AFRAID?

Some definitions of "afraid" are feeling fear and anxiety; frightened; worried that something undesirable will occur or be done; and unwilling or reluctant to do something for fear of the consequences.

I wish I could tell you I have never been afraid.  I have.  As have most of us who live and breathe.  Fears come to us in many ways.  I used to be afraid to stay alone after dark.  I've been afraid before surgery(s).  I been afraid of a possibility of something that might happen.  Do I get an "Amen"?  Am I alone in these fears?

I think it's just in us as humans on this earth to be anxious and afraid.

There have been several instances during this past week that have caused me to be anxious, fearful, discouraged, and all those other words that describe such.

I have been reminded that I can overcome this problem often lately with devotions and scriptures that I have encountered.   The Lord always knows what I need help with.  Even today, I passed a church sign that said, "The Bible says 365 times to not fear."  I've heard that before actually, and wondered who in the world counted those times in the Bible.  Be it the true count or not, I like to think there's a reminder of that for every day of the year.

The scripture that jumped out at me today was in a book of the Bible I rarely read.  It goes like this:

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  Deuteronomy 3:6

Afraid?  Nah....     

Consider.......

JUST A THOUGHT...

There's no big long dissertation, just a couple of simple scripture thoughts for today that maybe someone needs to hear.

"Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:"              Jeremiah 32:17

"Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh:  is there any thing too hard for me?"                                 Jeremiah 32:27

Consider.......

2019...REALLY?

Was it 19 years ago we were "concerned" with the year becoming 2000 and feared what that change might do to our world?   Amazingly, it did nothing but keep time moving along and now here were are and it's 2019.  I had thoughts all week of posting blessings of 2018 and it's not too late for that.  I will go ahead a reflect a bit.

This time last year I was spending days and a few nights in ICU with a sick dad.  After weeks of recovery, I'm happy to say he's doing pretty well for an 84 year old.  A year ago, things were not easy but God supplied.  Doesn't He always?

The Husband, The Girl, The Son-In-Law, The Grandbaby and I have not had a year of all sweet smelling flowers but we've not smelled any septic tank smells either.  I had another surgery that I didn't want to have but am living well without the appendix and right now, can't complain of adhesion issues.  I did do a visit yesterday to my doctor to be certain some chest pain was not heart related and thankfully, it wasn't.  I am thought to have a sliding hiatal hernia--doctor said it was definitely something going on.  Do we doubt it?  I explained to her that I feared I had become paranoid and her reply was that if anyone deserved to be and should be paranoid, it is me.  So there you go.  There has been respiratory problems, ear infections, gout, and retina problems with the family but God supplies.

2018 found us with losses and gains and with all these assurances that still God supplies.

2018 brought a Christmas miracle for dear friends who longed for a little one to join their family.  That longtime prayer was answered in the form of a sweet little baby girl.  Yes, God supplies.

There were birthdays...

VBS...

cooking fun...

new friends...

matching clothing, a hat parade, and designer ties.

There was the wisdom of the neighborhood widows...yes the one in the white jacket is 100 years old.  In my kitchen.  How many folks can say they have had a 100 year old in their kitchen?

The Husband and I actually got our picture made when we were dressed up.

The Grandbaby went to preschool and continues to bring us joy.

(Notice the right hand...she's "directing" the music....yes, she LOVES music and sings, sings, sings....)

Most of all, I am blessed by love.

Yes prayers were answered--not always in the way I wanted or expected but answered in just the right way.  Many more prayers remain for the answering and they, too, will be answered--maybe not always in the way I want but answered in just the right way.

Many I know and love continue to struggle and fear for upcoming "events" in their physical lives, many of us have concern for the country in which we live, many struggle with decisions that must be made, and many struggle with worries that they want to control.  It's as I heard said a long time ago, "Everybody's got a problem."  I realize more and more how true that simple statement is.  Now I know that for every problem, my God has an answer.

I will end with one of my newest favorite Bible scriptures from Isaiah 41:10 and it goes like this:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Join me in the upcoming year in prayer for us all that we might all be the shining light in a dark world.  Shine, shine, shine on.  God supplies.

Consider.........