Tag Archives: Jesus

Christmas Reflections

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Jesus,

I stand in awe that You chose to leave heaven and voluntarily give up the prerogatives You had. You chose to come to earth as a helpless baby. I believe You were glad to do it, because You love us so much. You would rather do that and give us the chance and the choice to live eternally with You, than see heaven without us. In giving up much, You gave us much. Thank You.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,…” Galatians 4:4 (KJV)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

“Christ Jesus…made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men…” Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)

©P. Booher

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Fighting a War Against Fear

“What if this happens?????? What if that happens?????? What happens then??????” What will I do??????”

These are the questions that popped up in my mind often, even in little situations. You know what’s behind those questions? FEAR. Fear nearly drove me crazy; I mean to the point of losing my mind. What was worse was I knew I didn’t have the answers for those questions.

Last year, after a bout with painful, limited mobility, and depression, I finally said I’ve had it. I couldn’t take any more of the barrage of questions in my mind, or the heavy feeling of responsibility, so—I gave them to God. (I pictured myself giving a huge, car-sized box of fear, anxiety, and blackness to Jesus) I told Him, “Lord, I give this to You. I can’t handle it.” I pictured Him taking the heavy box as though it was a light feather. He said, “Trust Me. It’s OK. I can take it.”

Since then, when FEAR attempts to make an entrance and take over my mind, I picture a soldier standing guard with a spear. The soldier growls, “Don’t even think about it.”, and lunges at the fear-thought, which hastily retreats.

I thank God I don’t have the fear/panic cycle anymore. I’m free, and it’s such a relief; I can just live my life, and let God handle the “What ifs?” etc. He alone is big enough to do it; I’m not.

If you are in the middle of a fear cycle, consider doing as I did. Tell God you can’t do it anymore; give it to Him, and see what He does.

Some resources for fighting fear—please note: the Bible has a lot more.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6, KJV)

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV)

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  (James 1:5, KJV)

“Casting all your care upon him;  for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7, KJV)

Jesus defeating fear in His disciples: Mark 4:35-40, KJV

©P. Booher

 

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Filed under Faith Matters, Life Issues, Tips to Manage Stress

Friday Photos–Abundance II

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“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus, John 10:10b (KJV)

Some years ago while I was sitting on the couch, not really thinking of anything, a picture showed up on the screen of my mind. In the picture, flowers of all kinds and colors stretched before me as far as my eye could see. I believe God gave me a picture of abundance.

I’ve thought of abundance as what I have and what I receive from other people. I guess that’s natural, particularly in the culture I live in. Lately, this occurred to me: what if it’s also about what I give–from what God gives me? What if I am walking in that abundance right now and don’t recognize it?

After all, to God, life and abundance are more than material, they are also spiritual. Think about it: If life and abundance to God meant just material things, Jesus would have been born in a palace, not a stable; He would have lived in the finest house with lots of servants, He would have come at the head of a convoy of camels loaded down with bags of money to reward all His followers, many Scripture verses would not be in the Bible, and, lastly–I suspect He would not have died on a cross nor risen again. His values would not have been any different from the world’s. But because God’s values are different, His ideas of life and abundance are different. They run deeper than just what we can see. He considers abundance the way He sees it so important, so necessary for us that Jesus came to live among us.

©P. Booher

 

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Filed under Country Ripples, Faith Matters, Friday Photos