Quarantine take…four?

As most of you may know, when I came home from the world race I came to live with my parents for the time being. It’s been good to be able to pay off some school debt and help out around here. Well you may also know my parents got tested positive for COVID 19 recently so we have been quarantining for about two weeks now. My parents have very minor symptoms right now so very thankful for that, and so far I have no symptoms (was tested negative earlier this week). Prayers for quick recovery and to stay safe until we fly out to see my sister, brother in law and niece would be very much appreciated. 

Between last year and this year this is the fourth time I have needed to quarantine, here are some things I have learned this time and/or have been reminded of:

1) There is always some way we can serve. Sometimes that is your family around you, if you don’t live with anyone maybe it’s your neighbor, or maybe it’s sending a little note to your friend or someone you know that may need a little encouragement. I think sometimes we ask God for what to do that day, which is good don’t get me wrong, but sometimes in that we miss what God already told us.

Love you another.

Now each one of us was made differently which is beautiful, this means though some people receive love through service or time or physical gifts. This means that our actions may impact differently for different people, that is where we ask for discernment from God. Don’t be scared to do the little things that may simply brighten their day or mean the world to someone around you though, sometimes the thought is the biggest thing!

If you are at work maybe it’s listening to that coworker that most people ignore or don’t actively listen, maybe it’s helping someone with a project if they’re struggling, maybe it’s having lunch with a coworker, maybe it’s asking someone how they are ready to sit and talk rather than the typical “Good” “Good” responses.

Who has been placed in your life to reach out to, to love?

2) Where is your heart positioned when you serve? Pride or Love?

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

*I invite you to look at the rest of this chapter to see how Paul describes love as and dig deeper in your life and how you can show that.

Especially for family and close ones we can get in the habit of doing things to do them instead of out of love. None of us are perfect, myself included, but we have someone (Jesus) who was and has given us the tools (Himself/Holy Spirit) to guide us and help us.

Will you let God show you when you need to check your heart and praise Him when you are serving out of love?

3) Use the time God gives you to be with Him.

Be faithful with your commitments (let your yes be yes and your no be no) but also remember to slow down enough to sit with God. Maybe it’s five minutes, 15 minutes, or an hour.

Read His word, go for a walk, paint, find some awesome songs to sing with Him or jam out with Him if you play instruments, write out your thoughts to Him; whatever is your way to connect with Him. Those are some of my favorite moments! And guess what?

Those are His too 

HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH! HE CHERISHES EVERY MOMENT WITH YOU!

It’s not too late, He is there waiting ready with open arms

How are you and your family, would love to pray for you and needs you may have. 
Please feel free to write it in the comments or message me privately if you would prefer.

With much love, 

Bethaney