6/21/14- CDo not be afraid

8“But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

you descendants of Abraham my friend,

9I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11“All who rage against you

will surely be ashamed and disgraced;

those who oppose you

will be as nothing and perish.

12Though you search for your enemies,

you will not find them.

Those who wage war against you

will be as nothing at all.

13For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

14Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,

little Israel, do not fear,

for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 41:8-14)

Thoughts: It would be easy to be afraid in a day in which many are falling away from faith, many are slipping into immorality, and the church itself is waffling into approving what the Bible does not approve.  It is easy to be afraid when, as the Bible says, "The foundations are being destroyed."
God is God.  He is our help, our redeemer, and our strength.  In times of trouble, God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. We do not need to be afraid, or be dismayed, or seek to escape our trouble.  Instead, we can hold onto God and trust in His deliverance and help. 

Prayer: Lord, be with me.  Calm my fears in tough times.  

12-23-12- Replacing Fear with Hope

4^th Sunday in Advent- 12/23- Luke 1:30, 38- Replacing Fear with Hope

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son and you will give him the name Jesus…”I am the Lord’s servant, Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Luke  2:10The angel said [to the shepherds], “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all peoples.”

Thoughts: “Good news of great joy”- these are hopeful words.  Instead of fear, we have good- even great news.  Instead of the angel of death, we hear the angel of life proclaiming hope.  The angel was telling Mary that she was pregnant and about to have the Messiah.  She could have been afraid.  She could have been afraid of how she was going to provide for the child- especially if Joseph left her for being pregnant.  She could have been afraid of losing the man of her dreams.  She could have been afraid of what the people in the village thought.  Mary is a lesson of trust.  Instead of giving into fear she said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord may it be to me as you have said.”  The shepherds were also told, not to be afraid for God is opening up his hope for the whole earth.  We do not need to be afraid of God’s coming into our lives.  When He comes, He brings hope, strength, courage and life.   Let Christ in anew this Christmas- and do not be afraid of what others may think.  Christmas in part means we can replace fear with hope in Christ.

Prayer: Give me grace, O Lord, to not be afraid.  Help me to be a hopeful person.

Application: Come to worship and bring a friend.  Tell someone of your great joy in Christ.

 (Annunciation- Ossawa Tanner)

Shepherds in the fields abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light;
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ the newborn King!
 (From “Angels from the Realms of Glory” #22)