FEAR NOT!

Okay, so for the past few nights.. when the busyness of the day starts to die down & things begin to get quiet... this "spirit of fear" begins to creep in.  I don't even know what I feel scared about.  Perhaps the unknown, or just feeling like I'm going to be lonely.. but I don't even really know.   It's a really scary feeling to have tho... which is kinda stupid because now I'm having a "scary feeling" because of my feelings of fear!! So, I started to pray, and ask God to take these feelings from me.. and you want to know the really cool thing... God knows our humanness well enough to know that we need A LOT of reminders to "fear not"!!  So here are a few scriptures that have began to give me peace from an overwhelming fear:  

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  Psalms 18:2 (Jesus, you are my ROCK!!  I will put my trust in YOU)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9  (I love this one because I need to be reminded REGULARLY to be courageous in Jesus!)

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:7 (I love that God is big enough to have a peace that is WAY beyond the grasp of our tinsy tiny understanding)

"But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”  Mark 5:36 ( That is SOOoo what I need to hear from Jesus sometimes)

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isiah 41:10  ( FEAR NOT!!!)

Wow, I am just amazed by the greatness of the God that I serve.  I don't think I can even start to grasp how much He loves me.  He gave me salvation, He gave me the Comforter, and He gave me His word to grow stronger and more confident in HIM!!  He knows my struggles, He knows my FEARS, and He truly CARES about each and every one of them.  HE IS MY ROCK, HE IS MY GOD,  IN HIM, I WILL PUT MY TRUST, AND IT'S IN HIM THAT I WILL FEAR NOT!!

Loving The Unlovable

Well the truth is that loving the unlovable is about as hard as it sounds.  So, here are a few things that I've learned to do to help me in this area.
Number 1)  Separate the Sinner from the sin.  In other words, take whatever that person is doing,(or saying) to make them seem so unlovable & put it under the "sin" category.  Then, take that person & put them under the "sinner" category.  Now, I bet you can find yourself under the "sinner" category too, hey??  I know I can!!
Number 2) Look at that person through the eyes of Jesus.  I have to do this a lot- I just say to God- "Okay Lord- You love "so&so" & your heart breaks for them when they are hurting.  Help me Lord, to change my heart to be more like yours.  Help me Jesus, to see "so&so" with new eyes so that I can love them like you love them!"
And last, but not least, Number 3)  Forgive and Forget.  I know what you're thinking... " I can't forget!!  I might be able to forgive, but I will NEVER forget!"  Well, that hasn't been the case for me.  The truth is that when I truly forgive someone, I can't remember every little mean thing they said or did to me.  I know, because I've tried!!  & probably the reason why is because I'm not sitting & dwelling on them.  When I truly forgive, I let it go & trust that God got it!  Forgiveness is just as much for us as it is for the person who hurt us... If not more!!  You cannot heal from the hurts, if you cannot forgive the "hurter".
So, whenever you feel like someone is just to tough to love, remember these three things!  They've certainly helped me in the past, & I'm sure I'll need them again..

-With love in Christ-  ~Hi-D~


Luke 6:35-36 - "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."