🫪Being Fearful and Afraid🥶

  Fear is the passion of our nature which excites us to provide for our security, on the approach of evil.

Psalms 27:1 (KJV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Two words jumped out at me when I read that verse. One was “fear” and the other was “afraid” so I looked into it. Fear can be that which might happen. When I was in my teenage years My Dad, my hero, the one I placed trust in was also a man whom I feared. Let me explain. My Dad was a man of his word if he asked you to do something he expected you to do what he asked.  Now I didn’t always do what he wanted me too and I never was too worried about it until I saw him. Then I became fearful of what he might do. Then there’s being afraid. If my dad ever said go to your room it wasn’t like getting to stick your nose in the corner for 10 minutes. That’s when fear left and being afraid came on. Now he might not come right in and punish me, why he might not come in for 15 minutes or so. Sometimes it seemed like an hour or more when it was only a short time. Questions began to rise up in my mind of how bad it’s going to be. What type of punishment? That is when fear and being afraid blended in together. I didn’t understand it all back then but my Dad knew some things I didn’t know at the time. One thing was if he didn’t teach his boys respect that no one else would. We learned very early to say “yes and no sir.” How well was his teaching? Well today I’m still showing respect to others. Like the young man I was speaking with on the phone. I was old enough to be his granddad and I was saying yes sir. Why? Because my dad required it as a way to show respect. Respect, discipline, honor, great teaching for a young boy and my dad had 3 of them and he made it his responsibility to teach us. The difference between fear and being afraid. Well fear can be over that which may or may not happen. Being afraid is that which will more than likely happen. The fear of flying is much different than hearing the pilot  say prepare to crash.  David says “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? David goes on to say

 “the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” The Apostle Paul said it this way.

Romans 8:36 (KJV) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Sheep headed for the slaughter? Wow! Why was Paul writing about a slaughter? Could it be that the sheep don’t understand what’s about to happen? If that’s the case then there is no fear of being afraid. Paul goes on to say. Romans 8:38 (KJV) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Romans 8:39 (KJV) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What can separate us from the God that promised eternal life? Paul says nothing.  Oh but you don’t know what I have done. That’s right I don’t and I’m sure it’s awful or you wouldn’t remember it. What I do know is that God knows all about it. If God is willing not to remember it so why don’t you just trust God? Psalms 103:12 (KJV) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  God did what “removed” get busy trusting in God and stop being fearful and afraid.

⏳Spend Time ⌛️

 Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. William Penn

Have you ever said I would like to get to know that person, and spend more time with them? It may have been a young man or young woman that you really would like to know better. It might have been a business person that you could network with. It could have been a host of things or you might be like the Apostle Paul when he said this. 

Philippians 3:10 (KJV) That I may know him,(Jesus Christ) and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Paul wanted very much to know who Jesus was. Paul wanted to know about Jesus, His resurrection and His suffering. Was the Apostle Paul wanting to know how to die to sin’s temptations for he wrote of dying daily. The Apostle Paul was no super hero over sin. Paul was just like you and I, a sinner that needed salvation. He fought with sin just as you and I do. He said in Romans chapter 7 and verse 19 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Paul said I have a great desire to know Jesus Christ. Who is it that you and I have a desire to know? What are we doing to get to know that person? Paul did more than go to the Synagogue 3 hours a week. One can’t become good at baseball, playing an instrument, or anything else without putting time and practice into it. Paul poured his life into knowing who Jesus Christ was. Peter says be ready to give an answer. 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Not a reason but an answer. The buck stops with you, you must own it, don't blame others. In times past there were many that had an influence in my life. I listened to many that gave me bad advice. I did wrong things when I knew better. Now there are very few that have real influence in life. My daddy was and still is one of my greatest hero’s. I am still listening to his voice, although he has been gone for almost 39 years. The impact he made, the influence he had and the wisdom he shared I haven’t forgotten. A while back my brother told me about a night when he asked himself “what would daddy do if he were in this situation.” Then he told me that he got up and did what more than likely our dad would have done. That my friend is influencing another. That is what the Apostle Paul was saying: I want to know Jesus so He can influence me. 

 Matthew 22:37 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Who has influence in our lives? Those we spend time with.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Glory of Children🛗

 My Dad gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person.

 

Proverbs 17:6 (KJV) Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

What caught my eye this morning was “the glory of children are their fathers.” I was very fortunate as a child. I was brought up in a good home, now I’m not saying that my mom and dad didn't have any disappointments, broken hearts, hard times for they did. No over all I had a great childhood. My mom and dad stayed together until death and my dad spent time with us 3-boys. We didn’t have much as kids but stuff doesn’t bring a good childhood. Why did I have a great childhood? Our dad loved us and when we did wrong we got punished for our actions. It was never the other person’s fault because those unkind words came out of our mouth or our actions. It was our fault, we said it, we did it and we were the ones at fault not someone else. I learned to have respect for others. Our dad used the rod of correction and believe it or not the rod of correction gets great results. I have to this day a great honor for my dad. I hope when I’m in Heaven my children will have as much respect for me then as I do for my dad. That is something one cannot buy. My dad was my hero, my friend, my correction officer, the jail warden, the executioner, the police, the judge, the instructor, the teacher, the college professor, he was the CEO of the family, the CFO of the family you name it and that was my dad. He was the one who taught us boys to have respect for others, say yes sir and no ma’am. It mattered not who they are, show respect. Now I still find myself showing respect to others by speaking to them in a respectful manner. Thanks Dad for the teaching, training and all learning over the short few years I was under your care. I was gone from your care at 18 and dad our Uncle Sam didn’t love me like you did. Now many years later your schooling is still guiding my life. Thanks for the learning of the buck; the buck stops here it’s not someone else’s fault it’s mine alone. A great lesson that isn’t being taught anymore. That’s the way our Heavenly Father thinks too; for all have sinned and come short. ​Once one understands that they have learned a great lesson. 

💪Lift Up👆

 Set your affection on things above

Psalms 25:1 (KJV) Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

In order to lift up my soul I need to know what my soul is. We are told to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind. When we tell someone that we love them with all our heart what do we mean? 

When I say to my wife “I love you with all my heart” what do I mean? Does that mean?  I don’t love our children? I don’t love my mother and Dad? 

Of course not! Love is something we freely give. I love my wife, no one can makes me do that. When I tell her that, I’m saying, all my affections are for you. That being said, she and I both have affection for our parents, our children, our grandchildren and great grandchildren. When the line is drawn in the sand it’s not that you are my only affection, you are my greatest affection. Everyone will leave our home but she and I have decided to stay together with each other until death. No one makes us do that, we do that because we love each other greatly. So what is the soul? Is this not where everything comes from? My soul has feelings, emotions, concerns. When David said “I lift up my soul” is David not saying I lift up my affections, I’m communicating to you Lord in prayer, I’m drawing close to You O Lord, I’m lifting up my eyes. It’s hard for me to understand what men and women did to Jesus Christ. How did He feel when men slapped Him? How did He feel when He was spit on? How did He feel when men beat Him? How did He feel when people said awful words to Him? What did Jesus look like when He got to the cross before the nails were driven into Him? He could have stopped it with one word, but He didn’t. Instead Jesus in all His pain and disappointment said “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Have we ever stopped and lifted up our soul like David? Think about what the Lord has done for us? I think it’s time to lift up our soul. Psalms 25:2 (KJV) O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Psalms 42:1 (KJV) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Matthew 22:37 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

🥺Who’s Is It’s 🤔

  Wrong thinking will take your life in the wrong direction.

  One may go and lease a store front. After leasing they may go in and change things around or improve it to their liking. The space is not theirs just because they improved it, oh no it still belongs to the owner. Not far from where I live there were hundreds of acres full of trees and all kinds of undergrowth. Then one day I went by and they were clearing the property. After they cleared they fenced it all in. Then they built barns and other things. What it cost to do that I could not even begin to know in my little tin cup mind. Then I read this in the book of Psalms. 

Psalms 24:1 (KJV) The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Now there is a piece of paper at the county court house that says this man who did all those improvements owns the property. Does he? Looks like to me he’s just leasing; “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof;” It’s not ownership we were told that from the very beginning. Genesis 2:15 (KJV) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Dress it, keep it! Clear it, fence it in, build on it but remember it’s not yours. 

🫪Knowing🧠

 Knowing is not enough, we must apply.

Psalms 23:1 (KJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

That small phrase “The LORD is” shows up 55 times alone in the book of Psalms. It’s mention   

166 times in the Bible, 150 in the Old Testament and 16 times in the New Testament. In those 166 times we are told who the Lord is. 

In  Exodus 9:27 (KJV) the LORD is righteous”

In  Exodus 15:2 (KJV) “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation:” 

In  Numbers 14:9 (KJV) “the LORD is with us:”   

In  Luke 1:28 (KJV) “the Lord is with thee:”    

In  Luke 24:34 (KJV) “The Lord is risen indeed”     In  2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise”                

The Lord is a lot of things but here in Psalms 23 we read that the Lord is “my shepherd” If the Lord doesn’t become personal then He doesn’t become dependable. The Lord doesn’t become my Song, my Strength and my Salvation. He doesn't become my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, my Shield, my Helper, my God. And He doesn’t become the one I can Trust on or in, because being personal means that you an I know who The Lord is. It’s impossible to know who someone is if you don’t spend time with them. My wife and I were separated for a long period of time when Uncle Sam decided to send me far away. We wrote letters and then my dad came up with this idea, cassette tapes. Those cassette tapes kept my mind from forgetting what my wife sounded like. You may say that I shouldn’t forget what her voice sounded like. A long period of separation can really mess with your mind. I may not have forgotten but it sure was good to hear her voice. Nothing could have taken the place when that plane landed in Atlanta that December night right before Christmas in 1971.  When I saw her with my eyes, my ears heard that voice I was so familiar with. What rejoicing, not only see her but our son also. Had I not taken time to communicate by letter and also listen to her voice would I have knew her? Imagine meeting someone you say you know but you haven’t talked to them, read their letters or heard their voice. That is why people hold up signs in airports with names on them because they have no idea who they are to pick up. If you say you know the Lord, then we should spend some time with Him, get to know Him so that when you get to Heaven you’ll know who Jesus is. 

1 John 5:20 (KJV) And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

🫪Where did You Go💨

 Where you are is all about understanding your current path.

No help, unheard, yet the cry is clear “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?.” Have we ever found ourselves saying those words? If not openly then maybe in silence. You know what I didn’t read? Were words of why me! We are reading of a day that will not come for 100’s of years. As Dr. M.R. Dehann wrote in one of his books when he said “we see Our Lord on every page in our Bible. Sometimes He is seen as a shadow moving across the pages, At other times He is seen standing behind the lattice and yet at other times He stands boldly upon the page.” Just take time and look for He is always there.  Here is one of those times our Lord is seen standing boldly upon the page. It was that awful day at Calvary. Pilate had Jesus whipped because the hatred of the people was so great. Instead of setting Jesus free the people would rather have a known criminal set free. So they did just that. John 19:1 (KJV) Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

  The beating was so hard and the weight of the cross was so great another had to carry the cross. Here in Psalms 22 Jesus cries out, "My God, My God or Dad, Dad where are you? ”Why hast thou forsaken me?” Why? Because on that day Jesus was making payment for mine and your sin debt. Paul wrote of this payment in Romans chapter 6 verse 23 “For the wages of sin is death.” Here on that day on that cross Jesus paid our sin debt and God had to distance Himself from Jesus His Son. 

 Psalms 22:1 (KJV) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

We at times may feel and even ask God where are you. Job did Job 23:2 (KJV) Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Job 23:3 (KJV) Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

We at times may distance ourselves from God but God never will distance Himself from His children. 

 Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

On that day at Calvary God left His only Son and the darkness came as Jesus did what we should never have to do “my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”