Week 1: No Fear

It is that time once again... time to take the old calendar off your wall and replace it with a brand new one.
Just look at it.
Full of empty squares... days after days. Those squares will soon be filled up with scribbled reminders and highlighted appointments. It doesn't take long to have a whole year filled up with "to-do's"!

I have read a few different times that the Bible mentions the word "FEAR" 365 times! You could fill up each and every one of the blank squares with this many references! Of course, I have never actually counted them all!

Fear is something that we all have in common...if you are human, you have experienced the feelings of fear at some point in your life. If you are like me, it is an everyday feeling. Will my kids get sick?...how about these monthly bills?...how will the economy affect my family...the weather!... the wars! The list goes on and on... different and same for all of us.

I have came to a "slap myself across the face" realization lately.....I don't embrace the words that I teach for myself. I don't know how many times I have encouraged my own children or the children at bible class to not be scared...."everything will be OK... don't worry... God is with you". They believe me...and their minds are once again put to ease. If is is so easy for a child to be assured that they will indeed be taken care of.. why is it so hard for me to accept the same fate?! Sure...as an adult, we are more in tune with the worries and seriousness of this world... we know what happens around the world and we feel the tole more heavily.

BUT... does this change the words that I have many times spoken?! EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.. DON'T WORRY.. GOD IS WITH YOU.

We can not divert war...disease...tragedy...cost of living (well, I guess that VISA bill could be eliminated!) but there is one thing I am sure of that can be done to alleviate fear....PRAYER! Pray for wisdom to see what we can and cannot change and for courage to embrace the fearful things that we endure on a daily basis.
(Take the time to read Luke 12: 26-32)

This has been a very hard thing for me to do.. I am a planner. Once my plans are overshadowed by events not in my control... I become defeated. How sad this must be to our Father. I can imagine how I would feel if my own children had no trust in my ability and desire to protect them...is it any different with us as adults and not having that trust in God? So now... I try not to look to deep into next week. I now focus one day at a time. My goal is to focus on one hour at a time... I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it! I hope to take each hour I have and see how I can benefit my life and the lives of others in a Godly way.

So next time you glance at your calendar on the wall...try to ease the days and days of fear. Focus on today... and LIVE!