Epistle #9: Death, Taxes & March Madness – from St. Paul Member Lonna Nielsen

We have all heard the phrase the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes.  At this time in our history that seems to be ringing true. We have a new meaning to March madness that will bring thoughts of fear and panic in the minds of those who lived through the Covid-19 of 2020.

I have a daughter that just returned from Africa and is in isolation. We drove up to the airport with her car and waved to her as she loaded her luggage and got into her vehicle. We took her to a place of isolation for the next 14 days as a precaution. I have parents that are 82 and 81, a sister that is diabetic, a brother that received my kidney 1 1/2 years ago who are all high risk for this virus that is not well understood. My husband is living out the crashing markets daily speaking with clients that are watching their portfolios tumble to record lows. Nothing in life but taxes and death are certain.

Where do we turn? What hope do we hold onto? How will we recover from this pandemic? All uncertainties at this time.

May I make a suggestion?

Let’s turn back to the Creator. Let’s open up our bibles. Let’s remember the promises that we have been given.

Let’s take this time to turn off the TV. Stop scrolling our social media sites. Let’s rediscover one another and spend time, we have lot’s of it, doing things with our loved ones. Maybe we can only talk with them by phone or FaceTime, but lets reconnect and go back to the basics. Let’s pray for the health and safety of care workers and their daily turmoil. Let’s pray for those who are impacted the most by Covid-19 due to closure of their businesses. Let’s pray that God will bringing healing to this nation and around the world. Let’s pray that this pandemic will turn people back to God.

We as Christians should be showing people the way to be calm during the storm. We should be reaching out to our neighbor and seeing if they need anything while maintaining social distancing.

When God put it on my heart to write this Epistle of St. Paul he also gave me a song that says exactly what we need to hear.  It is sung by “The Afters” called “I Will Fear No More.”  If you have time to listen to it you will not be disappointed.  Here are the lyrics…let them calm your soul.

Every anxious thought that steals my breath
It’s a heavy weight upon my chest
As I lie awake and wonder what the future will hold
Help me to remember that You’re in control
You’re my courage when I worry in the dead of night
You’re my strength cause I’m not strong enough to win this fight
You are greater than the battle raging in my mind
I will trust you, Lord
I will fear no more
I will lift my eyes
I will lift my cares
Lay them in Your hands
I’ll leave them there
When the wind and waves are coming
You shelter me
Even though I’m in the storm, the storm is not in me!

Many times during the last few days I have found myself reciting the promises we have been given in God’s word.  One of my favorites has been “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” from Psalms 56:3.  Another of my favorite passages come from Matthew 6: 25-34 ….you might consider this to be the “Do Not Worry” passage.  God cares for the birds of the air and flowers in the fields certainly He will provide for us as well.  Use these days to read the promises in the scripture and especially when you are feeling anxious or afraid.  These are challenging times but if we remember to look to God and have Faith not Fear we can all come through this stronger.

Let’s try to be the “Unshakable Hope” during this March Madness and when people say the only certain things in life are death and taxes ……we as Christians can say …..No, GOD is always the ONE we can count on.

 

 

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