It is indeed strange how God speaks to us -
His message can come like a telegram from across the miles- riding over ocean waves -
rolling down snow draped mountains
spiralling over bland desert sands
and echoing into monsoon forests
My friend Sita from Canada sent me a James MacDonald devotional - which I inhaled as life giving oxygen.
I asked for prayer in my last post and have been comforted by the knowledge that many of you are praying for us.
But when one enters
uncharted waters
one can feel nervous and tense.
I 've been on a roller coaster -
feeling strong and brave at one time
and weak and vulnerable at another.
I needed a shot in the arm to boost my feeble faith.
When I opened my Inbox the title of Sita 's email hit me between the eyes -FEAR IS NOT FROM GOD.
It came as a red letter message from God.
Thank you Sita
Thank you God for sending me Your Word.
Here is the precious reminder from James MacDonald. My dear friends continue to pray for us
Stir it Up!
"For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:6-7
I've mentioned in the past about my love for messing around with fire. And when a fire dies down, that's my favorite part - kick it and blow on it and stir it up a little bit.
You have faith! How's that faith going? You say, "Well, it's getting a little dormant." Stir it up! Stir it up! Let's get it going. Let's fire that thing up again. You're like, "Well, James, if I really fire it up for the Lord, I've got to tell you, when I think about doing that, there is stuff that comes into my mind. Like, but what if... And How is that going to affect me at work? How is that going to affect..." Fill in the blank.
We all have times like that. Timothy was feeling that.
Listen up. You have nothing to fear. These verses in 2 Timothy really gripped me. You have nothing to fear circumstantially because God has given you power. Do you see it in the text? You have power!
A Christian has nothing to fear. Nothing. If you struggle with fear, if you are fearful about some things, this will help. That feeling of fear is not from God, it's just not.
God did NOT give you a spirit of fear.
God did NOT give you an attitude of fear.
God did NOT give you a problem with fear.
He gave you something else - POWER.
God gave you power.
The idea is that you have nothing to fear—not circumstances, not anything.
The word "power" is dunamis, from which we get our word dynamite.
It means to act and accomplish. Most often in the New Testament, it is used in close connection to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God controlling you produces an attitude that is powerful. Here is the apostle Paul facing momentary execution. He has maybe hours or minutes to live and what does he want to do? He wants to write a letter to Timothy to encourage him.
Who does that? Someone with a spirit of power. There is nothing that can happen to you that you can't - with God's help - get on top of. I am telling you the truth. Paul faced it. Timothy was facing it. I have faced it. And in God's power, you can, too.
You have nothing to fear.
Monday 17 January 2011
A Telegram From God
Posted by Amrita at Monday, January 17, 2011
Labels: Reflections, Soul Searching
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11 Fertilize my soul:
God sent it to me too, Amrita...so glad it ministered to you too...will uphold you too sister(:
This was a good and encouraging
and faith-building word today,
Amrita. It was for me as well
and I thank you for posting it.
I do pray for you and your dear
mom. God's richest blessings.
Shalom!
Sandy
Thanks for the powerful, encouraging words. I really needed to hear them today! God bless you!
I needed this Amrita..Thank you!! I struggle with fear & anxiety, but thank you for reminding me God did not give me a spirit of FEAR!!!
God Bless you for this!!
Lots of love ~
Dear Amrita,
It's so great of you, not only to share your fear and burdens, but also encouraging us with with words of eternal strength.
Our lives will often seem like roller coaster rides, nevertheless sharing the word and praying together shall be our strength.
"The joy in the Lord shall be our strength," Paul said.
I am encouraged by you sharing both fear and victory.
From Felisol
Thank you for this words, Amrita!
We are lucky who has the Lord to go to.
And it is true: We have nothing to fear.
Thank you! I wish you all good!:)
Very practical and wise letter. I think this same way. God is Love - not Fear.
Fear and faith cannot co-exist...its impossible. We must have faith and stomp out the negative!
How wonderful your message is on this post today, thank you!
My precious friends thank you so much for your supportive words and prayers.
.” In the moment of
adversity, however, we sometimes believe that something
has gone dreadfully awry. Wanting God to rescue us,
we cry out in our pain. We wonder at His timing, at His
seeming silence. All the while, in that place of confusion
and uncertainty, our spirit presses through the hardened
clay of surface living, pushes aside the gravel of selffocus,
and—in a refusal to give up—finds living water at
the point of desperation (John 7:38).
In Christ I have the victory.
It was a spiritual battle I was fighting. This depressing spirit of fear gripping me at certain times of the day.God 's Word ministered to my heart and now I am free.
My city has hundreds of temples etc, we are surrounded by them - a Muslim shaman is camping a few yards down the road. Many times we feel a soiritual oppression, but the victory is ours through the blood of Jesus.
Outstanding post Luv. If I only had your eloquence it's as I would post something.
The Lord has given you a great gift as he has my earth father.
God does indeed give us magnificent power. A quite power, but one that can change heaven and earth until the new one comes about.
HUGS
Johnny.
Dear Amrita, wow thanks for this powerful post I needed to hear this tonight. I hope you are well. Blessings x
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