Be Not Afraid

Be Not Afraid:

The bible tells us, "Have I not commanded thee?  Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9.  In another place it says, "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  Deuteronomy 31:6.    So, why do we have fear?

Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived threat, which causes a change in brain and organ function and ultimately a change in behavior; such as running away, hiding or freezing.  Fear may occur in response to a specific stimulus happening in the present or to a future situation which is perceived as a risk to health or life, status, power, security, wealth or anything held valuable.  Fear is modulated by the process of cognition and learning.   Motivational speaker and writer Earl Nightengale calls fear:  False Education Appearing Real.  People develop specific fears as a result of learning. 

Fear is judged as rational or appropriate or irrational or inappropriate also called a phobia.  Anxiety is slightly different from fear  and results from threats which are perceived as uncontrollable or unavoidable.  Book author Bill Trancer by analysing the most frequent queries online containing the phrase "fear of......" published a list of the top ten fears in 2008:

• Flying
• Heights
• Clowns
• Intimacy
• Death
• Rejection
• People 
• Snakes
• Failure
• Driving  

After a situation inciting fear occurs the amygdala and hippocampus, two parts of the brain,  record the event and initiate the fear reaction.   A drug treatment for fear conditioning and phobias via the amygdala is the use of glucocorticoids  which disrupt the amygdala response.  This is a drug treatment.  Then there is cognitive behavior therapy which can help people overcome fear.  An active and successful approach involves people repeatedly confronting their fears in a safe manner.  By doing this a person is able to suppress the fear triggering memory or stimulus.  Known as "exposure therapy", it is claimed this practice can help cure up to 90% of people with specific phobias.  

As people of faith we have a most powerful resource to help face and overcome our fears and anxieties.  It is our belief in God's loving care for us, and His word revealed in the bible.   Here are a few verses to keep in your heart:

• The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom, shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of  my life; Of who shall I be afraid?   Psalm 27: 1
• Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.   Proverbs 3: 5-7
• For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.  2Timothy 1:7
• Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God.   Philippians 4: 6
• I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.   Philippians 4: 13

Pray to God for stronger faith that you might draw strength from his Word and be able to face and overcome your fears.

God love you!

The World's Light

The World's Light:

I love lighthouses.  They are beautiful and serve an important purpose.  More importantly they remind me of what Jesus says in Matthew 5: 14 - 16,  "  You are the world's light - a city on  hill glowing for all to see.  Don't hide your light !  Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father."

I believe God calls us to be his representatives on earth.  He wants us to reflect his grace and mercy.   He wants us to be kind and courteous to everyone we meet.  Aim to give a word of encouragement to the people you meet.  We do not know what they are going through in their lives.  They may be having one of the worst days of their life.   We can be a blessing to them by reflecting the loving kindness of our Father in heaven.   I believe God wants us to be a blessing to other people.  By our words and actions we can help them to achieve their salvation. 

In Philippeans 4: 4 - 6 St. Paul advises us, "Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything.  Tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for his answers.   If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."   This is what we want to pass on to others.  So, turn on your light and show the world what the Lord can do!

God love you !

The Presence of God

The Presence of God:

Over three centuries ago there was a lay brother who was a cook at the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris.  He was given the name Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection.   Brother Lawrence wrote very little and little of that survived.  Abbe de Beaufort put together some of his letters and wrote down what he could remember from his conversations  with Brother Lawrence.  Brother Lawrence's thoughts have influenced generations of people, and he continues  even today to point the way toward the practice of the presence of God.  Brother Lawrence said that we should settle ourselves firmly in God's presence by constantly talking to Him, and that we should be ashamed when we let our thoughts of trivial and silly things break into the conversation.  That we should feed our souls by thinking of God, and that this devotion to God would give us great joy.   

Brother Lawrence says we ought to give ourselves up to God with regard to things both spiritual and temporal, and seek satisfaction only in fulfilling His will, whether he lead us by suffering or consolation for all would be equal to a soul truly resigned.   Brother Lawrence expected to have a turn of pain and suffering, but he was not uneasy about it knowing he could do nothing of himself, God would not fail to give him the strength to bear it.  

When an occasion offered itself for practising some virtue, he addressed himself to God saying, "Lord, I cannot do this unless Thou enables me.", and then he received strength more than sufficient.  When he failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault saying to God, "I will never do otherwise if you leave me to myself, tis you must hinder my falling and mend what is amiss," and after this he gave himself no other uneasiness about it.   Brother Lawrence says we ought, without anxiety, to expect the pardon of our sins from the Blood of Jesus Christ only endeavoring to love Him with all our hearts. 

Brother Lawrence says the greatest pains and pleasures of this world were not to be compared with what he had experienced of both kinds in a spiritual state, so that he was careful for nothing and feared nothing , desiring but one thing from God, that he might not offend Him. 

We need only to recognize God intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him at every moment, that we may beg His assistance in knowing His will in things doubtful and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done.  

Something to think about; something to try. 

God love you !

Hope:

Hope can be defined as an optomistic attitude of mind based on the expectation of positive outcomes related to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large.   As a verb, its definitions include "expect with confidence", and  "to cherish a desire with anticipation".  Opposites of hope are "dejection", "hopelessness", and "despair".

Hope is a major concept in most major world religions.  In Christianity hope is one of the theological virtues alongside faith and love.  The greatest hope in the Christian faith is that of eternal life.

The Catholic "Act of Hope"

            O my God, relying on your almighty power,

             infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain

             pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life

             everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my

             Lord and Redeemer.

So, we have confidence that with God's help we can get to heaven.  We also have confidence that God is true to his word as found in the bible.  He will provide for us.  He will help us.  He is our rock and refuge.  

Martin Luther King Jr. states "Everything that is done in the world is done by hope."   When we attempt something, it is because we have a confident expectation that we can accomplish it.  If it were not so, we would never begin.

G.K. Chesterson says, "To love means loving the unlovable.  To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable.  Faith means believing the unbelievable.  Hope means hoping when everything is hopeless".   This is our challenge.

So, be a person of hope.  Confidently expect the favor of God in all you do.  Do not be afraid.  You have a God who loves you and longs to give you all good things.

God love you!

Christmas Thoughts

Christmas Thoughts:

In just a few days we will celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ.   It may be the happiest and most beloved of religious holidays or holy days.   We hope with anticipation for Christmas morning.  As children we can barely sleep the night before hoping for the gifts we will receive Christmas morning.  As adults we spend weeks or even months in preparation for Christmas morning and the Christmas meal and fellowship with family members and friends.

I believe that Christmas is a day of hope.   Jesus is born.  This is the beginning of His redemptive work.  He is the Word of the Father.  He will teach us and show us how to live.  He will by His suffering and death atone for our sins.  We hope to be able to receive the pardon of our sins and the grace necessary so that through His merits we may obtain everlasting life.  We hope indeed.

I think that children can understand that the anticipation and hope that they feel about receiving Christmas presents is a foreshadow of the anticipation and hope they will feel as adults at the coming of Jesus.   Jesus is the Father's present to us, and so we give presents to each other.

So this Christmas let's take time to remember that Jesus is the Father's present to us, because he loves us so much and wills our salvation.   As you enjoy the Christmas season with family and friends, and especially  if you experience any Christmas magic, remember that, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those  who love Him." (1Corinthians2:9)

Have a Happy Christmas.  God love you!

Being a Blessing

Being a Blessing:

In Genesis 12:2 God tells Abraham, "I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others.  In Proverbs11:25 it says "The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.  Jesus's whole life was spent blessing others.  Even while he was suffering on the cross he was looking out for others, the thief, who was crucified next to him, His mother, and everyone of us.

I believe we are called to be the same, a blessing to others.  God wants us to be vessels of his mercy and goodness.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:12, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets."  In John 15:12 He says, "This is my commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

Being a blessing is being sensitive to the needs of those around us.  Those who are a blessing are full of kindness and compassion.  Their goal is to show God's love and mercy everywhere they go.  They lift the fallen, and restore the broken.  They encourage the discouraged.  They love the unlovable, forgive the haughty,  and  give to those who cannot repay. 

As you go about your business have a smile on your face and a kind word for everyone.  Be patient and slow to anger.  Be the one who is always ready to lend a hand.  Be generous.  Share your time, talents, and treasure.   As you do these things you will find that you will receive blessings in abundance.  Concentrate on helping others with their problems and God will solve your problems.  

God love you!

Do you have false gods in your life?

 

 

Do you have false gods in your life?

In the Bible God says, " I am Jehovah your God who liberated you from your slavery in Egypt.  You may worship no other god than me.  You shall not make yourselves any idols: no images of animals, birds, or fish.  You must never bow or worship it in any way for I, the Lord your God, am very possessive.  I will not share your affection with any other god."  (Exodus 20, 2-5)

 

I think in the twenty-first century we can rule out the "golden calves", so what gods do we worship?    Anything that you love more than God is your idol.  What do you make the most of?  What is it that you think the most about and are most concerned with?

 

A person may make a god of him/her self.  We call this pride.   Your right or wrong stems from what is desirable and pleasing to you, not God.  Any other false god can be traced back to pride.    You think that whatever thing you choose has more value than God and following his commandments and the teachings of Jesus. 

 

We may make a god of ourselves, a child, a mother, or of some precious gift that God has bestowed  upon us.  We may forget the Giver and let our heart go out in adoration to the gift.  Many make a god of pleasure, that is what their hearts are set on.  Others take fashion as their god.  They give their time and thought to dress.  They fear what others will think of them.   It may be the god of money.    We trust wealth to keep us from want and supply our needs.    We are susceptible whether rich or poor, learned or unlearned.

 

Jesus says in Matthew 16, 19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where rust and moth consume, and where thieves break in and steal.  For where thy treasure is, there also will be thy heart."   He also tells us to trust in God and not to worry about food or  clothing .  In Matthew 6, 31-33  He continues, "Therefore  do not be anxious, ....... for your Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all theses things will be given you besides.

 

So keep God first in everything you do.  Pray, and read the scriptures.

 

God love you!