Monday, July 27, 2020

Thankful

After being ill for the whole of June this year (2020), with what turned out to be pneumonia, I'm very thankful to be well again. In fact, I realise just how many people there are to thank, and how many things to be thankful for. I recently spoke about all of these in a short video for our online church meetings (live.urbanvoice.org.za), and I thought I'd recap them here.

I'm grateful to be part of a church family: a group of people who prayed for me and messaged and phoned both me and my family with encouragement and support.
Within that church family is a smaller group, my Life Group, who arrived with meals (from sausage and mash to beef stroganoff!). They also kept a check on how my family was managing, as well as praying for me.
Another part of the church family is the Worship Team of which Steve and I are a part. They sent an extravagant, gorgeous bunch of flowers. Every time I looked at it, I was reminded of God's love for me, and their love and care too. The flowers lasted for weeks, unfolding and blooming.



Something I didn't add in the video (I had a time-limit) is how I couldn't work for about six weeks - yet finances where taken care of. One job paid me generous sick-leave, while from another came some back-pay owed to me; and a royalty payment came through.

At home, my husband Steve took over most of my chores, from laundry to cooking, and nursed me as well. In the context of current affairs and COVID-19, we could be thankful that he was still working from home, and so was able to manage all this. My two teenage boys carried on as normal, and even brought their Mom tea a few times!

There's a song that says, "What a friend we have in Jesus" - and indeed I found this to be true. While I was ill, I had no energy for anything, even reading; and there were long periods of just lying still, or waiting. During these times, I remembered all the dark days that Jesus has walked me through - and the good and joyful times too.
The Holy Spirit brought to mind bible verses and songs to encourage or soothe me; and there were special moments of comfort and help. One in particular happened when I went for an MRI scan:
In the MRI, you lie completely still while your brain is scanned. This means your head is immobilized in a kind of vice. To make sure there's no movement, a kind of "sponge" is also wedged in on each side of your head. At the time I had the scan, I'd had a fever and unrelenting headaches for several weeks - and that day was no different. The grip of the head-hold could have been frightening and claustrophobic and almost unbearable. Instead, into my mind dropped the image of two hands holding my head firmly but lovingly. What is more, I knew whose hands they were: the hands of a school-friend whom I hadn't seen for years. I hadn't even been in touch with her recently - yet I had a clear picture and tangible sense of care and compassion. I can only describe this as a special gift from God in that moment.

That's my "thankfulness" list. I'd like to end with a kind of summary to encourage you:
  • if you are sick, allow others to help and bless you
  • turn to God in whatever way you can
  • whether sick or well, pray for one another
  • if you are praying for the sick, pray for faith and peace along with healing
  • give thanks


Thursday, April 23, 2020

Our God Reigns

This song is on an album I've had for a while, but I only listened to it recently - on the first of April, in fact, when South Africa was just into the first few days of "lockdown" against the Corona virus/ COVID-19. As I write, we've just listened to the President announce a partial lifting of lockdown, with strict conditions still in place.

I've copied the lyrics here, but the part that really struck me was the chorus - Hallelujah our God reigns - where Jenn Johnson encourages us to "sing it out" - to "sing out Hallelujah," God's sovereignty, over a solid, comprehensive list of things, from our families to those who are homeless.

Even if you don't listen to this kind of music, I hope you'll take a listen and be strengthened and reassured by the chorus in particular. Link: God I look to You

God I Look To You (Bethel Music)

God I look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed
Give me vision to see things like You do
God I look to You, You’re where my help comes from
Give me wisdom; You know just what to do

I will love You Lord my strength
I will love You Lord my shield
I will love You Lord my rock forever
All my days I will love You God

Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
forever all my days Hallelujah