Ruth’s recent podcast with Renegade Atlas!
Ruth was recently interviewed by Matt Doud and Chad Hawk of Renegade Atlas. Listen here:
https://www.therenegadeatlas.com/episodes/interview-with-ruth-graham/
Ruth on The Huckabee Show
Ruth recently appeared on The Huckabee Show with Mike Huckabee. In case you missed it, here’s a link to the segment.
FEAR!
Faster than the corona virus is spreading, fear is spreading. Fear has gripped our country – our world. It’s a scary place right now. There is nothing and no-one not talking about it. When you meet someone on the street (10 feet apart) – it is the main topic of discussion.
And the more we discuss it, it seems the less we find solutions.
The experts have been wrong. All the cleverly designed models by the experts have proven to be wrong and yet we based all this national shut-down on those models and experts.
Yes, the virus is bad. I know some who have contracted it. Yes, people have died. And my heart goes out to the families who were not able to be by their loved one’s side. It’s tragic.
But worse than the virus is the fear and what it is doing to our mental health – the rates of suicide, depression, abuse, alcoholism… And what are the long-term effects on our children as they stay home from school losing ground academically.
So much to consider and fear. But God tells us not to fear. He say “Fear Not” 366 times. One for each day and one for Leap Year! He is serious about this message getting through to us. FEAR NOT!
Easier said than done. Just exactly how does God expect us to do that?
We need to battle back. And feed our joy. Our hope. Our confidence in God.
The Apostle Paul tells us how: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And ht peace of god, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there be any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” (Philipians 4:6-8)
That will transform our fear into faith.
Shelter In Place
We are all sheltering in place and doing our part to defeat this COVID-19. When the dust settles and we are allowed to open the country back up, we will see the devastation that it caused not only in lives lost but in relationships strained, livelihoods destroyed, finances decimated and a country deeply in debt.
A cataclysmic storm hit us in the form of a germ we cannot even see. The President calls it the “unseen enemy”. We may not see it but we can see the destruction in its wake.
We are staying home – going out just for essentials. And it seems to be working. But, to be honest, that is going to be the easy part. Picking up our lives afterwards will be the hard part. And it will take a long time. We will never be the same.
But I have above my sink, a scripture verse that is so relevant.”He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
Let’s dwell, live, in the shelter of the Most High. According to my dictionary to dwell means to live or stay as a permanent resident. And a shelter is: something beneath, behind, which one is covered or protected as from storms or danger.
So let’s take permanent residence in the protection, covering that God Most High is for us. And we will be in the shadow of the Almighty. To be in one’s shadow you have to be close. Let’s get close enough to God that we are in His shadow. He is our refuge and fortress.
And while we are there let’s praise Him for being a shelter for us and for being the Almighty! There is nothing he can’t do. He is all powerful, all knowing. We are safe with Him.
Birds and COVID 19
It is Spring! And the birds are singing as they claim and protect their territory as they nest.
I have a Cardinal, who for the past 5 weeks, has banged himself against my sunroom window, my kitchen window, my living room window and my study window. The cat at first thought this was exciting but now has grown bored by it!
Outside my front door I have a tall shrub – not sure what it is – but a small house finch built a nest there. I became aware of it when each time I’d step outside to get the mail, the mother bird flew out. One day I peeked in and saw the nest and 4 eggs. The next day, I saw 5 eggs.
She sat on them faithfully. Each day I’d check on their progress – careful not to disturb her. And one day I saw 3 baby birds – naked and ugly! Then two more hatched. I was concerned how they’d all fit in that tiny nest as they grew. I watched them grow and develop beaks, real feathers… It was fun.
Then we had a terribly windy day. And I noticed the nest had pitched over. Three baby birds were cleaning tightly to the shrub branch. One was on the ground beneath. I don’t know what happened to the other.
I continued to watch. Then I noticed yesterday, all were gone. Just the empty nest was there. It made me sad. But maybe they had grown enough to fly off on their own.
But in all of this process I could help but think of Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel: “Are not too sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Mt. 10:29) and “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Mt. 6:26)
With the COVID 19 there is much anxiety, fear, worry. I understand that. There is much uncertainty. The one certainty we have is that God is in control – this did not take Him by surprise. He is on His throne. He loves us – that’s what Good Friday was about – “God so loved that He gave…” He has a plan. And we can trust Him – totally. Is it easy? No. Does it come automatically? No. Do we feel it all the time? No. That’s why it is called faith.
Plague
“Now the Lord said to Moses, “One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well. Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again. Exodus 11
That was when God sent his angel to slay all the first-born in Egypt – the last plague that convinced Pharaoh to let the Hebrew children go.
The thing that distinguished the Hebrew children from the Egyptians on the night the angel passed over was the shed blood of a lamb on the door posts. Our only hope is in the blood of the Lamb.
On Friday we will remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross for us. He shed His own blood so that we might be forgiven and made new.
Booking Signing on March 14 @ The Billy Graham Library
On Saturday, March 14, Ruth signed copies of her book “Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself.” She enjoyed meeting and greeting all who attended
the book signing event at The Billy Graham Library.
Article about Ruth by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Ruth was recently featured in an article by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association about her latest book, Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself. You can read the article here:
Book Signing @ The Billy Graham Library
Ruth can’t wait to see you Saturday, March 14, at The Billy Graham Library.
https://billygrahamlibrary.org/event/book-signing-ruth-graham/
100 Huntley Street Interview
Ruth recently traveled to Ontario Canada to appear on the Christian daily television talk show and the flagship program of Crossroads Christian Communication, 100 Huntley Street.
You can watch the interview here: