Courage Through the Covid-19 Storm: Dealing with Tension

Tips for THRIVING

Tip #12 Manage emotions in a healthy way.

Listen to this blogpost on Anchor
https://anchor.fm/karen-sue-murdy/episodes/Courage-Through-the-Covid-19-Storm-Dealing-with-Tension-eeu7vi

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Do you feel the tension in the air?

Did you feel it in March as everybody wondered if Covid-19 was going to descend upon their
home and kill their family members?

Did you feel it in April as weariness of the stay at home orders felt exhausting,
as the weariness of finding toilet paper and hand sanitizer challenged even the most determined,
and as the weariness of the unknown wore on and on?

Did you feel it in May as people mingled words of fear, freedom, masks,
safe social distancing, vulnerable, open economy, unemployment, "subject to change"?
What's safe? What's not? What's the future hold?

It is as if everyone has the tension of a stretched rubber band.

And then the tragedy of George Floyd. The policeman who killed him, along with the other
policemen at the scene acted, horribly horrifyingly. I don't know of anyone thinks what they did
was right. What they did was clearly wrong. (My sympathies to the loved ones of Mr. Floyd.)

People exploded.  Peaceful protests I understand, but I struggle to comprehend how
burning buildings and harming more people solves anything in this complex issue.

Who is the enemy? Other people are not the enemy.
The enemy is Satan. Thankfully, Jesus conquered Satan for us.
We are citizens of Heaven, but reside only temporarily on this earth.
Because of Jesus death on the cross and His resurrection on Easter, we live with the
hope of Heaven, where death shall be no more.

In my extended Hinz Family, each week someone picks out the "Hinz Family Bible verses" for all
of us to read each day. Here are the verses my sister picked out three weeks ago for all of us to read
on these dates. It gives me goose bumps to think of how God was speaking so directly to me through His Word.

Tuesday May 26

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there
be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:4)‬ ‭

Thursday May 28

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:9-12)

Friday May 29

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight. (Romans 12:14-16)

Saturday May 30

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God,
for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  (Romans 12:17-19)

In these days of tension, how can you manage your emotions in a healthy way?
What are ways you deal with emotions?
Here are a few good choices to think about: exercising, journaling, laughing, crying, deep breathing, being still. 

I challenge you to...Hold fast to what is good.
Live in harmony with one another. So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

Covid-19 Challenge. 

Exercise often. 

Experience nature every day. 

Interact with others in outside settings whenever possible. 

Wear masks inside in public places. 

Wash your hands. 

Be thankful.  

Spread kindness and laughter.

Keep your eyes on God.  

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December Mourning...D.O.T.S.
December 2015: Dark. Dreary. Dismal. Although festive Christmas lights brightened the evenings, day after day cloudy skies reigned. No white sparkling snow. No blue skies. No sunshine.  Tragically on December 14, our son’s friend’s father committed suicide.  And a few days later, one of our friends, who had 2 young children, after only a 2 month diagnosis, lost her battle with cancer.  Now the darkness and drear penetrated not only the skies, but also our hearts! “Not now. This is the worst time of year for this, “ we cried.  But as I read this comforting verse, “He  (God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4, I realized,  especially now, with the Savior’s birth, we are comforted with God’s peace and hope, even in the face of death.  As I read with my son, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson, I was reminded again of how Jesus comes to earth, not in the perfection of flawless hair and clothes or shiny clean faces, but in the muck and mire of the stable. In the same way, Christ comes into the muck and mire of grief at Christmas time. And on Christmas Day, Pastor Paul Garchow declared, “Just as surely as there is an expiration date on the mayonnaise jar in your refrigerator, there is an expiration date on suffering! Christ’s coming to this earth as our Savior guarantees that when Christ comes again there will be no more suffering!”  So even as we grieve losses in December, we are reminded that suffering will not last forever. No matter how dark or dreary some days may seem, the Christmas reality truly brings hope and light for those depending on the Savior.

You are invited to

“D.O.T.S.” Depending on the Savior,

Women’s Event,

Saturday, April 23, 2016, 8 am-12pm

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 210 S. Ringold St. Janesville, WI

Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”