The world is to part of an amazing universe. We are facing severe pandemic times but even in the midst of this we can be assured of God's hand upon HIS world - The world that he created out of nothing (Genesis 1). We do not have to live in fear of the situation which has struck many across the globe. We just need to take notice of the wonderful planet that we live on each day of our lives. It is so easy for us all to focus on the everyday news - which illustrates in detail all the things which we are all having to take on board.

Light, sky, water, land, sun, moon and all the stars, birds of the air, fish of the sea, animals of the land and us of course - humans all sharing the same earth.

Let us look for a moment at Matthew 6-26-30....“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them..” Ok let me back up a second - during this moment of testing - shall we confess that even as Christians we have allowed fear to take hold? Have we run around the stores - buying this or that - making sure we filled our barns up - so to speak? Did we buy more than we needed? I would probably say a resounding yes. The Lord would remind us that He is our provision - yes we shop by all means - but in this trial let us all be an example and not store in our barn what we do not need. Panic and anxiety will try to creep upon us all. We only need to listen to one televised report - and fear and anxiety may penetrate your heart. I do not suggest we ignore the news- but we do need to apply sound doctrine to it. ''Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you'' ( 1 Peter 5-7) Isaiah 41-10, Psalm 56-3, John 14-27, Psalm 27-1.

We are also told not to worry. You and I cannot add another day to our lives by worrying about the cares of this world. Medical personnel and scientists across the world are standing together to conquer this problem. We may not have adequate skills to be of use in this field - but we do have a direct line to God in prayer - and he hears our prayers. Prayer is the raising of our minds and hearts to God. When we pray we are in the company of Almighty God - this is our true assurance. To pray and to hear from the Lord is very uplifting.

It makes sense whilst we are in isolation - to discover again that quality time alone with Him.. We may have become so busy that we never had time to sit and listen. When we are alone with Him it gives us an opportunity to hear His voice. We have His complete attention and this has got to be a bonus surely. When we again learn to be alone with God - we will see things that we have forgotten over time because of our busy schedules. God in this time can reveal our weaknesses - and believe me I have my share of those. Weakness gives God the opportunity to do powerful things in our lives. The Lord said to Paul ''My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'' 2 Corinthians 12-9. To sit before God with the given situation is an absolute must - He alone will transform all of us - His grace is sufficient for you and - His power is perfect not ours.

Now that we are also distanced from people - we may - learn to respect humanity much more seriously. This time of being apart can make us people of compassion - to have a heart for each other - to rekindle again the fire that needs to burn stronger. Maybe in all this the Lord will take us deeper - and show us real faith and an ability to wait upon him. How distant are you from God? Have you been that far apart that you want to get back but feel you cannot?

It would be true to say that for many of us now we are in a long distant relationship. Separated from loved ones. We are unable to just go where we please. Maybe we are realizing that being away from those we love is no joke. This is where our faith, patience and endurance will test us more than we think. We can be thankful for today's modern technology and what it permits us to do - we can talk on the phone, we can text, we can skype - in fact we can do so much until we are together again. I sense God is far away from some of us - and maybe we just do not know even know how to begin to draw closer.
In James 4-8 the Bible tells us to “draw near to God” to move closer basically. This follows by God telling us that He will draw closer to us... I mean surely this is an act of an all loving God. The God of this universe wants to draw near to you and I - so draw close and see what happens. Next James calls us sinners to wash our hands! That sounds familiar at this precise moment- the washing of hands during this virus - is so vitally important for the reasons already given us by scientists. James calls us double minded people trying to live in the world and serve God - the idea here is to completely wash and turn away from sin.

The world is a wondrous creation indeed - When you walk and look around - remember God did not just write His word in the Bible. He wrote it in the beautiful trees, the amazing flowers, the seas and the oceans, the stars the moon the entire galaxy. The nations of the earth - the colours and vibrant languages mixed with a romance and an excitement. Look at the sky - see the birds as high and safe as can be. Mount Everest, K2, Mount Kilimanjaro - you can add to the list, rivers and lush country sides adorned with its own make up. Clouds which dance in the sky - sending a rain which will cause you to dance and to shelter from the storm. A delightful smell of after rains, the wood fires sending out an aroma across the boundaries of life - a sweet aroma permeates your nostrils when you smell the scent of the roses - and other beautiful flowers..

We may be going through difficulties, delays in going out, disappointments and discouragements - it is then we need to trust in God - His will and not ours will always win through... Philippians 4-13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This word tells us we can do all things - not just a few things, but if we do them alone we will not last long - we need his strength and this will without a doubt carry us through these trying times.
The world is in an isolation time - nothing could have prepared us for this sudden pandemic. I would challenge myself to understand what I can do in all this time. Sometimes I feel as if I am in a prison without the bars - and then I remember the apostle Paul wrote many of his Epistles when he was imprisoned. The apostle John was on the island of Patmos where he received the vision of revelation. God used his isolation indeed on Patmos and placed it within the Bible for us to read. This separation from the normal that we have depended on for so long - this will hopefully realign the most important things of life for the future.
John 15-13-- expresses something very important in this hour we are facing globally. '' Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.''.
''And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured , all the members rejoice with it.”

People are suffering together and rejoicing together when lives are saved.... May I extend this even deeper into the eternal message of life. John 3-16. .... Question to myself and to you.... are we really suffering? I mean do other nations in the poorest regions see us as suffering - all we are asked to do is remain at home! Our homes with central heating, furnished, carpets, TV with 300 channels, fridge, freezer, some in mansions with swimming pools, gardens or in some cases no gardens - we are not asked to man the trenches each night just to remain home and change the world from your sofa... I am not trying to be cynical here just reminding myself that life is not just about me!

I pray that for every one of us - that we continue to grow in the love of Jesus Christ. We are in difficult times around the world but here we can see the following.... When I go back to the Genesis - we see how God created everything. Then sadly many rejected the Creator - then we read Genesis 3-14-19 to see the consequences of the rejection of God. Life may seem hard at this time - but God is greater than the difficulties. 2 Corinthians 4-8-10: ''We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed , but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken!” (Please read the scripture for your selves...) and soak it all in.