Tag: covid 19

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What does it mean by going the extra mile?

It has been 6 months since I went into a self-isolating protocol due to my compromised immune system that caused Guillain Barre Syndrome. Little did I know on March 12th that the lessons learned during my GBS battle would serve me so well in dealing with the Covid19 Pandemic six months later.

Are we having fun yet? Will the effects of Covid19 ever stop being our daily focus? When will we all feel safe to gather together in larger groups? When will we not feel concerned about taking any type of public transportation or eating inside at a restaurant? These questions continue to be asked with no end in sight. As I wrestle with these, one other question came to mind that got me through my GBS ordeal.. What’s next?

I wrote about this question in one of my early blog posts https://thankfulinallthings.com/plateaus-then-and-now/ When my body started to respond to the plasmapheresis, the temptation was to start thinking about being fully recovered vs what can I do right now to be a little better tomorrow? It kept me from getting frustrated in what turned out to be a very long and slow recovery process. Can I get an Amen that Covid19 has been very long and slow in its recovery? Staying focused on the “What’s next” kept and now is keeping me in the moment which is all I can control. I have recently been reading a book called Present Perfect that echoes this mindset. It is teaching me that God is in the Now not the the past or what the future holds. The Now is all I control. Scripture teaches this with verses like “pray without ceasing” and in 1st Thessalonians, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Going the extra mile is another way of looking at focusing on what’s next. Matthew 5:41 says, “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” For me, this was so true as the PT’s forced me to push forward so my body could regain its full strength. It was literally just one step and then one more. Thankfully, the extra steps turned into miles culminating in running the community Bridges 5K last October with my dear friend Kaitlyn and other friends and family.

The anyone in Matthew 5 right now is Covid19 and the restrictions it has placed on us. Day after day and now month after month we are being asked to refrain from so much that bring us joy. It is also the racial tension that has gripped our country. Wrong is being done and people are finding it hard to “go the extra mile” in seeking to understand and look for good in their neighbor. Miles McPherson in The Third Option says, ” It is about self-sacrifice. To love and go the extra mile for someone is to want what God wants for them and be willing to be a conduit for them to receive it even if it costs us dearly” James in his letter exhorts us to “quickly listen, be slow to speak, and be slow to anger” Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 says we love others by not “insisting on our own way”.

So how do we keep striving on what’s next? Rodney Rock Hatfield, stays in the Now by using the word Focused this way. ” Faithfully Obeying Christ Using Scripture Every Day”.

Like on any journey, We just need to look back to where we started to to be reminded that we have progressed in our staying focused on what’s next. From my own experience, I can tell you it helped me not quit as I Failed forward toward the next plateau. May we all stay in the Now and may our mindset be honoring God is all that we do and/or say.

If you are new here, learn more about my dealing with GBS at www.caringbridge.org/visit/michaelguthrie You can email me at [email protected]

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We are no doubt in a crisis, how are you responding

Thanks to my son, I heard a great sermon by Carl Lentz-https://youtu.be/cx9bT9LGwZA He shared about three friends who were held up at gun point. He used what happened to share this Palm Sunday pressure message. “When faced w a crisis one can do 4 things. 1) Freak out, 2) Freeze up, 3)Flee…or 4) Face it head on with the faith God has given us to trust Him with the outcome.”  My question today is “How are you dealing with the challenges of Covid-19?”

As you know, I have written about choices in other entries here and that we all need to take our own responsibility for what our attitude looks like. Each of us has the opportunity to be a true champion. Doing what it takes to be one, no matter whether it is home, at work, or striving to make a difference in our every day world. It takes us having a PRIDE in how we live our lives no matter what obstacles we face. I think of pride as being Personally Responsible for our Individual Daily Effort. It is a matter of chose. It is always a matter of chose. ThankS to many of you for being real life examples of choosing hope vs despair, trust vs fear, gratitude vs wantedness. You are figuring out the How because you know Who provides the strength to see the  Joy through the sorrow As Psalm 30:5 says,”Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.“

Our identity has been shaken because of Covid-19. We are asking, “do I really trust God with the outcome? Will me and my family get through this OK? Why am I feeling anxiety? We need to look back to look forward. The Bible uses the word remember 130 times in the Old Testament and more than 30 times in the New. So, remind yourself from where does help come. Psalm 121:1 “ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth..” Be encouraged that He wants to clothe us with a new identity. One that restores to us the abundant life he has always wanted for us. As we face whatever crisis you face due to COVID-19, may we look for a fresh revelation of his love for us. Allow it to guide you into greater depths of faith. Remembering out of adversity comes strength and that what you once thought was weakness God will use for good.

I read a devotional Randy Wolfe wrote where he shares this story. “An old Indian chief told his son that there are two wolves that live within us. One is full of fear and doubt that wants to destroy and kill. The other is filled with confidence, faith, and assurance. “Which wolf wins?” asked the young son. His dad said, “The one you feed the most.” Carl Lentz says we have a choice when faced with a crisis. The Indian chief is making the same point to his son. “No matter what our tough times look like from one year to the next, we have a decision to make. Interesting that the only exhortation the bible uses more than remember is “Do not Fear.” So today, remember, feed your faith not your fear“


To learn more about the Guillain Barre journey, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/MichaelGuthrie [email protected]

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How can we not fear?

As I thought about what I would write this week, I received this CaringBridge post from a good friend whose wife is in the same rehab facility while recovering from Guillain Barre at this time last year. His perspective is right on and reminded me of an earlier post where I wrote about how close I felt to God when things were the darkest. People would ask me, “are you not afraid”? My answer, honestly and I don’t know why, was no because God is with me and He promises to be with me not matter what.” Fast forward a year and we are all facing the fear of coronavirus together. Here is what my friend wrote about it.

“I don’t know about you but these virus precautions are getting to me. Our lives have been turned upside down.No dinning out. No church. No school. No NCAA basketball. No Masters! No easter services. Is this surreal or what? The final epitaph for COVID-19 has not been written yet but somewhere in there will be the damage from fear.

This is a good time to test your personal fear barometer. Do you let events unsettle you? Fear overwhelm you? To a degree, most of us probably do. For me, during the COVID-19 crisis I have tried to gauge my trust in God. Is it enough? If not, why not? My fear of losing my wife has made me face these questions. 

God shouts to us in our pain and suffering. Are we listening? I don’t want to miss anything when He has something to say to me. I am listening closely these past few months.

We have told you about how she on occasions can’t see or hear well, so she mistakes us for someone else. She sees things that aren’t there which confuses her and those talking to her. These are normal results from brain trauma but no one prepared us for how this manifests itself. My fear of the unknown strikes at me as I struggle to deal with my response to her.

So, as we live through COVID-19 and her recovery let’s face our fears with Him. Let’s give them to God. He is our great healer. He cares for us. We can rest in Him. He is our rock. He does not change. He is our refuge and strength. He is always near. As I tell my sweet bride, there is power in the name of Jesus. If you need help, call out his name. He is mighty to save!

Thank you for your persistent prayers and support. We are encouraged by each one of you. We will pray for your courage as you face COVID-19 and life.

Yes. It does take courage to face your fear but I can tell you from 1st hand experience, that is much easier to face them when you look back on adversity and remember that God was there and got you through it just like the psalmist promises in Psalm 23. I posted this the other day on my Facebook page. It came from me thinking about what I wanted to share with those who follow this blog.

Where is God wanting to take us? What does He want to teach us?
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4
Greg Laurie-“Yet the Lord is saying, “You see that mountaintop in the distance? The way to that mountaintop is through this valley. You come with Me now through the valley.”
We all go through those valleys in life, those hard times. Whatever valley it is, remember this: You are not alone. That is God’s great promise to those who believe.”

In closing, I want to repeat something my friend wrote above with the hope that you will try and apply it to your life these days. ” God shouts to us in our pain and suffering. Are we listening? I don’t want to miss anything when He has something to say to me. I am listening closely these past few months. ” Many distractions have been removed from our lives. Sports, concerts, movie theaters, and restaurants to name a few. Why don’t we take this time of isolation from the distractions of the world and have a personal revival where we focus on what should have been our 1st priority all along. God. Psalm 22 shows God knew that His Son would be crucified. We can count on the fact He knows what we are going through now. You can call out to Him trusting He hears your voice. Move toward Him to hear His. Fear not and Trust in Him for all things.