Ahhh, the Flu!

This one, it seems, is rather nasty.  I can attest to that fact on a personal level, while at the same time being aware that many others have had it much worse than I.    The questions of sickness are always difficult to deal with.   The far reaching cause of sickness, disease, and even death is the fall of man (man’s fall from God’s grace through sin) in the Garden of Eden.   However, complete understanding of the suffering moment will likely elude us.   It is good and helpful to remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).   When we are in the midst of our suffering, we tend to focus only on our own suffering, and it is very difficult to focus on any good God might bring about as a result.   Romans 8:28 reminds us that God can bring about good from any situation.

No, sickness and suffering is not an easy or pleasant thing to endure.   However, we must never allow sickness to cause us to lose faith in God.   God is always good, even as we suffer.

With my flu, I purposely stayed in touch with people I care about through media sources such as Face Book.   It helped me to see and realize that I am not the only one who suffers this annual epidemic.   It helped me to take some focus from myself to be able to pray for and encourage others.

To those who are not sick at the moment, when others are hurting, please take the responsibility to minister to them, care for them, pray for them, and comfort them as much as you are able.   Suffering people need your love and encouragement, not necessarily a lesson on sound biblical theology.   People having this flu need others to remind them and help them to remain hydrated at all times.   One must, if it is possible, feed the body in small amounts to attempt to stay even with strengthening the body.   Weakness has been one thing I have felt for many days, in spite of taking in more chicken soup than even this country boy would desire.   We need your prayers in the time of sickness, but even more after prayer, we need your touch and care.

Father of mercies and God our Comforter, our only Help in this time of need; I humbly request You to take special notice, visit, and relieve the many for whom my prayers are desired to touch; those enduring this season of dreaded Flu.   Look upon them with the eyes of Your mercy; comfort them with a sense of Your goodness; preserve them from the temptations of the enemy; and give to them patience under this affliction.   In Your perfect time, restore health, enabling to lead the remainder of life walking in Your fear, and presence, and to Your glory, granting that they eventually and finally may dwell with You in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Thank you Pastor Jerry! We are praying for you!

Here is a message from Dr. Michelle Bengtson……….

PSA: The flu is worse this season than ever before. Even those who got the flu shot are not being protected from this strain.

We had a patient come into our office with a runny noise, cough, body aches, and fever rather than rescheduling his appointment until he felt better. AFTER he saw us and exposed our entire office, he went to his primary care physician to get tested for the flu.

Parents, keep your kiddos home when they have the flu. It is an excused absence until they are no longer symptomatic.