surgeon general, Jerome Adams said, “This is going to be the hardest and saddest week of most Americans’ lives.” The White House is projecting that 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die from COVID-19. 

 God has promise after promise in His Word that will enable you to successfully combat and prevail over the emotional toll and turmoil of this pandemic.  Things may get worse before they get better, but God will keep you in perfect peace if you focus on His word.  (Isaiah 26:3) Place your confidence in Him and His promises.  The means are at your disposal to prevail over despair, dread, and dismay. 

Below are just a handful of the powerful promises in the Bible.  If you are new to Bible reading or have not read the Bible in some time, I recommend you begin by reading the Psalms in the Old Testament and/or begin reading in the book of John in the New Testament.  If you would like additional information on reading the Bible please contact me at dreamprayernet@gmail.com.  God Bless! Press On!!  

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isa 26:3

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.  Joshua 1:8

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 4:7-8

 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:9-11  

                      

         

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