Surviving Covid-19 Part 1

I’ve been thinking about writing this post for a while, but I just didn’t get around to it because I have been dealing with getting the Corona virus and all of it after affects. Just writing those words brings up so many emotions, so I know it will take me two posts to get it all out.

When you reach a certain age in life, you realize that things don’t always go the way that you want them to no matter how we try to avoid them. I say this because even the most careful of us can end up getting this crazy virus. Here is my story:

When the virus started to get bad back in March, my job went on lock down and we worked from home for 2 months. God has been good to me because I continued to work this entire year, never missed a paycheck or a meal and I still have a roof over my head. I know this is NOT the case for many people, but I am grateful to God for how my year has been.

I lost my sister in February and by May I received the surprise of my life when I received a letter about a life insurance policy in which I was name the second beneficiary (our father was the primary, but he is deceased). I was able to accomplish so much and I even brought a new car even though my other car was only a year old. So for me, this has been a great year financially. God has been good!

But just last month after being extremely careful about this virus, I was infected. I was not attending church for safety. I stopped going to the movies, don’t go to the hair or nail salon and I pretty much do nothing except get my food. No socializing or anything. But on December 3rd a co-worker came into my office and removed her mask. I had heard her talk about how uncomfortable they were and so she steps into my office and promptly removes it and stays for 15 mins. At a certain point I put my mask on, but I guess it was too late. I always look back to that day and wonder why I didn’t ask her to put it back on, or put mine on immediately, which is what I normally do, but of course hindsight is twenty-twenty.

On December 8th my boss call’s me on my work phone and informs me that this employee tested positive for the virus. Of course I was horrified because I had spent 15 minutes in my very small office with her. So I got tested and on December 12 I received the terrible news that I had tested positive. I kind of sensed it though, because by the time I go tested, I had developed this dry hacking cough and I kept wondering, why I was coughing

After the initial shock, I felt a little fear because I didn’t know what to expect. But after that subsided, I had to deal with a real rage. Honestly, it’s been a long time since I felt this angry. You see folks, wearing a mask is mainly about protecting other people. It’s really not about you! My friends and family will tell you, I was so angry, I really had to get a hold of myself. I told one of my co-workers that if the woman who infected me wasn’t working here, I would have sued her. And what made it bad was she did not apologize nor acknowledge that she gave it to me at all. Just moving along like nothing ever happened. Also, she found out she was positive, so soon after our encounter, so I wondered when she suspected she had it.

The most difficult part of all of this is that I know this could have been avoided. I believe if she had worn her mask and if I asked her to put her mask back on the outcome would have been different. I also should have put my mask on sooner. But of course there is nothing can be done about it now. The good part is my symptom’s were not too bad and I did not have to go to the hospital. As you know, many are dying from this. I had a childhood friend die leaving his wife and 4 children. Another friend stayed in the hospital for 6 months. And my former Pastor got it, got pneumonia, had a stroke and is now in a rehab, all as a result of Covid-19. And his wife got it and she was undergoing Chemo at the time. So I know that my circumstance could have been much worse. Other than extreme fatigue, and occasional cough, and losing my taste and smell. I did pretty good. But let me tell you this; Covid-19 is nothing that you want to get.

To be continued….

The End Part 2

I just read part 1 of this again and I was a little horrified that I put so much information out there. But the truth is when I look back at the experience that I mentioned, I believe I was targeted by a scammer, period. Sometimes how we are perceiving a situation is not what it really is and after we have time to step back and evaluate it, we see things more clearly. So again, I think I was targeted by a romance scammer and thank GOD he is gone.

So why am I saying “the end” this time? Because I was on Facebook and this sermon popped up entitled “How Long Are You Going to Wait on That Man?” It made me stop in my tracks because waiting for Boaz is a thing that single women in the church do. Some are waiting on a particular man and others are just waiting on the man that God has for them. Well the sermon got my attention not because of a particular man, but just because of the concept of waiting.

You see, waiting can become problematic after a long time and after you reach a certain age. I feel there is something wrong if you are waiting for a mate forever. As I listened to the sermon, I knew what God was saying. He simply means no more waiting, so whoever comes along give them a chance.

Well shortly after that someone at my job showed interest and then someone from the past sent a message to me to reconnect. Now trust me I am not in the waiting mode anymore, but I also know that I am not going to deal with grown passive men, which seems to be what I attract. Or maybe some men just find me intimidating. Whatever the case, I am not waiting anymore. I will give a man a chance if he shows interest and I am interested as well.

Finally, I had a deadline in my heart and mind for when I was expecting Boaz to manifest in my life (not online} and then yesterday I got the devastating new that I tested positive for COVID-19. I am doing pretty well. My symptoms are not too bad, but I am dealing with the rage I feel about the person who gave it to me.

One of my co-workers who works from home, comes into my very small office and takes off her mask and a few days later tests positive. I am mad at her, but I am also mad at myself for letting my guard down.

Pray for me. I know God is going to cause it all to work together for my good. I am home for a couple of weeks and I just have to deal with it.

Romans 8:28

King James Version

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Kingdom Marriages are Coming!!

I had just about given up concerning marriage, but then I heard this! I hope this encourages you like it did me.

Why this Virus? Part 2

Yesterday’s post was a heavy one and this one will not be easy either, but the end result of any plague or judgment is ALWAYS good.

Revelation 2:29 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁹ He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’

The following is a Prophetic Word given in 1986 by the Late David Wilkerson. Before his death, he pastored at the great Times Square church in New York City. Some of you may remember or heard about the big scandal in the ’80s with Televangelist Jim Baker. Pastor Wilkerson sent a word of warning that was ignored. Here is the Word Pastor Wilkerson  shared with Pastor Mike Evans:

Part 1: As I was in prayer, studying in my prayer room during the coronavirus crisis, I
picked up an old Bible and out of it fell a note I had forgotten I even had. As I
read it, I found myself trembling and crying. The note was from a breakfast I had with David Wilkerson in 1986 at the EmbassySuites near the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
He showed me a letter addressed to Rev. Richard Dortch who was running PTL
under Jim Bakker. It said, “Rev. Dortch, within 12 months, the judgment of God
will fall on PTL. You are fornicating with brick and stone. Flee now and repent.
Bats will fly through the empty building.” A month later, I was with Dortch, and
he mocked David’s letter, saying, “if I fornicate, it will not be with brick and stone.
These attacks aren’t against me or Jim Bakker, they are against God.”
Twelve months later the Charlotte Observer broke the PTL scandal.
 

Part 2: During breakfast as David Wilkerson was talking about idols at PTL, he said, “I see
a plague coming on the world, and the bars and churches and government will
shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been
shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless Believers into radical prayer and
into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit.
And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the
world.” He then pointed to Isaiah 24 and said to me “a plague will hit the globe and
America.” He said, “every house will be shut up, and no one will be coming or going. The
city of confusion is broken down, and every house is shut up that no man may
come in.” Isaiah 24:10 says that.

The prophet Isaiah describes in Isaiah 24:12, all entrances and exits to the city are
gone. In other words, there will be no place to escape. God has shown me that a calamity is coming beyond humankind’s capacity to respond.

This judgment will devastate the world’s economies. Every restaurant and bar will be shut down, and all the drinking and merrymaking will end. All entertainment and churches will be shut down. Isaiah says in the 24th chapter, verse 9, “they shall not drink wine with a song.” The mirth of the land is gone. All sports will be shut down.

But the prophet Isaiah also saw a great shaking of the olive tree coming in
24:13. In other words, God’s shaking everything that can be shaken. It’s a time of
overwhelming darkness as He exposes the world’s idols. But in the midst of this terrible shaking, a song is heard, a chorus of voices singing praises to the majesty of God. “They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea,” (Isaiah 24:14). That’s the beginning of the Great Awakening. And then in 24:15-16 it says, “from the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous.” That’s a Great Awakening.

 

 

Why this Virus? Part 1

This is not an easy time for the world. Life as we know it is just not the same. I shared in an earlier post that I used to ride in my car and wonder how long we would continue to enjoy life as we knew it. It wasn’t too long after these thoughts hit my mind that this happened. You may wonder why I would have such thoughts. Well mainly because I believe the Bible. And I know our world is full of sin and people are separated from God, and the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is lukewarm and God is not happy about any of it. And it’s His Will that His creation comes to Him. But it starts with those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

2 Chronicles 7:14 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

So you see, it starts with HIS PEOPLE. Just open the Bible and read the story of Noah. God decided to destroy the entire world because of sin. So am I saying that God brought this virus into the world? Absolutely not! But he certainly has allowed it. This virus has come on the earth with a purpose and the purpose is to cause this world to CHANGE and acknowledge Him! And that will ONLY happen when the true church arises. I’m telling you there is a real church and a fake lukewarm church that preaches a user-friendly, fluff gospel that never talks about God’s judgment or requires people to repent, surrender their lives to Him, change and become true disciples and follow Him.

Revelation 3:14-22 Living Bible (TLB)

To the Lukewarm Church
¹⁴ “Write this letter to the leader of the church in Laodicea:
“This message is from the one who stands firm,^[a] the faithful and true Witness of all that is or was or evermore shall be,* the primeval source of God’s creation:
¹⁵ “I know you well—you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were one or the other! ¹⁶ But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth!
¹⁷ “You say, ‘I am rich, with everything I want; I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that spiritually you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
¹⁸ “My advice to you is to buy pure gold from me, gold purified by fire—only then will you truly be rich. And to purchase from me white garments, clean and pure, so you won’t be naked and ashamed, and to get medicine from me to heal your eyes and give you back your sight. ¹⁹ I continually discipline and punish everyone I love; so I must punish you unless you turn from your indifference and become enthusiastic about the things of God.
²⁰ “Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me. ²¹ I will let everyone who conquers sit beside me on my throne, just as I took my place with my Father on his throne when I had conquered. ²² Let those who can hear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

I keep hearing a lot of Christian saying they feel this virus is going to pass very quickly and we will get back to business as usual. I’m not so sure about that. You may wonder why. The reason is this virus has come with a purpose. God wants CHANGE and until that happens, we may stay right here in it.

The president is itching to get people back to work and I get it. It’s easy for me to talk like this because I keep getting my paycheck and am covered for a certain amount of time. But God is allowing this to get people to look to Him. People need to look past their own abilities and acknowledge Him.

But let me speak to believers. If you think you will continue in a lukewarm walk with God, you are sadly mistaken. And don’t think when I say these things that I am not talking to myself as well. I also need to improve my life in Christ. Less TV, more time in the Word and prayer. More witnessing. More yielded to His will.

But if you think this virus is going to stop just so God’s people can go back to sin, lust, gossiping, lying, watching porn, fornicating, committing adultery, using profanity and watching all manner of debauchery, you are deceived. And if you don’t make changes on your own, you will be forced to.

In part two, I am going to share a Word a Prophet gave years ago about this present day. Our grace period is up. For some of you, either you change or God is going dismantle EVERYTHING you created.

I am so used to sharing warnings with people who don’t believe me, it just never moves me when I am mocked and treated as though I don’t know what I am talking about. Why? Because that is the prophetic walk and I have countless experiences with sharing warnings from the Lord and seeing it happen, even when people didn’t think it would.

A few examples:

1. My own late brother (who was a Pastor) after his wife divorced him, married his mistress. I warned him, his wife would die and he would have to keep preaching like Ezekiel did. My brother showed the written Word I gave him, to a proven prophet and they determined that it was NOT from God. But 22 years later, during the sweetest time of his marriage, my brother was devastated when his wife died at the young age of 51 and he had to continue to minister just like Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 24)
2. The Lord gave me a Word for a different Pastor, (my Pastor at that time), telling him to come off the road and focus more on his congregation and take a salary from his church because part of his purpose going out ministering was money. He got fighting mad at me for sharing that world. The SAME DAY I shared the Word, the Pastor had a series of mini-strokes and was out of his pulpit for about four months. The next time I saw him, all he said was “that was a powerful Word you gave me”.
3. I once gave another female pastor a Word about dismantling her church. If I remember correctly, it was like she was not mature enough to be overseeing a congregation. Well she kind of did receive the Word but still continued to lead the church until she brought a “pyramid scheme” to her church. Once everyone lost their money because of the scheme, the church dismantled and she was forced to move on.
4. I also gave another Pastoral couple a Word about dismantling the ministry and this I think has to do with the Pastor’s strong lustful spirit. He only had about 3 members, but God did not want him tainting those members. They received the Word at first, but later, rejected it, but the church folded in a short time.

So am I boasting? Of course not. I am just sharing my track record because I am about to share something that is going to be devastating to someone. God often sends warnings before major things are about to happen. So it’s with a heavy heart that I share that I saw the death of a beloved little boy. Someones son. This boy was so special to his father, but it’s like God has to take the boy to get his father’s attention because his father is so rebellious and would not fully submit to God. There are changes that the father needs to make but he refuses. So can this judgment be reversed? I’m not sure. But I had to share this. Someone will read these words and they will know that this is for them. This Word was recently confirmed when a friend of mine asked me point blank if I felt God was going to take this particular man’s child. I was shocked when she asked me because I had never ever shared what I felt God was saying with anyone. I felt sick to my stomach because it was a devastating confirmation and I felt the time was drawing closer. Hearing her question made me have to acknowledge that is what I had in my spirit. Well, that’s enough for now. I know this was a heavy post.

Life, Death, that Virus and the New Normal Pt. 3

This is my final post in this “series”. I thought about my last two posts and I realized that they may have sounded as though I am exempt from all of the pain and suffering, which is not true. I was just sharing my recent experiences.

So last night, it became clear that no one is not going to be touched by what is going on in this world. Whether you have a covenant with God or not, life will hit us and sometimes every hard. I got a text message last night from my brother that said: “Steven is in heaven”. My stomach did five flip flops and I immediately felt sick. Steven was my brother’s childhood friend (like a brother) and we were all raised together. He contracted the virus (he lived in New York) and it seemed he was getting better, but suddenly he died. After receiving this text, things suddenly became very real. He was in his 50’s and leaves behind a wife and 4 children.

My baby brother and I were talking about it this morning and I asked how his sister-in-law was doing (she is a nurse in New York) and he was hesitant, but gently mentioned that she had tested positive for the virus as well. But she was three weeks out and was already home recovering. Also today, one of my cousins who lives in New Orleans was sharing on Facebook that God spared her life and though she never admitted to having the virus, I am pretty sure she did. She was deathly ill a couple of weeks ago. So, yes, this is real.

I am in the house and plan on staying here. I just ordered my groceries online and that is where I plan on staying until. I was in and out of the grocery store but felt strongly to stop doing that. I heard a prophet say that in this week of Passover we should anoint our doorposts and stay in the house like the children of Israel did, until the plague pasts. I do have to go to my office on Thursday for work, but I will be very careful.

In the past, sometimes I would be driving in my car and wondering how long we would enjoy life as we know it.  I guess I was sensing that life can change at any time. Is this the new normal? Really when you think about it, many places have suffered from the ravages of war, sickness, famines, and life is never the same. We are spoiled in America. We think it can’t happen, but we are learning. And even now, some of us are not suffering. We are going to get a check in the mail, let me speak for myself; I live in a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, I have central air, cable, I can watch movies, I have food to eat, I have a car, and I can pay my bills and I don’t even have to go in the office to get paid! And I don’t even have to go to the store, because I am paying to have someone shop for me and drop the food at my door! Some of us are not really suffering.

Even in the midst of the pain and suffering, mourn with those who mourn,  be kind, help others when you can and most of all BE GRATEFUL! And if things get harder, praise God.