How are we to be living our Christian lives in the midst of these latest events that have come to pass in the world as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak- -- How are we to be thinking- What are we to be doing- How are we to be praying- What are we to think about all of what the government is doing in the midst of what is now being called a pandemic- -- How are we, as Christians, to react and respond to what the government of the United States is doing in regard to the Coronavirus outbreak- -Romans 13-1-8, Titus 3-1, 1 Peter 2-13-15 This is one very strong aspect of our Christian testimony- submission to our government- the powers that be, -or the authorities that exist- are ordained of God- If we resist the government, we are really resisting God--brethren, let us be careful and heed the warnings of our government--But let us MORE HEED the warnings of Christ and of the Holy Scriptures--And let us not forget that we are gospel witnesses to sinners in the world, let us tell them about something far worse than the coronavirus- Let us tell them about the sins that have infected their souls. But let us also tell them that Christ has already secured the vaccine- the medicine is already plentiful and available for any who would have it- SINNER YOU can be washed and made clean- SAVED FROM YOUR SINS- saved from dying in your sins- Saved from eternal damnation-

Our heaven sent afflictions are always for our good- always designed to humble us before our God and Heavenly Father.-Going spiritually astray is a place that we find ourselves in at times as a result of our own sins and spiritual laziness- when we mindlessly and prayerlessly drift back into the world, and when we stray from Christ and from His Word. But our Father is always there with His -rod and staff- to bring us back into the fold.

What is an embrace- An embrace may be physical- an outward show of our affections for someone- but we may also be embracing something in our hearts and minds- something spiritual- a Biblical truth- and we might also be embracing a besetting or secret sin. Listen, I don't want to tap dance around this, especially from the vantage point of the one who wrote Ecclesiastes- let us NOT forget the sin that wreaked havoc in Solomon's life- The Proverbs are replete with warnings about the sexual sins of fornication and adultery- sins that started with an unholy touch and an unsanctified and insincere embrace-

The worst thing that you and I could do is to -kick against the pricks- of God's providence in our lives. When trials and afflictions come, know that God has sent them for your good. Proverbs 3-10-11

- What is God teaching us in casting away stones and gathering stones- Remember that these times and seasons are appointed to each of us by God.-Here we will see the actual casting away and gathering of stones in the time and culture when it was written, and then what this means for us today as Christians to cast away and gather stones. ...Are you casting away the stones of sin out of your heart and life- Do you have a stony heart- Is your heart like an uncultivated and fallow field that is not ready to receive the good seed of Word with any deepness--Isaiah 5-1-7...Psalm 80-8-19, 78-51-59...Mark 4-5-6, 16-17, Luke 8-6, 13 ... Ezekiel 18-31-32, 36-26-28 ... Matthew 13-15-17 ... Joshua 4-1-7... 1 Kings 5-13-18, 6-7 ...1 Kings 5-18, 6-7...Proverbs 24-27...1 Peter 2-1-5, 1 Corinthians 3-6-17, 2 Corinthians 6-16, Ephesians 2-19-22 ....Are you a lively stone, gathered by the divine Stone Miner- cut out of the earth and the world and fitted perfectly into the church of Jesus Christ-

The closer that we walk with the Lord in our Christian lives, and the more that we desire godliness and holiness- the more we will be aware and recognize-acknowledge when we are NOT walking with the LORD in godliness-holiness- and when we are NOT wholehearted toward God as children of God.- James Downing

If we would be vessels set apart for God and honorable for His use, the dross of sin and wickedness must be purged and demolished from our lives- sinful strongholds and idols must be broken down and stamped to powder-...2 Corinthian 5-17...2 Kings 22-11...2 Kings 23-1-20...John 11-37-44...2 Chronicles 34-27...Psalm 34-18-19, Jeremiah 31-27-28...Proverbs 25-4...Jude 20, Colossians 2-1-8, 1 Peter 2-1-5, Ephesians 2-19-22...Jeremiah 9-1-3, 13-15-17 ...Matthew 5-4...Luke 6-21...Psalm 126-5-6...Psalm 30-1-5, 10-12, John 16-20-22...2 Samuel 6-14...James 1-2-4...Christian, if you would be conformed to the image of Christ, if you would be built up and strengthened in godliness- if you would be made holy- God MUST first break down, demolish, and remove out of your life, that which is sinful, unholy, and dishonoring to Him.

When it is a time to kill and to take another human life- How can this be a time appointed by God when God commanded us ..Thou shalt not kill- .........Consider that in the death of the Lord Jesus, it was a time to kill- a time appointed by God- The crucifixion of Christ is the most famous killing in the history of humanity. .....As God commands both the giving and the taking of life- so, God also commands healing to those to whom He has appointed healing. ....God is the giver and taker of life- He has appointed the bounds of our habitation. ....1 Samuel 2-6, Deuteronomy 32-39 ... ....Acts 2-22-23, 3-12-18, 4-28, Daniel 9-26, Mark 9-30-31......Matthew 27-25....- Hebrews 12-2-3- ....1 Samuel 2-22-25, 4-10-11. -Consider that God is a Man of war-

What is ENVY-- It's discontentment or resentment toward another person because of what they possess, or because of their success or prosperity. It's very closely related to jealousy and covetousness. At the root of envy is selfishness--IF YOU ARE born-again by the Spirit of God, your life will be significantly different than BEFORE you were born-again- Your new life will consist of constantly turning away from your sins to Christ- you will live your new life in obedience to the Word of God-

Paul defines what or who the church is--- To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call on the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours-- The church is the community of saints in the world who have been called out of the world and out of darkness- saved from their sins by the gospel of Jesus Christ- .......To say GRACE to someone is to wish the favor of God to be upon or toward them. What greater blessing could be conferred and communicated to someone, but that God would be GRACIOUS to them-