Hear Our Cries

During this time of uncertainty and pain, here is my prayer for the world:

 O Lord,
 Hear our cries for unity
 Hear our cries for peace
 Hear our cries for equality
 Turn not away from your fallen people
 We need you
 We need your love
 We need your heart.
  
 O Lord, 
 Hear our cries for bravery
 Hear our cries for guidance
 Hear our cries for compassion
 Turn not away from your children.
 We need you
 We need your vision
 We need your foresight
 We need your eyes.
  
 O Lord, 
 Hear our cries to spread the Gospel.
 Hear our cries to fulfill the Great Commission.
 Hear our cries to glorify you.
 Turn not away from your people.
 We need your boldness
 We need your courage
 We need your hands.
  
 We need your eyes
 We need your heart
 We need your hands
 Hear our cries for our lost brothers and sisters,
 O Lord.
  
 Let us not become complacent with the call you have placed on our lives.
 Let us not become desensitized to the lost souls who need your love.
 Let us not become one with the world.
 Let us become the true body of Christ. 
  
 Amen.

Perhaps my personal conviction comes into play here. We live in one of the most challenging times: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Right now, fear immerses us: fear of other humans, our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Spreading the Gospel already intimidates many of us, but it can intimidate us more while wearing masks and fearing the contraction of a potentially lethal virus. News anchors and medical professionals tell us that travel is dangerous, especially when crossing borders.

So, where does that leave us in terms of our Great Commission? Throughout my life, I felt called to spread the Gospel in Latin America, but I selfishly pulled back my plans due to the new virus. Thus, here lies the reason for my prayer and blog: my own conviction, my own pain, and my own encouragement.

God calls us, as Christians, to live courageous lives, even in the midst of persecution and trials. Paul and many other disciples continued to spread the Gospel, despite imprisonment or death. While we should live wisely, we should also persevere through these difficult times and bravely follow the Lord’s calling in our lives: spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. My youth pastor once told us that if we had the cure for COVID, we would courageously venture to each country and proclaim the good news. Yet, we oftentimes forget the urgency and importance of spreading the truly Good News – the salvation Christ offers us, if we choose to accept it. Now, comes my spur to action. Join me in praying for where and how we, as Christians, should spread the Gospel. For some, it could mean travelling to Spain, while for others, it might mean having a hard talk with your co-worker who sits in the next cubicle. Neither is more important than the other. Live for Him always! ❤

Written by Trisha

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Sacrifices, Tears, and Pain

When thinking about love, there are a million (excuse my slight hyperbole) songs that instantly come to mind, including “What is Love (Baby Don’t Hurt Me)” by Haddaway. Perhaps that is a valid question for which we are all searching an answer. In its simplest form, we know that God embodies love in every encounter, mannerism, and word. The ways in which He interacts with others throughout Scripture are always cloaked with love and compassion. Most importantly, He illustrated His true love for us by the way He laid down His life, giving us the opportunity to experience eternal life – if we choose to accept it. He wanted nothing in return; it was pure love in its purest form: selfless, giving, and undeserved.

We live in a difficult time (excuse my slight understatement), but it seems as if many acts of love occur right before our eyes. In the midst of chaos and suffering, some people consistently put their lives on the line for us. Nurses and doctors work in the battlefield between COVID and health. Many of them feel exhausted, working more shifts than ever before and experiencing the pain of losing patients from this disease. Personally, I could never imagine the true exhaustion and pain they must endure for us, but I am forever grateful for their undeserved love. My sister is a nurse, and she courageously works with ill patients. Like many others, she has a family at home who want her to be with them, but she knows the importance of her job. At any moment, nurses and doctors could walk away from their profession, if only they saw it as a profession. Instead, they want to care for others in some of the most frightening times of their lives.

While the majority of my blog focuses on the exhausted nurses, others who love others more than themselves deserves the spotlight, too. First responders and military personnel also actively lay down their lives, so we experience freedom and safety. While the world seemed to shut down, they were always willing to step up, protect, and serve. Additionally, other essential frontline workers allow the world to keep functioning in the midst of panic and tremendous fear. They might not know the outcome of the pandemic, but they still willingly continue to work for us. While most of us do not ask for these dangerous gestures of love, all these individuals continue to express them. In John 15:13, it says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (New Living Translation). These words illustrate the greatest sacrifice one can make for the betterment of others. Interestingly, this version mentions friends specifically, so how much more spectacular is it that people are willing to lay down their lives for complete strangers? I am constantly amazed at and grateful for the frontline and essential workers for their embodiment of Christ and His undeserved, sacrificial love. Let’s take a moment to thank these people for their daily sacrifices, remember those who laid their lives down for us, and the people who courageously lost their battles to COVID. THANK YOU! ❤

Written by Trisha

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Galentine’s Day: Ladies Celebrating Ladies

Ah, yes, February; the month of love, goodies, and precious time with significant others. It’s the month of Valentine’s Day, so there are two groups of people: couples who are immersed in the glitz and glam of the hearty holiday and single people who often think of it as another day but with candy and heart decorations. What if there were another holiday, a holiday that doesn’t require a relationship status? Luckily there is: GALENTINE’S DAY! What is Galentine’s Day? It’s the best day of the year, and I’ll tell ya why.

Galentine’s Day was invented by the fictional character, Leslie Knope, from the wonderful TV show, Parks and Recreation. Interested? Check out the episode, it’s season 2, episode 16, and I highly recommend giving it a watch. Knope’s description of the day is: “Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair minus the angst. Plus frittatas.” Food, friends, and quality time? That sounds like a party to me. Galentine’s Day can be celebrated in a variety of ways; eating brunch at a trendy restaurant, going shopping at cute boutiques, or enjoying a rooftop dinner! Honestly, it doesn’t matter how women choose to celebrate as long as they celebrate with your best gals. Now, guys, while this was originally intended as a female-based holiday, nobody is stopping y’all from having brunch with your fellas. Have a Malentine’s Day, if y’all must.

Most Galentine’s Day celebrations include a hostess, the best example being Leslie Knope. The hostess typically plans the gathering and provides little gifts for her friends. One of my best friends has a Galentine’s Day celebration every year. We all go out to Breadwinner’s Café, talk, and enjoy some quality brunch. She normally has our names on our seats and provides us with cute personalized presents. I love Galentine’s Day because it celebrates friendship.

It’s a beautiful blessing to be in the presence of your favorite people and to have someone who cares enough to plan a gathering that’s all about supporting each other.

The beauty of Galentine’s Day is that it doesn’t have to be extravagant; it doesn’t require a high-profile restaurant or the prettiest gown. I mean, ladies can if they want to- if the gals want to live it up in the rich life for a day, more power to them! The celebration can consist of a simple picnic at the park where everyone’s in t-shirts and sitting on blankets. This holiday, though originated through Leslie Knope and some fantastic TV screenwriting, holds some genuine value. It promotes celebration of friendship, intentionality, and women supporting other women. Most holidays revolve around family and loved ones, which is great! What makes Galentine’s Day so special is that it celebrates the people we chose as our family- our closest friends. If you don’t have a significant other this Valentine’s Day, don’t fret, just gather some of your best gals (or fellas) and enjoy each other’s company. Leslie Knope said it best, “We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third” (Parks and Recreation, Season 3, Episode 13). Whether you’re celebrating Galentines, Malentines, or Valentines, I hope you see the beauty of friendship and experience the intentionality of love. Happy February!

Written by Deneen

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