​G R I E F
Sequel to Spiritual Coronavirus POSTED 08 JULY 2020

When I was asked to write a sequel to “Spiritual Coronavirus” I couldn’t immediately do so because I was so angry with what was going on in our country. The riots and destruction after the George Floyd killing were constantly on the news stations. I couldn’t watch them for very long after they first began because the disregard for the law and blatant anarchy were more than I could handle without launching into a litany of angry, negative comments about what was going on. There was plenty of that already! I knew that wasn’t healthy for me. I also knew that my family around me didn’t want to hear my outbursts of anger. Why was I so angry? Because I was watching the devastation of our country by people who were hell-bent on doing just that. The riots, fires, looting, physical attacks, and wanton destruction had nothing to do with what happened to George Floyd. It was an intentional takeover of the streets of Minneapolis, and the police stations, which were gutted by fire. What was the message they were sending? They were taking the law into their own hands because they didn’t like the job the law enforcement agencies were doing.  Looks like I’ve started ranting – so I must stop and get to the point that needs to be made. The ranting does not help in any way. Praying is the better choice. Praying softens our hearts to hear what the Heavenly Father has to say about what’s going on. When I began praying, I realized that my anger was being replaced with sadness. I began feeling such a sorrow for what was happening to our country. As I prayed and talked with other people who feel the same concern for our country as I do, I found that many are experiencing the same sadness as I have. In fact, one of my friends said she felt like she was depressed. We both felt such sorrow for what was happening to our country.  And that’s when I heard the Holy Spirit tell me what we were experiencing – grief – and I knew about what I was supposed to write.

Grief is what we feel when we lose someone or something that is extremely important to us. Ladies and gentlemen, we are losing our country. With that profound realization comes a sadness almost too overwhelming to bear. I feel like I’m drowning in the midst of what’s happening all around our country. Looking back at more than 200 years of our country’s history, I wonder how we could have come this far to see it all ripped apart? If we look closely, though, we will see that it hasn’t just happened in the last few years. It has been going on for decades. Truth be told, it’s been going on for centuries. I won’t go into detail. I’ll just list below some of the actions that have contributed to the downward spiral we are in now.  Each of these has caused the moral degradation that is part of the cause of the downfall of our country.

>Removal of prayer from schools.

>Legalized abortion.

>Acceptance of homosexuality and same sex marriage.

>Decline of the family structure.
There are social causes also:
>Not taking responsibility for our own actions.

>No consequences for our actions or lack thereof

>The propaganda and indoctrination being taught in our colleges and universities, the media, politicians, and churches
>Churches?!? Yes! Many churches have become social institutions where social issues and programs have taken precedence over the Bible. Consequently, we have weak “Christians” who don’t actually know what Jesus told us what our responsibility is. We are to proclaim the Gospel to the lost, love our brothers and sisters, and PRAY! Prayer is the only thing that is going to defeat the enemy who is trying to destroy our country. It’s time for churches to get back to their first love – Jesus. Some churches have not even started there!

Jesus taught us to love one another as He loves us. Our love has grown cold. We must first rekindle our love for Jesus. Next, we must rekindle our love for our fellow believers. Then we must rekindle our love for the Word. How can we know what the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit desire us to do if we don’t spend time reading our “instruction manual?” Then we must spend time with Them, separated from the busyness and cares of the world, so that we can hear Their voices, loving us, guiding us, chastising us when necessary, teaching us, comforting us, …. They know what we need. We must take the time to receive all that They have for us in order to become the messengers They desire us to be.

Many years ago, the Holy Spirit showed me that the world was like a runaway train, going downhill so quickly, unable to be stopped. I do believe that is where we are today. We know that nothing is impossible with God. But He won’t blink an eye and make all of this go away. He is waiting for His Church to do what He has called her to do. Repent, pray/intercede, love, surrender, seek the Holy Spirit; acknowledge our need for Him, give up our right to ourselves and allow His Spirit of love to rule in our hearts. So, let’s do it!

Get on our faces before the Lord, asking Him to show us what He wants us to do to bring His message to a lost and dying world. Love each other (fellow believers and non-believers alike) unconditionally, as He loves us. Demonstrate His Love and His truth, in love, to all those with whom we come into contact.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;

as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

“You turned my mourning (grief) into dancing! You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my heart can praise you and not be silent; Adonai my God, I will thank you forever!”Psalm 30:11-12​