I'm not sure if anyone in the world now would say this Friday is "good" or that in a few more days ... we should prepare ourselves for a celebration.
In most places in the world... doors are closed...faces are covered...streets are empty.
Coronavirus has effected almost every country- drastically altering lives.
There is a heaviness and dread in many places... as "positive" cases and death rates increase.
A blanket of uncertainty and fear can be felt.
Will humanity come out of this alive? Will my family? My community? My country? Will I?
Will jobs be there?
Will life ever be like it was before? When there was freedom to move? Freedom to greet others and share meals? Freedom to travel? Or has those shifted forever into history?
All of those are big questions for this Friday that will still be there on Sunday.
Here in Ethiopia, Covid 19 has arrived. But we really don't know for sure it's reach. Testing is minimal. But it's influence has still been felt. Schools are closed. Gyms are closed. Many churches are closed. Many businesses and places where I like to study and work are closed. For me- it's felt like a major disruption.
I think in Ethiopia the effects overall compared to other places have been minimal. Our supermarkets are still open. . Supplies still seem largely in stock. You have to wash your hands before entering places and you're spread out on taxis and in lines- but not everywhere. But people know its here.
There's not a feeling of celebration- as usually is the case now. As the Easter (Fasika) holiday approaches- there is usually anticipation and excitement mounting. This Sunday is Palm Sunday called Hosanna, usually such a colorful holiday. And next week is Easter, which will end a long time of fasting for many.
But again, the mood doesn't seem right. Faces seem downcast. There is fear in peoples' eyes.
This Friday and next Friday... doesn't feel good and probably won't feel good. There is stress and fear about so much.
Yet even if we don't feel like it's a "Good Friday" ... the fact remains though...that there was one.
Over 2000 years ago, a Friday happened that led to a Sunday that would change everything for all of us. That is why we can EVEN YET.. CELEBRATE!
God's Son Jesus came and in his final three days..on a Friday to a Sunday....He finished what He came to do. In an incredibly humble life marked with love and grace and power and truth, He finished it...dying a death that was supposed to mine and yours and then He ROSE. WHAT? He got up! And because He lives, so can we! Because He got up, so can we! Because He conquered Satan and death, so can we! We can rise!
Jesus paid for our sin and offers us forgiveness and a new life. Accepting that gift changes everything! Your identity and perspective and foundation shifts. Your eternity shifts. Our hope and our life becomes not about us but about Him. Our security and our purpose is not found in a relationship or in a job, but in God and with God. And nothing can separate us from Him.
We realize.. to live is Christ, to die is gain.
So when storms come, when plagues come.. and they will... it doesn't change the fact He's with us. We can endure. Sickness will come. Betrayal. Pain. It's part of life on the planet. But we can pass through and even rise because in us a risen Savior lives. We can overcome and be better from what we passed through!
So what will you do with you life now, your time? In this weird period of history, during an epidemic, what will you do? How will you live?
You might say... I know what I will do after Covid 19 finishes. Well, maybe it won't finish... so what will you do NOW? Now is what we're given.
God wants us to love Him and love others NOW. How can you do that from your home? Even under "lockdown" or with social distancing?
As an American, we struggle with "down time." We think being still is often a waste. But God wants us to be with Him. Sit before Him. Study Him. Learn Him. Talk to Him. Worship Him. He's there. He's in your home. In your closet. Get in there with Him and shut the door. Be with Him! This time can be treasured.
He also wants to love others. Check on them. Call them. It's time. Forgive. Why? You can. Maybe tomorrow... that will be even more difficult. Love your family. Enjoy the time with them if you're with them. It's a gift. I've loved seeing pictures of families together... having dinner, making funny videos, doing crafts, parents homeschooling kids... you won't forget these days.
If you have talent or a skill- use it for God during this time. Write. Draw. Paint. Plant. Sing. And share God's love and His message with others. This is still in your hand to do.
I've been trying to write the book I tried to write years ago. It's time to finish!
Some day soon I hope, when the "plague" has passed by, we...like the Israelites coming out of Egypt... will leave our homes with songs of gratitude and joy as we march out and shout we made it!
But even if we don't, we do have freedom to celebrate in Jesus Christ and we can march into forever with Him!
Be encouraged. For even if it's not a good Friday, we have a "Good Friday" to celebrate...when Jesus finished what He came to do.
And then came Sunday... He rose up and walked out in victory...so we can as well!
Let's celebrate that Good Friday and that Resurrection Sunday because it changed everything!
Because He lives.. I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives...all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future.
My life is worth living just because I know He lives.
Victory in Jesus, My Savior Forever.
Celebrating that Good Friday with you and That Resurrection Sunday!
Praying for you and us All,
With Love from Ethiopia,
Holly
In most places in the world... doors are closed...faces are covered...streets are empty.
Coronavirus has effected almost every country- drastically altering lives.
A blanket of uncertainty and fear can be felt.
Will humanity come out of this alive? Will my family? My community? My country? Will I?
Will jobs be there?
Will life ever be like it was before? When there was freedom to move? Freedom to greet others and share meals? Freedom to travel? Or has those shifted forever into history?
All of those are big questions for this Friday that will still be there on Sunday.
Here in Ethiopia, Covid 19 has arrived. But we really don't know for sure it's reach. Testing is minimal. But it's influence has still been felt. Schools are closed. Gyms are closed. Many churches are closed. Many businesses and places where I like to study and work are closed. For me- it's felt like a major disruption.
I think in Ethiopia the effects overall compared to other places have been minimal. Our supermarkets are still open. . Supplies still seem largely in stock. You have to wash your hands before entering places and you're spread out on taxis and in lines- but not everywhere. But people know its here.
There's not a feeling of celebration- as usually is the case now. As the Easter (Fasika) holiday approaches- there is usually anticipation and excitement mounting. This Sunday is Palm Sunday called Hosanna, usually such a colorful holiday. And next week is Easter, which will end a long time of fasting for many.
But again, the mood doesn't seem right. Faces seem downcast. There is fear in peoples' eyes.
This Friday and next Friday... doesn't feel good and probably won't feel good. There is stress and fear about so much.
Yet even if we don't feel like it's a "Good Friday" ... the fact remains though...that there was one.
Over 2000 years ago, a Friday happened that led to a Sunday that would change everything for all of us. That is why we can EVEN YET.. CELEBRATE!
God's Son Jesus came and in his final three days..on a Friday to a Sunday....He finished what He came to do. In an incredibly humble life marked with love and grace and power and truth, He finished it...dying a death that was supposed to mine and yours and then He ROSE. WHAT? He got up! And because He lives, so can we! Because He got up, so can we! Because He conquered Satan and death, so can we! We can rise!
Jesus paid for our sin and offers us forgiveness and a new life. Accepting that gift changes everything! Your identity and perspective and foundation shifts. Your eternity shifts. Our hope and our life becomes not about us but about Him. Our security and our purpose is not found in a relationship or in a job, but in God and with God. And nothing can separate us from Him.
We realize.. to live is Christ, to die is gain.
So when storms come, when plagues come.. and they will... it doesn't change the fact He's with us. We can endure. Sickness will come. Betrayal. Pain. It's part of life on the planet. But we can pass through and even rise because in us a risen Savior lives. We can overcome and be better from what we passed through!
So what will you do with you life now, your time? In this weird period of history, during an epidemic, what will you do? How will you live?
You might say... I know what I will do after Covid 19 finishes. Well, maybe it won't finish... so what will you do NOW? Now is what we're given.
God wants us to love Him and love others NOW. How can you do that from your home? Even under "lockdown" or with social distancing?
As an American, we struggle with "down time." We think being still is often a waste. But God wants us to be with Him. Sit before Him. Study Him. Learn Him. Talk to Him. Worship Him. He's there. He's in your home. In your closet. Get in there with Him and shut the door. Be with Him! This time can be treasured.
He also wants to love others. Check on them. Call them. It's time. Forgive. Why? You can. Maybe tomorrow... that will be even more difficult. Love your family. Enjoy the time with them if you're with them. It's a gift. I've loved seeing pictures of families together... having dinner, making funny videos, doing crafts, parents homeschooling kids... you won't forget these days.
If you have talent or a skill- use it for God during this time. Write. Draw. Paint. Plant. Sing. And share God's love and His message with others. This is still in your hand to do.
I've been trying to write the book I tried to write years ago. It's time to finish!
Some day soon I hope, when the "plague" has passed by, we...like the Israelites coming out of Egypt... will leave our homes with songs of gratitude and joy as we march out and shout we made it!
But even if we don't, we do have freedom to celebrate in Jesus Christ and we can march into forever with Him!
Be encouraged. For even if it's not a good Friday, we have a "Good Friday" to celebrate...when Jesus finished what He came to do.
And then came Sunday... He rose up and walked out in victory...so we can as well!
Let's celebrate that Good Friday and that Resurrection Sunday because it changed everything!
Because He lives.. I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives...all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future.
My life is worth living just because I know He lives.
Victory in Jesus, My Savior Forever.
Celebrating that Good Friday with you and That Resurrection Sunday!
Praying for you and us All,
With Love from Ethiopia,
Holly
