alone v alone

The little corella pictured, gathers in flocks of thousands. They are a farmers nightmare as they can eat the newly planted seed and destroy a crop. They are clowns, playful, entertaining, when they are not creating a row and destroying a farmer's livelihood

​Alone Versus Alone
 
Isolation – the enemy of Covid lockdowns and quarantine. No-one is exempt from being its prey.
Bruce, my husband is 92 and in residential care. He has been in lockdown for nine days with a few more yet to go.
 I have not been able to visit him in that time and future visits are not in sight. We have kept in contact through messenger several times a day. His mental health has been challenged greatly. Due to a strong faith in God who has promised ‘that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you (us) with inner strength through His Spirit. ’Ephesians 3: 16.

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Snails are both aquatic and terrestrial. They are both female and male but they mate in the traditional way and lay eggs. They are loners. The human race was created to interact with each other and with God.

​I recently read these challenging words written by a Chinese missionary:
Friends, let me share a secret how a child of God can overcome hardship and persecution.  This lesson has been learned from many brothers and sisters in China, Vietnam, Laos and other countries over the years.
The first step God calls us to take:  is to  endure. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, ‘You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2: 3.

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Lady bugs are loners. They mate traditionally. Their young fend for themselves at birth. They are not created to be socialites.

OVERCOME OR AN OVERCOMER
​There are additional steps for God’s children to gain victory in suffering. If the Lord gives His grace and power, we can overcome whatever wicked men may do to us, even if our bodies should die in the process. The final step, which requires supernatural strength from the Holy Spirit, is when we learn to embrace suffering and persecution, rather than just putting up with it.
With the mighty supernatural power of the Holy Spirit isolation can be overcome. Its effects on our mental health nullified. God is more than equal to Covid, isolation and quarantine.
The apostle Paul also wrote, ‘despite all this (Covid), overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. For I am convinced that nothing can separate us from his love. Death can’t and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are – high above the sky. Or in the deepest ocean – nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.’ Romans 8: 37 -39. LB

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Galahs are social birds congregating in flocks of a thousand. They mate for life. Pink eyes are the girls..Overseas they are known as the pink breasted cockatoo. Even the wildlife need to socialize, that is why isolation by Covid needs to be dealt with in a positive way.

PRISON OR PLAY
​Lockdowns may imprison us, isolation be a fearsome enemy but we children of God have unlimited resources. We need to open ourselves to God and embrace the truth that ‘If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.’ 1 John 4.
Cast our fear and loneliness on him. He will take care of us. Isolation will become a place of intimacy with God, a place of growth, a place of enlightenment, a shrine of worship.   

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