Covenant College Chapel

c o v e n a n t c o l l e g e c h a p e l D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L S

I T ' S A L W A Y S S O M E T H I N G | 3 . 3 0 . 2 0

B Y J E F F H A L L , V P F O R A C A D E M I C A F F A I R S

I love closure. It is always best when things are finished, buttoned up, and stowed away in their appropriate places. Life is best when there are no unanswered obligations and no unresolved conflicts. I have been this way my whole life. In elementary school I was often the first in the class to finish my worksheet and hand it in to the teacher with the hope of being able to sit at my desk and revel in the serenity of the moment. This pattern has continued into my adult life. From the outside, people think of me as being responsible and being able to deliver. I have a good reputation. That reputation is an idol of mine, but I will leave that for another time.

When challenges arise in either my personal or my professional life, I initially play out a variety of scenarios, convincing myself that I would be able to withstand the various outcomes associated with each. I also adopt an internal narration assuring myself that “Once we get through this, everything will be better.” Everything is better with closure.

The problem with this approach to life is that issues and challenges come in a constant parade. There are very few days that are free of challenge, conflict, or obligation. The Saturday Night Live character, Roseanne Roseannadanna (portrayed by Gilda Radner), frequently repeated, “It just goes to show you, it's always something — if it’s not one thing, it's another."

If this is true, where do we find our peace? Where is the resolve? Where is the closure? Let me suggest that the peace, the shalom, is not found in playing out scenarios or in rushing to the completion of our obligated tasks. We will have struggles in this life. The creation groans for the redemption of the sons of men (Romans 8). There will be wars and rumors of war (Matthew 24:6). Bad things will happen to all of us at some point.

As you know, true peace (shalom) comes from Jesus. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) In my rush to closure, to make peace for myself, I often miss the gift that Jesus offers. I also miss the current context of my life. In these strange days, I encourage you not to be like me. Rather, find your peace in your relationship with the person of Jesus. Spend time with him. Do not adopt a posture of “As soon as things get back to normal, everything will be fine.” That kind of forward slant to your perspective will cause you to miss the rich blessings of each day.

So we can find comfort as did Paul with his thorn in the flesh when our Lord refused to heal him and responded: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2Cor. 12:9-10

PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

I confess that I do not trust you with my whole life and all of my circumstances. I would like to have control over the events and demands that affect me.

Please grant me a willing heart that trusts you, finds my peace in you, and embraces the days that you give me. Today, may I love you more, be more like you, and show your love to those around me by the grace of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

G O D I S O U R R E F U G E A N D S T R E N G T H . A V E R Y P R E S E N T H E L P I N T R O U B L E . T H E G O D O F J A C O B I S O U R F O R T R E S S . . . B E S T I L L , A N D K N O W T H A T I A M G O D c o v e n a n t c o l l e g e c h a p e l D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L S

C O M F O R T I N G O D ' S P U R P O S E | 3 . 3 1 . 2 0

B Y H A N N A H B L O O M Q U I S T , A N D R E A S R E S I D E N T D I R E C T O R

“AND WE KNOW THAT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” -ROMANS 8:28

It seems like the verses we might have heard a million times over or learned since childhood flood to the forefront of our minds whenever we are faced with crisis, hardship, or the unknown. You might even have conflicting thoughts about the use of this particular verse during this season. Perhaps you feel that it is a trite and insensitive thing to say to someone right now when they are in the midst of deep sorrow and suffering. On the other hand, perhaps this verse is soothing to you as you face deep fear and anxiety, remembering that God is in control. For me, I found myself repeating this verse to God as almost a reminder to Him of what He has promised. I wanted this verse to be a guarantee that everything would go back to the way that it was, and that we would not have to sit much longer in discomfort. I think I have used this verse as a fearful remedy or band-aid to fear and suffering. I wonder if the varied feelings about this verse come from a slight distortion of its meaning and promise.

Every Sunday morning my Dad writes and sends me a devotional over text. This last Sunday he wrote about Romans 8:28, teaching me that this verse does not refer to God’s ability to take the chaos of this pandemic and make good of it. God is not scrambling to figure out what to do with this mess and somehow fulfill His purpose through it. Rather, God has orchestrated all things for His purpose and glory before the foundations of the earth. He is not surprised by this or shaken by it, He is sovereign over it. The reality is that His divine plan through all of this might not have a direct implication of making me comfy, because it is NOT about me.

The “good” referred to in this verse does not refer to our own daily comfort or fulfillment of our earthly desires. This good is referring to the eternal welfare of the believer. It is referring to our sanctification and the magnification of God’s name so that all might believe. I am not guaranteed or entitled to my definition of my “good." I play a part in this world and I am “called according to HIS purpose.” We know that His purpose is to spread the good news of salvation, and for you and I to be sign-posts to Jesus. I don’t say this easily, and I don’t say it without still feeling a twinge of fear and anxiety. However, I say this with the desire that I would fully embrace the truth in this verse and that the Lord would strengthen my faith and help me to submit all things according to His good purposes.

In order for God’s purpose and my “good” to be fulfilled at this time, it might come at the cost of my own definition of comfort. If all we do is strive for our own idea of comfort, we will be continually disappointed. However, when we align ourselves with the purpose of Christ, we receive a more genuine and fulfilling comfort. A comfort that comes from praying for and encouraging others. A comfort that comes from knowing that our welfare is not totally dependent on our own efforts. And a comfort that comes from the profound truth that we will never be without the love of God. This verse was never meant to sweep over the things we don’t understand or slap over someone's fears and doubts. This verse acknowledges our finitude and need for a sovereign and faithful God who has already ordered this chaos and will never lead us to aimlessness or destruction.

T H A N K F U L F O R A N X I E T Y | 4 . 1 . 2 0

B Y T I M S C E G G E L , A T H L E T I C D I R E C T O R

"WHEN I AM AFRAID, I PUT MY TRUST IN YOU." - PSALM 56:3

I was laying on the floor of my office. I couldn’t see straight, my chest felt like it would burst, but my body was frozen as I couldn't move.

This was part of my first anxiety attack. It happened one morning at work in October 2017. Except... I had everything: my dream job as the AD at my alma mater, a position I aspired to since college. I also was in an elite doctoral program, and I had a beautiful wife, who was pregnant with our first child. Then why did I later find myself in a doctor’s office diagnosed with anxiety? Also, where was God in all of this? I used to run marathons, now I couldn’t run a mile without anxiety related issues halting my run. I also was suffering from stress related migraines more than once a week, to the point that I would need to leave work and lay in the dark to get through them.

Everyone who has mental health challenges has a different story. For me, I attacked it through counseling, where I learned that I had not dealt with issues in my past. I was abused as a child, but I’m tough right!? Everyone deals with hard things, I just need to handle my own issues, right? And I handled it, by never talking about or working through those issues. Then I turned 33 and had a phenomenal job and an amazing wife, but more stress came with hiring coaches, fundraising, teaching on campus, working full time on a doctorate, and a baby on the way. My bucket was full and those extra drops put me over the edge. But I wasn’t giving my bucket to Christ, I wasn’t leaning on him or the community He provided me with. I was “handling it” on my own, which led me to laying on the floor in my office.

So through my wife’s suggestion, I pursued counseling, and other help. The migraines are almost gone, and I’m able to manage my anxiety better - but it still exists, I still have really hard days. So it is important that you know that having anxiety is ok. I would guess that a number of us and our coaches battle this daily. However, I had stress induced migraines for years before seeking help. But as the passage calls us, “when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” John Piper (2018) shares "Notice: it does not say, 'I never struggle with fear.' Fear strikes, and the battle begins. So the Bible does not assume that true believers will have no anxieties. Instead, the Bible tells us how to fight when they strike."

The reality is that God is present in the midst of really hard things, including anxiety, and I’m so thankful for that! In fact, I’m thankful for my struggle with anxiety, because it has drawn me closer to Christ. It has shown me that I’m not sufficient on my own, that I need Him and I need others. That has been hard to learn, as I spent my childhood years only looking out for myself and no one else as a means of survival. But we were created for community, and I’m learning that more each day. Paul Tripp (2008) says in his book, Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy, "We weren't created to be independent, autonomous, or self-sufficient. We were made to live in a humble, worshipful, and loving dependency upon God and in a loving and humble interdependency with others. Our lives were designed to be community projects. Yet, the foolishness of sin tells us that we have all that we need within ourselves. So we settle for relationships that never go beneath the casual. We defend ourselves when people around us point out a weakness or a wrong. We hold our struggles within, not taking advantage of the resources God has given us" (p. 147).

So I share my story with you because mental health is important, and we are a group that needs to embrace that, and support each other as we walk through mental health struggles. I also share this because if you have a mental health challenge, you are not alone, I’ve been there, and I am still there. Still, even in our darkest days, we have a savior who is bigger, and while he may choose not to heal all of our afflictions, he can use it for our good, so let’s put our trust in Him. Don't buy in when our culture often teaches us to man (or woman) up, and to pretend like we don't feel pain, whether it is physical, spiritual, or emotional. We were designed to feel pain and bring it to the Father. That's what Jesus did, he felt our pain and laid it at the Father's feet. My prayer is for us to do the same.

W H E N Y O U J U S T D O N ’ T W A N T T H E C H A L L E N G E | 4 . 0 2 . 2 0

B Y J O A N N A E H M A N , H E A D V O L L E Y B A L L C O A C H

How many times recently have you heard something along the lines of, “These are crazy times we’re living in..,” or “The extent of these events and consequences are completely unprecedented?” If I’m honest, I’m starting to get tired of hearing it (though I’m guilty of saying these things myself). All I want is for life to go back to “normal” so I can return to doing things the way I want to do them.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself thinking about Christ’s crucifixion more often. Whether it’s because Easter is right around the corner or the fact that it’s the story my 3- year-old wants to read over and over out of her “Jesus Storybook Bible,” I know it’s not a coincidence that the Lord keeps bringing it to my mind. As a Christian, I’m used to hearing about it - almost to the point that I’ve become callous to how gruesome of an event it was. Kinda weird, right? Because of this familiarity, sometimes it’s hard for me to have “new” takeaways when I hear the story or read the Scripture around it. Lately, however, there are 3 things about Christ’s crucifixion and death that have struck me in a new way.

1. Jesus asked for it to be taken from him. In Matthew 26:39 and Luke 22:42 Jesus knows what’s ahead. It’s what he’s been called to (the very reason he was sent to earth in the first place). He knows the importance of it, and He asks God to take it away.

Sometimes I feel selfish when I ask God to remove a challenge that’s in my path. If I know that my faith can only become stronger through trials, shouldn’t I be willing to face them with a happy heart? Not that it’s easy, but isn’t that what I’m supposed to try to do? The fact that Jesus, who lived a perfect and sinless life, is able to sinlessly ask God to take this awful thing away from Him tells me that it’s OK to be honest with God about what I’m going through. He already knows anyway, right? But there’s a difference between humbly asking and selfishly pitching a fit when I don’t get what I ask for.

2. God could have taken the pain and suffering away from Jesus, but He didn’t. In fact, Jesus also could have been the one to end it. He could have struck down all those in opposition to Him, ended their lives then and there, and gone on to live a long life ending in a natural death (or even no death at all). But if He had done that, there wouldn’t have been the necessary sacrifice to save me - His child, whom He dearly loves. My sin would not have been crucified with Him, and I wouldn’t have the necessary, graphic depiction of how deep the Father’s love for me truly is.

3. As Jesus is dying, and those who love Him most are facing this loss, He directs them to one other for comfort and support. John 19:26-27 says, “When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” I honestly don’t think I ever noticed those verses until I heard them during a sermon at church a couple weeks ago. I was struck that this type of comfort and support is something I need to learn from in the suffering and frustration that our world is currently experiencing.

As we’re all still learning how to be the Covenant community while apart, I want to challenge and encourage you all with three things. Cry out to Jesus in your frustration and suffering (just as Jesus did). Trust the Lord’s will in whether or not he takes your frustration and suffering away. Find ways to lean on your brothers and sisters in Christ, while also being someone for them to lean on. The Lord has given us this community for a reason--let’s honor that and thank Him by using it to further His purposes for who we are in Him.

P S A L M 1 2 1 | 4 . 0 3 . 2 0

B Y K A R E N N E L S O N , A S S I S T A N T V P F O R I N S T I T U T I O N A L E F F E C T I V E N E S S

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by the day, Nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep Your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:1-8

The Psalter lesson from last Sunday was Psalm 121 and it was just what my heart needed to hear. This is the beauty of God’s Word, isn’t it? As I have meditated on this psalm over the last few days, I have been helped (and challenged) in many ways. Here are two of the reasons that I think that this psalm has held me in its grip.

First, I needed a reminder that my help comes from a personal and powerful God. I don’t know about you but I have been feeling vulnerable, anxious, and unsettled over the past two weeks. This image of God as my Keeper has been comforting and sweetly refreshing, perhaps because it has helped me to see and remember my true relationship to the Creator. This psalm is a reminder that the people of God are kept, at all times and in all circumstances, by His mighty power. He is my Keeper irrespective of whether I have faithfully turned to Him with my fears and he is your Keeper irrespective of whether you are thankful for it or of whether you are anxious in the midst of all of this disruption. I am absolutely protected until God’s purposes for me have been accomplished. I pray that my weakness and vulnerability will continue to remind me to run to the Keeper of my soul, who will provide eternal safety and rest in the bosom of Christ.

Second, as my pastor reminded me, this psalm is one of 15 psalms called the Songs of Ascents. These psalms were sung by pilgrims as a way to sustain and encourage them as they made the journey to Jerusalem and to prepare them to worship “I AM” in His temple. Imagining the early believers purposefully traveling together to worship God reminds me that spending time with our Lord is so essential, valuable, and life-giving for me personally and for us as a community of believers. I have been asking myself, in a time of virtual church services, how will I more deliberately prepare myself for worship? During this time of social distancing, how can I move more resolutely toward worship with other believers? What will be the verses of our travel song Covenant community? I pray that those around us will feel encouraged to remain strong and faithful on account of watching us do all of the things that we have been called to do (or not do). Through God’s amazing grace, I hope that as we encourage others to join us on our pilgrimage we would find ourselves becoming more prepared to worship our Keeper.

" F r o m f e a r t o F e a r " | 4 . 0 6 . 2 0

B Y B R A D V O Y L E S , V P F O R S T U D E N T D E V E L O P M E N T A N D D E A N O F S T U D E N T S

2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. Deuteronomy 8:2-8

Years ago I was struck for the first time by the juxtaposition of the words “fear” and “grace” in the second verse of Amazing Grace, “T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” Over 300 times in Scripture we find the word “fear” used regarding fears to which God’s grace enables us to die and a much greater Fear to which the grace of the Lord calls us due to who He is. Ultimately it is the object of our fear that is of utmost importance.

We are daily called to die to our small “f” fears of the world. At the same time, Scripture clearly calls us to a capital “F” Fear of the Lord based upon His mighty power, covenant faithfulness, and eternal, unchanging attributes. In both cases, it is the grace of God which empowers us. As we consider the strange wilderness days in which we find ourselves - and the fears many are feeling today - let’s look at a time of great fear and uncertainty in Israel’s history.

Most commentators agree that the actual trip from Egypt to the Promised Land should have taken two to three weeks tops (even accounting for bathroom breaks and stops at Quail-fil-A). The Lord’s grace in extending that trip to forty years was to move his beloved people from fear to Fear - to understand that it is in walking with Him and feeding on His Word that our small “f” fears are relieved and our hearts are trained to capital “F” Fear Him regardless of the circumstances.

During the Exodus even though the Israelites were physically removed from Egypt and the physical state of slavery, they were still enslaved in their hearts listening to falsehoods and believing untruths. They didn’t really love Egypt and their status as slaves, but being removed they had not yet learned how to live as free men and women. Counselors know you can remove someone physically from a place of abuse, addiction, or slavery by simply moving them to another place, but it is far more involved and takes much longer to remove the addiction, abuse, and slavery from the person.

In addition to allowing for the unbelieving generation to die away, the time of 40 years was not haphazard, nor accidental, nor the sadistic whim of a distant deity. It was discipleship. A Father loving His children from fear to Fear by training them how to live not as slaves, but as sons and daughters.

The significance of the Exodus cannot be underestimated for the instructive role it has to play in our own understanding of our relationship with the Father. We are those who were once slaves and who are now free. However, we still find ourselves even now enslaved to worry and fear, living not as free men and women but as slaves. We need more than ever His grace to retrain our hearts from fear to Fear through walking in His ways and daily feeding on His Word. The story of the manna is about more than just food. The manna came to the Israelites when they were fearful and grumbling. Their story is our story and provides hope in our situation. The provision of the manna on a daily basis points to the pattern of our God’s care for us. To a group of former slaves still learning to be free in their hearts, the provision of that daily bread, each and every day for 40 years, was used by the Lord to train their hearts to learn to trust that He delighted in them and would never fail to keep His promises.

The good news is that when we are fearful we can trust this same God to provide exactly enough manna, enough grace for today. Take confidence that exactly what you need today will be given. We need not fear, because what we truly need is guaranteed through the shed blood of Christ. It is when we truly Fear Him in all His glory and grace, that we will know freedom and rest. I pray this for you even as I practice it in my own life through His amazing grace.

T H E S O N W H O S T A Y E D H O M E | 4 . 7 . 2 0

B Y B R E T T B O R L A N D , F O U N D E R S R E S I D E N T D I R E C T O R

One of Jesus’ teachings I have continually turned to over the last five years is the parable of the prodigal son. It is a story that I cannot seem to shake and one that has been deeply impactful for me. Henri Nouwen’s book: Return of the Prodigal Son has been especially helpful as I have reflected on this passage and how the story of the younger son and the elder son intersect with my own faith journey.In this time of “staying home,” when things have not gone the way many of us have planned or wanted, I cannot help but think of the response of the elder son in Jesus’s parable. After the younger son returns and the Father puts on a lavish celebration we read in Luke 15:

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Like the elder son in the parable, I have felt the temptation to make the current circumstances about myself, my inconveniences, or how I have been wronged...and I have not wanted to engage with those around me who are suffering. At times in my life when I have succumbed to these temptations, I have found myself moving toward isolation from both God and others. I have become bitter when things do not go my way and have become so inward focused that I have neglected the invitation the Father consistently gives. To defend my thoughts and actions I have made excuses to God, lauding my faithfulness and lack of rebellion as a reason I should be able to control my life and circumstances. In doing this I create a distance between myself and God, so while I do not physically run away like the younger son, my heart before God drifts away.

How do we fight this tendency to take on the plight of the elder son? Here are three humble suggestions from my own life which have helped bring me back to the Father:

1. Practice gratitude and seek perspective. In Return of the Prodigal Son, Nouwen writes: “Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint. I can choose to be grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness.” 2. Look outward to others and see where there is both pain and joy. Once there, choose to engage with those people even if it is messy or inconvenient. This might be someone who is in the next room or a friend hundreds of miles away. 3. Be faithful to check your heart before the Lord. Even when we feel alright because we are not actively running away, it is very possible that like the elder son, our hearts are growing cold and distant as we trust in our own merits. A continual reliance and understanding on how the Lord sees us and what he has done for us is crucial to remaining close and connected to Him.

I’m praying that you continue to find the Lord’s faithfulness as the semester continues and that you continually remember the words of the Father: “You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.”

In Him,

Brett Borland

T H E G O D O F P U R P O S E | 4 . 8 . 2 0

BY MARC ERICKSON, VP FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COVENANT FOUNDATON

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalm 57:1-2

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11

“I want to quit. I’m finding it difficult to think and to remember simple things. Days no longer have names as one bleeds into the next. Right now I’m fighting the urge to close this laptop, end this meeting and go somewhere - anywhere. I’m tired of talking into the screen. I’m tired of this virus, the news and all of the loss - of life and resources. I’m tired of the daily - sometimes hourly - reminder that I don’t actually have answers. I’m tired and overwhelmed but feel like I’m supposed to be strong and unaffected.”

That was the answer that I didn’t give to a friend and consultant when he graciously asked me how I was doing last week. Instead, I cobbled together some lame answer that allowed me to check the box, allowed us to move forward with our scheduled meeting, and allowed me to continue speaking into the screen.

The amount of unexpected, unwanted and unwelcome change that has occurred in just the past few weeks has been completely overwhelming in both its speed and amount. We don’t know what’s happening, what to do, or what’s going to happen next. While we are no more vulnerable and dependent than we have always been - we now know it.

I am grateful as always, but especially now, that we can know that our God does not change. He is indeed the same yesterday and today and forever. It is confidence-giving and perspective-setting for me to know that He is the same today as He was before anyone knew anything about Covid-19. He is not shaken, suprised or having to alter His plans based on the unexpected nature of this virus. He is still pursuing His sovereignly ordained purpose for us and for His creation.

I don’t think that I’ve said “I don’t know” as an answer to questions more frequently in my whole life as I have in the last month. We don’t know what is going to happen next or what the full impact of this unique season will be, but God knows and we can know that He will use it to accomplish His purposes. If you have the time today I would encourage you to read through all of Psalm 57 and Isaiah 55. May God give us all the ability to remember and believe these truths now and in the coming days.

A " N E W " C O M M A N D M E N T | 4 . 0 9 . 2 0

BY NESHA EVANS, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF STUDENTS, STUDENT LIFE

These past few weeks have been particularly challenging for me. Working from home is not my cup of tea. I love being on campus and seeing the “life” of the college. I miss stepping out of my office in my bare feet to talk to Emily and Jenny. I miss that long and awkward walk down the hallway in Carter Hall to fill up my water bottle and that equally awkward greeting to students as I see them from a distance and wait to greet said students as we come closer to each other. I love my home and my family that live in it, but I long to be back on campus.

Very quickly I came to realize that working from home is loving my family and community. I would feel absolutely terrible if I unknowingly spread the disease because of wanting to have my own way. This is a sacrifice I must make because I love my family and I care deeply about their health and well-being. Sacrifices are not about my own good, but the good of others. To act this way is to love well, right?

Today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Latin word maundatum, which means commandment. John 13 sets the stage for us. It is the day Jesus washes His disciples feet. The day He passes the bread and cup. The day He tells Judas, ”What you are going to do, do quickly” (v.27). The day He tells His disciples “Where I am going you cannot come” (v.33). The day He gives the “new” commandment.

John 13:34-35 34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” ESV

Like me, perhaps, you've been thinking about Christ’s love lately, especially as we enter Passover. His unconditional, merciful, steadfast, unchanging, and healing love is completely awe-inspiring and can overwhelm us at times. I aspire to love others that way. I yearn for my words and actions to demonstrate that I am a close and intimate follower of Jesus Christ. I know that they don’t always, but I want them to. What a sacrifice of love our Administration, and, for that matter, the whole world, has had to make to ensure the health and safety of the vulnerable around us. Actions that at first sight appeared to be motivated by fear were actually out of deep concern for the well-being of multitudes of brothers and sisters on and off campus. In these new times we should consider that loving someone well includes physically staying away rather than drawing closer. To love becomes far more complex than offering sweet and sentimental platitudes for those we want near us. Love is obedience, too.

Looking back at John 13, how do we love like Jesus? Well, Jesus said He came to serve, not to be served. Jesus said we should care for widows and orphans. He went about healing the sick and raising the dead. He cared about the families who had the least. He sat and dined with those who were rejected by society. These days, we can love like Jesus by providing much needed supplies and food to organizations that are assisting folks financially impacted due to our world-wide pandemic. We can limit our movement to stop the spread of the virus. We can call those we know who are lonely or live alone. We can take time to pray, lifting all of our brothers and sisters up all over the world, for their health, safety and wellbeing. We can pray that people will see our good works and be drawn to Jesus Christ the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

When Jesus says in verse 35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,” I can’t help but think of the song, “They’ll know we are Christians By Our Love.” I hope we develop the practice of loving our families, friends, and neighbors (literal and proverbial) well during this season. When we all get to return to campus (which I hope will be soon) I pray we return with that song in mind. I pray that a sacrificial, kind, and selfless love will pour out onto the entire campus. I envision everyone making a point to greet one another without being tuned into earbuds or looking past each other. I see all of us seeking opportunities to love on all of our brothers and sisters, even those who might be on the margins or out of our comfort zone. I can literally hear the multitude of greetings and see all the smiling faces as we walk the long awkward hallway in Carter Hall. It’s gonna be awesome!

They’ll Know We Are Christian By Our Love By Fr. Peter Scholtes, 1968

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.

Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side;We will work with each other, we will work side by side;And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.

Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

G O O D F R I D A Y | 4 . 1 0 . 2 0

BY CHAPLAIN GRANT LOWE

My first ten years of pastoral ministry were served at a small, community church on Boston’s North Shore. Due to the demographics of our church, in my first few years there I did far more funerals than I did weddings. I also became friends with the local funeral home and was asked to do funerals for community members who were not connected to a local church.

That meant there were more than a few days where I would find myself standing in a cemetery, snow falling, ground ripped open by heavy machinery due to the frozen earth, ministering to a family as a loved one was placed in their grave.

I will never forget those winter funerals. The stark barrenness of a New England winter day, with its steel grey sky, leafless trees, snow falling, nature sleeping, mirrored the descent of those bodies into the earth. To sleep. I prayed, and sometimes wept, and read Scripture, and was honest with the families about the sting of death.

But I knew what those cemeteries were going to look like in a few months. I knew what was going to happen with the trees. I knew what was coming for the flowers that had retreated into the earth. I knew what would happen when the sun banished the cold. I knew the creation, while sleeping, was waiting to explode into new life. It would come as surely as any truth I know.

Today we remember and celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. False accusations, a mockery of a trial, a sentence of death, forty stripes, and the most horrific means of torture and death in the ancient world saw the only innocent man before God, who is God, who became a man, meet death on a tree. The grotesque details summed up with the utmost of restraint by Mark who simply says, “And they crucified him.”

And He chose to do it. He chose that death. And it is my death, because He chose me. “For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2.20). My death became His, because upon the cross He took the punishment for my sin, in my place. What kind of God allows death to take His life, so that He can bring life out of death? The God who invites us as He did with simple fisherpeople and tax collectors and sinners, “Come, follow me.”

After He had breathed His last breath, and the executioners were convinced He was dead, a man named Joseph asked for His body and buried it in a tomb cut out of stone. A rock was rolled over the entrance. A Roman seal was placed on it to ensure no one would tamper with it. That New England steel grey sky, the leafless trees, the snow falling, nature sleeping, would have been a fitting setting to put the Son of God in a cave. But we celebrate today because of what is to come. Two angels. The stone rolled away. The graveclothes laid aside. The explosion of springtime a constant reminder of the life that would burst forth in three days' time. For now, though, we wait.

And waiting is not bad. We’re waiting to see how we are going to emerge from this pandemic. We’re waiting because in times of great uncertainty all we can do is wait. The beauty of waiting is that at some point the wait will be over, and we will be able to look back. The disciples waited and one day looked back at the power and faithfulness of the risen Lord Jesus. We look back at the winter sleep that each year gives way to the life of spring. And we will one day look back at this time and see, in ways both expected and unexpected, the faithful hand of our loving and merciful Father.

Blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter Weekend.

W H E N D I S A P P O I N T M E N T S A B O U N D | 4 . 1 3 . 2 0

BY CHRISTINA FOX, ADVISOR TO THE COVENANT COLLEGE BOARD

“I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him” (Psalm 142:2).

At no time in my life have I experienced disappointment upon disappointment in such rapid-fire succession as I have in recent weeks. Important events I’ve labored and planned for have been cancelled. Special trips and celebrations are cancelled. Opportunities and gatherings and meetings are cancelled. It seems like life itself has been cancelled as the world waits and watches for this pandemic to go away.Yet what do I do with these feelings that wash over me? What do I do with the sadness I feel at the loss of things I anticipated for so long? Or the grief and disappointment I feel when things I worked so hard for are cast aside with the latest news advisory? And what about that growing sense that this will last longer than I once thought—that more disappointment might lie on the other side of tomorrow?

In Psalm 142, the psalmist was hiding in a cave. He was on the run from his enemies and was isolated, far away from those he loved. It seemed like there was no one who could help him. It felt like there was no one who cared. You might say the psalmist was quarantined. As a result, his feelings overwhelmed him. And so, he turned to God.

This psalm is a lament and like other laments in Scripture, it follows a particular structure or pattern. This pattern is one we can model in our own prayers. We can bring all the emotions we are feeling as a result of this pandemic to the throne of grace and find help in our time of need. Indeed, the fact that such psalms are included in Scripture reveal that God not only wants us to do so, but he calls us to do so.

The first common element we find in the laments is that the psalmist pours out his complaint to God; he cries out to him and voices all his troubles (Ps. 142:2). In other laments, the writers often use vivid adjectives and metaphors to describe how they are feeling (Ps 13:2, 69:20, 88:6-7). We too can cry out to the Lord and tell him just how disappointed we are that something we’ve long looked forward to has been cancelled. We can tell him how lonely we feel because we can’t be with our friends and loved ones. We can voice our fears and uncertainties about the future.

Another common characteristic we find in the Psalms of Lament is the psalmist asks God for help. He asks God to intervene in his trouble. In Psalm 142 he asks for mercy and deliverance. In other psalms, the writer asks for rescue (Ps. 6:4), God’s attention (Ps. 54:2), forgiveness (Ps.39:8), and communion with God (Ps.42:2). In our own trials and troubles, we too can cry out to God to help us. We can ask for provision, for safety, for healing, for restoration. As Paul pointed out in Romans 8:32, if God has provided for us deliverance from sin through the blood of his Son, how can we not expect him to meet us in our current need right now?

A third characteristic common to all but two of the laments is how they end. The laments close with a response of praise and trust. In Psalm 142, the psalmist ended with trust that God would indeed deliver him from his enemies. He trusted that God would bring him home again so that he could worship and rejoice together with God’s people. Why? Because as he wrote in verse five: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” The psalmist trusted in who God is and what he has done. He trusted in God’s character and his past faithfulness. He knew God was his only source of hope and salvation. This is true for us as well. Because of who God is and what he has done for us in Christ, we can wait and watch with hope. We can rest in God our refuge. We can trust in God our salvation. And we can respond to him with praise.

Whatever our disappointments during this pandemic, may we all cry out to the God who hears us when we call.

W H A T I S S I N C E R E F A I T H ? | 4 . 1 4 . 2 0

B Y J A M I E G R O S S , C O N T R O L L E R

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” - 2 Timothy 1:5-7

“What is sincere faith?” This is a question that I have wrestled with during different seasons of life for different reasons. There was a time that I asked this question from a place of fear and doubt caused by a long season of unrepentant sin in high school and college where I found myself wondering if I was truly saved. During another season I asked this question when I was wrestling through how to be faithful to God’s call on my life and considering a possible career change to pursue seminary. More recently I have been wrestling through this question in the context of how do I as a Christian respond from a position of sincere faith to ordinary and extraordinary circumstances and events that the Lord sovereignly calls me to walk through?

While there is an obvious connection here to the current coronavirus pandemic and its massive impact in terms of human lives lost, shortages of supplies and certain food items, unemployment, a struggling economy, and a major disruption to life as we knew it before the pandemic, this question was initially brought back to my mind and heart by other events in both my own life and world events over the past year. These situations and events spanned the spectrum of ordinary and extraordinary: frustration in traffic during my daily commute home, buying our first house, the birth of our second son, loss of life within the Covenant College community as well as my own family, struggling to find a balance between work and life, stress related to being a husband and father, depression, changing churches, injuries and illness, Hurricane Dorian and other natural disasters, numerous mass shootings in the U.S., Christian persecution (from the mass bombings at churches/hotels in Sri Lanka during Easter 2019 celebrations to the recent targeted killing of the Nigerian pastor by Boko Haram and numerous other examples), etc.

With all that is going on, it is easy to become anxious, overwhelmed, and fearful or to lash out in frustration and anger. Just like the apostle Peter, who was able to initially walk on water towards Jesus in faith, we are constantly at risk of taking our eyes off of Jesus and sinking at the sight of the wind and waves around us (Matthew 14:22-33). Similarly, like Peter did in the garden during the arrest of Jesus when he struck the high priest’s servant, we also run the risk of responding to situations in accordance with our own will instead of God’s by attempting to take control of the situation without God’s guidance or blessing (John 18:10-11).

So how do we respond in sincere faith to these things? I am totally convinced that it is essential to be in prayer and God’s word daily. While daily prayer and scripture reading does not earn anything with God - this isn’t legalism - they enable us to be guided by God and they equip us as believers to respond rightly to the things that God allows to happen in our lives. Furthermore, only by our hearts and minds overflowing with God’s word and spirit can we hope to respond rightly in the heat of the moment when there is no time to ponder a course of action. When we are filled with His word and spirit, He will enable us to respond rightly from a place of sincere faith.

In closing, would you join me in prayer by repeating the words of the psalmist from Psalm 61:1-4: “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah.” Amen.

S M I L I N G A T T H E F U T U R E | 4 . 1 5 . 2 0

B Y L E D A G O O D M A N , A S S I S T A N T D I R E C T O R F O R T H E C E N T E R F O R C A L L I N G & C A R E E R

If you are like me you are more than a little uncertain about what the future looks like. We all long to return (with a new appreciation) to what we lost. Like you, my expectations have changed and even though I actually enjoy being home, I am concerned for those I cannot be near and am anxious for loved ones and communities, ready to have this whole pandemic in our rear-view mirror. Just last week my husband and I celebrated a milestone, our 25 anniversary, by getting take-out from the new Panda Express in Ft. Oglethorpe. What may have seemed disappointing a month ago, felt strangely indulgent.

The year after we were married, when Ian was still a student at Covenant, we opened a coffee shop in Chattanooga. It quickly grew to become the largest roastery in the southeast and was highly acclaimed nationwide. In our fifth year of business, when everything seemed great, Ian was diagnosed with Crohn’s and aggressively treated. My initial thoughts were, “now that we know what he has, we can solve this and move on with our lives.” Yet, every time we tried another therapy or potential cure, things got worse.

With two small children, I began to lead things for our family and worked to be the energy that enabled my husband to keep fighting for himself. When he reached a point where he was tired of fighting, I left my work and learned how to run his company. In those years I became scared of smiling or dreaming of the future. I dreaded New Year’s because each year just got worse, and I didn’t think I could take much more. Having no idea what lay ahead, I simply wanted my feet to land on solid ground with some predictability.

The comfort I needed, and still need today, is found throughout scripture, but 2 Samuel 22:36-37 really resonated with me. “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip.” (NKJV) This passage is repeated in Psalm 18:36, “You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.” (NIV) I began to understand that my single responsibility is to prepare to hold my foot up, ready to take a step, and God promises to put the ground underneath me. Armed with the knowledge that He can be trusted, God became my sole refuge, as he also allowed me to create a refuge for others.

Things didn’t get better with Ian’s health and it became evident that we needed to sell our business; not what any of us wanted to do, but what needed to be done. In this uncertainty, I leaned endlessly on God, He graciously provided solid ground under our feet in our “new normal.” Even as I grieved what had been lost, I also found a new, unexpected joy. Proverbs 31:25, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” and Psalm 51: 12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

In time Ian’s health was restored. Five years ago, Ian mentioned his desire to start another business, two actually. With an appreciation for all we had lost, it was also easy to be apprehensive. In fact, if you had asked me in the spring of 2015 if Ian would ever return to the coffee industry, I would have laughed at the suggestion. But by the fall of that year, we were again launching a business where Ian can use his gifts fully. Through that, God has shown me that He is the God of Restoration, establishing more than was lost.

When everything began to shut down for this pandemic, three weeks ago, we quickly found ourselves fearful and uncertain. Again, God gently reminded us that it is His shield of salvation and it is His gentleness that sustains us. Even when we cannot see the ground underneath us, or further down the path, He makes our path secure and we can find refuge in Him.

As you face uncertainty about your future, remember that He puts the ground underneath you. Your only job is to trust him and hold your foot out, ready to step. Today, may you find yourself smiling at the future, knowing that our Comforter gives you what you need for each day. Our world is different, we are far away from the ones we love and we are all busy trying to move forward with classes, summer plans, our callings and career pursuits. Remember that our God restores beyond what is lost and broken, never leaving you or forsaking you. You can trust Him with absolutely everything, your fears, joys, anxiety. Everything.

continued on next page..... Psalm 18

30 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; Your help has made me great. 36 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

M I G H T Y T O S A V E | 4 . 1 6 . 2 0

B Y R E V E R E N D R A L P H K E L L E Y , C O V E N A N T C O L L E G E B O A R D M E M B E R

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

As the pandemic continues throughout our country and the world, whatever novelty we once experienced from working from our homes and learning new routines has most certainly worn off. To be honest, I find myself feeling frustrated by this new way of working and living and anxious over the desire to get things going again. I want things to be normal! When I catch myself thinking like this, I realize it is because I am putting myself at the center of the situation. I realize that I am not focusing on the Lord. This verse from Zephaniah is quite helpful to me as it encourages me to put things back in perspective. I think each line teaches us something important during this troubling time. Specifically, each line reminds us of the truth that the Lord is Mighty to Save!

The LORD your God is in your midst. We have new vocabulary these days. We have learned new phrases like “social distancing”, “shelter in place”, and “stay at home orders”. Two months ago, we weren’t using these phrases, yet we now have experiences with each of their meanings deep into our minds. These three phrases all are phrases that isolate us from others. They are designed for separation. And although we are physically separated from each other, we have a great promise from God here. Zephaniah says, “The Lord your God is in your midst.” Although we need to be apart from each other now, the great promise from the Lord that He will never leave us nor forsake us, is still true. The Lord is with you. He is in your midst. You are not alone. Take this time to grow closer to your loving God, for the Lord is Mighty to Save!

a mighty one who will save. The Lord is not just with us but God is powerful and He is able to save. I pray every day the Lord would take away this worldwide virus. It is awful. But the world needs something more than the pandemic to come to an end, the world needs Jesus. You see our biggest problem is not the pandemic, our biggest problem is that we are sinners. If you are a Christian then you can rest in the truth that Jesus has already saved you from your biggest problem. He has made you right before the Father. If you are not a Christian, answer God’s call to you, repent of your sin, and turn to Jesus for forgiveness, for the Lord is Mighty to Save! he will rejoice over you with gladness. It is a wonderful thought during this time to know the Lord rejoices over his people. He is glad you are you, and that you are His. This delight reflects to us the character of God. He rejoices to be in a covenantal relationship with His people. He rejoices over you, for the Lord is Mighty to Save! he will quiet you by his love. It really does seem like the world is upside down these days. There is confusion in health care, politics, and financial markets. Even relationships are in turmoil. This confusion and doubt can bring anxiety and angst. When we find ourselves emotionally distraught and overwhelmed, we need to turn to Jesus and be quieted by His love. Christ told us that we would experience trouble in this world. He is not surprised by any of this that is going on in the world. Jesus desires for you to turn away from your fears and turn to his loving arms where there is great rest to be found, for the Lord is Mighty to Save! he will exult over you in loud singing. This last phrase can be encouraging in a couple of ways. First, the thought of the Lord exulting over us should give us all the encouragement we need to know that the Lord is in control. It is not just a hopeful thought that the Lord is in charge, it is a certainty. God is on His throne and is ruling over every matter. Secondly, our hearts should be filled with gladness to think of the Lord singing over us. Just as a parent may calm a child by singing to them during the storm, we can be calmed during a pandemic with the thought the Lord treasures us so much He is singing over us. The Lord sings over us to assure us He will care for us no matter our circumstances, for the Lord is Mighty to Save!

D E A R C O V E N A N T S T U D E N T N O W L I V I N G A T H O M E | 4 . 1 7 . 2 0

B Y S T E P H A N I E F O R M E N T I , C H A P E L A S S O C I A T E F O R D I S C I P L E S H I P

While COVID-19 has had a significant and unprecedented impact on all levels of society, in some ways you all are some of the hardest hit. You had to pack your dorm rooms, leave our community, quit your athletic seasons, leave your research in the labs and your art in the studios, watch your countless hours of rehearsal for recitals and theater productions go down the drain, and adjust to learning virtually instead of in the classroom. That’s a lot of loss and disappointment and unmet expectations. And then, you had to move back home.

It is natural for you to be moving towards independence and adulthood during this stage of life, so when you suddenly find yourself in your childhood bedroom and back to family dinners, it could leave you feeling lost and frustrated. What started out as an extended spring break now feels more like being grounded. You are not alone in this.

Yet, if you are followers of Jesus, this is an incredible opportunity for you. You have the chance to love sacrificially right now. Your moving home and your staying home is a demonstration of love. And although you are not among the most vulnerable, you are willing to give up your rights and freedoms for the good of the other. You are willing to be constrained not by fear but by love. This is how Jesus loved; he left his rightful home and was constrained by love. Love for us.

So, as you find yourself doing college from your parents’ living room, here are 3 things to consider.

First, love your neighbor. It is good and right to look for ways to serve others around you, but perhaps our love for neighbor needs to start a little closer. Right now, in a very real sense, your family is your neighbor. Your parents and your siblings or those in your household- they are your neighbor and you are called to love them. I know that many of you are in difficult home situations or that tensions can run quite high as you and your family members try to navigate this new reality. It is important to have boundaries and speak truth, but let your truth always be spoken in love. Let love be your theme. “Love is patient and kind...It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful...Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Second, know yourself. Be honest with yourself about how the enemy might get a foothold in your life during this unusual season. Sexual sin and temptation tends to be strongest when we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired (HALT). Being confined to your home away from friends and in a scary historical moment contributes to all of these feelings in acute ways. Be aware of what triggers you and causes you to stumble. Keep watch over your thought life and over what you are watching and listening to. May this season develop in all of us more self-control and dedication to spiritual disciplines so that we can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Third, be faithful. Maybe the hardest part of this whole situation is that no one knows when or how it will end. No one knows what life will look like when it’s over. Perhaps you feel like you don’t know what you’re working towards anymore or if it’s even worth it in a post- pandemic world. I can’t make any guarantees either, but I can tell you that both you and I are called to be faithful. Be faithful with what you have in front of you today. Don’t worry about tomorrow, don’t worry about a month from now. Do you have classes to attend online? Be faithful as you listen and learn. Do you have reading to do? Be faithful and read. Do you have exams? Be faithful and prepare. We are not called to know the future, but we are called to be faithful with today. Let us grow in faithfulness as we wait.

Praying for all of you, Stephanie

R H Y T H M S O F R E M E M B R A N C E | 4 . 2 0 . 2 0

B Y A N D R E A L O P E Z , M A C R E S I D E N T D I R E C T O R

With Easter a couple of days behind us, I’m starting to understand how forgetful I am of the Lord’s deeds. I can too easily shove to the back of my mind that which isn't daily brought to the front, and I’m starting to feel a little like the Israelites. Take a quick glance through the Old Testament and it's striking how many times you read, "They forgot the LORD their God." The Isrealites forgot the God who delivered them from their oppressors. They forgot the God who handed them victory against adversaries far stronger than themselves. They forgot the God who made them, who created the heavens and the earth.

So really it's not that surprising that God directed them to set aside certain days or perform certain activities to commemorate His works and to remind them of His love and mercy - the Passover, the feasts, the traditions. Even our present day communion sacrament comes from Jesus' directive to His followers to "do this in remembrance of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:23- 25). Which is why, as Christians, days like Easter Sunday, where we focus on remembering the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, play such an important part in our growing faith in Christ.

But a mere week after Easter, I have to confess that I’ve barely thought about the death and resurrection of Jesus since then.

I'd love to honestly be able to say that everyday I wake up remembering how deep the Father's love for me is, how precious a sacrifice His son's death on the cross was, and how powerful it is that Jesus has risen. But I don't. And I won’t--not without a rhythm of reminders, without growing in the daily habits that draw me back towards the Lord, and intentionally bringing His works and deeds to the forefront of my mind.

What might it look like to celebrate Easter every day? How can we find the teaching from Good Friday, the heaviness of waiting on Holy Saturday, and the chorus of "He is risen indeed" on Sunday morning throughout the rest of the year? By giving ourselves space and time to remember the Lord. The psalmist illustrates this deep need for remembering well when he sings out:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” Psalm 103:2-5

For me, remembering looks like setting aside time in God's word in the mornings to look for the gospel in each reading. It’s listening to the gospel preached by wise Christians through books and podcasts. It’s picking a verse each week to memorize and tape to my bathroom mirror. It’s reflecting in a prayer journal. And through each of these things, reminding myself of the goodness of the gospel.

For others, falling into rhythms of remembrance might look very different. It might be writing or listening to songs about His goodness, making a list of the Lord’s deeds you’re thankful for at the end of each day, or calling up a friend and asking what God is doing in his or her life before sharing what He's doing in yours - whatever habits bring you back to dwelling on what Jesus has done for you. The thing about rhythms is that they ebb and flow as our lives change. This season might look very different than others; we might be doing quite a bit more remembering in silence and solitude now than we normally would. And rhythms take time to build; habits don’t form overnight, and I know all too well what it feels like to fall out of rhythm. These last few days have been an example of just that, but the Lord is faithful to remind me when I’ve forgotten and to strengthen me to remember to remember.

P A N D E M I C H O P E F O R T H E W A L K I N G D E A D | 4 . 2 1 . 2 0

B Y H O W A R D B R O W N , C O V E N A N T C O L L E G E B O A R D M E M B E R

Over the years, Hollywood has made billions playing on our fear of the universal equalizer where an alien invasion, zombie apocalypse or primate uprising consume the entire planet. Shows like these brilliantly, though not purposely, illustrate a life broken away from the Lord by the pandemic of human sin and its brokenness.

One of my favorite pandemic television series is AMC’s The Walking Dead. While on the surface you assume the title refers to the zombies, over time you begin to realize it is a double entendre. The non-zombie humans also live lives as the walking dead: walking in the death of their normal way of life; walking in the death of their relationships; walking in the death of their hopes of prosperity and security. It is also interesting that the most deadly on the show are the humans who have internally collapsed under the weight of the pandemic into madness and psychopathic behavior. The new normal transforms them into yet another version of the walking dead.

A pandemic is one of our greatest fears because nothing will let us escape it. Not our brilliance, apathy, strength, diligence, morality, politics, ethnicity, privilege or even faith. Yet everyday and against all odds, we try to outdo and overcome our pandemic brokenness before the Lord, in our own power and own righteousness. COVID-19 is the closest any of us born after the World War II era will ever come to feeling oppressed and enslaved to an unseen, impossible adversary. Our reaction to this pandemic is an array of human fragility whether it’s denial, panic, conspiracy theories or despair. I believe God has us right where he would have us - in a place to receive and long more deeply for his grace.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

Regardless of what infects or oppresses us, this passage tells us that the vaccine for the human pandemic of sin is the gift of God through Jesus Christ. Grace works to keep us alive and to keep us human in a world that is walking in death; in a world that subjects us to new normals of suffering; in a world where normal is deadly to our souls.

God’s grace works and flourishes in the admission of our fragility, disappointment, and failed human power. Our needy posture of the heart draws grace into the vacuum of despair so that we will not collapse and fall away from loving God, neighbor and ourselves. During this season of COVID-19, we lament and may actively experience the loss of life, plans and abundance. But it is the grace of God in Jesus Christ alone that is our pandemic hope in this midst of this pandemic.

C O N S I D E R I T P U R E J O Y | 4 . 2 2 . 2 0

B Y S C O T T D I L L O N , C O V E N A N T C O L L E G E B O A R D M E M B E R

If memory serves me correctly, and those who know me know this is suspect, it was the spring of 1987. I was a sophomore Scot living in Carter Hall on Second South. We were in the midst of a hall Bible study discussion when a hallmate quoted a few individual Scripture verses arguing that they were contradictory. In what I believe to be a fairly common practice in the safety of hall brothers (or sisters), this young man was having a crisis of faith. He was wondering. He was doubting. But he wasn't alone. Some in the room were thinking, "hey, me, too." Others further along in their faith story leaned in. They didn't criticize or scold. They did "correct," however.

One spoke up. "The Scriptures are God's Holy Word. They are inspired. Every verse. BUT…" (the "but" was followed by such a long pause that every single guy in the room was leaning in and listening intently.) "But verses are not to be pulled out of context. The chapter and verse numbers of the books of the Bible are only there for us to categorize and follow. You must look at the context. Look at the whole paragraph, the whole chapter, the whole book, the whole of the Scriptures." The next comment impacted my life for decades to come. "As a matter of fact, we too often memorize Scripture in verses when we should be memorizing passages."

Unbeknownst to him, I had just that day memorized James 1:2 (we used the NIV in those days): "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." While this short verse should not take long to memorize, I had it on a notecard in my pocket, pulling it out to read and re-read it often. I wasn't doing so because I was having trouble memorizing. I kept it with me because I was having trouble believing it, applying it.

I would say to myself, "doesn't James (the author, who also happened to be the brother of Jesus) know how difficult trials can be? Doesn't he know how hard it is to be a 19-year-old college student on top of a mountain? Life is hard. People are hurting. I am having trouble with the "joy" part. Wait. James did know. He experienced hurt and hard way more than I could possibly understand. How, then, could he say that we are to consider it joy? What does he see that I don't? What am I missing? After some intellectual gymnastics, I would put the card back in my pocket and presume that I would understand it better next time.

Well, it was that night that I took that notecard and added the rest of the paragraph. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

It makes so much more sense in context. We are to consider it joy when trials come, because God is using them to grow us. When we persevere, in His strength, we will have everything we need (literally lacking nothing). And then there's our need for wisdom, and THE way that wisdom can be found - trusting in, and asking, God alone. He's got us. Our faith is tested to produce perseverance!

This is true for those who proudly call themselves Scots in the spring of 2020. I expect that you miss the camaraderie of your roommates, friends, classmates, professors, coaches, and the list goes on. You look around and can only look so far because you are likely confined to your homes. You feel isolated. You are alone. You can't even worship in person. Trials abound. Dear Scots, my prayer for you is that you consider it pure joy - PURE joy - when you face this trial because God is growing you so that you can point others to Christ. God grew my Bible study leader through trials, difficult ones, and he pointed me to Christ. God continues to grow me through trials, difficult ones, and, by His grace, I can point the next generation to Christ. Now for the kicker. He is growing YOU, so that you can point others, maybe even the next generation, to Christ. Would you do me a personal favor, when you see my grandson around campus the next time you are there, would you please let Jay Dillon see the PURE JOY of your faith and point him to Christ?

M A C H I N E G U N S , F E A R , A N D C O V I D 1 9 | 4 . 2 3 . 2 0

D R . J O H N P L A T I N G , D I R E C T O R O F T H E C E N T E R F O R C A L L I N G A N D C A R E E R

Even if you are not a war movie buff, you've probably seen film scenes where soldiers have to pile out of trenches and cross “no man’s land” to attack the enemy--like in the dramatic ending to this past winter’s blockbuster film, 1917. Or--more specifically--maybe you’ve seen World War II movies, like Saving Private Ryan, with its powerfully dramatic opening scene with soldiers storming Omaha Beach, fighting tooth and nail for every inch along the way, coming under heavy fire from German artillery and machine gun bunkers. And as is common during these attacks, there are soldiers who get pinned down, too frightened to advance and move forward. Then, a grizzled sergeant appears, and shouts in a gruff voice, “Keep moving, press the attack, you need to keep moving or you will not survive!”, and so the assault continues. And this is exactly what has to happen, because as long as that soldier stays pinned down, he is unable to attack the very thing bent on destroying him. In short, the only way for him to overcome in this small scene is to do the very thing he is frightened of--to lean in, press forward, square his shoulders, and do the very thing he is terrified of doing.

I share this with you because this is often what it is like to be a Jesus-follower. We have to move towards those things that make us feel most uncomfortable, doing the very thing that is contrary to our natural impulse. Frozen by fear, the soldier's natural impulse is to cover his head and not budge an inch. But the only way he can overcome deadly obstacles is by doing the exact opposite thing he wants to do. That’s why he needs encouragement along the way; that’s why he needs the grizzled sergeant to spur him on, calling him to lean in and press the attack.

Right now there is much talk of “these uncertain times” or “these difficult times,” so much so that it has become almost cliché. But is this a bad thing? I’m not trying to make light of the awful hardship brought on by disease, or minimize the terrifying reality brought on by a pandemic. But we should keep in the forefront of our minds what James tells us in the first chapter of his letter when he says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Let that sink in for a moment.

The Lord is reminding us in this that--rather than being ruled by fear and hunkered down by terror--we are to instead see the Omaha-Beach-landings of our souls as opportunities to be tested, opportunities to grow in perseverance, opportunities to be made mature and complete, lacking in nothing. To be fair to James’s specific context, the trials he is likely alluding to are coming in the form of direct persecution against the scattered first-century church. But the point still holds true: James is saying that trials and hardship are not meaningless, but rather are the means by which the Lord tests faith, builds perseverance, and cultivates maturity.

Each of you is experiencing trials right now, trials shaped by your particular situation. And as the college’s career center director, the first people I think of when thinking about trials are our senior students who are stepping into the workplace at a time when unemployment is stunningly high. Nevertheless, if we take James’ words at face value, then we can say with confidence that those students who will graduate this summer will actually be better off for this in the end… so long as those students daily put aside their fears, lean into this trial, square their shoulders, and ask our risen King for strength and wisdom along the way. Will this be easy? No. Will there be sleepless nights of fear and dread? Perhaps. Is there a temptation to feel stymied by thoughts of how this particular pandemic is going to bring ruin on the rest of one’s life? Maybe. But know this: a character of perseverance is cultivated during times like these, when one leans into the challenges wrought by COVID19 and (metaphorically) presses the attack. Remember that, and rejoice in how our Lord will use the trial of this moment to make you more mature, more complete, lacking in nothing.

C O M E . . . | 4 . 2 4 . 2 0 C H A P L A I N G R A N T L O W E

I have begun this devotional no less than six times. In the first one, I began talking about slowing down not by choice, but by necessity. I moved on to my new structure being dictated by sunrises and sunsets and meals. I wrote about Hound, our fluffiest family member, and I mused on the new turtle doves that have taken up residence in our yard . Each time I was met by the same inability to think cogently enough to communicate something I believed would be edifying for our community. So I decided to read instead of write, and came upon this prayer by Flannery O’Connor in her published prayer journal:

My dear God, how stupid we people are until You give us something. Even in praying it is You who have to pray in us. I would like to write a beautiful prayer but I have nothing to do it from. There is a whole sensible world around me that I should be able to turn to Your praise; but I cannot do it. Yet at some insipid moment when I may possibly be thinking of floor wax or pigeon eggs, the opening of a beautiful prayer may come up from my subconscious and lead me to write something exalted. I am not a philosopher or I could understand these things.

Yes. I want to write a beautiful devotional but I have nothing to do it from. I won’t overstate it and say I’m empty. I’m not unmotivated. I simply feel like I have nothing to write from right now. And in that I still hear the Lord bidding me to “Come!”: “Come, follow me...Come all you who thirst…Come, all you who are weary and heavy ladened….” Inherent in His call to come is the gentleness of a Father who knows that I am at my end more often than I can see. And when He opens my eyes to it, He lovingly reminds me that His strength is made perfect in weakness, and that His grace is sufficient for me.

My dear God, how stupid I am when I cannot see my frailty.Please never stop bidding my come by your Holy Spirit. Amen

P S A L M 1 6 - T H E S H E L T E R T H A T N E V E R F A I L S | 4 . 2 7 . 2 0

B Y B R A D V O Y L E S , V P F O R S T U D E N T D E V E L O P M E N T A N D D E A N O F S T U D E N T S

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. 8 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

Whether it be due to COVID-19 or the recent tornadic activity in the greater Chattanooga area, a phrase that has become all too common is “shelter in place.” In reading Psalm 16 we get a glimpse into a time in David’s life when he was seeking shelter from trouble. In looking at these verses we can find promises and practices for our own life in seeking shelter that lasts.

When we try to take our shelter into our own hands, it dissolves - and this has been true since the Garden of Eden. David fights this tendency here in Psalm 16 by dying to himself as lord of his life, by forgetting himself in his love for his fellow saints, and in rightly worshiping God and God alone as he repents of his other gods and goods.

It’s been said that joy must be devotional before it can be emotional. I believe that is true here in thinking of shelter. Before we can experience and trust true shelter and joy, we must devote ourselves to it. David provides a template for how to fight for joy and shelter in v. 5-7. We see him push back against the hopelessness and darkness that fights for his heart by rehearsing and remembering that: The Lord is his chosen portion and has blessed him with a beautiful, eternal inheritance - there is nothing else he needs The Lord holds his lot - peace comes when David loosens his grip on his circumstances and acknowledges the Lord’s control And David can bless the Lord for His wise counsel that instructs his heart knowing that what fills his heart in the day will continue to instruct him at night

Liturgy should never be a monologue. David’s continuing dialogue with God culminates with the proclamation in v. 8-9 that as he continually sets the Lord before him, he recognizes the sure footing and solid foundation of the Lord as his shelter and joy. What was first devotional, becomes emotional - and his heart rejoices.

Some may feel exhausted at this list feeling like you don’t want to have to do, do, do. It is hard to train our hearts to rest and trust in our true shelter. Perhaps it is helpful to distinguish between earning and effort. There is a striving we are called to that takes effort (Heb 4:11) to enjoy God, to work out our salvation, to enter our rest - but it is not about earning. In his book, Union with Christ, Rankin Wilbourne makes a helpful distinction between Union and Communion which is helpful for understanding.

Our Union with Christ is fixed and unalterable. It is absolutely certain and unchanging and does not rise and fall with our faith or what we have done or failed to do. It is the root of our relationship, and it is forever. Our Communion with God does change and vary. It is impacted by our faith and our devotion and by what we choose to do or not do. It is the fruit of our relationship with God and can come and go, in and out of season.

Put another way - God’s love for us in Jesus Christ does not change, but our experience of that love can vary. The strength and constancy of our shelter never changes, but our certainty of our shelter and our experience of joy can change from day to day. Why is this distinction important? Because we easily fall into the trap of assessing the security of our Union (does God really love me?) on the strength of our communion (How am I doing today? How am I feeling?).

The good news is that the basis of our acceptance is found outside of us in our Union with Christ - that is unchanging. Our shelter is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And our union is the secret to our communion. It is in the practice of remembering the certainty of our shelter in Christ that we trust more and more in God’s unchanging, unyielding commitment to love us all the way home.

G O D I S O U R R E F U G E A N D S T R E N G T H . A V E R Y P R E S E N T H E L P I N T R O U B L E . T H E G O D O F J A C O B I S O U R F O R T R E S S . . . B E S T I L L , A N D K N O W T H A T I A M G O D