Fear

Fear is not of God. 
Period. End of statement.

Yet, posts and forwarded emails and radio commentators remind me that so many people are living in fear.  Are you?

If you answered "yes", reread the first statement and then rejoin me below.

God sends peace.  He spreads joy.  He teaches love.  He encourages forgiveness.

He isn't a God of fear and hatred and anxiety and anger.

Turn off your TV, your Internet browser, your Facebook, your newspaper, your magazines.  The media is making this a circus for their own, sick benefit.

Start praying.  Pray while you cry out your anger and fear and anxieties and even your survivor's guilt. 

Use this tragedy to hug your kids more tightly and read to them at bedtime and never miss an "I love you" before you send them off into the world.

Only you can allow the world to paralyze you with fear.  The power to say "I will not fear" lies within you.  Remember the words of Isaiah 41:10 "...So do not fear, for I am with you;  do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Pass along your love everyday.  Tell your kids you love them every chance you get.  When you screw up as a parent, tell your kids how you erred and ask for forgiveness.  Tell them of the grace of salvation for all believers.  Tell them you are glad they are yours.  Remind them of the good still going on in this world. 

Go look at Christmas lights and give to the Salvation Army and bake cookies and share times of laughter.  Read the Christmas story and talk about the hope we have because of a little baby born in a manger. 

Reread Ecclesiastes 3.  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance..."

There IS a place for grieving.  There is a place for sorrow.  There is a even a place for forgiveness.

But that fear thing?  Not.so.much.  Time to dump that out of our lives like yesterday's smelly trash.

Walk it to the curb.  Throw it in the can.  Nail down the lid if you have to.  But, for Pete's sake, get rid of it!

 

Fear is not of God.

 

Believe on that.