covid-19 - Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

A Different Kind of Easter

April 9, 2020 by Ellen 8 Comments

WHEREAS, the measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of the people of Louisiana,

NOW THEREFORE I, Governor of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

…all gatherings of ten or more people shall be postponed or cancelled…until Monday, April 13, 2020^⁠1

April 13? Why, that’s the Monday after Easter, isn’t it? No Easter church service? No Easter lunch with all the family?

The thoughts sputtered in my brain.

But, but, what will we do??

Easter 2020 will be a different kind of Easter for sure. However, it won’t be much different that the first Easter.

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19 NASB

The first disciples were huddled behind closed doors in fear of the Jews. We are staying home for our health, wary of the highly contagious, deadly Covid-19 virus. We are disciples staying in for our safety, just like they were.

And Jesus still speaks those same words to us today: Peace be with you.

The peace of Jesus can be ours this oh, so different Easter.

In the gospels we read about parents bringing their children to Jesus, so that He might pray for them. The disciples scolded the parents. I can imagine why. When you get a group of small kids together, it’s no easy feat to control them! Just ask any VBS worker!

But Jesus said “Let the children come.”

Imagine with me all the children crowding around Jesus! They had no agenda, and no expectations. The kids had just heard about this man from their parents, and wanted to see Him. Their parents had said He would pray for them. So they flocked to Jesus.

Imagine with me all the children sitting at His feet. They just wanted to spend time with Him. Imagine the stories He would tell them, and the blessings He would pray over them. And they are happy and content, because they had Jesus.

Let’s put that perspective on Easter this year:

Our perspective: We can’t have our traditional Easter service with our church family.

God’s perspective: You have My Son, who died for you! You are co-heirs with Him. You are His child.

Our perspective: We can’t have our big family lunch after church.

God’s perspective: You have Jesus, the bread of life. You will never thirst again, if you drink the water He gives.

Be like children this Covid-19 Easter 2020: Sit at the feet of Jesus. Spend time with Him. Enjoy His company. Feast on His words! Be filled with the peace of Christ.

Yes, it will be a different kind of Easter. But in a good way.

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:6 NASB

Halleleujah! He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Grace be with you,

¹https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/Proclamations/2020/JBE-33-2020.pdf

Waves of Change are Crashing All Around

March 19, 2020 by Ellen 8 Comments

The world is changing right before our eyes. Suddenly, what was once normal and ordinary has become abnormal and extraordinary.

Change changes me. I don’t handle it very well. It throws me out of the comfort zone I love. My normal, every day routine is a mess. All this change? Frazzles me. I don’t know which way is up.

Before all this, I could go to the grocery store, and not worry too much if there were no sanitizing wipes for the cart. Now? Never! Before, we could walk into our church services, shake hands and hug on our church family. Now? Online services. Social distancing.

While I totally get why we must do these things, such drastic changes in so short a period of time leave my head spinning. There is no time to process it all. I’m off balance and feel like I’m drowning. My head’s going under with the waves of change, and I can’t get my footing.

Until I feel it: my toes on the tip of a rock formation; My feet standing firm on solid footing. The solid rock of Christ, holding me up.

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.^⁠1

Yes, the world around me is shifting and changing, but God. He never changes.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (CSB)

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8 (AMPC)

God does not change.

He is still faithful.

He is still in control.

This pandemic did not take Him by surprise. While the world and things of the world may shift, our God never changes. Our foundation is Jesus Christ.

Shadows from the sun shift, but not the One who made the sun!^⁠2

Knowing that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, helps me to rest more firmly in Him. Peace washes over me, because I know He will never leave me. You can be filled with calm and tranquility, too, when you stand on the firm foundation of Christ.

Let me ask:

- Are you standing on the solid truth of His Word?

- Are you standing on the solid rock of prayer? Are you standing in the gap by praying for others?

- As much as possible in these times, are you standing (virtually or in real life) with your local body of Christ?

Waves of change are crashing all around us. Are you standing on the solid rock of Jesus?

Almighty God, Everlasting Father, we turn our eyes to You today. Our focus is not on our ever changing circumstances, but on You, our unchanging source of strength and courage, our foundation. We praise You Lord God, that You are sovereign and in control. In the mighty name of Jesus, our rock, we pray, Amen.

Grace be with you,

¹“The Solid Rock,” Mote, Edward 1834

²Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 822). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.