It's Okay To Be Scared

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in the year 1985 by AstraZeneca, which manufactures breast cancer drugs. Since then, breast cancer has been observed annually to raise awareness and funds to fight this dreaded disease. Cancer is no respecter of persons. Women from all walks of life have fallen and continue to fall prey to its attack. The CDC states that apart from some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women regardless of race or ethnicity. It is also the second cause of death in women of all races in the United States. However, in spite of these statistics, survival rates are improving. Women are beating this thing.

I am not writing from the perspective of someone who has been there, done that. However, I did have pre-cancerous cervical cells some years ago. When I was diagnosed, I called on God, followed the doctor’s advice and had surgery. Throughout the entire time, I found strength in God. I remember walking in to the hospital with my daughter the morning of my surgery with just my driver’s license in my hand, as the nurse had instructed me to do, and I was thinking, I don’t feel scared. I’m going to have surgery for the first time in my life and I don’t feel scared.

God was with me.

But because I didn’t feel scared doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be. If you’ve just received a diagnosis of cancer, you may be scared to death. And that’s okay. The disciples in that boat, seasoned fishermen, were scared for their lives when the storm arose. They woke Jesus who was asleep in the stern and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4: 39) The Bible goes on to say, “He (Jesus) got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

As a Christian woman, you may ask yourself many questions. “Why me? I serve God, don’t I? I attend church regularly, don’t I? I tithe, I do this, I do that …” There was a man in the Bible who did all that and more and yet, God allowed Satan to take all that he had and afflict him with horrible illnesses. But in spite of all this, “Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (1: 22).

So, what am I saying? I’m saying it’s okay to be scared. Jesus understands. Just trust Him. Call on Him. Even when you don’t know what to say, just whisper His name and you’ll receive comfort.

Speaking of comfort, sometimes you can find comfort in an object – a keepsake, gift or something that has special meaning. I have two Breast Cancer Awareness bangles that I want to give away. The month is almost over, but I’ll carry it into November. The first two women who write to me and request it will receive this lovely bangle FREE and postage paid.

And don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list where you can receive updates and giveaways. God bless you.

I'm Not A Scaredy Cat

Is your child afraid of the dark? Does he cower in fear at strange noises and situations? Most young children do, but even if he doesn’t, this book will teach him that God is always near, and he can trust Him in everything. This lovely hardcover book with its colorful illustrations and funny little verses will delight the hearts of children everywhere while teaching them to face their fears. Written by Max Lucado, I’m Not A Scaredy Cat features a little prayer that a child can easily learn.

“God, you are good.
God, you are near.
God, you are here!
And, God, you love me.”

With Christmas just around the corner, this book will make a perfect gift for your son or daughter.

You can win a copy of this cute little book when you enter the exciting giveaway. Just click on this link: http://www.blessedfreebies.com/im-not-a-scaredy-cat.html


To purchase the book, go here - http://www.tommynelson.com/scaredy-cat-presale/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9afOBRDWARIsAJW4nvyhUMaRV9fup6aZDXkSQHy9pBm4c1BVi2ZyCA3W3Sm6oEdvCdC9958aAsE2EALw_wcB

Disturbing The Peace

This week I have the unexpected pleasure of visiting with my grandchildren while their father is away. Kevin

Peaceful scene

is a  widower and has been raising his children single-handedly since their mother passed away eight years ago. He told me there is a park not far from the house, so on my first morning, after dropping the kids off to school, I decided to go for a walk.

The area includes a lake surrounded by tall trees and is made accessible in some places by wooden bridges. The air was cool and refreshing and occasionally I stopped to take the pictures you see here. There were lots of people walking, and nearly everyone smiled and said, "Good-morning," something I'm not used to where I live. After completing the two-mile circle, I headed home, feeling wonderfully refreshed and invigoraated. As I neared the paved path that would take me home, I saw three people standing looking at something on the ground.

Bridge over the lake

That's me the day I arrived

Fearing the worst, I whispered, "What is it?" 

One of the young men replied, "It's a little snake."

A little snake? Just where I have to pass? I didn't care how little it was, I wasn't going there. I looked around for another route, but saw none. Slowly, I approached the creature that had disturbed my peace. I watched as he took his time, slithering across the path. When he was almost in the grass, I bolted away. When I told this to a friend she said, "The devil always tries to steal your joy."

I agreed. Stealing our joy is the devil's business, but Jesus delights in giving us peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14: 27).

Do not let anything or anyone disturb your peace today. Be blessed.

Related articles

• My Peace
• Philippians 4:4-7

Do You Make Mistakes?

The inspiration for this post came from something I heard recently: People who never make mistakes never make anything. I thought it was neat, and adequately sums up the essence of this post. Do you know of someone who is so careful, so afraid of making a mistake he never ventures out? He plays it safe, never takes risks, stays close to home base. Do you think that person is happy?

I read of a man who had acres of land, but did nothing with them. Reason? He was afraid of making a mistake. On June 5, 1944 thousands of American paratroopers jumped into Normandy. Four men refused to jump. Their lives ended that day, according to playwright David Marnet.

The apostle Peter has been called a lot of names - impulsive, foolhardy etc., but no one can say he was afraid to make a mistake. And Jesus, knowing the kind of person Peter was, commanded him to come to Him on the water. I believe the reason Jesus made Peter the founder of His church is that He knew that Peter would not let fear stand in his way. Jesus knew that Peter faced a daunting task, but he would not back down because he knew God was on his side.

Do you make mistakes? Then you are in good company. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. Your mistakes are only stepping stones from your success. Trust God. Ask Him to guide you, and He will see you through. Here are some scriptures to help you when you make mistakes.

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. Isaiah 41: 10.  

Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.  Psalm 37: 24

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.1 Peter 5: 6-7

Related articles

• 70 years on, fierce Scot's D-Day jump still holds no fears - New Zealand Herald
• Devoted to the apostles?
• Facing Our Storms

When Fear Strikes

I know I've written on this subject before, but this past week I received some awful news that the son of one of my in-laws was murdered. I barely knew the young man, but fear, anxiety and sadness reared up like a three-head monster. I used to think I was invincible, had all the answers, knew all the scriptures. But last week my armor seemed to have a hole in it somewhere. As a mother, my mind was filled with negative thoughts, I lost sleep and found myself crying at odd moments. Scared, I wondered if I was becoming depressed.

But thank God for His comforting word and for good Christian friends who prayed with me. As I lay in bed unable to fall asleep, I recited scripture after scripture: Psalm 91, Psalm 121, 2 Timothy 1 : 7, 1 John 4 : 18, Philippians 4 : 6 - 8 and many others. My anxiety persisted but eventually loosened its hold. I can think of that incident now without my heart pounding and without crying.

As I look back on that horrible week, I thought of Elijah, mighty prophet of God, who ran for his life when Jezebel threatened to kill him because he had slain the prophets of Baal.

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die ; and said , It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19: 4).  

 There were many great prophets in the Bible, but few could be compared to Elijah. His story reminds us how easily we can become discouraged when the enemy attacks us. This mighty man of God was fearful to the point of being suicidal. However, the Bible goes on to say that the Lord sent an angel twice to minister to Elijah. 

"And he arose, and did eat and drink , and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God" ( v 8).

I had to have the Holy Spirit minister to me to get me out of my state of anxiety and depression. Without Him I would be lost. Are you suffering from anxiety and/or depression?  These conditions should not be taken lightly. In some cases you may need to be seen by a healthcare professional, but in all cases you need the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Immerse yourself in His word, in His presence, in His healing power and watch that anxiety vanish. 

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Here are some books that contain prayers that will help you get through those anxious times when the words simply cannot come.

 Finding Peace For Your Heart A Woman's Guide To Emotional Health

The Power of a Praying® Woman Deluxe Edition

Living Beyond Your Feelings: Controlling Emotions So They Don't Control You


 

Do You Know The Lord?

I wanted to touch on something from my last post about the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. When Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh to tell them what the Lord had said, Pharaoh replied, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go" (Exodus 5: 2 KJV).

Those words are significant. I know not the Lord. Do you know the Lord? Here are some ways you can tell if you know the Lord.

1. You listen and obey His voice. You might say you do not hear God's voice. God may not speak to you audibly the way He spoke to Moses, but He may speak to you in so many other ways: through His word, through another person, through a sermon or even through an incident. Moses first saw a burning bush before he heard the voice of the Lord.

2. You fear the Lord. Some say we should not fear God because God is love, and since He loves us we have nothing to fear. Proverbs 1 : 7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" People who know the Lord fear His punishment, His judgement, His wrath. Most of all they fear being separated from Him as a result of sin. Jesus said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10: 28 KJV).

3. You love the Lord. To know the Lord is to love Him with an all-encompassing love. A love that goes beyond anything you can feel for your spouse, parents or even your children. It is a love that makes you almost impatient to be with Him. Paul said, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart , and to be with Christ; which is far better" (Philippians 1: 23 KJV).

4. You trust the Lord. Moses and other great men and women of the Bible knew the Lord and trusted in His goodness. He is the God who says, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Psalms 50: 15 KJV). It is what made Paul say, "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver : in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1 : 10 KJV). And when the children of Israel grumbled against Moses he was able to say with confidence, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD" (Exodus 14: 13).

Pharaoh was right. He did not know the Lord, therefore he did not listen, he did not fear, he did not love and he did not trust the Lord. He didn't know there was a King far greater than he who would defend the Israelites and give them the victory. Do you know the Lord? If you do, fine. If you are not sure, examine yourself in light of the above. If you don't know Him, ask Him to come into your heart today. He will teach you everything you need to know.

What Are You Afraid Of?

Last week I began a series dealing with anger and its components. Today I continue with the first component, FEAR. Recently I played a board game called Scattegories with a group of my patients. One of the categories was "What are you afraid of". We had to write a word with a designated letter. We came up with all sorts of things including, jellyfish, jaguars, Jaws etc. That was easy to do because it was just a game. But in the game of life, can we state our fears so easily and simply?

The Bible has a lot to say about fear. It has its origin in anxiety, when a person feels afraid of something which has not yet taken place. I remember years ago when one of my teenaged sons was causing me a lot of anxiety. I don't think there's any fear that can equal that which a mother feels when she sees her child going  down the wrong path. I would wake up during the night wondering where he was and I couldn't go back to sleep until I heard the door open and knew he was home safe. If you've ever been there you know what I'm talking about.

One morning I woke up and fear overcame me in such a powerful way, even though my son was home. My heart pounded so hard I thought it would  jump out of my chest. I took up my devotional and read it without focusing on what I read. Then I opened my Bible to read the scripture that went with the devotion. Immediately, my eyes were drawn to Jesus' words in Mark 5 : 36: "Be not afraid, only believe." I stared at the words and they seemed to stare back at me. At that moment I felt the Spirit of God so strongly in the room, it was as if I could reach out and touch Him.

After that day, every time fear overtook me, I would recite those words, "Be not afraid, only believe." They have brought me comfort, peace and calmness as only the word of God can. As my fear diminished, so did my son's bad behavior. So I ask you today, what are you afraid of? Are you like I was, afraid your children will come to harm? Afraid of losing your job, your home, your spouse? Whatever it might be, Jesus says, "Be not afraid, only believe." Believe that He is in control. Believe that His eye is on the sparrow and He is watching over you. Believe the promises He set forth for you in His word. Study and memorize them.

The Bible says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1 : 7). Like anger, fear used wrongly can destroy you.  Jesus said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10 : 28).  As long as we fear - reverence, obey, follow - God, we'll have nothing to fear.

Why Are You So Angry?

Photo credit: lesterp4 from morguefile.com

It would seem that anger is everywhere - on the roads, in the home and in the workplace. Road rage has taken lives; in the home children and parents, husbands and wives scream at each other and violence often erupts in places of employment. Why is there so much anger? If you find yourself becoming angry very often, you may need to slow down and try to determine what are the underlying reasons for your anger.

Your anger may stem from one or more of the following:

1. Fear. Surprisingly enough, a person who is angry is usually afraid of something. This quote from a Star Wars episode states, "Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."

2. Frustration. Are you frustrated by your attempts to succeed at something and always coming up short? If you are always frustrated, pretty soon you'll become angry.

3. Exhaustion. Have you found that you become irritable when you are tired? That irritation can turn into anger if you don't slow down and get some rest.

4. Environment. Anger can also be learned. If you live in an environment where everyone is angry all the time, you'll soon follow their example.

5. Worry. This often leads to fear, which, as we saw above can turn into anger.

Anger in itself is not always a bad thing. It's how that anger is channeled that will determine whether you overcome it or allow it to overcome you. Ecclesiastes 7 : 9 says, "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry : for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." Ephesians 4 : 26 says, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" However, there are many references to people in the Bible who became angry. Remember Moses? Great man of God, chosen to lead God's people out of the bondage of Egypt. But if Moses had a psychiatrist he would have ended up in anger management classes. Because he couldn't control his anger, he was not allowed to enter the promised land.

Is your anger preventing you from enjoying the promises that God has for you? If yes, you need to confess it before God and ask Him to remove it from you. Jesus warned, "whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say , Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matthew 5 : 22).

Anger can be a destructive force that prevents you from enjoying God's best and also land you in a lot of trouble. It can also be the catalyst that drives you to make positive changes in your life and the lives of others. In the coming weeks I will continue to explore other aspects of this emotion.