The Crowning virus

The whole world changed in a day.

I'm traveling home at night from a friends house.

The 3 Norwegians on the bus are like stiff cardboard. Empty eyes, hypnotized with a sense of impending fear as they sit in silence. Even the bus doors open ever so slowly to let me on. Perhaps it is just an old bus, but it feels like the very doors are afraid to let another human on - lest he or she carries the dreaded virus germs.

When I exit at my stop, thankful to leave that nasty vibe behind, I take notice of what I sense in the new surrounding. The world is silent. The fear lies in the distant quarantined homes. But outside, I breathe in the cold air, completely alone on this abandoned street. My eyes pan across the omniscient sky in wonder that the stars that are still brilliant, just as they were the day before. I feel the familiar breeze of the wind on my face as it dawns on me:

God is here. Walking home, I enjoy the peace that I feel in the silence. My mind is contemplating on the fact that God never changes, and how despite everything feeling slightly foreign, the same "new wine" of the gospel of Jesus continues to pour into a barrel that I don't yet recognize: this new global era of a retreating society. This interplay with new and old, and the God who never changes is being processed in my mind. He knows the end from the beginning.

And God never changes.

I'm reminded of a line from Markus Zusak's book, "The Book Thief". Set in Germany during WW2, while all Germans are taking cover in the village bomb shelter, fearing for their lives, one Jewish man finds the freedom to finally step out of hiding from the basement he had confided himself in:

"While ten thousand souls hid their heads in fear, and trembled, one Jew thanked God for the stars that blessed his eyes."

Something within my core is trembling in reverential awe, despite the chaos of the world. I no longer hear the voices of fear, I am filled with wonder at the times we are in. In contrast to the lock down where every common comfort is now shaken, my eyes see more clearly how beautiful the stars really are tonight. My heart is exploding with fascination at the very thought of existence, of God, of history and the future.

And how I am blessed with this one tiny present moment. The silence and the stars.

God never changes.

I propose that this "Crown" virus, though it is attempting to crown Fear as the god of this world, will inevitably result in the crowning of our glorious redeemer, King Jesus.

If fear were to become the king and god of this world, the result would be a global paralysis of the heart and mind. No freedom for mankind, as they each submit to the ascendant dictator called fear.

But what does God say: For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6) This was written thousands of years ago and continually reigns supreme: God doesn't change, therefore we are not consumed by fear, or any oppressor for that matter. God is not worried, he saw 2020 while he hung on the cross and proclaimed " IT IS FINISHED". He looked into the eyes of this generation and made a way for us to enter into the joy that was set before him.

Trust & Foundations:

This Virus, for many people, is shaking up some of the foundations we may have depended on thus far, and there is this rhetorical question knocking on our doors: Who/What is your source?, or, Where is your faith?

(Luke 8:22-25)

While many in Norway have recently lost their jobs for an undefined amount of time (including us), we can confidently say that this doesn't change our financial security. Why? Because we have literally been technically unemployed for 3 years and have not lacked anything.

That's right! Apart from a summer job that Felix had just before our wedding, we haven't worked a normal job where we were paid for what we do. We also haven't made our needs known publicly. I don't think it is wrong to do that, but in this extended season, we have felt peace on simply believing that God is the provider. It is true that He is who He says He is. So, just to boast in the Lord for a second, here are some of the things we have witnessed, despite zero income: - Rent paid now for 2 years

- Always food in the pantry

- Flights to Australia twice

- Ministry trips to Belgium, France, Italy

- An exceptional wedding

- 12 months of Gym membership! (That's a new one. We literally laid on the bed one afternoon and said "God, we'd love a gym membership!" And the very next day, someone approached us and said that the Lord had put it on their heart to ask us if we would like to be able to go to the gym!)

- Every bill paid off

- Fun activities such as a trip to the zoo in Sydney and ferry rides

- Being able to lavishly bless our family with quality Christmas gifts

- Being able to beautifully furnish and decorate our apartment

- Dinner dates

- New shoes and clothes occasionally gifted to us

- Epic Honeymoon

- free bread every week

- free lunch Mon - Thurs

Bottom line, we are living our "best life". Not because Jesus loves us any more than He loves you, not because we are asking people for money (because we don't) and not because we are lucky, or have some kind of "anointing for financial favor" ... no. It is simply because God is our provider. And we believe it. Obviously, not every person is asked by God to do voluntarily work for 2 years, but everyone is asked to trust him completely with every area of their lives.

This isn't just about finances, but finances is a great example of an area we tend to crown as Lord of our lives. My real hope right now is that you ask yourself what you have been "crowning" as your personal king, or idol.

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Let's not be those who crown the crisis instead of the Christ. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" - Jonah 2:8. I'm thankful for the shaking of unstable foundations, because of the clarity it brings. An insidious virus discloses the distractions that once held us captive to the illusion that we had it all together. This is what God is looking for: "I surrender all to you my God". Here is the paradox: What you let go of to Him becomes safer and more secure when it is in His hands. He is steadfast, stronger than strongholds and the epitome of love.

He who called the stars out with a word

Before the first breath of humanity,

Is crowned as Lord over all

And He never changes. I take a breath as I wonder at these twinkle stars. His omniscient thoughts. My limited knowing.

The silence of my heart.

I wait

For His next word.

...

These are my reflections and thoughts in these last few days. xx Wash your hands. M