Three Words About the Corona Virus

Hey Everyone!

Concerning the Corona Virus Covid-19, I would like to wrap some important thoughts around 3 words in order to respond to the situation we face at this moment in our neighborhood and around the world.

The first word is WARFARE.

We have been charged by the King of Kings to be focused on carrying the Gospel to the nations. When your perspective is anchored in Scripture then it is no surprise for there to be attacks on people moving to and from through the nations. When we are to connect with people and share God’s love, it is no surprise that there would be warfare creating isolation and separation. When the curse came upon the world, connections were broken and distance was created and the warfare continues. So, this is indeed a time of warfare. When you hear the word panic then think of the word promise. When fear tries to rise up choose to let your faith to rise up. When the scare starts let the Scripture speak. “No plaque shall come near your dwelling!” We must not give in to fear. We must not shut down. We must not give in. The promises of God are particularly for times like these. Let’s use them and put faith to them and experience Christ giving us whatever we may need. We have victory in Jesus and so we will not bow to a virus. We have a global Gospel to spread to the nations.

The second word is WISDOM.

There was a phrase from the days of the American Revolution concerning depending on God and doing one’s duty. That phrase was “Pray and keep your powder dry!” Yes, we fight in faith, but we also walk in wisdom. The virus is a real threat to people, particularly those with weakened immune systems. With this in mind, here are some practical steps of wisdom we can all heed to help others as well as ourselves:

            - If you have a cold, flu, runny nose, fever, or signs of any contagious illness, etc., stay away from other people. What you think you can handle could be very bad news for someone else. Be kind and take steps to get well and take steps that avoid giving anything to someone else. Sick or not, if you cough, please cover your mouth. Regarding church attendance, in such situations, this is a great time to watch the service on livestream at http://gracehouse.info/watch-live/  or on our Facebook page. You can participate in the service without risking giving something to someone else. If you don’t feel well, then get checked out. Thank God for doctors and nurses.

-All of us need to regularly wash our hands. I was in a public restroom yesterday and watched a father instructing his young son to wash his hands briskly with soap and water and not stopping until he had said all his ABC’s. I pass this great idea onto you. When you don’t have soap and water, use hand sanitizer. Maybe you could meditate on t.+he word while you scrub in the Spirit😊  “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid.”

-While I’m speaking of clean hands, we simply have to realize that right now we must be extra sensitive concerning shaking hands, hugging, etc. Our church culture is very much a hello with a hug or smile with a handshake culture. Let’s respect each other’s need to avoid germs during this time of heightened tensions and awareness. I’m not saying we should not do these things. I am saying be aware that more people than usual may be uncomfortable touching others right now. You can usually sense this. Give a smile and a handwave in such cases. I’ve seen more fist bumps and elbow bumps lately as that uses a part of your hand you don’t usually touch your face with. Yes, some awkward situations may develop. Just chuckle and share your joy in different ways when such times arise.

-As a church family, we have sanitizer in the commons and foyer areas. We are being conscientious about keeping things clean and sanitized. Our workers always keep our children’s area sanitized and the toys cleaned after each service. This has always been our protocol and extra precaution is being taken now.

The third word is WORSHIP.

We will continue to meet for our worship services as always unless such a time were to come when we are instructed by authorities in our government that we cannot meet due to health concerns. As always, you can expect to arrive to a clean building knowing that we want to do all we can to insure a clean environment.

I encourage you to be sure to feed on God’s Word and strengthen your faith in these days. As mentioned, the battle is not just against a virus but against panic and fear. Our faith gives us what we need to stand the test of these times. Worship is our warfare.

If the time were to confront us when we could not meet publicly for a season, then here is what you can expect.

1. At our regular service times, a small team of us will livestream worship and a message to you wherever you are. We have the technology to do this and we can stay connected through these means.
2. You will receive texts and email updates regularly to assist you during these times to be strong in the faith.
3. We will have churchwide teleconference calls where you will be updated and can participate in prayer with your church family.
4. You will be able to give your tithes and offerings online, by text, or by mail in order to continue the Kingdom work.

I personally believe that this crisis will be short-lived. Many people are praying and we will see this virus overcome and the fear abated. Let’s continue to pray for all our governmental leaders and agencies involved in overseeing this. And, let’s pray that nothing would hinder the global spread of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His Service,

Eddie Lawrence
Senior Pastor, Grace House
Florence, AL