See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  Isaiah 43:19

There is much more to this Pandemic than meets the eye, and if we are not careful, we are going to miss it. This is not a God made punishment on mankind, again this is the world reaping the consequence of an inappropriate action, the way we are handling food. Like our mom says, “It is all fun and games till someone loses an eye”.  Not to make light of the deaths that have occurred, my heart breaks for all the families who are now suffering from this action.

But what if I told you that God has been trying to get our full attention for so long, and now he has it. The virus will eventually pass but the possible destruction it could leave behind can live on for years.  Fleshly wounds heal, even though they can leave scars for everyone to see, but the emotional and mental wounds can last a lifetime.

Don’t be blindsided by the enemy. He is on a rampage and all your defenses need to be heightened. We are not fighting flesh and blood but the principalities of this world. Let me share with you some insight that I have been privileged to have been shown by our Father. It comes in three variables.

• Don’t miss what God has for you! This weekend we had so many plans that got canceled and at first, I was discouraged. We had plans to see our grandkids in all kinds of different activities. But as I rest in the fact that I couldn’t change what was going on, I started to see some of God’s providence in these cancellations. He showed me that the world, me included, is wound up like a time boom. We are so tightly bound by work, family activities, church commitments, and schedules. (I am sure you can add a few more.) My common word when someone asks me how I am doing is “busy” and I hate it. I struggle to know what it is like to rest and listen to God. For me, He is slowing my being down, I am going to be a “human being” not a “human doing”. I’m going to spend time with those who matter most. It reminds me of years gone past when life was simple. If you wanted to play hockey you played with your friends at the rink. Sunday dinners were for family time. Even curfews forced us to be together in our homes after dark. Relish this opportunity to slow down. If you are like me, you will start to feel a release of unrealistic expectations and reveille in freedom.

• Don’t miss what God wants to do in you. I am a solution-orientated – give me a problem and I will find a solution or someone who has the solution. Trust is an ongoing issue between God and me. Oh, I give all my concern to Him, but I am so fast to take them back when it is not going my way. He wants me to be content in all things and to rest in His ability not mine. God is shifting me towards putting all things in His hands and resting assured in his control.

• Don’t miss what God wants to do through you, and us as The Shepherd’s Guide. First is that I want to show my kids and grandkids that they can trust God. I tend to be the Matriarch in our family and when help is needed, I am always there to find solutions. This time, I don’t have a solution, only God does, and I know in my head His solutions are the ultimate answer. My family needs to know this too. One day, I won’t be here and if they don’t have God to go to for help, who do they have? It is my responsibility to teach them to go to God first and trust Him in all things.

Next is our business. All businesses are being affected by this virus and the way the economy is reacting. This is a time for Christian businesses to encourage and support each other, to build unity in the fight and remember who we are fighting. We are holding businesses up in prayer even more than before. We are believing, as all of you are, that God will meet our everyday needs so we can bless all those in need around us. Now, more than ever, we believe The Shepherd’s Guide is a valuable resource to the community. People still need your services and, more than that, they need people they can trust and depend on to finish the jobs they start and to do everything with a spirit of excellence. We believe Christians in business are bound by Biblical principles to do just that. We also know that you, as Christian businesspeople, will have the opportunity to meet a need the church can’t right now. With churches canceling gatherings and streaming church online, this is our time for our light to shine. Those people who can’t get to or won’t go to a church, need Christ now more than ever. Our local churches need us to step up our game and to share the Good News of Christ and to encourage and strengthen all those we meet.

Our family of advertisers, when you are weary in well-doing, as we all will be in these days, we want to be the voice that encourages you and helps you to move forward. Please let us know if you need a word of encouragement or extra prayer.

For all the Churches, Ministries, camps and schools in the Christian community, we are also here to pray for you, encourage you and connect with you.

We will be moving ahead with our deliveries of the Metro Vancouver Guide this week and next, please keep us in prayer as we go about delivering the good news.

Are you in:

Saskatoon?  Ask about our special offer for our 2020-21 Guide coming out in April

Edmonton? Ask about our special offer for our 2020-21 Guide coming out in June

Sarnia/ Kent? Ask about our special offer for our 2020-21 Guide coming out in Sept 

Toronto?  Ask about our special offer for our 2020-21 Guide coming out in Nov  

Okanagan Area? Ask about our special offer for our 2020-21 Guide coming out in Sept 

Vancouver Island?  Look for the Shepherd’s Guide in your local church.

Please email any questions or concerns to dawn.magee@shepherdsguide.ca