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Coronavirus

Christ Alone: Our Hope, Joy, and Peace

by Jeff S. Bray July 3, 2022

written by Jeff S. Bray

In the wake of the world shutting down, we only begin to realize the weight of what is happening. This is an event that is affecting the entire world. Not one continent isn’t affected. It seems like every day, they take another liberty away for the safety of us all. Another person is infected, and new rules are implemented, and fears escalate. The hope of a solution slips away as the joy of life is replaced by social distancing. Our peace is overwhelmed by the fear of what is coming tomorrow. But there is an answer. Only one answer: Christ alone. He is our hope, our joy, and our peace in this time of uncertainty.

Christ: Our Only Hope

“Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” – Psalm 33:22

We turn to many things when we face trials. We hope in our sources of comfort: our money, friends, family, and jobs. Many of us have that fortress of solitude that we escape to in order to relieve stress. All of those places have been affected by this pandemic. Those sacred hideaways like gyms and social clubs have been closed down. Many people are now working from home, jobs are cut to part-time, furloughed, or they have been relieved for an indefinite period of time. Meeting places like restaurants are now only drive-thru, and everywhere else is restricted to fewer than 10. All the sources we have for ‘hope of comfort’ are slipping away. Going home is now the only option.

When we seem to lose grip on everything in our life, we need to hold on to the one thing, the only thing we can hold onto, and that is Jesus Christ. Don’t get the false assumption that God is punishing out of anger. The world gets shaken up, so its focus turns where it belongs, back to the Savior. We get shaken up, so our hope turns back to where it belongs, back on Christ.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7

Christ: Our Fullness of Joy

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” – Psalm 51:12

We have lost our first love: Jesus Christ. We have allowed all of the stuff of life to take His place. If we are to get the joy back in our lives, we need to turn our lives back to Him. Much like David did in this recorded Psalm. He realized his sin and immediately repented. Is this world shake up the result of sin? I cannot be the judge of that; only God can know that. But our hearts, regardless of sin, desire a deeper relationship with the Lord. Only Christ is the source of fullness of joy. And guess who is responsible for our joy status… we are.

We can have joy by being joyful. Sing the praises of God, our Savior. Romans 12:12 tells us to rejoice in hope and patient in trials. James 1:2 says to be joyful when we face trials. We can still praise God in the middle of any crisis. Why? Because God is still in control. He knows what is going on, He knows what He is doing, and He will see us through this. Every time. Praise be His name!!

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4

Christ: Our Sense of Peace

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” – Thessalonians 3:16

Only the one who holds peace can give peace. Just as we cannot get hope from the places and things we no longer have access to, we can’t obtain peace from them either. We receive peace from having comfort. There may seem like there is little hope of finding peace. Jobs are in limbo, the stir craziness of being practically locked down, and the uncertainty of tomorrow. All we see are the waves around us, and the Master is sleeping in the stern… or is He? Carest thou not that we perish? We know better, we have read the end of the story. We know the answer to the storm. It is always, “Peace, be still.”

We can claim that in the middle of this storm, but we still have to go through it. We don’t know how long this storm will last, but Christ will see us through it. His hand will guide us, for He is with us in the boat. And regardless of where the port will be, if we cast the anxious feelings we have about our current situation on Him, and go to him instead of our ‘go-tos,’ we can have the peace we desperately seek.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

The Final Word

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13

Since most of us are home most of the time, for many of us are under a ‘stay order,’ we now have time to sit and think. Hopefully, we can break away from screen time and streaming and spend quality time with the Lord. It is in the stillness that we find those moments of peace. They don’t call it peace and quiet for nothing. Maybe in some way, all of this can be a wake-up call to getting closer to our Savoir. All our gods are falling over, and the one true God is the only one standing. Only Christ is our hope that gives us true joy that brings real peace in this time of global uncertainty.

July 3, 2022 0 comment

Finance Committee Approves Coronavirus Rules For Knesset Workers

by The Israel Insider September 13, 2021

written by The Israel Insider

Knesset employees must all now adhere to the national Covid-19 Green Pass rules in Israel. This means that they must have either been vaccinated in the last six months or have passed a Covid-19 test in order to work in the Knesset.

The rules came into effect after the Knesset Finance Committee today, Sunday, approved the new rules for the civil service workers. This applies the rules set by the Civil Service to Knesset workers, enabling the competent authorities in the Knesset to ask these employees to either present a Green Pass or confirmation of negative coronavirus test results when coming to work.

Similar guidelines will be issued for other people coming to the Knesset. Knesset members, however, will be exempt from these rules.
Knesset and Finance Committee Legal Advisor Adv. Sagit Afik said, “Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Knesset as an institution has operated painstakingly in light of the coronavirus regulations passed by the Knesset. Accordingly, various restrictions were applied to the Knesset, regarding the Green Pass, Purple Pass, number of people present in committee rooms and so forth. The procedures for the Knesset were set by the Speaker and the Director General, and until today were applied by means of letters or guidelines from the Knesset Director General.”

“There are a number of technical changes for the purpose of adapting the rules to the work of the Knesset; the goal of the rules is preventing infection in the workplace, and reducing the health risk along with ensuring the provision of essential services,” he added.

The Kneset Director of Human Resources is now authorized to request that workers present a Green Pass or negative test results if she finds that this is necessary for the proper functioning of the Knesset. The Speaker and Director General of the Knesset will issue similar guidelines for other people coming to the Knesset—parliamentary assistants, outsourcing workers and others.

Director General of the Knesset Gil Segal stated, “I would like to emphasize a few points: First, we are falling in line with the Civil Service as a whole. The second point is that the Knesset Speaker and I will apply this to other people coming to the Knesset. The third point is that there is an exception for Members of Knesset; they will not be required to present a Green Pass, and each of them will act as they see fit. We will check the Green Pass at the entrance to the Knesset and this way we are working to lower infection among all those entering the Knesset building.”

Chair of the Knesset Workers’ Union Hodaya Kain said that her organization understands the need for this new rule, as it is intended to safeguard the health of the workers and all the people coming to the Knesset. “Along with that, equal application [of the rules] is important to us. At times, there were children who walked around in the Knesset building, who were not children of Knesset workers, so equal application [of the rules] is important to us,” she said.

September 13, 2021 0 comment

Faith Video

A Prayer For Healing From COVID-19 For All Families

by Seun Odumbo August 4, 2021

written by Seun Odumbo

So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you (Exodus 23:25)

Coronavirus is still infecting people and taking lives as well, many people are mourning, and this is heartbreaking. The Scriptures say we should pray that the will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven (see Matthew 6:10). Exodus 23:25 says, “God will take away sickness from our midst” Psalms 91:10 also says, “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” Coronavirus is a plague, is not supposed to come near us, and should be taken away. Luke 18:1 says, “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” Colossian 4:2 also says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving”

Persistence in Prayer

We all need to stand in prayer and continue in prayer not in fear but with thanksgiving until this wicked virus is eradicated in all countries. We should be persistence in our prayer as Jesus told us to do in Luke 11:5-10, “And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

The Scripture says if we pray according to the will of God, He will answer us (see 1 John 5:14), and we should therefore be confident that He answers and He will always answer, Amen.

There are prayer points raised and prayed in the below video. I pray you will also partake in the prayer, and we shall all testify to the glory of God the Father in the name of Jesus.

Seun Odumbo::Prayer Against Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Watch this video on YouTube

How Can We Pray For India Right Now?

by Rhoda Gayle May 5, 2021

written by Rhoda Gayle

How can we pray for India right now as they face an overwhelming dark times during the second wave of coronavirus outbreak in the nation?

India

In April, India has experienced the second wave of the coronavirus. It has been over a year since the first case of coronavirus was reported in the nation. Just when they were slowly able to contain the virus, a new strain of the virus struck India again. This time, India has been overwhelmed by the more contagious and more deadly strain of coronavirus.

In a recent episode of Standing Together, Christidella Jennifer, the Asia Regional Coordinator for GOD TV India, shares about their current situation with hosts Fergus Scarfe and Emma Abbott. Christidella shared how people in India are suffering right now.

“It’s a time of a very overwhelming time for India, it’s heartbreaking and there’s a sense of hopelessness, fear, and despair in the air whoever you talk to. It’s almost like a scene from apocalypse.”

Prayers

GOD TV India has been praying and supporting people in the nation right now. Their call centers are open 24/7 for people to ask for prayers and encouragement. Despite the overwhelming situation in the country, Christidella and her team are hoping for a powerful movement of God over India.

“We cry out to God saying, ‘God, show Yourself to the people who are crying out to You at this very moment.’ That is what we are believing for, a supernatural move of God in this nation at this time.”

Christidella then asked for prayers from Christians all over the world. They are asking for prayers for their teammates who have also been overwhelmed with the call from distressed people. Pray for their strength and the Lord’s guidance as they make themselves available for the people.

And pray for the entirety of India. Pray for healing over the people who are sick, and a supernatural movement from the Lord over the nation.

What Is It Like in India from Our India Team | Standing Together 2021

Watch this video on YouTube

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Reference: YouTube | GOD TV

May 5, 2021 0 comment

Articles

Indian Pastor Calls For Prayers As Nation Suffers With 2nd Wave Of COVID-19: “A Valley Of Death”

by Rhoda Gayle May 4, 2021

written by Rhoda Gayle

An Indian pastor is calling for prayers from Christians around the world as India suffers greatly with the second wave of COVID-19, describing the nation as “a valley of death.”

Indian Pastor

India has been suffering from the overwhelming impact of the second wave of coronavirus. Nearly 400,000 new positive patients are being recorded daily and over 3,000 people are dying.

According to an Indian pastor, almost every family in India has been affected by the virus. Christian groups are exerting their efforts to aid in the nation’s adversity by providing food, temporary shelters, and prayers.

“Every Indian has someone or other in their family who has been affected,” the Rev. Moumita Biswas from the Church of North India said in an interview. “We need the support of food, which churches have been helping to provide. And, of course, prayers.”

Coronavirus

On Sunday, the country has recorded 368,000 new cases, at least 392,000 on Saturday, and over 400,000 on Friday. The drop in the number during the weekend was due to the lower testing rate. It is believed that the actual number of people being infected by the coronavirus is 10 times higher than the official figures.

“We have been in a terrible state for the past two and a half weeks,” Rev. Moumita shared. “We are in a death trap now, it has become a valley of death. Before this wave hit, we just knew the numbers, but now it’s our family members, our relatives, our church leaders who have died.”

Prayers

Rev. Vijayesh Lal, the General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, also shared that people are dying because of having not enough infrastructure.

“They are dying because of the lack of oxygen and hospital beds because they are not able to get into hospitals,” he said. “Many are dying in their homes, some are dying in their cars, on the roads. It is a very distressing time in India, like a tsunami, like a wave that has hit India. The healthcare system is completely stressed. Many of my doctor friends who were busy at the forefront in treating patients are now COVID positives. I have lost extended family members and I have lost friends.”

As India faces the seemingly darkest moment of the nation, let us all lift them in our prayers. They need our prayers now more than ever.

Reference: The Christian Post

May 4, 2021 0 comment

Israel Insider

For The First Time Since Outbreak, IDF Records No COVID-19 Positive Case

by Rhoda Gayle May 4, 2021

written by Rhoda Gayle

For the first time since the pandemic outbreak last year, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) records no COVID-19 positive case.

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

On May 2, the IDF reported that there has been no soldier diagnosed with the coronavirus. It was the first time since the pandemic broke out in Israel over a year ago. The seemingly miraculous event was because of the extensive vaccination campaign by the Israeli government.

The IDF has been the first army in the world to reach herd immunity according to their announcement last March. Over 80% of the IDF servicemen have been vaccinated. The campaign was to maintain and ensure the health of the IDF soldiers and for the operational competence and functional continuity.

“The vaccination campaign, which was a complex and rapid medical techno-logistical operation, brought the IDF to be the first vaccinated organization in the world, and today we see another milestone in which the IDF becomes an army without Corona patients,” General Itzik Turregman, the head of the Technology and Logistics Division.

Coronavirus

The Israeli government has been exerting efforts to protect its people from the virus. Since the vaccination for the Israelis started, the Ministry of Health has seen much improvement in the nation’s COVID-19 cases.

Over the weekend, they only have recorded 13 new COVID-19 cases of the 9,236 test done. Only 0.1% of the people tested returned positive. Because of the decrease in the number of coronavirus patients being admitted, most isolation wards in Israeli hospitals have already closed.

As of Sunday, over 5,405,000 Israelis have been vaccinated for the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines. That is 58% of the nation’s population. Over 5,094,000 Israelis have already received the second dose.

Israel hopes and prays for the continuous drop in the COVID-19 cases in the country. They are expecting that one day, they’ll be able to defeat the coronavirus.

Reference: TPS

May 4, 2021 0 comment

Articles Israel Israel Insider News

Passover in Israel and the UAE! … A Year After The Lockdown Seder

by Ron Cantor April 2, 2021

written by Ron Cantor

“What is different this night than other nights?” is the traditional question that has been heard in Jewish homes at Passover for thousands of years. This year, the question is particularly meaningful for Jews in Israel and around the Middle East, as they celebrated the holiday Saturday night.

In Israel, with pandemic-related restrictions easing, extended families could once again gather for the feast commemorating the Hebrews’ exodus from Egypt and 400 years of slavery. This year’s celebrations stood in stark contrast to a year ago when the spread of COVID-19 meant the usual holiday meal enjoyed with dozens of family members and friends was limited to a handful of close relatives. Israel was in lockdown, streets and shops looked abandoned, and elderly relatives could only visit family by video.

At a world-class pace, Israel has vaccinated more than half of its 9.3 million citizens. New coronavirus infections have dropped off dramatically in recent weeks. In turn, authorities have eased the air travel restrictions, so Israelis stuck abroad could come home for the holidays. Restaurants, hotels, theaters, and museums have been allowed to re-open for small gatherings of 20 people indoors and 50 outside.

In other parts of the Middle East, this year’s Passover was groundbreaking. The Israeli Embassy in the United Arab Emirates held its first Seder in Abu Dhabi.

Ambassador Eitan Na’eh, Israel’s first envoy to the Gulf state, posted a video online of his guests singing “Ma Nishtana,” a song usually sung by the children or youngest in attendance, asking the age-old question, “What is different this night than other nights?”

“’Ma Nishtana,” the timeless words of the Passover night,” Na’eh wrote in his tweet. “Well, here it is: the first Seder of the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE, under the starry skies.”

There is a small population of 3,000 Jews in the UAE. It is said to be growing and thriving, unlike recent reports of the near-extinct Jewish communities that had stood in Yemen and Iraq for more than 2,000 years.

Na’eh took his post in January following normalization between the two nations last year as part of the historic Abraham Accords.

April 2, 2021 0 comment

Faith

Swiss Man Supernaturally Healed Of Coronavirus

by Increase January 22, 2021

written by Increase

A Pastor friends from Switzerland just posted that one of their youth pastor’s father was tested positive for the coronavirus.

He was admitted into the hospital and taken into the ICU where he was put into an induced coma as the doctors tried several therapeutic measures – without any success. The family was informed that there was nothing else to do except prepare for inevitable death. His church family was immediately mobilized into action – they began declaring that the presence of God would invade the hospital room.

The next morning, he had recovered 50% and today he is feeling fine! The doctors described the recovery as “miraculous”. They even said that no one in Switzerland who was that bad off had yet recovered! A shift just happened!

– Increase Global

January 22, 2021 0 comment

Articles

Forged In Fire

by Nicole D Roberts November 29, 2020

written by Nicole D Roberts

The New King James reads,

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it;
For how should My name be profaned?
And I will not give My glory to another.
Isaiah 48:10-11

The New Living Translation reads,

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.

Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
I will rescue you for my sake—
yes, for my own sake!
I will not let my reputation be tarnished,
and I will not share my glory with idols!
Isaiah 48:10-11

The Furnace

Facing suffering and being in the furnace of affliction is not a novelty, it is nothing new anymore and it did not begin with the COVID-19. It began with the fall of man in the garden of Eden. 2020 has been an unprecedented year, the icing on the cake (so to speak) where the whole world is facing an invisible and unseen virus. This virus has hit every sector, shaken every core and forced everyone to get out of our comfort zones without refusal or without saying no.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

But, there is always Light at the end of the tunnel. Light always prevails over darkness and that is the absolute Truth!

This is the season to believe in the Light, the Invisible God who is our faithful Father, our Faith, our Friend and Saviour, not our enemy. The enemy meant suffering and afflictions for bad BUT GOD, will turnaround this temporary situation for our good. He will help us to step out in faith and build His Kingdom, make impact and touch the world, and to be His hands and feet.

We are being refined for God’s reputation and glory. This is the time to declare that Jesus saves and Jesus’ love is free. He will meet you right where you are at today. For we have been forged in fire for a great future filled with God’s unfailing promises.

Be encouraged, the best is yet to come!

November 29, 2020 0 comment

Articles

Christian Singer Natalie Grant Asks Prayers For Asthmatic Daughter As She Battles Against COVID-19

by Rhoda Gayle October 30, 2020

written by Rhoda Gayle

Christian singer Natalie Grant reveals that she has COVID-19 and is asking for prayers for her asthmatic daughter.

Natalie Grant

On Wednesday, October 28, the Christian singer-songwriter Natalie Grant took to Instagram to reveal that she has contracted the coronavirus. In her post, she detailed the COVID-19 symptoms that have manifested in her body. The fortunate thing is that she is only experiencing mild symptoms.

“Well, a positive Covid test wasn’t in the plan, but here we are,” she wrote on her Instagram post. “I’m terribly achy, extra tired, can’t taste anything, and just super bleh.”

COVID-19

However, despite her condition, she is still grateful for so many things and she still feels so blessed. The award-winning artist is also optimistic that she would heal and recover from COVID-19.

“Though I realize I’m only at the start of it, these are the things I’m incredibly grateful for today: I’m going to recover,” she continued. “I don’t have an underlying health condition, I’m not having lung/breathing issues, I have medical insurance. I have a loving family, I have a supportive husband who is stepping in to fully take care of the kids and I have an incredible church community that is praying, texting and offering to help in any way they can.”

Prayers

In her post, she also expressed her heart to those who have been deeply affected by the global pandemic. The 48-year-old artist shared her thoughts for those who are suffering from the disease all alone, the single parents, and those who have lost their loved one due to the “stupid virus.”

Despite being blessed for not having the extreme symptoms of the disease, she is most worried about her asthmatic daughter, Gracie. At the end of her post, she asked prayers from her followers for her daughter.

Reference: Christian Headlines

October 30, 2020 0 comment

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