FEARLESS: The Courage and Sacrifice...

Just a week or so ago we pride ourselves in celebrating our national Memorial Dad. We forget so soon the price our military service men and women pay to afford us our military security.  That is unless it is our father, husband, brother, mother, wife, sister, or some dear friend, and then we sometimes take for granted the sacrifice they made and are making for us.

The family, friends, and military friends were not willing to allow Navy Seal operator Adam Brown's sacrifice to go unnoticed. Here is a video clip of a book, FEARLESS: The Courage and Sacrifice of Seal Team Six Operator Adam Brown, by Eric Blehm. If you have the book I hope you will comment. If not let's get out there and purchase a copy in gratitude for the service he gave to our country.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I receive books free from the publisher WaterBrook Multnomah's book review bloggers program, http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/blogger/bloggers/update_info . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home by Edie Melson

What fears do you face? Fear can be crippling if you you do not meet it head on, face-to-face. My friend, Edie Melson, in her book, Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home  helped me to understand the feelings and emotions felt by the families who have experienced loved ones leaving for war. I will never forget the look of fear on Bethany’s face when she received the call that her husband was leaving the states.  If only I had read Fighting Fear, then I would have known how to comfort her, pray for her, and minister to her in more meaningful and productive ways. However, I could have helped her more by sharing a copy of this book with her.

Edie Melson understands this fear after saying good-by to her son as he left for military, but she also knows Jesus Christ, the one, who was victorious over fear. Her intimate relationship with Him, gave her the courage and strength to face fear.  Through these faith stories, she has inspired me to a closer walk with God. She has also inspired me to find ways to show our military men and women that we appreciate their sacrificial efforts. 

I do not have a military son, so I cannot begin to fully understand the hurt, loneliness, and fear that comes as someone sends their loved one into battle. However, I do have a son, a pastor, who frequently goes into life-threatening situations and I fear for his life. Fear is fear regardless the source; military, police duty, dangerous missions, drugs and/or alcohol, or any other addiction that seems life life threatening. 

I face my own kind of fear. It is true that fear can be our greatest enemy. Regardless the fear, the same prescription can be to diffuse it. Battle is a personal thing. If we are in the midst of battle we must take personal action in order to survive.

What battles do you face. Is fear crippling you or someone you love? Pick up two copies of Fighting Fear, one for yourself, and another to keep on hand to share with that someone who is fighting their adversity.  Everyone needs the strength that comes when entering battle while wearing the armor of God.  

My Grace is Sufficient

Scripture:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Thoughts for the Day:

Do we really understand the depths of this promise? Not long ago I attended a spiritual retreat. I experienced a happening in my life that will forever be stamped on my mind. The second night there, fear struck me as never before. I went to two of the ladies and we prayed together. Not really understanding what all I had experienced, we decided that if God were showing me something, he would complete the work that he had started. I went about my day praying for an understanding. 

Then sometime during the third night I was awakened again. The same fear surrounded me. Rather than alarm anyone else, I decided to call upon God, for he promises that his grace is sufficient in time of need. Our power is made perfect in our weakness. Several hours passed as I held to the Word of God, the power of the Cross, the light of Jesus Christ in my life while lying there in my bunk. 

All along I have told individuals that God would give them strength to overcome or to enable them to do whatever they needed to do. False, we have no strength. We are all cowards when it comes to standing firm. I realized that I had no strength. It is only in the strength of God, only through Christ's power that rest in us, are we able, that we are able to do anything. 

Until we grasp this truth we will continue to wrestle within ourselves to be obedient in Christ, because there are just too many obstacles that seem like giants waiting to crash us under their feet.

What fear(s) do you face? What are you facing that absolutely shakes your foundation. Are you rooted in God grace. If not, your tree will be uprooted. By the power and grace of Jesus Christ I was able to stand firm.

God's grace is sufficient for all your needs. Call upon him today that his power and grace may rest on you. 

Application:

1) What is your greatest fear? 

2) Do you believe that God's power is made perfect in our weakness?

3) Do you act upon the power made available through Jesus?

Prayer: 

Dear Father, by your divine power you have provided us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Jesus Christ who called us by his own glory and goodness. In my weakness you are strong to enable me to be the person you designed me to be. Help me to be obedient in all your ways as I rest in the truth, that in your power all things can be accomplished. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Rid Yourself of Fear

What do you FEAR most?
Have you identified your FEAR?
Can you imagine living just a short time without that FEAR? What would that freedom feel like?
I just finished another of Thomas Nelson's books, FEARLESS, by Max Lucado.

Fear to me, if unidentified, is like a thief that robs us of all the opportunities of living the victorious life that Christ would desire for us. We all have, or have had fear, and that fear will "always be at our door." Whether we want to admit it or not, as we observe and interact with individuals and their responses to situations, their fear(s) will soon surface. Lucado defines fear as "an emotional response to a threat that causes us to escape or avoid the threat." He goes on to say that "if fear is not dealt with, it can lead to a worse situation or unacceptable behaviors.”

Over the years, I have seen how hard it is to react out of my faith rather than my fears. But this can be done. I haven't gotten it all perfected, but Lucado has certainly challenged me to continue my journey, combating fear by trusting God rather than myself.

One way I try to keep myself in check is to ask/remind myself daily of the question, "Do I respond more out of fear of failure, rejection, calamity, or out of the power of the risen Christ in me?" God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control (2 Timothy 1: 7). WOW! Can you imagine your life without fear?

Make sure you get a copy of Lucado's book Fearless. It is truly life changing. It is truly a tool to show you a life of freedom - free of our fears. Read it yourself, then share your copy with a friend.