I’m watching some people panic, some that are angry and running wild with preparations. I’m not demeaning the importance of the world’s pandemic, but I’m questioning the faith of my fellow believers.

If you know Christ as your savior, and you’re walking with Him, then you have to feel the safety and refuge, it’s undeniable.

You may feel that you don’t deserve this stress and panic, that the suffering is relentless.

Think how Jesus felt, when He was being mocked, ridiculed, and finally receives a death sentence.

We aren’t promised a stress-free life, but if you’ve given your life to Christ, you are promised an eternal home. Death lost it’s sting when Jesus took on the cross.

For those of you who don’t know Jesus, there’s no better day than today, to make the best decision of your life. Lay down your life as you know it, and give your life to Christ. All the burden and stress you feel today, can be handed over to Jesus. In replace of this undeserved suffering you feel you’re going through, imagine days of peace, security and hope.

You can have that; you can turn your life around with this one decision. Who will you serve today? Satan, with his lies and destruction, or Jesus with peace and life eternal.

Join me in the family of God.

1 Peter 3:14 - “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”

I heard the above statement from Pastor David Jeremiah, and if you are a Christian, you understand it.

Life for the believer started at the cross. When God sent His only Son, Jesus, to live on earth and die a cruel death, on the cross, we were then given a great opportunity. We all have a chance to have eternal life.

I’m excited that my future is determined, and no matter what happens on this earth, or how bad it gets, God’s not going to let anything happen to me.

I’m living in peace, amidst the chaos. I want everyone to experience God’s goodness, as I do.

Some day, when it’s in God’s timing, I will be called home to spend eternity with the King. And, then, I’ll receive a crown of glory!

I am living in between the cross, where death was defeated, and my crown, where life begins.

I won’t let satan defeat my attempts to glorify and follow God.

When I’m weary, and I feel like giving up, I will remember the cross and how Jesus suffered for me.

I’ll suffer for a little while, to receive my crown some day!

James 1:12 - “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

A mother will do whatever it takes to care for her babies, whether it’s a human or a mother bird.

Mother birds have creative ways in making sure their babies are safe and warm. Most of them will put their babies under their wings to protect them.

Think of this protection when you think of how God takes care of His children.

Just as it says in Psalms 91:4, “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.”

This is not just a passing comment, this is a scripture in the Bible. It also talks about His faithfulness to us.

Just as a mother takes extra care to ensure her child’s safety, God is looking out for His children. But, that also means that His children must obey Him.

If we believe in God and His promises, we can take refuge in Him. That means, we shouldn’t be afraid, even when there seems to be chaos all around us.

God is not going to let His children down. We’re all looking for answers, especially during these times. You’ll find a lot of wrong answers from the media, and it changes daily. No one really knows what’s going to happen next.

But, knowing the one true God will give you the peace and refuge you need.

Trust God. Take shelter in His arms.

Psalms 91:4 - “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Just as a farmer waits for harvest time, we are to wait on God.

He tells us in Galatians 6:9, to not become weary in doing good. It may seem at times that we can never get ahead, no matter how hard we try.

I’m here to tell you from first hand experience, that even though I rebelled and lived life on my own for years, God never gave up on me. Even then, when I felt I was at my lowest, and life was hard, God kept pursuing me. He knew that His plans for me were for good and that He would use me for His purposes.

I am a perfect example of God’s grace.

God took a single mom, who struggled for years to find my way, and put me in the mission fields of Peru, in 2018. I can’t even begin to tell you how that experience changed my life.

God is my testimony. He’s the one who gets all the credit. He saw the good in me, when I saw the worst in myself.

I don’t know where you are in your walk with God, or if you even know Him, but there’s one thing I can say for sure, if you give your life to Him, and trust Him in His promises of hope, He will never stop pursuing and blessing your life.

Galatians 6:9 - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Did you ever think that God’s trying to get our attention? Will this pandemic cause people to look to God for help?

Panic causes us not to think clearly. Fear of the unknown will give us doubts about our government, even doubting God.

This is what the devil wants, panic. Complete chaos and lack of control. Satan would like nothing more than to cause a civil war among us.

How do we live in this world, but not be conformed to it? God is the only answer to the ‘what ifs’ right now. What if we trust in God, instead of putting our confidence in ourselves, or our world leaders. Yes, we need to support the decisions of our president, etc., but along with that, we must acknowledge that God is aware of the situation and He sees the heart of man.

God says in His Word, that He didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but God gives us His power and love, in addition to peace in the storms of life.

God sees us, right where we are. He knows your heart. He knows if you’re really trusting Him, or just going along with the world’s confusing acts?

What if we started encouraging those who are fearful and worried? What if we told the our story of redemption, and why we have peace in this storm?

Trust God alone. His plans are perfect and good. Wait on God and trust HIs plan.

What would the world look like then?

Psalms 56:3 - “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

When we put our cares in God’s Hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.

There was an old hymn I used to sing called, “We shall overcome.” The song speaks of overcoming heartache, fear and finding peace in living.

Everything seems to be in chaos these days. People are in a panic, fearing the worst threat to humanity since the flu pandemic in 1918.

I admit, I’m concerned, but I’m also hopeful for the future.

Even though the odds seem against us, God is for us, and that’s something to be hopeful for. God is good. When people panic, chaos follows. There’s nothing wrong with being concerned, just don’t let it consume you.

This is what satan wants. He wants the world to feel fear, to feel hopeless. Don’t give into this.

Instead, put on your shield of armor, God, and stand up and fight the battle of the mind.

God sees what’s going on. It’s no surprise to Him. He’s watching to see how we, who call ourselves Christians, react to this situation.

Are we going to live in fear and despair of what might happen? Or, are we going to hold onto the only truth, that God is in control.

Acknowledge God and beat the odds.

Judges 7:7 - “The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”

God hates a lying tongue. Lying is a false statement, made with deliberate intent to deceive.

You can actually lie, unintentionally. For example: someone may ask you the age of your grandchildren and you could tell them the wrong ages. The lie wouldn’t necessarily hurt anyone and you didn’t do it to deceive.

Deceit has many hats. A hypocrite is a deceiver because he/she’s pretending to be something they’re not. Then there’s flattery, where you say nice things to someone to win their favor, even though you don’t mean it.

Why does God hate deceit so much? Because He, Himself is the source of all truth.

If you have a deceitful heart, then you’re in rebellion with God.

You can’t love and hate someone at the same time. You can love a person, but hate their attitude or lifestyle.

To purposely trick someone or to falsely represent yourself is deceit.

If God said it in the Bible, that He hates a lying tongue, then you better believe it and take heed.

Speak love to others. Be yourself. God made you in His image.

Our heart’s condition apart from God’s grace is deceitful.

Our hearts will not save us. We need to be saved from our hearts.

Proverbs 20:17 - “Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”

I think the greatest compliment someone could give me, would be to say, “what is it about Dianne, what is it that makes her so different?”

Now, please understand me when I say, I’m not always happy and joyful. I have my ups and downs, like everyone else. But, I will confess that I’m not the same person I was 30 years ago. Ask anyone who knew me back then.

As a Christian, you’re not excluded from hurt, or pain. But, we do possess something much more powerful, it’s God’s love and protection.

You see, even though I know there will be heartache and disappointment from others, or hard circumstances, I have this internal peace that comes when the storms are raging. When others intentionally take advantage of me, I pray for them. Because, I don’t know what’s going on in their life, I give them grace.

Life’s too short to conform to this world. Be different, than the typical. Be a kind of different that people want to know.

Hopefully others are looking at you, and saying, “what is it that’s so different about him/her? I want what they have.”

That’s when you can tell your story and why you’re different, and how Jesus changed your life.

Are you unruffled, in spite of the circumstances? Every time you praise God in your challenges, and rely on His Word, you’re making the devil very angry.

Be some kind of different today!

Psalms 1:1-2 - “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”