It has been a while since my last post. We have had an incredibly busy summer. Everything from weddings to cabin trips and anything in between that we could fit in. This past week we found out that an old high school friend past away in Iraq. He left behind a wife and two beautiful little boys ages 6 and 2. It got me thinking of the many fears a person has. These men and women that risk their lives on a daily basis so that we can have the freedoms we enjoy, have fears just like you and me! But they choose to put them aside for the greater cause of our nation. It made me stop and think of how thankful I am for their willingness to leave their families behind and potentially make the greatest sacrifice anyone could make. To lay down his life for his country. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13... I know that I am married to a marine and every day I wake up, I find a since of pride in that but also a humbling since of gratitude that has a small stale fear that follows. I know that my husband would give his all for his country and his family and friends. I thought of how fear dictates so much of our society and how in Christ there is no cause for fear. A couple months back we heard a great message preached on fears. I took notes because it made me think of my own personal fears that I have, and how many of them are really just to much focus on self. Pastor Scheving had said that "he who lives in fear will never be a free man." Our fear's make the wolf bigger than he really is. "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" Proverbs 29:25... I love this verse. No matter what may happen to us we have nothing to fear as long as we have put our trust in the LORD :) Pastor Scheving also gave some statistics on people and their fears. You can see these and then put some of your fears in the percentage where they belong. 60% of things we fear really are not there. 20% of all fears are behind us in the past. 10% don't even really matter, they are so small. 5% are ones that we can't do anything about anyway...In a time when our country is at war, our economy is not the most stable, and people have fears that are out of control we need to turn our eyes upward to Christ and his peace and security that he offers to anyone that will accept his gift of salvation. As I think of this family and how much they must be going through, it really hits close to home. I even caught my self fearing the time when Joshua may have to deploy again. Now what good does that do me. We are on recruiting duty for at least another year and a half and if that time comes as it has twice before then I will turn my fears and worries over to the LORD just as I have in times past. To chase away our fears we must stop looking sloe on our self and ask ourselves, are my fears even real, and have faith. Faith...One should count each new day as a separate life. If we lived like each day was a whole new life we would see so much more wonder and joy through the foggy mist of discouragement, discontentment and fears. The Bible says that Pure Love casteth away all fears. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1John 4:18... Walk in love, it is such a powerful thing. You know they say the number one biggest fear is the fear of death. The fear of the unknown. You can know what lies ahead for you. God has not kept this a secret. He has already told us how we can know what happens after this life. There are 365 fear not's in the Bible. One for each day of the year if you need it. The only good fear that we can have is a reverential fear of the LORD and his holiness. "The fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14:26. As you read this I ask that you would remember this family in your thoughts and prayers and that you would count each day that is given to you as a blessing. That you would see the good in everything that this life has to offer. No matter what cards you have been dealt, there is always something to be thankful for. Let us place aside our fears and really start living!!!
Fear Not for tomorrow, for God is already there...
Love,
The Browns
(The above and below picture are of Titus. So young with no fears. He was standing on this toy truck thing and then lunged forward to jump. This is where most of my fears come from. Raising a boy...:) LOL... He is always jumping off of something.)
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