Fearing being afraid of frightful fears.

What are you afraid of?
Spiders?
Snakes?
Death?
Public speaking?
Rabbits?

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

1 Peter 3:13-14

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

What is fear?

In one respect, it is the response to a perceived danger.

It dawned on me one day. 

Fear isn't real.

A spider, that's real.

People who want to kill us because of what we believe, that's real.

But what is fear? 

It's all in our heads.

Yes, fear may sway how we react to something, but it isn't the reaction itself.

Can you imagine if you made all of your choices out of prayer and logic? Separate from fear?

What if the disciples had let their fear control them? They had plenty of opportunities to fear. (Who wants to be crushed by stones?)

Just remember we are only to have one fear, and that is the holy fear of God. 

The kind of fear that makes us stand in awe and bow in reverence.

So next time that other kind of fear tries to butt in, you don't even have to give it notice because it's not real.

Have a great week.

Songs For Sunday

This Is Amazing Grace

10,000 Reasons

I Will Look Up - G

Our God

Hosanna

Altar

At The Cross

Outlook isn't just an E-mail program

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Who knows someone with a bad attitude?

When's the last time you had one? (we've all done it)

How was that? Fun? Exciting? Whimsical?
I'm thinking probably not.

There are many causes for a bad attitude.
Sickness, stress, and bitterness just to name a few.
But we need to make sure in the times when our attitudes are stinky, that
1. We are able to recognize that we have a bad attitude.
2. Are willing to give up our bad attitude.


Recognizing our bad attitude.
Sometimes this is hard to do. We can feel justified in how we are feeling and not want to recognize it as a bad attitude.
In the case of stress or sickness, just our state of being and how we are physically feeling can lead to a bad attitude. (it just kinda creeps in)
It's just a good idea to always keep our eyes on what kind of mindset we are in at all times.

Are we willing to give up our bad attitude?
The answer should be yes, but sometimes we just want to wallow in our pride and anger.
There are two big problems with this.
One is that in our bad attitude, our whole world becomes filtered through that lens. Meaning even things that would normally not upset you, do. And things just aren't seen as they are.
The second is that most bad attitudes come from offense and unforgiveness.
This just isn't a place that we can stay as people living for God.
How can we be forgiven if we can't forgive?

So, let's quit being Yahoo's. We need to send more G-mails (God mails) and pray that our Outlook on life will stay focused on the one who we live for.

Have a great week.

Songs For Sunday

You Are Good
Everlasting God
Mercy
Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)
Let It Rain

Altar
Forever

Give a word.

Just a simple thought today.

Open yourself up to speak what God would speak through you.
There may be a simple word that is exactly what someone around you needs to hear today.

My challenge would be, pray that the Holy Spirit would put people around you that need a specific word and that He would drop that word in your heart.

When you do this, don't be surprised by what happens.

Have a great day!


Songs For Sunday

All Because Of Jesus
Jesus Messiah
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
More Than Amazing
Be Lifted High


Altar
Give Us Clean Hands