Corona-Virus or Kairos Moment?

Friends my head is spinning and I hope I can type fast enough to share the revelation the Lord is giving me right now. I hope it is meaningful to you as well.

This all started about 4 days ago as I began to more closely monitor the Novel (new) COVID-19 virus that has now caused a global pandemic. This simply means there are cases of outbreak worldwide. Something like 187 out of 195 countries have been affected, with the results of death, illness and recovery to soon to gauge.

Some people cry foul, that the flu has killed more people than this virus. Ebola was worse, etc, etc. Reality, is we don't know YET what the end outcome will be of this virus. But Thank you to Federal and State officials who are taking this seriously. Any death that can be prevented should be. This is not time for politics. Its time for prepaunity, prayer and precaution.

While I am not one to panic, I am one for precautions. I don't listen to main stream media hype and twisting, simply because I don't need opinions I need facts. I get my information from the CDC, WHO and other health officials. That said it became very clear to me that the greatest threat is the unknown trajectory of this virus and our inability to actual vaccinate against it. The best way to reduce community spread is to limit our community gatherings, use proper hygiene, limit physical contact and stay home if we don't feel well. I couldn't help but be drawn to scriptures that talk about last days.

Jesus talks about such plagues in Luke 21:10-11 (NIV)

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Is this a sign of the end times? I have no idea, but I do know things are not getting better in our world and people still need Jesus. But I digress, this post isn't about END TIMES. Its about The Opportune Time or Kairos Time.

I've personally been in a battle, contending for a promise the Lord gave to me almost 15 years ago, which is Chronos Time. It means sequential. Its where our word Chronological comes from. About the promise, I won't go into the details of the promise or the last 15 years for the sake and privacy of others. What I can tell you is as of late, June 2019 thru the present, standing in faith for this promise, has been grueling.

Much like COVID19, I know it will end and God is faithful, to complete the work he's began, but the work of waiting and the battle still has to be fought. This last week or so has been especially difficult. Not because of Corona but because of sin that spreads like a virus thus seeing evidence contrary to the promise I've stood faithfully for.

Does that make sense? Sometimes our circumstances look like the exact opposite of the Promise God gave us. In long seasons of waiting, contending and sometimes outright white knuckling it, it can appear that evil is spreading pandemic-ally like this awful corona virus.

But it's in these Kairos moments: ( the right, critical, or opportune moment)

- that we get to decide what our course of action will be. We do not do this in isolation, out of fear or a knee-jerk reaction. We do this in partnership with God.

Tonight my husband and I went for a nice dinner at one of our favorite but expensive restaurants in our little city of York, PA. We decided to go tonight, because the restaurant announced they are closing the business until this virus pandemic is sorted. We also suspect, that further restrictions on public places may be required of us, so a last (for awhile) hurrah date night was in order. The meal was wonderful, although I had to send my Red Snapper back, because it just didn't taste right. Everything else was amazing and the dessert certainly caused bad Snapper amnesia.

After our meal and on the way back to our vehicle, we had a short walk. During that walk, my husband and I noticed a shot size bottle of "Fireball" liquor laying on the ground. We picked it up, it had been unopened. It was right near the curb in front of the UCC Church's Gethsemane Hall. Instantly, without thinking I took it from him and walked over to place it on the steps of the entrance, he said almost at the same time, "put it on the steps of the church". As I began to walk away I was suddenly struck by a desire to take a picture of it. I knew I needed to get as much of the building as possible and the bottle on the steps. I snapped the picture and walked away. I knew something has just transpired but I had no idea what.

Do you see it? Do you see how small that bottle is compared to a single entrance of the church? Yup, that’s right, when you have a Big God, you then have small issues, no matter how big and impossible they feel to you! Don't get me wrong, I know life's trials hurt and can feel like they will utterly destroy us. But they don't have to. Read on.

After we returned home and after chatting with our two sons, briefly, I started to notice the image of the engraving that said "Gethsemane Hall" running through my mind and a spirit draw to take a deeper dive. Jesus calls us out into the deep.

So I began to reflect on what I know about Jesus and the Garden of Gethsemane. I think it’s amazing that Gethsemane was the place Jesus wept and sweat great drops of blood, to come into submission to His Fathers purpose for Him. He desired for the coming cup of suffering to pass from him, but desired His Fathers will more. Can you imagine both that desire to avoid or end suffering and also long to do what's right at the same time? I can, yes, but on a much, much, much, much, much smaller scale, I can.

Sometimes, we as Christians have to be (Gethsemane) pressed into uncomfortable situations, to line up with Gods will. God has called me to do many things I wouldn’t do normally and almost all things I could not do without Him. They all included suffering, deeply. No details needed. You’ve suffered deeply too, I know!

Gethsemane in Hebrew, means olive press. The olives had to be “pressed or crushed” to manifest their oil. Which biblically speaking is referred to as the Power of the Spirit of God. Satan will try to destroy you. God will allow things that press you. This is to make His power in your life manifest, not to destroy you. You’re gonna suffer, Jesus said so. But whose team are you on? I’ve picked my team.

Recently, I heard a Pastor preach on 2 Corinthians 4. He talked about "Coming Out of Suffering" and Positioning ourselves for Power. "Don't Give Up" Another preacher recently said "Make the Turn", Yet another said "Sister Keep Walking" You see we cannot stay where we are at , and expect to get to where God is leading us. I see clearly the Lord is speaking to me and now see the theme of His instruction. Maybe he's speaking so often to me, because He knows the BATTLE IS FIERCE and THE FIRE HOT right now.

Any gift, blessing or possession I have today is because I chose to say Yes to God and no to my immediate comfort. Are you willing to SAY YES TO GOD? You get to choose. Those choices have outcomes. Are you willing to pay the price? Will you surrender? I will, although I may go kicking-and-screaming from time to time. Eventually ways of the flesh and self will run riot no longer work and are painful to stay in.

I am so grateful and humbled by this unexpected revelation!

This is a Kairos moment for me - a right, critical and opportune time to act in accordance with God's will.

For Jesus, it sounded like this in Luke 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

He surrendered!

Some of our pain is because we do not surrender. We have Plan B's, excuses, besetting sins we fall back on, and sometimes we listen to our well intended friends, who convincingly tell you that God wants you happy and sometimes we blame others. These don't work. How do we know that we haven't surrendered? Easy Answer: We have the same problems over and over and over again.

Some pain is part of the process of dying to self, carrying our cross and sometimes it just at the hand of others. Regardless God can be trusted in it all.

So Corona is the virus spreading throughout our world right now but what is the Kairos moment God is calling you to?? I pray this has encouraged you . Feel free to reach out to me with your prayer requests. I'd be honored to partner with you in prayer. Please be safe, use precautions during this season of corona and remember nothing can separate you from the love of God!

Love,

Tammi

P.S.- God knows better than we do! ;)