We are living at an unprecedented time in history. The world is basically quarantined trying to contain the coronavirus. Rockhills Church chose to adhere to the recommendations of those in authority in our city and not meet for church in the usual format. We had a “round table” online discussion that included Adam and Tiffany Harris and Al and Jan Hassler. The discussion was also to include Dr. Peter DeYoung, one of our Elders, but he was called away and was not able to return. Please continue to pray for him as he is on the frontline of this situation. Pray for ALL our medical personnel during this pandemic.
Many of you are aware that Rockhills Church was set to have its “soft opening” at their new facility this week. A soft opening is basically practice services (although real, authentic worship) to work out kinks before marketing and opening for our new neighbors. Obviously, things did not go as planned, but the roundtable discussion WAS held in the new space and we are grateful for that. The timing is interesting because it is highly likely we would not have been allowed into the school we have previously been meeting in - even for filming an online service. As we look for gifts hidden in this situation, that is one of them. We had a team that came for prayer (Sunday was declared a National Day of Prayer), and our worship leader came to record a few worship songs to include with the online roundtable discussion. All of these things can be seen on the Rockhills Facebook page and would not have been possible but for having our new space available for “such a time as this.”
Today’s roundtable discussion and the the resulting Bible study, address the unique opportunities we have during this time to trust in God and His character and for the church to shine as a “city on a hill” (Matthew 5:14). We also discussed finding peace in turmoil, facing the unknown and general encouragement during this unusual time in history.
INVITATION: You are invited this week into some spiritual practices and scriptures to put feet to your faith and trust in God during this time of “thin space.” A thin space is when heaven and earth are close, and our normal way of life has been jolted into a new sense of reality. May you find the peace that passes ALL understanding this week as you spend time in God’s Word. He IS the same yesterday today and forever. He IS the beginning and the end. He IS the Alpha and the Omega. Are you believing that and trusting it right now in your life and circumstances?
MONDAY: Acts 1:6-8: The Holy Spirit gives us a purpose and power. None of the circumstances we find ourselves in today and this week are a surprise to God. Pastor Adam urged us to remember the last thing God had impressed upon us. Sometimes it might be as simple as remembering “I am a child of God.” If that’s the last thing you remember God speaking into your life, cling to it and pray into it and remember it now. Fear and anxiety can distract us from God’s purpose. How might you pray today for God to show you his purpose in this situation?
TUESDAY: I Cor. 7:20: This verse encourages us to stay where we are until God calls us somewhere else. It is not a surprise to God the situation you are in right now. Can you trust Him in it and perhaps even rest in it?
WEDNESDAY: Psalm 77:12 & Phil. 4:6-8: Tiffany Harris spoke briefly about facing the unknown. She stressed how helpful and important it is to remember we serve a KNOWN God. He is relational and involved in our lives. He has given us His Word. She mentioned something that is often a great spiritual practice and might be particularly helpful during this unusual and stressful time in history: remembering God’s faithfulness. There are numerous times throughout scripture where God suggests His people “remember” His faithfulness. Today, you are invited into a time of journaling about God’s character, the answered prayers in your life and the times when you have seen and experienced God’s faithfulness. As you participate in this important spiritual practice, what do you notice about your body and your breath? What do you notice about spending time in this exercise as opposed to watching the news or scrolling social media?
THURSDAY: Isaiah 26:3-4: Jan Hassler (that’s me!) spoke at the roundtable about finding peace during turmoil. I mentioned the term “thin space” and how this pandemic has created exactly such a space: a time when heaven and earth are close. Our normalcy has been jolted and our sense of control is gone. We honestly never have as much control in our lives as we think we have, and sometimes it's good to realize things are out of our control. In the filming I asked this question for you to consider: can our normalcy being jolted and the lack of control we all are feeling actually be a good thing? YES! I used the analogy of newly turned up dirt. The soil is tilled and ready for the planting of seeds. In this slowed down pace, with less entertainment and other things to distract us, is there a personal invitation from God to you? Might there be seeds God wishes to sow into your life? They might even be “in the dark” for a while before they grow. Can you trust God in the process, even if it’s in the dark?
FRIDAY: Psalm 103:8-9 & Psalm 23:4: Al Hassler shared some of his favorite Psalms about God’s character and how we can trust it even as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” God is abounding in love and compassion. How can you rest in that today?
SATURDAY: Romans 8:28: This is an often quoted verse. It is STILL in the Bible and it STILL is relevant and true. It has not lost its power over the years since it was penned. How might you believe it and apply it to your life today and in this situation? ALL THINGS work together for your good. If you are having trouble believing and trusting this, perhaps you can pray and ask for God to help you in believing this and applying it in your life?
BONUS SPIRITUAL EXERCISE: Sometimes during times of anxiety and stress it is hard to pray. Modern neuroscience shows that during these times, it is often helpful to bring all our senses online to help us think and focus in ways other than our normal default setting. HERE is a link to a prayer exercise you might find helpful. It is called “imaginative prayer” which basically invites you into a passage (Jesus calming the storm from the book of Mark) and helps you insert yourself into the scene, just like a movie or a novel. Using our sanctified imagination, it can be helpful to rest in the words of Scripture, imagine what it might be like to be there, hear the sounds, smell the smells, etc. Perhaps it will be helpful in any “storm” you are currently experiencing?
May God bless you & yours and keep you in HIS perfect peace. Amen.