Until Further Notice – Be Kind
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Mark Twain
Crisis brings out the best and worst of humanity.
The other day I had someone pay for my McDonald’s Shamrock Shake in the drive thru line. This was a big deal to me. First of all, I only go to McDonald’s for one reason, and one reason only – to get a Shamrock Shake during the month of March. Secondly, it was a totally, unexpected gift of kindness from a complete stranger. I don’t know who paid for it, but it made my day.
I’ve heard a few stories of rude and unkind patrons in grocery stores who either hoard toilet paper or completely lose it on someone who violated their personal social distance space.
As a human race, we can do better.
“Be kind to you web-footed friend, for a duck could be somebody’s mother….”
Kindness was meant to be given as a gift to those around us.
As people face the unknown of COVID-19, now is the time to be kind. Your smile, your random act of kindness, your thoughtfulness has the power to transform someone’s day – and perhaps even someone’s life.
What are you waiting for? Until further notice, be kind!
Prayer: Help me be kind. Help me think of others before I think of myself.
Ponder & Discuss: How has kindness impacted your life? How can you be kind in the midst of crisis? (Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.)
“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”
Job 6:14 (NIV)
Until Further Notice – Remain Calm
“Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options.”
Simon Sinek
Yesterday afternoon, I received some news regarding my job and the COVID-19 crisis. I’m not the only one who is getting unsettling news. I’ve heard stories of friends being laid off, businesses being shut down, and people being separated from their loved ones. My news could be a whole lot worse, but it still caused some anxiety in my life.
In the middle of a crisis, it can be extremely challenging to remain calm. For many of us, our natural inclination is to lose our minds and to think the absolute worst.
It’s times like this we must remember to remain calm.
As I shared yesterday, God is still in control. He’s got this. This doesn’t mean everything will work out with a nice bow on it. In fact, I don’t believe there is any place where we are guaranteed utopia while we live this life.
Nevertheless, we can be confident that God will fight for us. Remaining calm in the midst of crisis is possible when we give our problems and our worries to God.
If you are struggling to stay calm these days, I encourage you to practice these four basis steps:
- Breathe.
- Surround yourself with calming influences (ie. calm music, nature, calm people, etc.).
- Practice gratitude – there are reasons to be thankful in the middle of the storm.
- Go to God.
Until further notice, remain calm.
Prayer: In the middle of the chaos, give us peace. Help us remain calm.
Ponder & Discuss: How are you responding the crisis in your life? How would your life be different if you remained calm? (Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.)
“You only need to remain calm; the Lord will fight for you.”
Exodus 14:14 (NCV)
Until Further Notice – God Is With Us
“I’ve said all along that God is in control.”
Tony Dungy
What comes to mind when I say the word ‘Emmanuel’?
For most people they think of Christmas and the little baby Jesus born in a stable. “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel….”
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
I had the blessing of talking with a good friend last night. Like me, he is a leader at his job. The past ten days have not been fun for him at all. He has faced the difficulty of furloughing a quarter of his team, and he is also faced with a significant pay cut while his company tries to survive the storms caused by COVID-19.
After a long conversation, my friend said something profoundly simple but often overlooked. He said “It has been comforting and reassuring knowing that God is with us – even in the midst of crisis. I feel bad for those who don’t know this truth.”
It’s a truth we often overlook. After Christmas, we forget Emmanuel. Emmanuel means ‘God with us.” And Emmanuel is not just for Christmas. Emmanuel, God with us, is there for us all year long.
Have you lost hope? Have you faced discouragement? Look to the One who is in control – who is our fortress in times of trouble. Until further notice, look to Emmanuel.
Prayer: When the world seems bleak and hopeless, look to the one who is with us. Ask for a reminder of this truth today.
Ponder & Discuss: How have you experienced God’s presence recently? How as Emmanuel made a difference in your life? (Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.)
The Lord Almighty is with us.
Psalm 46:7 (NIV)
Until Further Notice – Pray For Our Leaders
Prayer is the most concrete way to make our home in God.
Henri Nouwen
Nearly three years ago, I took over leadership of my department. With over 80 team members, leading can easily become exhausting and at times overwhelming. I am blessed to have a fantastic department with a group of key leaders under me and around me.
Nevertheless, leadership can be lonely.
Leaders are often left with big decisions. They are looked upon for wisdom and guidance when everything else seems to be in crisis.
As we navigate COVID-19, there will be many people second guessing leadership. He should have acted more quickly. She shouldn’t have treated her team so poorly. They should have put more rules in place. People will debate leadership decisions for years to come.
Regardless of your position on your leadership at work, at church, in your communities, or in your country, you have a choice to make. While there is a time to speak up and take a stand, there is also a time to pray. Chose prayer. Our leaders need prayer. They need prayer for wisdom, for strength, for courage, for humility, for grace, and for help.
Until further notice, I encourage you to pray for your leaders. They need it now more than ever!
Prayer: In times of turmoil, guide and direct those in leadership. Give them just what they need to lead with wisdom, with confidence, with humility, and with strength.
Ponder & Discuss: Have you taken time to pray for your leaders? What might praying for your leaders make possible? (Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.)
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
I Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)
Until Further Notice – Stand Together
“What I’m not confused about is the world needing much more love, no hate, no prejudice, no bigotry and more unity, peace and understanding. Period.”
Stevie Wonder
I still remember the days and weeks immediately following 9/11. There was obviously a sense of uncertainty, despair, and loss. Planes flying into buildings and killing hundreds of lives will do that. I also remember a sense of resolve and a sense of unity. For a period of time, there was a sense of unity – we are all in this together.
Crisis can bind us together or tear us apart.
As we navigate the COVID-19 crisis, you and I have a choice. Will we seek to unify? Or will we choose our own path – a path of finger-pointing and a path of disharmony?
Everyone has an opinion. And there will always be differing political and social agendas. I get it.
We have more to gain by standing together.
It’s time we listen for understanding. It’s time we speak with compassion and empathy. It’s time we act with love.
The COVID-19 pandemic will mark humanity for years to come. May it be the tie that binds us together and reminds us to stand together for together we can change the world!
Prayer: In the midst of crisis, help us stand together. Give us a spirit of unity, and help us make a positive difference together.
Ponder & Discuss: Where have you seen others standing together to make a difference? What would unity make possible today?
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
Until Further Notice
Until Further Notice – until someone announces that a situation has changed or no longer exists
Macmillon Dictionary
The local library in my town as been undergoing construction. The construction started late this past fall, and initially the construction was only supposed to keep the library closed for a month. As I walked past the library multiple times throughout each week, I’ve noticed the re-opening date moving back further and further – January 2nd, January 9th, February 3rd, February 24th, March 16h, and April 6th. Last week, I noticed the sign changed one more time. It now reads “Closed Until Further Notice.”
This is the same type of creating that can be found on many businesses as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until Further Notice implies uncertainty. For many, this sign indicates a hopelessness. And I get it. We all want things to return to “normal” – whatever that might be. We want to get on with our lives.
As I ponder this sign and its meaning, I am reminded of our need for hope, encouragement, and grace.
With this in mind, I’ll be using “Until Further Notice” as a reminder of the hope we can have in the midst of uncertainty. Look for more “Until Further Notice” posts in the days to come.
Prayer: In the midst of uncertainty, we ask for reminders of hope. Help us to be communicators of this hope to others.
Ponder & Discuss: What changed in your world as a result of COVID-19? What has this pandemic made possible for you? (Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
W2R Take Home 1: I Want To Be An Encourager
Yesterday, we (Leanne and I) shared about our Weekend to Remember (W2R) experience at the FamilyLife marriage conference in Hershey, PA. Conferences like this are great, but it can be easy to come away with a mountain top high that quickly fades as real life happens.
When I woke up early yesterday morning for an earlier than normal start, it was easy to become instantly tired and to feel worn out before the week had even started. When I had a migraine headache yesterday at work, it was easy to quickly become frustrated and to feel like I was back to real life. (I’ve been struggling with migraines over the past few weeks.) When I came home from Isaac’s basketball game where we suffered a tough loss in the final four of the playoffs, it was easy to get down knowing that our hoops season was now over.
But throughout the day, I kept reminding myself of the great weekend I had just experienced. I left the conference with a few take homes.
The first major take home for me was put into action last night when Isaac suffered defeat in his basketball game. I want to be an agent of encouragement for my wife and kids. I was pretty down after his game due to the outcome and due to a comment from one of his teammates. I had the chance to express my pride and love for Isaac. Isaac plays the basketball game with a positive attitude. He doesn’t complain. He has fun. He does his best. His game continues to show improvement. I love to watch how he transforms throughout the season into a basketball loving machine.
As we talked about the discouraging remark by his teammate, we had the chance to discuss the power of encouragement. We all have the opportunity to lift people up through our comments. I want our family to live this way to each other, to our classmates, to our teammates, and to others. As a dad, I believe it starts with me as I lead our family. I want to be an agent of encouragement!
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11
How has encouragement transformed your life? Are you an agent of encouragement or of discouragement? What is one thing you can do today to encourage someone?