Live One Day at a Time by Susan Ferguson

"I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." ~Mark Twain

Regardless of age, marital status, or stage in life, we all have our own set of concerns. Parents have a long list of worries ranging from potty training to paying off college debt. Singles worry about traveling life's journey alone. Senior citizens worry about declining health issues. Financial concerns rank high on the worry list, and some families struggle to keep afloat. Teenagers worry about peer acceptance, grades, and choosing a career. The list is endless for every age group.

 Worry is rooted in fear and is usually related to a deep concern of what will or will not happen in the future. Worry can keep us up at night and send anxiety levels soaring. Like a thief in the night, worry robs us of our peace and joy.

So much of what we worry about never happens. Worry does nothing to better the outcome of a situation or change the course of action. The distress that accompanies worry may do more harm than the actual thing which we worry.

Some of us are living way below par of what God desires for us. God understands our struggles with worry, and He does not condemn us. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow and live one day at a time.

 

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

We are not promised tomorrow. It is important to make the most of every day God gives us. Worry is a waste of valuable time -- precious moments, sunny days, and productive hours -- that we will never get back.

Excessive worry may be a sign that we are moving away from our dependence on God. Prayer and Bible study help quiet our minds and diminish our fears. A daily walk with Jesus is essential in helping to minimize worry. Trust Jesus, for He is trustworthy.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." (Psalm 56:3 NIV)

God makes provision for our future. He walks alongside us, hand in hand, as we make our journey ahead. We are in capable hands. He promises to be with us always, and to strengthen and sustain us during times of adversity.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)

Prayer
Father, many of us are plagued by worry and fear. Replace worry with joy and peace. Replace fear with faith and love. Help meet the needs of families who have college debt and financial concerns. Stretch forth your healing hand to senior citizens and those with health concerns. Bring Godly relationships into the lives of singles. Provide guidance to teenagers and parents alike. In Jesus name. Amen.

Susan Ferguson
Jackson, Mississippi

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

Love is Not Fear by Michelle Lawson

Recently I began watching the Jeremy Kyle talk show.  What I like about it is that the host candidly tells his guests what he feels about their immature, irresponsible, and stupid behavior. In other words, he is real with them.  He doesn't sugar coat how much damage to their children these guests  who are on the show to find out the paternity of have caused.  Or, in the case of yesterday's show, Jeremy Kyle showed clear disdain for this couple. They had lost custody of their children because of evidence of child abuse.

 What was most disturbing about this situation was the fact that the mother was totally delusion about the husband's obvious lack of respect for her and their children.  The husband, who was an admitted drug addict, had persuaded his wife to prostitute herself while she was pregnant with their youngest child.  And the sad thing about the whole scenario was that when asked why she continued to stay with her despicable husband, she replied, "I love him."

What touched me about this woman's response was that I know there are so many women in this world who believe they love a man who obviously does not love her.  Oh yeah, the man may say he loves her.  And from time to time, he may treat her nice, buy her something, take her out, whisper sweet nothings in her ear, etc.  But it's not love.  

1 John 4:16-18 talks about what love is...

 ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  

¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: 

In this world we are like Jesus.  

¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 

The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:16-18 (NIV)

The Bible tells us that love is not fear.  In the case of this women on the Jeremy Kyle Show, it was obvious that this woman "loved" this man out of fear. How do  we know this?  Because his actions clearly showed that he did not love her.  And yet, despite these obvious signs of disrespect and  lack of love, she continued to "love" this man.  It was apparent that she feared the unkown of leaving him more than the fear of staying. But Love is not fear.

I believe people who have a misguided view about it believe that love is a feeling.  They believe they are in love because their hearts patter when they see that special person, or when they hear someone else's name.  But I have grown to realize that love is an action verb.  If you are in love with someone, your actions will show it.  You will do positive things for that person as a sign of your love.  You will want the best for that person because of the love you have for that person.  And that love in actions will be returned. A person that loves you will not ask you to prostitute yourself, or to do drugs, or to commit a crime, or force you to have sex against your will, or to hit you.  A person that does those things to you does not love you, no matter what he or she says.  A person that loves you will treat you with kindness, respect, and show care and consideration at all times. 

So what do you do if you realize that your relationship is not a loving one? How about if you are married to this person? Well, your course of action depends on what part you have played.   You have to evaluate the relationship and be honest with yourself. Perhaps you have been the one of the relationship who has been unloving.  If so, what do you need to do to actually love the other person?  Do it starting today! Or do you know deep in your heart that you will never love that person. Then what you need to do is find a way to leave this person.  If you have any compassion at all as a human being, why would you be so selfish to continue in a loveless relationship.  That is so unfair to the other person!

Anyone who is in a relationship because of fear, wake up today and realize this is not love.  I know this realization may be a very painful one, but isn't the state of your relationship hurting you anyway?  As David says in Psalm 27:1

 ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?

Be Bold!!

Do you ever feel like God is giving you a message?  Everywhere you turn, it may seem like God is speaking to you.  Well, that is the way I feel today.  And the message that God is saying to me is "BE BOLD!" I wrote this phrase a few days ago on a note to myself.  Then I heard a televangelist say it yesterday on TV.  And when I read my Facebook account recently, there was a message from Joyce Meyer titled "You Can Become Bold and Fearless".

As Christians there is no one and nothing that we have to fear - we should feel free to live our lives BOLDLY!  We should feel confident to step out on faith and not let anything or anyone hold us back.  We don't need to worry.  God is always in control.

This belief is a true revelation for me.  In the past, I had always been a fearful person.  You know the type - afraid of my own shadow.  And although I have not truly overcome this flaw, I am glad to say that as I grow more in the Lord, the more fearless I become.

The other day I was speaking to someone who told me he was waiting to do something out of fear a person would break a promise that had been made to him if he spoke up.  I asked him why didn't he just step out on faith and stop being afraid because he was doing God's will and his intentions were good.  He still refused to take a bold stance.  I pray that this person realizes that God is more powerful than any man on this Earth He created. With full confidence and assurance, all Christians can speak fearlessly because of God's authority.

After having that conversation with that person, I started to reflect about how many times in my life I had been timid because I was afraid of some outcome.  What a waste of time!   God wants you to walk boldly in your life.  As Proverbs 28:1 proclaims, "The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."  As long as your heart is pure, free of malice and deceit, and your strength comes from knowing Jesus as your personal savior, God will protect you.
Is there something going on in your life that you afraid to confront because of fear?  Well, God wants me to tell you to stop walking in fear - Be Bold - and He will protect you from whatever or whomever you fear.

Here are a few verses that may help:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV)

"Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." Philippians 1:14 (NIV)

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20 (NIV)

"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold." 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV)

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." Acts 4:13 (NIV)
 
"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Acts 4:31 (NIV)


"So 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." Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." Acts 3:16 (NIV)

"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong." Romans 1:11 (NIV)

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Corinthians 1:9




New Life Today
Looking to start a Bold New Life Today?  As someone who used to walk mostly in fear and is learning to walk boldly, I know that this transition will take some time.  The first step for making the change to Bold Living is to gain the knowledge that the Lord wants you to Be Bold!  Read verses such as the ones listed above to get this understanding.

Next, think of one area in your life that you have been timid in before, but want to be bold about.  Maybe there is a person in your family, at your school, or on your job that you are afraid to confront?  Or maybe you have wanted to start your own business, and out of fear of failure have procrastinated about becoming an entrepreneur?  Or maybe there is some goal that you have wanted to accomplish, but have been afraid to step out and do out of fear of being ridiculed or criticized?



The next step is to put what God has revealed for you to do into action. In the words of Nike, "Just Do It!" If God has put something in your heart to do, He will make provisions for you to accomplish it. Every time that I have been obedient to His will, I have been blessed. Take one bold step today and rely on the Lord to give you the strength and courage to go on.

Remember, if you look around you will see that the one characteristic that most successful people have in common is that they are Bold - they have gone against common wisdom and taken a risk on their dreams, vision and hopes.  As Christians, we should be even bolder than other folks - we are standing on the promises of God.

²⁰For no matter how many promises God has made, 

they are “Yes” in Christ. 

And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 

²¹ Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 

²² set his seal of ownership on us,

and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, 

guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22