Turning Point - Disapproval: The Fear of Rejection

Today's Devotional - October 19 & 20
 
Do Not Be Afraid: The Opposite of Fear
 
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."
Mark 5:36

     

Recommended Reading Luke 8:49-55

When we think of faith, we think of belief. And when we think of the opposite of belief, we naturally think of unbelief. Therefore, we conclude that the opposite of faith is unbelief. And from a dictionary perspective, that is true. But the Bible usually sets something besides unbelief in opposition to faith—and that is fear. From a grammatical point of view, the opposite of believing may be not believing. But from the perspective of life, the opposite of faith is fear.

Jesus demonstrated this clearly when a Jewish man begged Him to come and heal his sick daughter. On their way, friends of the man met them and said it was too late—the little girl had died. But Jesus said to the man, "Do not be afraid; only believe." Jesus didn't tell the man not to doubt—He told him not to fear. Faith and hope are focused on the future. Facing the future without faith and hope is a good reason to be fearful. Going forward, we have two choices: faith or fear.

Whether the future you are focused on is five minutes, five months, or five years away, "Do not be afraid; only believe."

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Muller

Read-thru-the-Bible
Mark 14–16

 

Hat Tip: David Jeremiah.org


The current Turning Point T.V. Series deals with fear.

This Week’s Television Broadcast

Disapproval: The Fear of Rejection | Week of October 20, 2013

The longing for approval by man is a never-ending spiral, but with God there is acceptance as we bow our head and knee to Christ and receive His unconditional approval.

Watch the broadcast HERE






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Notice that the Turning Point devotional makes the claim that, "from the perspective of life, the opposite of faith is fear."


Whom or what do you believe in?  Whom or what can you trust?  It makes a HUGE difference - both in this life and in eternity.

Let me share a "secular" example.  First, I ask each of you some questions.

Do you trust the media? 

Do you think that what is being broadcast as "news" is always the absolute truth? 

Or, do you believe that the media can be controlled by a person (e.g. dictator), ideology (e.g. liberalism), or methods; including the sleight of hand manipulation of  videos, photos, sound bites, or even people?

Here are two examples I'd like to share.  The first one is a bit humorous:

Proof "News" is Centralized Propaganda

HT:  Commieblaster

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The second one is about the stenographer heard-round-the-world on the House floor as the bill passed by the Senate to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling occurred.

Before It's News: What Really Happened When the House Stenographer Was Pulled Off the Floor?




What do you think about what was shown on the Fox News broadcast vs. what was shown via the video?

This Reuters article has more quotes regarding what the woman actually said on the house floor (rather than what was revealed in the elevator afterwards).

Do a search on Freemasonry.  There are varied opinions about it.

Where Can We Find Peace in Situations Like This?

My day actually started out so beautifully! Early this morning, I received an email notification from WND about a video that had gone viral after three young men dazzled the audience during an "America's Got Talent" audition. They sang a worship song about Jesus; and the audience and judges all ended up giving them a standing ovation!

It was certainly a joyful moment!

Since the song was in a different language, I wondered whether or not the judges would have liked it as much if it was sung in English and the name "Jesus" was uttered? I know...it's just the skepticism in me that would say such a thing. But can you blame me?  The political correctness that abounds these days forbids any display of outward worship of Jesus Christ. Well, as for me and my house - we will WORSHIP THE LORD - no matter what society says about it!

I think that when worship songs are sung so beautifully; we get a glimpse of what it will be like in heaven!

After listening to that beautiful rendition several times, I was ready to go and tackle my job of clearing away everything off the carpets throughout the house over the next four hours before the carpet cleaners arrived!

But then, it happened...again. Another day....another shooting tragedy.

Because I was having my carpets in the house cleaned, I had nothing else to do but hang out with my two dogs in the sun room (which has a brick floor) while the men who arrived at 11:30 a.m. dry cleaned the carpets throughout the house. I watched the news all day (for the most part).  And as the day dragged on, I found myself  receiving more and more information about the killer, Aaron Alexis, who used someone else's ID to get into the Naval yard facility in Washington D.C., and then proceeded to gun down 12 civilians.

As usual, we all go through the WHYS of such a terrible event. What drove this man to do such a terrible thing? What were his motives? We could ask questions ad infinitum. However, we do know that such an act of evil cannot be easily explained until all the facts are known.

Yesterday, I heard one of the most sobering sermons ever on Turning Point Television.

Dr. David Jeremiah started a new series entitled, "What Are You Afraid Of?" The book by the same
name comes out sometime in October.

 .

Yesterday's sermon was the very first in a series of sermons on the topic. Although it didn't deal directly with such an evil act of shooting civilians, it did prepare me for what transpired today.

The topic of Sunday's sermon was Disaster: The Fear of Natural Calamity.  (*See outline below). The website informs us:

As we begin this new series on fear, unforeseen disasters recently ravaged cities across the United States—where can we find peace in situations like this? Find rest in God.

Go to the link and click on the green colored box that says, Watch Now: "This Week's Broadcast." What Dr. Jeremiah shared was stunningly real; and VERY SOBERING...to say the least! But if you take the time to watch and listen all the way through, you will come out the other side with trust in God, and conviction through faith in Jesus Christ!

Jhn 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will fn have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Hat tips to all links.

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*Outline:

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?



Dr. David Jeremiah

"Disaster: The Fear of Natural Calamity"
 Selected Scripture

September 15, 2013

Job 1:1

Job 1:3

Job 1:8-12

Job 1:16

Job 1:18-19

I. Natural Disasters and the Reality of God

A. God Cannot Be Divorced From Disasters

1. God employs the elements of nature in the operation of the world

Job 37:6, 10-12

2. God employs the elements of nature in His opposition to evil

Numbers 16:32

B. God Cannot Be Discredited by Disasters

C. God Cannot Be Defined by Disasters

D. God Cannot Be Defeated by Disasters

Isaiah 46:9-11

Romans 8:28

II. Natural Disasters and the Responsibilities of Man

A. Disasters Teach Us to Repent of Our Sin

B. Disasters Teach Us to Reflect on God’s Goodness

C. Disasters Teach Us to Respond to the Hurting

D. Disasters Teach Us to Remember God’s Promise

Revelation 21:3-4

E. Disasters Teach Us to Rely on God’s Presence and His Power

Job 13:15

Job 19:25-27

Job 42:5-6

Psalm 46:1-3   

Why Christmas Conquers Fear

David Jeremiah.org: Why Christmas Conquers Fear

Special Holiday Programming
ABOUT THE CURRENT TELEVISION SERIES
Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. As we move into the wintery month of December we surround ourselves with warm fires, twinkling lights, shiny decorations, the delicious smells of cookies and holiday treats, and joyful Christmas music. For a whole month (at least) our senses are filled with the magic and wonder the season brings. But for Christians the joy of the season is more than an outward, sensory-induced happiness, it is a spiritual joy rooted in our hearts. We know that the joy of Christmas is in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Mary was the first to experience this Christmas joy. The Angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she would concieve the Son of God! She broke out in praise of her mighty Savior: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior… For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name.”(Luke 1:46,48). She was overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving for the wonderful work God was doing in and through her life.

That is the spirit we need to emulate this season; an irrepressable joy and admiration for our Lord and thankfulness for the gifts he has given us.

During this month of broadcasting we will focus on Jesus as the real reason for the season. We’ll explore the importance of Bethlehem, why God chose Mary, and how He used each individual associated with the Christmas story to bring about His will. Most importantly, we will discuss how the birth of Jesus impacts eternity.

Many people have phobias that control their actions and lives. But God designed a plan and a purpose for each of us that will provide the peace to overcome any apprehension. Dr. Jeremiah offers solutions for the anxious in “Why Christmas Conquers Fear.”

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING
Dr. David Jeremiah
“Why Christmas Conquers Fear”
Selected Scriptures
December 19, 2010
Luke 1:12
Luke 1:29
Luke 2:9
I. God Still Answers Prayer – Luke 1:5-14
Hebrews 4:14-16
II. God Still Keeps His Promises – Luke 1:26-31
Matthew 1:21-23
Psalm 27:1
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 27:10
Hebrews 13:5-6
III. God Still Has a Purpose – Luke 2:8-11
Luke 1:13-14
Luke 1:46-47
1 John 4:18
2 Timothy 1:7
John 3:16

Learning the Lord's Statutes Through Affliction

The following devotional begins with "[It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Feeling afflicted lately? Many Americans are feeling that way. Whether it is because of the fear of losing our freedoms and sovereignty here in the United States (because of a Marxist government imposing terrible policies and ignoring the will of the people), losing a job, losing a home, losing money in a 401K account, losing retirement savings, losing a business, suffering from the economy, losing a loved one...the list goes on and on...affliction is part of life for everyone at one time or another. The question is, how do you get through it?

There is an old saying, "Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it." Right now, many are feeling helpless at being able to control and make their own lives into what they want to make of it.

There is a lot of fear out there! Losing our freedoms has accelerated out of control. It may have started long before 40 years ago, but during that particular time of my life, I have seen the loss of our freedoms here in the United States increase at an alarming pace. Besides all of the economic woes, secular humanism, and socialism now clearly being seen as creeping into our Constitutional Republic, the fact is that we have all witnessed that the last 11 months of this new administration has accelerated the pace - exponentially. The fear of lost freedoms, the decline of the dollar, and the devastating worry of the future loss of U.S. sovereignty are most prevalent on the minds of Americans who are really paying attention to what is happening.

What do we do when faced with such hardships?

Answer: We turn to the Lord God, Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth. We pray and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ ever more fervently than when things were going well.

We heed the two main points of the following devotional:

[It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

By strength shall no man prevail.

Ultimately, any suffering that we go through on this earth is nothing compared to what Christ suffered for our salvation.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.--We suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

God knows what each of us are going through. This is a crucial time to help each other out. Give to those in need. It is a time for the church of Christ (all Christians, not the buildings or denominations) to help the needy, the suffering.

Our church family is conducting a toy and clothing drive. The goal is to collect 6,000 toys for children and 100,000 articles of clothing for adults. Big goals! But it can be done if each person does their part...right? We don't need to rely on government to rescue those in need. This is a huge opportunity for the churches of our nation to come through and prove that, "By strength shall no man prevail." (Especially an evil man [men]).

We can slay the giant Goliath of fear, need, worry, pain, suffering, loss, hopelessness, grief, sadness, and unbelief by doing what the Gospel of Jesus Christ instructs us to do while here on this earth! Share the Gospel, love one another and give!

As C.H. Spurgeon states in the devotional below, it is Jesus Christ who takes our weaknesses and makes us strong:

I . . . glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in Persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then Am I strong.

Here are the devotionals in their entirety:


Daily Light on the Daily Path Devotional
Saturday December 5, 2009
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml


Morning

[It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy
statutes.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.--We suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

He knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.--Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, [so] the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

Ps 119:71 Heb 5:8 Ro 8:17,18 Job 23:10,11 De 8:2,5,6




Daily Light on the Daily Path Devotional
Saturday December 5, 2009
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml


Evening

By strength shall no man prevail.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.--And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang [it], and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone.

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. . . . Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.--Both riches and honour [come] of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in thine hand [it is] to make great, and to give strength unto all.

I . . . glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

1Sa 2:9 17:45,49,50 Ps 33:16,18 1Ch 29:12 2Co 12:9,10

Hat Tip:

Christians Unite.com

Fear and Trust?

If you watch the news on any given day, there appears to be a lot to be fearful about. I just heard that the jobless claims are at a 26 year high. When people lose their jobs, they understandably become fearful.

The question becomes, how can a person deal with anxiety? If we are honest, we all have experienced it at one time or another.

Max Lucado shares an idea in "Traveling Light":

You might try what one fellow did. He worried so much that he decided to hire someone to do his worrying for him. He found a man who agreed to be his hired worrier for a salary of $200,000 per year. After the man accepted the job, his first question to his boss was, "Where are you going to get $200,000 per year?" to which the man responded, "That's your worry."

Ha ha...wouldn't THAT be a dream come true! Pay someone to worry for you. Of course, "worry" is not something we can pay someone to do for us; however, you can overcome it. The shepherd's psalm informs us how:

"He leads me beside the still waters," David declares. And, in case we missed the point, he repeats the phrase in the next verse: "He leads me in the paths of righteousness."

Pssst! That's the secret...people.

Today, I woke up feeling far less anxious than I have been ever since the election. I was thinking that perhaps Obama won't end up being sworn in as POTUS because he might be involved in the Illinois governor scandal. However, after reading a post via Digg regarding how many of the articles are being scrubbed from the Internet that state that Obama met with Blago when Obama claimed he never did... I started thinking that NOTHING will prevent this guy from being our next president! No scandal is big enough to catch this "Teflon man." Well, read on to discover what allowed me to not worry so much about it anymore, and just "trust and do" as the Spurgeon devotional shares (below).

One more political detail.

Congress has passed a billions-of-dollars "bailout" bill, but the treasury secretary has not been under scrutiny to see that it is spent wisely. People that money IS OUR MONEY! TAXPAYERS MONEY! IS THIS RIGHT? IS THIS THE AMERICAN WAY? It certainly isn't the Democratic-REPUBLIC way!

The best idea that I have heard so far is from Republican Rep. Gohmert, who has suggested a two month "tax holiday" for every tax payer. Think about what people could do with some extra money! They can catch up on their mortgage payments. They can spend it for a new car. They can use it for medical coverage, college tuition, clothes, food etc. We could all give more to charities! I think Gohmert's idea would be a true boon for our struggling economy.

Granted, I am no economist but during Rep. Gohmert's interview with Bill Hemmer on Fox News this morning, he shared that giving the tax holiday to individual taxpayers would only cost one sixth of what the government usually takes in from the taxpayer payrolls. I think that the Federal Government needs to go on a budget for two months! They keep screaming for us taxpayers to do that!

Well, this post wasn't really going to be about all of that. I just wanted to share it before I get to the genuine point of this essay.

What I really wanted to share is another one of Spurgeon's gems entitled, "Trust and Do; Do and Trust." I think that this is what our Lord would want us to be doing any time crisis comes. Of course, it is easier said than done. However, when we trust in the Lord - during good times and bad times - the end result is often good.

In Max Lucado's "Traveling Light" book, chapter six discusses The Burden of Worry.

If you have missed any of my previous posts that include chapters of Lucado's book, you can click on them here:

I Will Fear No Evil

Hebrews urges us to do. "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:1-2 NKJV).

The writer of Hebrews was not a golfer, but he could have been a jogger, for he speaks of a runner and a forerunner. The forerunner is Jesus, the "author and finisher of our faith." He is the author - that is to say he wrote the book on salvation. And he is the finisher - he not only charted the map, he blazed the trail. He is the forerunner, and we are the runners. And we runners are urged to keep our eyes on Jesus.

[Note: Lucado describes his running experiences.]

[T]hings hurt. And as things hurt, I've learned that I have three options. Go home. Meditate on my hurts until I start imagining I'm having chest pains. Or I can keep running and watch the sun come up. My trail has just enough easterly bend to give me a front-row seat for God's morning miracle. If I watch God's world go from dark to golden, guess what? The same happens to my attitude. The pain passes and the joints loosen, and before I know it, the run is half over and life ain't half bad. Everything improves as I fix my eyes on the sun.

[Note from Christine: I have found that everything improves as I fix my eyes on the Son!]

Wasn't that the counsel of the Hebrew epistle - "looking unto Jesus"? What was the focus of David? "You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Cumbersome Sack of Discontent

All that stuff - it's not yours. And you know what else about all that stuff? It's not you. Who you are has nothing to do with the clothes you wear or the car you drive. Jesus said, "Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot" (Luke 12:15 MSG). Heaven does not know you as the fellow with the nice suit or the woman with the big house or the kid with the new bike. Heaven knows your heart. "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7 NIV).

When God thinks of you, he may see your compassion, your devotion, your tenderness or quick mind, but he doesn't think of your things.

And when you think of you, you shouldn't either. Define yourself by your stuff, and you'll feel good when you have a lot and bad when you don't. Contentment comes when we can honestly say with Paul: "I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have....I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty" (Phil. 4:11-12).

He Restores Our Hope

It's a jungle out there.

And for some, even for many, hope is in short supply. Hopelessness is an odd bag. Unlike the others, it isn't full. It is empty, and its emptiness creates the burden. Unzip the top and examine all the pockets. Turn it upside down and shake it hard. The bag of hopelessness is painfully empty.

Not a very pretty picture, is it? Let's see if we can brighten it up. We've imagined the emotions of being lost; you think we can do the same with being rescued? What would it take to restore your hope? What would you need to re energize your journey?

Though the answers are abundant, three come quickly to mind.

The first would be a person. Not just any person. You don't need someone equally confused. You need someone who knows the way out.

And from him you need some vision. You need someone to lift your spirits. You need someone to look you in the face and say, "This isn't the end. Don't give up. There is a better place than this. And I'll lead you there."

And, perhaps most important, you need direction. If you have only a person but no renewed vision, all you have is company. If he has a vision but no direction, you have a dreamer for company. But if you have a person with direction --who can take you from this place to the right place--ah, then you have one who can restore your hope.

Or, to use David's words, "He restores my soul."

Our Shepherd majors in restoring hope to the soul. Whether you are a lamb lost on a craggy ledge or a city slicker alone in a deep jungle, everything changes when your rescuer appears.

So, what would God have us do in such circumstances as this? I think that C.H. Spurgeon provides a good answer:

Faith's Checkbook by C.H. Spurgeon
Thursday December 11, 2008
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml


Trust and Do; Do and Trust

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (Psalm 37:3)

Trust and do are words which go well together, in the order in which the Holy Spirit has placed them. We should have faith, and that faith should work. Trust in God sets us upon holy doing: we trust God for good, and then we do good. We do not sit still because we trust, but we arouse ourselves and expect the Lord to work through us and by us. It is not ours to worry and do evil but to trust and do good. We neither trust without doing nor do without trusting.

Adversaries would root us out if they could; but by trusting and doing we dwell in the land. We will not go into Egypt, but we will remain in Immanuel's land - the providence of God, the Canaan of covenant love. We are not so easily to be got rid of as the Lord's enemies suppose. They cannot thrust us out nor stamp us out: where God has given us a name and a place, there we abide.

But what about the supply of our necessities? The Lord has put a "verily" into this promise. As sure as God is true, His people shall be fed. It is theirs to trust and to do, and it is the Lord's to do according to their trust. If not fed by ravens, or fed by an Obadiah, or fed by a widow, yet they shall be fed somehow. Away, ye fears!


Lucado:

The triumph of Christ is not temporary. "Triumphant in Christ" is not an event or an occasion. It's not fleeting. To be triumphant in Christ is a lifestyle...a state of being! To triumph in Christ is not something we do, it's something we are.

Christ is the true Hope that we have in this brief life here on earth. Nothing else truly matters as much as salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord!

At the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." Jesus did the work that God the Father sent him to do on this earth. He became the bridge of redemption between sinful man and holy God. All who confess of their sin, repent (means willingly turn away) of their sin, believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sin, and ask him into their hearts to live and reign within them through the power of the Holy Spirit, are His forever! There is nothing in this world that could ever be more triumphant than that! Nothing!

Lucado:

Here is the big difference between victory in Christ and victory in the world: A victor in the world rejoices over something he did --swimming the English Channel, climbing Everest, making a million. But the believer rejoices over who he is -- a child of God, a forgiven sinner, an heir of eternity. As the hymn goes, "Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood."

Nothing can separate us from our triumph in Christ. Nothing! Our triumph is based not upon our feelings but upon God's gift. Our triumph is based no upon our perfection but upon God's forgiveness. How precious is this triumph! For even though we are pressed on every side, the victory is still ours. Nothing can alter the loyalty of God.

Such triumph in Jesus Christ cannot be overcome by decisions and/or evil done in the world. Jesus told us:

Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus warned us that we would have tribulation in this world. But despite such tribulation, we can be of good cheer because He has overcome the world!

I love God's Word! It is such an honest book! When one is born again in Christ, we receive the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Notice that within all of the good fruit, there is still one called "longsuffering."

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,


Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.


Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


Outline of Biblical Usage for the term "longsuffering":

1) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance

2) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

Greek: makrothumia

One day, at the proper time, Jesus will come back to avenge the wrongs in this world. He will judge the living and the dead.

I titled this post, "Fear and Trust." The kind of "fear" that born-again Christians have is reverence - reverence for God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Fearfulness is replaced with reverence for God because our faith and trust in Him is graciously, mercifully, and lovingly supplanted by the fact that He is always with us. He indwells our hearts and guides us towards choosing to follow the Holy Spirit's lead and do His will in our lives. And, no matter what happens here on this earth - when we die (at whatever age, place, event, or time that is) - we have the promise of being forever with the Lord.

Jhn 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Jhn 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

Jesus keeps his promises!



Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:


Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:


Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I Will Fear No Evil

For anyone who has been following the news over the past several months, there is certainly good reason to be worried - even frightened - about, and for, our nation. I probably don't need to list all of the anxieties currently concerning most Americans today. On top of those existing concerns, we also have the looming threat of another terrorist attack on our homeland.

Several of my friends have expressed their fear(s) to me. Some have even shared that the anxiousness, fears, and anxiety of their adult children has reached a breaking point. As Christians, what are we to say to them to help comfort and calm such fears?

First of all, we must recognize that their fears are real, genuine, and with good reason. Second, we can try to steer those fears into the right direction. This can be tough because we (you) are feeling the same exact fears!

Those of us who know Who holds the future, can go to our Bibles and find the answers and strength to keep working, watching and waiting for that great Day of Redemption.

However, those who may not know Jesus Christ (yet), or, have not made that born-again decision to confess their sin, repent of it, and ask Jesus to enter their hearts as Lord and Savior of their lives - do not have the same comfort and reassurance that believers own.

I want to recommend a book to read. It is one of Max Lucado's earliest books called, "Traveling Light." It is about the promise of Psalm 23. The subtitle reads, "Releasing the burdens you were never intended to bear."

Though the book often deals with difficult, real life situations, Lucado includes a lot of humor in his writings. However, the chapter on "fear" doesn't include much humor - but a lot of comfort and hope.

For such a time as this, I want to share most of that chapter with my readers here at Talk Wisdom.

In Christ our Lord,
Christine

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Chapter 12
From Panic to Peace
The Burden of Fear

I will fear no evil.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

It's the expression of Jesus that puzzles us. We've never seen his face like this.
Jesus smiling, yes.
Jesus weeping, yes.
Jesus stern, even that.
But Jesus anguished? Cheeks streaked with tears? Face flooded in sweat? Rivulets of blood dripping from his chin? You remember the night.

Luk 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.


Luk 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.


Luk 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,


Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.


Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.


Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.


The Bible I carried as a child contained a picture of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. His face was soft, hands calmly folded as he knelt beside a rock and prayed. Jesus seemed peaceful. One reading of the Gospels disrupts that image. Mark says, "Jesus fell to the ground" (Mark 14:35). Matthew tells us Jesus was "very sad and troubled...to the point of death" (Matt. 26:37-38). According to Luke, Jesus was "full of pain" (Luke 22:44).

Equipped with those passages, how would you paint this scene? Jesus flat on the ground? Face in the dirt? Extended hands gripping grass? Body rising and falling with sobs? Face as twisted as the olive trees that surround him?

What do we do with this image of Jesus?

Simple. We turn to it when we look the same. We read it when we feel the same; we read it when we feel afraid. For isn't it likely that fear is one of the emotions Jesus felt? One might even argue that fear was the primary emotion. He saw something in the future so fierce, so foreboding that he begged for a change of plans. "Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering" (Luke 22:42).

What causes you to pray the same prayer?

[T]he source of your fear may seem small to others. But to you, it freezes your feet, makes your heart pound, and brings blood to your face. That's what happened to Jesus.

He was so afraid that he bled. Doctors describe this condition as hematidrosis. Severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. When this occurs, sweat comes out tinged with blood.

Jesus was more than anxious; he was afraid. Fear is worry's big brother. If worry is a burlap bag, fear is a trunk of concrete. It wouldn't budge.

[Note from Christine: I know, I know. Just keep reading. The comforting is coming!]

How remarkable that Jesus felt such fear. But how kind that he told us about it. We tend to do the opposite. Gloss over our fears. Cover them up. Keep our sweaty palms in our pockets, our nausea and dry mouths a secret. Not so with Jesus. We see no mask of strength. But we do hear a request for strength.

"Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering." The first one to hear his fear is his Father. He could have gone to his mother. He could have confided in his disciples. He could have assembled a prayer meeting. All would have been appropriate, but none were his priority. He went first to his Father.

Oh, how we tend to go everywhere else. First to the bar, to the counselor, to the self-help book or the friend next door. Not Jesus. The first one to hear his fear was his Father in heaven.

A millennium earlier David was urging the fear-filled to do the same. "I will fear no evil." How could David make such a claim? Because he knew where to look. "You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Rather than turn to the other sheep, David turned to the Shepherd. Rather than stare at the problems, he stared at the rod and staff. Because he knew where to look, David was able to say, "I will fear no evil."

[Note: Lucado goes on to describe the fact that when hitting a golf ball, one does not focus on the trees ahead - but looks for the opening. It's good counsel for golf and in life. Rather than focus on the fear, focus on the solution.]

[T]hat's what Jesus did.
That's what David did.
And that's what the writer of Hebrews urges us to do. "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:1-2 NKJV).

The writer of Hebrews was not a golfer, but he could have been a jogger, for he speaks of a runner and a forerunner. The forerunner is Jesus, the "author and finisher of our faith." He is the author - that is to say he wrote the book on salvation. And he is the finisher - he not only charted the map, he blazed the trail. He is the forerunner, and we are the runners. And we runners are urged to keep our eyes on Jesus.

[Note: Lucado describes his running experiences.]

[T]hings hurt. And as things hurt, I've learned that I have three options. Go home. Meditate on my hurts until I start imagining I'm having chest pains. Or I can keep running and watch the sun come up. My trail has just enough easterly bend to give me a front-row seat for God's morning miracle. If I watch God's world go from dark to golden, guess what? The same happens to my attitude. The pain passes and the joints loosen, and before I know it, the run is half over and life ain't half bad. Everything improves as I fix my eyes on the sun.

[Note from Christine: I have found that everything improves as I fix my eyes on the Son!]

Wasn't that the counsel of the Hebrew epistle - "looking unto Jesus"? What was the focus of David? "You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to the Father with his fears. He modeled the words of Psalm 56:3: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you" (NLT).

Do the same with yours. Don't avoid life's Gardens of Gethsemane. Enter them. Just don't enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground is permitted. Tears are allowed. And if you sweat blood, you won't be the first. Do what Jesus did; open your heart.

And be specific. Jesus was. "Take this cup," he prayed. Give God the number of the flight. Tell him the length of the speech. Share the details of the job transfer. he has plenty of time. He also has plenty of compassion.

He doesn't think your fears are foolish or silly. He won't tell you to "buck up" or "get tough." He's been where you are. He knows how you feel.

And he knows what you need. That's why we punctuate our prayers as Jesus did. "If you are willing..."

Was God willing? Yes and no. He didn't take away the cross, but he took the fear. God didn't still the storm, but he calmed the sailor.

Who's to say he won't do the same for you?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil. 4:6 NIV).

Don't measure the size of the mountain; talk to the One who can move it. Instead of carrying the world on your shoulders, talk to the One who holds the universe on his. Hope is a look away.

Now, what were you looking at?

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Reference source: Traveling Light by Max Lucado, 2001 W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee 37214. pp. 97-102

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To view my study notes taken during a Bible study on this book and Psalm 23, please see several posts, starting with The God Who Guides Us over at my other blog called The Way of God In Truth.

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Attention!
Announcing a new feature.

In order to keep up with the ongoing controversy surrounding Barack Obama's "natural born citizenship" status, court cases, information, news articles, new website discoveries, new blog posts and comments regarding this issue, I will place additional information and links at the bottom of my new blog posts each day.

The reason for doing this is so that you can keep up with the news without having to go back to previous posts (where I have been posting updates) and/or searching for new information in the comment sections of Talk Wisdom.

Obama's Citizenship Controversy Updates:


Some previous updates re-posted here:

Ultimately, December 1, 2008 and December 5, 2008 will be significant days concerning two lawsuits.

Please see Texas Darlin blog too. Check out the many posts on this topic.

As commenter "Ted" in the comment section of my previous blogpost said, you really should listen to this Blog Radio broadcast over at Political Pistachio: Why Is Obama's Birth Certificate Still An Issue? Why Does the Media Not Report on the Lawsuits Concerning the Issue?

Lastly, I discovered the following article today.

The Great Birth Certificate Scandal Cover Up Of The 2008 Election

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Update 11/23/08 @ 10:28 a.m. PT

If you want to see the absolute SMOKING GUN SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that the Barack Hussein Obama birth certificate being passed off on the Internet as "real" on sites such as "Kos," "Factcheck.org," "Snopes," and "fight the smears" websites, please see the EXTENSIVE RESEARCH DONE BY RON POLARIK OVER AT HIS BLOG ON TOWNHALL.COM!

FYI: The page may take some time to load because it is filled with image comparisons that will demonstrate the PROOF that the Obama birth certificate is a FORGERY!

Additional Note: When you click on the link above, you will need to scroll down a bit to begin reading/viewing the post.

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NEW Update: 11/24/08 at 9:23 a.m. PT

Just found this message forum that has lots of information and links (including several that I have already posted at Talk Wisdom) about the Obama birth certificate controversy and the U.S. Supreme Court cases coming up in December:

U.S. Supreme Court to Review Challenge of Barack Obama’s Citizenship

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Update 11/24/08 at 11:04 a.m. PT:

Lots of new information and possible speculation over at Texas Darlin's blog in today's Open Thread

I want to point out that one commenter seems to think that the "Kenyan Ambassador admitting that Obama was born in Kenya" could be "misinformation." I haven't gotten over to the forum where this is being shared (apparently, it is a democratic forum against Obama), but I want to be honest with my readers when any doubts arise about anything that I have previously posted.

Usually when something is listed as "misinformation," it means that the rumor is being spread by the other side (namely, the Obama campaign) in order to discredit any legitimate information that is being shared by bloggers regarding the Obama citizenship questions and requests for proof of his vault-length COLB to be shown to a judge and/or the public.

Just a heads-up on that.

Again, it still may be a legitimate recording and the Obamabots want to place doubt in the minds of those reading and listening to the broadcast. But like I said before, I want to share whatever I find out and be open and honest in my postings about this issue.

Wow. After I got finished typing this update, I found this link in my email:

Barack Obama: The Naked Emperor

Glanced through it - it's LONG! Now I will go over and read it. [Note: I did notice that the author is a "Bush-hater." But I am posting it anyway because much of what is written about Obama and his campaign is very enlightening and shows how millions of Americans were duped into voting for this fraud!]

****Check back for any additional information and links found today.****

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Update @ 1:54 p.m. PT

FYI regarding Snopes.com

Many have suspected Snopes is bent towards liberalism.

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Update @ 2:04 p.m. PT

I have long suspected (and written about here - just type "Soros" in the search blog box) the evil financial manipulator, George Soros, is involved in our financial crisis. Read The new world devised by Maurice Strong and George Soros

Funny how the name of "Soros" keeps popping up in many of these Obama articles...

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Update @ 7:57 p.m. PT

A New Video by Dr. Ron Polarik which demonstrates that Obama's Birth Certificate being passed off as real on Factcheck.org (and other sites) IS A FORGERY!!