Do Not Be Afraid

So I have been reading a daily devotional recently called Quiet Times for Couples by H. Norman Wright. Pat and I are not, currently, reading it together, but that is okay. I am praying he will want to soon but until then, I will read and pray for the both of us and try to be the best example I can be. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy Jude 24. I want to be an Earthly example of what Christ was to us. My desire is that I can help to keep Pat, my spouse, from stumbling.

ANYWAY....I read a piece recently about worrying. I know a lot of us do it, myself included because, well, with adulthood comes worry...I thought I would share this one with you...I will continue to post what I have read every once in awhile because I think we can all use a good reminder that God is here and can be our comforter, healer, savior, protector and Father....

"They...cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus said to them, "Take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid." Matthew 14:26-27

"Pay attention! Look at me! Give me your undivided attention!" These are common phrases which teachers, parents, and even spouses say to each other. Focusing your attention on a person helps you recieve what that person has to offer. It keeps you from being distracted.

One of the greatest distractions in life is worry. The tendency to ask 'what if?' again and again keeps us from resolving problems. What are some of your worries?

As Jesus walked on the water toward His disciples, He called Peter to climb out of the boat and walk to Him, which he did. Peter was doing fine until he lost hi focus and became distracted. He looked at the waves of the storm instead of keeping his eyes on Jesus. His fear rose and he began to sink.

Peter's situation has something to say to each of us. If he had kept his eyes upon Jesus, who was the source of his strength, Peter would have been alright. But his eyes strayed, and he was overwhelmed by the problem and crumbled.

Worry is like that. We concentrate too hard on the problem and forget the solution. This creates more difficulties. Some problems won't go away. Some concerns are legitimate. Sharing those concerns with Jesus and asking for His guidance will give us the ability to weather any storm.

Who is your focus on this week?

MY GOD LOVES ME

"Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead..."
This morning, I watched Church of the Highlands online and one of the worship songs had this line in it. It is one of my favorites. My Jesus, my precious Savior, came from Heaven to be a man and died to save me from the sin that is in me. Now, when God looks down on me, He sees Jesus. I am made perfect through Him. Because of His love, I long to be more like Him, to have His love shine through me to others. I can now truly live in the freedom He has given me. I don't have to hold on to any of my baggage, any mistake, any shame, any regret. I can let it go. I can live and be happy where I am because He loves me and has brought me to this amazing place with my family. He has made everything good because He loves me.
MY GOD LOVES ME. He sent his Son to die for me. His ONLY Son. I am not sure I could let Ryder go. I KNOW I couldn't SEND Ryder to do that. I am forever thankful for that sacrifice. For the pain and suffering that Jesus went through so that I could have the chance to live eternally with Him.
My goal is to live each day for Christ...to live everyday so that people may have a glimpse of Christ's love through my actions...

He Will Come...

...like a thief in the night, NO ONE knows exactly when we will rise to meet Him or when he is coming back...but it will be wuick and we better be ready!!!
This past Spring, the South went through tornadoes like we have never had before. There was so much destruction in so many places...this past year, Japan had a horrible tsunami/earthquake and many many lives were lost....there are wars and RUMORS OF WARS in the middle east...and TODAY, there was an earthquake on the EAST COAST?????!!!!! WHAT? There are never earthquakes there...Think we aren't getting closer? Think again. "This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again." (Matthew 24:21)
I know, recently, there was a lot of hooplah about the day the world would end and Christ was coming back...well, it didn't happen. As a Christian, were we really surprised? "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows... You have no idea what day your Master will show up." (Matthew 24:36;41) hmmm...only God knows, and we have people guessing the date...and believers, born again believers, listening to them over what God has said.
We shouldn't doubt that it is coming though. Obviously we are closer and closer to it as each day passes. But I truly believe the beginning has already started...there are signs everywhere.
We are now able to use the internet, technology, airplanes, cars, boats, etc to reach more and more people all over the world. "...the good news...will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country." (Matthew 24:14)
That's my thoughts for now...There are prophecies being fulfilled everyday and I truly believe God is starting the process.
Saturday night, at church, Dr. Ed Hinson said something that really made sense and was an AH-HAH moment... "Plan as though you have your WHOLE life to live for God-Live your life as though He is coming tonight."
Who knows...He could.
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