For Such A Time As This 041820 – Gail Wagner
To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,
A Little Easter Humor:
If you have a joy or concern you would like us to share and pray about, please call, text or email it to me. If you would like it included in our Sunday Worship sharing and prayer time, please share it with me that week by Friday morning.
Let’s Do the Wave Video Extended Invitation:
Contact Bethany at bhoffer@palmyracob.org or call/text 937-417-5938 if want to be included in an updated video that will be released in about two weeks. We would love to see you! Join the fun!!
Reminder:
If you know someone who does not have email, please call them, and offer to read this email to them and share this devotion with them. And, check in on how they are doing.
Today’s Devotion:
I am thankful to Gail Wagner for providing today’s devotion. Gail shares some insight about a personal struggle that so many of us are experiencing as well. If you wish to respond to Gail directly, her email address is gwagner@palmyracob.org.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture – John 14:25-27 (NIV)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Thoughts:
I have not been handling this quarantine as well as I had hoped. Going into this, I thought it wouldn’t be that bad. After all, I’m an introvert. My need for social contact isn’t that vital for me. I, kind of, enjoy not having to be around people. So, why I am so depressed.
Being the good German that I am, I have tried to rationally analyze this. I have been very blessed during this time. My family and I are healthy, we all are financially ok, we have plenty of food, and we all have a roof over our heads. However, I am very worried and scared for many friends and neighbors whose livelihood and health have been affected and for the general economy. What I’m feeling is different from worry and fear.
While looking through my library for something to fill my time, I came across a book I had read entitled, The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman. In this book, the author explains that we all have a unique way or “language” to express and receive affection, either by physical touch, receiving/offering gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service or from quality time together. Just like language needs to be compatible for communication, so does our language of love. When we have effectively communicated our affection, we feel happy, satisfied, and energized. Our emotional “tank” is full. Conversely, when the communication is broken, we are sad, confused, and disconnected. Our emotional “tank” is low. Stress is a contributing factor for the depletion of one’s emotional “tanks”. The confusing and frightening reality of COVID-19 is just the kind of thing to quickly sap one’s “tank”.
My love languages are physical touch (I’m a hugger) and quality time, so this quarantine has had a profound effect on my ability to feel and show my love and affection. I am not able to hug my grandkids, cuddle with daughter on the couch while we watch a movie, enjoy my son’s big bear hugs nor enjoy a dinner with my friends, have coffee with my co-workers, or visit with folks that stop in the church office. I have appreciated communicating with my family, friends, co-workers, and church members via Zoom, Facetime, phone calls, and text, but I have learned that it does not replace the physical presence of these folks. I miss my people! Yes, the introvert that I am admits she misses people. My “tank” is running low.
While praying about this, I realized that while I am not physically with Jesus now, I do have his Holy Spirit as my constant companion. I have learned to feel Jesus’ love, peace, and joy not by being physically in Jesus’ presence but through his Spirit. Similarly, I am reminded it is not my loved one’s physical presence I truly miss but their spirit, love, and joy!
John 14:25-27 (NIV)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
We will get through this surreal chapter in our lives very shortly. In the meantime, I’m giving my family and friends fair warning to expect a big hug from me when we are finally together again!
Prayer:
Dear God, I thank you for my family and friends. I miss their presence and treasure their love just as I cherish the love of Jesus Christ through your Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Little Easter Humor:
- Golf is just the adult version of an Easter Egg Hunt.
- Bunnies are cuddly, the large and the small, but I like the chocolate ones best of all.
- Joy and Randy Derck’s friend, Tania Willforth, graduated from her earthly body yesterday. We are grateful that she is now free of pain, but request prayers for her sister, Shirley, and daughter, Lisa. (They were with Tania when they visited PCOB two weekends last year.) This sad news was not available when we recorded the sharing and prayers for this Sunday’s service.
If you have a joy or concern you would like us to share and pray about, please call, text or email it to me. If you would like it included in our Sunday Worship sharing and prayer time, please share it with me that week by Friday morning.
Let’s Do the Wave Video Extended Invitation:
Contact Bethany at bhoffer@palmyracob.org or call/text 937-417-5938 if want to be included in an updated video that will be released in about two weeks. We would love to see you! Join the fun!!
Reminder:
If you know someone who does not have email, please call them, and offer to read this email to them and share this devotion with them. And, check in on how they are doing.
Today’s Devotion:
I am thankful to Gail Wagner for providing today’s devotion. Gail shares some insight about a personal struggle that so many of us are experiencing as well. If you wish to respond to Gail directly, her email address is gwagner@palmyracob.org.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture – John 14:25-27 (NIV)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Thoughts:
I have not been handling this quarantine as well as I had hoped. Going into this, I thought it wouldn’t be that bad. After all, I’m an introvert. My need for social contact isn’t that vital for me. I, kind of, enjoy not having to be around people. So, why I am so depressed.
Being the good German that I am, I have tried to rationally analyze this. I have been very blessed during this time. My family and I are healthy, we all are financially ok, we have plenty of food, and we all have a roof over our heads. However, I am very worried and scared for many friends and neighbors whose livelihood and health have been affected and for the general economy. What I’m feeling is different from worry and fear.
While looking through my library for something to fill my time, I came across a book I had read entitled, The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman. In this book, the author explains that we all have a unique way or “language” to express and receive affection, either by physical touch, receiving/offering gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service or from quality time together. Just like language needs to be compatible for communication, so does our language of love. When we have effectively communicated our affection, we feel happy, satisfied, and energized. Our emotional “tank” is full. Conversely, when the communication is broken, we are sad, confused, and disconnected. Our emotional “tank” is low. Stress is a contributing factor for the depletion of one’s emotional “tanks”. The confusing and frightening reality of COVID-19 is just the kind of thing to quickly sap one’s “tank”.
My love languages are physical touch (I’m a hugger) and quality time, so this quarantine has had a profound effect on my ability to feel and show my love and affection. I am not able to hug my grandkids, cuddle with daughter on the couch while we watch a movie, enjoy my son’s big bear hugs nor enjoy a dinner with my friends, have coffee with my co-workers, or visit with folks that stop in the church office. I have appreciated communicating with my family, friends, co-workers, and church members via Zoom, Facetime, phone calls, and text, but I have learned that it does not replace the physical presence of these folks. I miss my people! Yes, the introvert that I am admits she misses people. My “tank” is running low.
While praying about this, I realized that while I am not physically with Jesus now, I do have his Holy Spirit as my constant companion. I have learned to feel Jesus’ love, peace, and joy not by being physically in Jesus’ presence but through his Spirit. Similarly, I am reminded it is not my loved one’s physical presence I truly miss but their spirit, love, and joy!
John 14:25-27 (NIV)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
We will get through this surreal chapter in our lives very shortly. In the meantime, I’m giving my family and friends fair warning to expect a big hug from me when we are finally together again!
Prayer:
Dear God, I thank you for my family and friends. I miss their presence and treasure their love just as I cherish the love of Jesus Christ through your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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