Christ Directed Life Ministries: April 2020

Thursday, April 9, 2020

COVID-19 PANDEMIC 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic 2020

Many of us remain in our homes (shelter-in-place) in fearful of contracting this virus. We hope and pray for an end, but receive not reassurance from those in authority; only the numbers who died in the last 24-hours and that story changes almost hourly. But know this - there are those out there that are critical to our survival; serving on the front lines - The Trucking Industry. For them, days go forward as if no change - adding more stress and longer periods away from home to ensure materials are getting delivered. They are the unsung heroes that many times go without thanks. Nurses and doctors certainly are acknowledged, but truckers are and continue to be not recognized.

We at CDLMinistries want to thank them for their commitment to our Nation. Know that we are praying for you all and want to lift you up to receive a special blessing for God for all that you do.

Know also, there will come a time when the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020 will be in the rear-view-mirror and things will go back to some kind of norm. I thought is fitting to offer this picture above. It was God who took Noah through a time of great stress, but offered a rainbow to ensure he knew there would be brighter days ahead. It is only fitting that this picture shows a rainbow over a truck stop; for God's promise great reward faithful servants.

Also - let us not forget what they are doing and will continue to do when things return to norm. Let us not forget that they do it without complaint - for the country they love. Pray for their families at home who are alone during this time.

PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR ALL DRIVERS - We have received several distributing text messages and cell calls stating some drivers have experienced truck stop closures and / or have seen facilities not offering showers and food in fear of contracting COVID-19. NOTE: because of their physical size, their trucks are too large to fit through a drive-through condition. To those truck stops out there who have closed services - please open them up...

John Hensman

Senior Pastor - CDLMinistries

P.O. Box 341, Van, Texas 75790

972-467-7829

kingdomdrivers@gmail.com

Return to our Website

http://cdlministries.wix.com/cdlm

BROKENNESS TO FORGIVENESS

Brokenness describes a person who is extremely discouraged and unhappy. Often the person feels crushed and life seems bitter. Without a proper relationship, people can get depressed. Psalm 34:8 describes what a brokenhearted or crushed person may look like and God’s response to this condition.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit

Brokenness can be a good thing, because it causes a person to repent of person sin patterns. A habitual sin is one that is always present; always nagging at the very core of our self-esteem, attitude for life, and relationships. The Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthians because they had allowed a sinful situation to exist in their church by accepting sinful individuals into their mist – saying nothing to them about their condition and did nothing to correct it. After Paul wrote his letter, they responded; confronting these individuals with their concerns.

Unfortunately, once confronted and repentance completed, the people of the Corinthian church did not accept them back in love. Paul wrote:

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree - in order not to say too much - to all of you. Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm you love for him

(2 Corinthians 2:4-8).

Sorrow and brokenness is good only when those broken repent and come back. Christ forgave sinners; not mentioning such condition again to those that were once broken. He knew many sins dwell deep within, but once rooted out, must allow for a fresh start. In saying, "Go and sin no more," Jesus was not speaking of a sinless perfection, but a perfect balance of "grace and truth" (John 1:14). God's desire for each of us is to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). We will and still sin many times, even as Christians, but sin is not longer a lifestyle to choose or desire (1 John 3:9-10). When we fail, we can come to God and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9; 1 Peter 4:1-2).

Now, there maybe some that would think - that offers the freedom to sin - knowing all we need to do is ask again and again for forgiveness. Paul addresses that condition - grace does not give us a license to sin - we need to live and grow in Him. Repentance means a change of our mindset towards a life style that pleases Him. We can never lose our salvation, but we can certainly damage it by believing we can sin and still continue a lifestyle that is not pleasing.

HE CAN HEAL ANY BROKENNESS, BUT WE NEED TO DO OUR PART