Repost from Lifeline - It's Just the Fear

Repost from Lifeline Blog (lifelineatfellowship@blogspot.com)

Luke 2:10

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

It's Just the Fear

This passage is familiar if you've ever read the telling of the birth of Christ in the book of Luke....or if you've ever watched the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.  But this is the verse that came to me yesterday.

I was watching my son participate in youth service yesterday at church and uncharacteristically of him, he got nervous during one of the presentations.  He powered through.  Didn't quit, but he melted into tears when it was over.  When I finally got to him, he told me "Mom, I'm fine.  It's just the fear. "

It's just the fear.  Wow.  Imagine what could happen when we get to the point when we recognize it's just the fear.  Sure, fear is real. It makes us uncomfortable; it can take us to a space that we don't like, but it's just fear.  It's no big deal. Our Father is bigger than our fear.  

Here is where we can physically as well as spiritually apply the 'press' that Paul talked about.  Press through the fear, the pain, the reluctance to do that which God has given to you, to me to do. Reward, growth, obedience, assignment, satisfaction and so many other wonderful things are just on the other side.  The angel said they brought good tidings of great joy, so we had nothing to fear.  So, when fear comes, press on.

And after all, it's just fear.

Philippians 3:12-16

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

 Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com/

What Kind of Seed am I?

We were watching the movie musical Godspel when Myles asked me:

Myles - Mommy, what kind of seed am I?
Mom - What do you mean?
Myles - What kind of seed am I?  Am I good seed?  Am I the kind of seed thrown into the weeds?  What kind of seed am I?  I wanna be good seed.

Oh for the honesty to stand before God and desire good seed.

Matthew 13:18-23

¹⁸ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

 ²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

 ²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

 ²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

 ²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

I Pray the Lord My Soul to Keep

I was fussing at Myles today.  He had done something wrong and tried to hide it only to have mom discover the hidden deed.  As his punishment, he had to clean up the mess he'd made and take the trash out.  Where we live, the dumpster is a bit of a walk, even for a newly minted 10 year old.

It was getting dark when he left with the trash.  We are on the upper floors of our building, so it is my habit to stand on the balcony and watch over him as he walks to the dumpster, especially if its dark out.  The first time he went by himself, he asked me to do this (not that he had to).  Today, as I yelled 'I'm here.  I've got you.' from the balcony,  he answered 'It's okay, Mom.  When you can't see me, I've got God. I'll be ok.'


Psalm 121

 ¹I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

 ²My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

 ³He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

 ⁴Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

 ⁵The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

 ⁶The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

 ⁷The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

 ⁸The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Yes, dear boy.  I know you do.

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Not long ago, I was fretting over a financial matter.  More month than money, as usual.  Bad planning will lead to bad thoughts.  I was sitting at the table, trying to stretch a dime into a dollar when Myles walked up on me.

Myles - Mommy, what's wrong?

Mom - Oh, I'm just worried about getting all this paid for. <<dropped my head in my hands>>

Myles - But Mom, why worry?  Doesn't God always provide for us? <<walks away and goes back to playing>>

Father, thank you for a lesson in pure, expectant faith.

Philippians 4:19

 ¹⁹But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Snuggle into the Fragrance

John 12:3 - Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

I don't always wear perfume.  I did this morning.  As Myles gave me a hug, he paused to enjoy the aroma.

Mom - That's my perfume you smell, Sweetie.  Don't hug too tight or you'll smell like me all day.

With that, Myles looked up at me, and then burried his face in my sweater to 'rub my smell' on him. 

Myles - I like smelling like you.

As I enjoyed that small moment and was thanking God for being his mom, I thought about Mary anointing Jesus. 

I thought, 'Do I love Him enough to want to smell like Him?'

Christ in All Things

The other day, Myles found a piece of rambling rose vine in our backyard.

Myles - Mommy, look. (he twisted it into a circle)  Its got thorns on it, like the crown of thorns Jesus wore. We should put this up in Sunday School to remind us of His crucifixion. (he continued to twist the vine into shape)

Sunday School teachers of the world, you're doing a good job.  Be encouraged.

Mark 10:14 (King James Version)

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Quality Time

Myles - Mom?

Mom - Yes, Myles?

Myles - When are we going to spend some quality time together?  You know...just you and me?  It's been a long time.

I wonder how often the Holy Spirit is asking this question?

Psalm 63:1-8

 ¹ O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
 ² To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
 ³ Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
 ⁴ Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
 ⁵ My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
 ⁶ When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
 ⁷ Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
 ⁸ My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.