Today is Sunday and I confess to you, dear readers, this is the hardest day for me each week.  The doors of our houses of worship remain closed, so I will start today’s Chronicle where I ended last Sunday’s Chronicle (post #27) with these words from Psalm 24:7-10, which I love so much –

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is he, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.”

That’s what I want, for the King of glory to come in!  COVID-19 can’t keep the King of glory out of the world that He created.  He is here, I must be sure my heart is open to let Him in, even though the church doors are closed temporarily.

It might appear that COVID-19 has put us all in impossible situations.  We are seeking solutions but finding them feeble.  I am reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:26,

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I have seen that truth play out over and over again throughout God’s history with us, His children.

Sarah was barren and beyond childbearing years  –  But God – enter Isaac!

Hannah was barren and full of despair  –  But God –  enter Samuel!

Ruth was widowed, childless and living in a foreign land – But God – enter Boaz, enter Obed, enter Jesse, father of future King David!

Elizabeth was barren and well beyond childbearing years – But God – enter John the Baptist!

Mary was a virgin, not yet married – But God – enter Jesus Christ!

Saul was on the road to Damascus, with papers of persecution, ready to take out any Christ followers he found – But God – enter Paul, the devoted apostle who spent his life living for Jesus!

I was dead in my transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1) – But God – ” . . . so loved the world (me) that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”    (John 3:16)

COVID-19 has come into our world and would take us captive, would endeavor to hold us all hostage – But God – “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”  (2 Timothy 1:7)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”    (Psalm 73:26)

But God – such beautiful words  –

Peter had seen first hand the power of these two words and he made this known when he spoke to the crowd  saying,

“This man . . . you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.  But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”  (Acts 2:23-24)

Our stay at home order may have been extended but COVID-19 does not have the final word.  Acts 3:15 confirms this saying, “You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead.”

The corona virus is a virus of death –  But God –  God is a God of life – He has the final say.  What Joseph said to his brothers so very long ago is still true to this day – Joseph said,

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”   (Genesis 50:20)

today I will sing with the psalmist,

“The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!”  (Psalm 97:1)

sincerely,      Grace Day