Genesis 3:8 - They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. NASU 
​

• Coronavirus 

No, the last thing you want to do on planet earth doesn't have anything to do with the Coronavirus. The virus can only do a few things to us. It will make some people nervous or fearful and some will go on about their life like it doesn't exist. It can make some sick and they will recover or it can kill them.
 
What else can it do? 

• The Last Thing 

Seriously, the last thing we want to do on planet earth is to hide from God as Adam and Eve did while they were living in the Garden of Eden.
 
Now is not the time to hide from God. In fact, there is never a good time to hide from God. The best thing we can do is to find God.
 
Psalm 32:5-6
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;…
 
As you read verse six there is an indication of there being a time when God may be found which also means there would be a time when He may not be found.
 
Proverbs 1:28-29
"Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
 
Now some may say, "Serago, this Proverb is speaking about Wisdom."  My question would be to the one who makes that comment, "And who is the embodiment of Wisdom?" You are correct and that would be God. 

• How To Find God 

If you are going to find God then your heart must be right. You must honestly be seeking Him with a repentant heart.
 
On the day of Pentecost you can read in Acts 2 "they were pierced to the heart…" The Gospel message preached by Peter had an effect on them and they wanted to change.
 
They were not trying to hide from God on the day of Pentecost. They were trying to get right with God. They wanted to know what God's terms were for this to take place.
 
Here is a part of their conversation and Peter's reply: Acts 2:37-38 - Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
In case you don't know what repentance is let me share this with you. Repentance is a changing of one's HEART which will bring about a change in one's BEHAVIOR. 

• What Better Time 

There are a lot of crazy things happening on good ole planet earth today. What better time is there than today to call out to God. Don't be like Adam and Eve and hide from God. Be like the people on the day of Pentecost and ask what it is you can do to get right with God.
 
Think About This:
 
Always remember that a man is not rewarded for having brains, but for using them.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

​ 
Psalm 34:1-7
 
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
3 O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
 
4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.   NASU
 

• Coronavirus Scare 

The coronavirus has certainly done what it could to strike fear in the hearts of all the people in the world. It doesn't matter what country you live in hearing the other "c" word is striking fear in people's lives.
 
I am not sure the best use of one's time is reading about it or watching TV news. I know it is out there and it has put a lot of fear in people's hearts and lives. What good is going to come from this type of fear?
 

• The Antibiotic For Any Fear 

The best way to overcome any fear is believe in and trust the Word of God. For those who trust God and seek Him through prayer have a promise of an angel encamping (lit. "pitching a tent") around us.
 
Now I am not sure how knowledgeable you are about God's angels but believe me when I say, "They can handle any problem coming after God's children".
 
You don't have to fear any virus if you are a Christian. What is it going to do to you? Kill you? What happens to a Christian who dies? His or her spirit is set free to go and spend eternity with God.
 
How is that a bad thing or something we are to be afraid of?
 

• The Best Solution 

I would look up as many scriptures as you need to build up your faith in God's promises. Trust God's Holy Word and fear will not be causing you any discomfort. Read Psalm 34 that I opened this Pump Up with and allow it to give you comfort.
 
Here are some words from Jesus:
 
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
 
Here are some words from John:
 
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
 
When you love the Lord God Almighty you have nothing to fear. He takes care of His children.
 
Think About This:
 
"When you fear God, you fear nothing else. If you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” – Oswald Chambers

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

2 Kings 6:5 - "As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
 
·         The Borrowed Crisis
 
I am sure many of us can relate to this crisis. You borrow something from someone and you break or lose it.
 
Can we live in such a way as to prevent a crisis from barging into our lives?
 
I believe the answer is "yes". We can avoid some but not all crises. If you are like me you can think back on some of your past crises and had you listened to the advice you were given from parents, friends or spouse you could have avoided some of them.
 
There is no way we will avoid all crises.
 

• Crisis Meaning

 
A crisis is when you are not able to cope with personal life situations. Some crises are very hard to endure. They last a long time. You may have had to watch a loved one suffer many years with cancer.
 
Then others are over almost as fast as they started: such as you lost your wedding ring, keys or wallet only to find them minutes or hours later.
 
If you are in a crisis right now maybe this Pump Up will help get you through it. If you are not in a crisis odds are pretty good you will encounter one within the next few months.
 

• Facts About A Crisis

 
First, there are no insignificant ones. Our lives rest figuratively speaking on a set of balance scales. When one side gets too far out of balance a crisis is near.
 
As parents, we might say to our children, "Be patient, everything is going to be okay." What we are saying is "Learn to cope with this crisis."
 
The next time you find yourself in a crisis remember this - there are no insignificant ones. Then ask yourself, "How might I cope with this crisis?" Can I figure this out on my own, should I confide in a friend or seek professional help?
 
Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success." NLT
 
Second, they can illuminate us. The crisis we find ourselves in can open our eyes to see things as we've never seen them before. What crisis can you look back on and say honestly, "I am glad I went through it. It has made me a better stronger person."
 
Now not all crises will have this effect but I would say more will than won't. I remember a man telling me one time, "Gary, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger."
 
I didn't want to hear those words at that time, but he was correct.
 
Think About This:
 
See your crisis as liberation, not incarceration.

​Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
 

Revelation 22:21 - The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. NASU 
​

• Many Know How The Bible Begins 

Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  We probably have all heard, read or quoted that verse at some time in our life.
 
How many of us could have quoted the last verse of the Bible? I know I couldn't have if I were asked before I started to work on this Pump Up.
 
As I was reading this last verse a thought came to me to slow down and reread this passage of scripture and so I did. 
 
Let's reread it slowly and dissect this verse:
 
"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen"
 
What is GRACE? 
   
Here is a definition from (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) -
 
Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and despite what that same person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God.

The Lord God is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth" (Ex 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience as the source of help and with deliverance from distress.
 
The Christian were being persecuted during the writing of the book of Revelation. The last verse of the Bible talks about the Grace of the Lord Jesus and John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is pronouncing a blessing upon all Christians.

The blessing is he wants the Lord Jesus' Grace to be with all Christians. 

• This Gift Is For Us Also 

You might want to read this definition over and over from time to time and allow the promise that is given to us to comfort us especially in times of distress.
 
The "Favor and Kindness" or "Grace" of Jesus our Lord is with us.
 
I am not sure what you might be going through today, tomorrow, next week or next month but I can tell you this much if you are a Christian the "Grace" that comes from our Lord, Jesus Christ, is sufficient to get us through any trial.
 
Here is what He told the apostle Paul: And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." (2 Corin. 12:9)
 
This you can take to the bank. Jesus' grace is sufficient for us. 

• Conclusion

Genesis starts by informing us God created the heavens and the earth.
 
Revelation concludes by John giving us a blessing and the blessing is the "Grace of Jesus" is with all believers.
 
Think About These:
 
Anyone in the world can give up; it is the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else in the world would understand if you quit, that is true courage.
 
Knowledge knows a fact. Wisdom knows what to do with that fact.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

John 8:3-5, 7, 10-11 - The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.  "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" …He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." …Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."  NASU
 

• You Receive What You Don't Deserve 

This woman had broken the Law of Moses (Deut. 22:22). According to the law, she and the man were to die. They were guilty of breaking the law. The scribes and Pharisees want to know how Jesus is going to handle this situation.
 
Jesus shows the woman MERCY.
 
Let me ask you a question, "If you find yourself in a position where you can demand justice or give mercy what will you do?"
 
I have observed this in my life. People want mercy when they are the lawbreakers and they want justice to be handed down on the lawbreakers when they are not the lawbreakers. 
​

• You Receive What You Give 

In Matt 5:7 Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
 
You may have heard this referred to as "reaping what you have sown" or some say it this way, "what goes around comes around."  If you would someday like to be the recipient of mercy then my advice would be to be a "giver of mercy." Jesus says, "You're blessed when you are merciful."
 
Mercy is an attribute of God and therefore it would be wise for us to make it an attribute of our life.
 
James 2:13 gives us something to think about when he wrote these words for us, "For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."
 
In other words, there is a day coming when we will probably wish we had been less judgmental and displayed more mercy. 

• You Receive What You Ask For 

Two men were blind and wanted to receive their sight. They heard Jesus was passing by and so they decided to ask for mercy. This is a good lesson for all of us.
 
Some times in order to receive mercy you have to ask for it.
 
Matt 20:30-34 - And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened."  Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.   NASU
 
These two men humbled themselves and asked for mercy.
 
Are you in need of mercy? Then you might need to ask for it to receive it.
 
Do you know someone who is in need of mercy? Then you might have to be the giver of mercy to bless someone else's life.
 
Think On These:
 
God still speaks to those who take time to listen.
 
The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word