The Faces of Fear
Judges 7

In Judges 7 we see God preparing to lead His people against the Midianites. Here Gideon is the man chosen to lead the people and God does some amazing things prior to sending them into battle. What I see in this passage is the faces of fear and how fear moves us in various ways.

First, Fear Freezes: In verse 3, Gideon goes and tells the people what they are up against and proclaims “Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from the mount”. Fear Freezes us from moving forward, from taking action and it keeps us from believing that God can do the impossible.

Next, Fear Faces: We see this in verses 10-11; “But it thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host…” God is saying OK, you are fearful, but if you go with others you will be able to face the battle. See, with God and others supporting us, we can face anything.

Fear also Flees: When it came time to fight the Midianites were strong and fearless, because of that God gave them the victory. Here no matter how strong the enemy they will turn and run in fear when we face our battles with God. “And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.” (vs. 21)

Best of all Fear Frees: How did God bring about the victory? They took their fear and placed it on the Word of God. We see them in verses 18 and 20 claim the sword of the Lord as their battle weapon. When we stand with God and know His Word, claim His promises we will be freed from our enemy. “Freedom (Victory) depends not on strength or numbers, but on obedience and commitment to Him” (Life Application Bible).

We all have fear at some point in our lives… how do you do fear? Do you face it with God to find Freedom? Or, does your fear freeze you from moving forward and in the end you flee? God always brings victory into our lives when we stand with Him and let Him lead our battles. Remember the Battle belongs to the Lord!

LDJ

Wait…do we have enough Meatballs?

Funny thing happened tonight. Well I came to work thinking that it would be a normal night … HA HA!! And as you can tell it soon became a little interesting. Oh the lessons we learn daily from the Lord.

Well a group came in tonight and as they headed in the Dining Room the Dining Room staff was not prepared for them to eat. Somehow we did not have them listed for dinner. We as a team hurried around to make sure tables were set, checked to see if we had enough food and all the rest of the necessary details.

After all was said and done the men were fed and happy and we had more food then we needed. Myself and our dining room hostess stood there and laughed. When she went back to confirm about the food (even though we did not have them listed for dinner) – somehow we ended up with more trays of food than planned.

Now how did that happen? As I stood there the thoughts in my head were…”We are in His service and these are His people and why would we think that He did not go before us and prepare what was needed”. The Bible tells us in Psalms that He goes before us, behind us and all around us.

Oh what little faith we have. To think that we were worried about – “did we have enough meatballs”!!

This is just a funny reminder to all of us that the Lord tells us again and again that He will provide our needs in spite of our mistakes. Lynn W

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

The Lord Holds Me Together…

I was at breakfast with a dear friend this morning and prior to our meal she prayed on my behalf and for the blessing of the food we were about to eat. In her prayer she sought the Lord’s favor and sustaining grace by asking Him to continue to hold me together.
Those words, ‘hold me together’ affected my heart in a special way due to recent events in my life that have greatly impacted my heart and mind.

You see, I have been blessed with two children and two children are all I have. No more. No less. One of those two -my first born- and only daughter, was almost lost to me in the late spring of this year and yet the Lord sovereignly chose to spare her life for His own purpose and good pleasure.

M second born -and only son- has decided to join the military. Not the Army, Air Force or Navy, but the Marine Corp. I can’t begin to tell you in words how difficult it is to wrap my mind around that fact. I feel like my heart is being ripped out and scattered into the wind.

That is why my friends’ spoken prayer was so sweet to me. God knows how fragmented and scattered I am feeling in most hours of every day that passes. With all my might I fight it and I am mostly losing. Were it not for Him, my LORD, my God, holding me together I would literally come undone.

With a new perspective now, I am capable of understanding why we go fetal in times of sadness and distress. It’s as if the very act of curling up and going inward somehow enables us to feel safe, telling ourselves, “If I can just hold on, if I can roll up inside and push all the yuck out, I can make it through the next minute, hour, day until the better that is on the other side.”

Dear ones, what can I say to encourage your hearts today? I only have one message and one hope. There is only One True Thing that sustains us and keeps us. It is Him, the One, the Only, Son of God and Son of Man JESUS. His breath, His sustenance -the blood- allows us to hope above and beyond any thinkable, doable hoping of our own and grab the hand of Hope Himself.

So, if you are in the middle of your own curling up and inward, I beg you to change positions. You can roll over on your back and stretch your arms out and upward to Abba Father, asking Him to hold you. Remember when you were a child and you had a booboo? All you wanted was to get to the place of comfort – Mommy or Daddy- and be safe in their strong comforting arms.

May it be so for you today; and if you can’t manage to fully turn over, then release an arm and reach toward heaven, toward Father; who is well acquainted with your grief and your sorrow. Give Him your aching, breaking heart. Trust Him to mend and restore all the broken pieces, piece by delicate piece, one moment at a time.

Remember, He, the Lord, is your Shepherd; He makes a place for you to lie down, He leads you beside the still waters; though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with you. (Psalms 23)

Look back in time and see the Hand of the Lord upholding you and praise Him because of Who He Is.
Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings, I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You. Your right hand upholds me.
— Psalms 63:7-9

Dear ones gather yourselves and stand firm. Be assured that He -the Mighty One of Israel- is holding you together.

Stephanie

I’m Afraid

Most little children have fears of one kind or another. Fear of the dark, of loud noise, or being left alone… just to name a few. When I was a child I was terrified of the dark. I thought for sure there was someone peering in my windows, someone under my bed or in my closet. I did NOT like bed time. I would beg my exhausted Momma, “I’m afraid, please sleep with me.” She had worked all day and she desperately needed her sleep and if she was in bed with me, she wouldn’t get the rest she needed. As a sleeping little girl I would toss and turn and thrash about in the bed. Yet, night after night she would climb in bed with me.
But, some how… when she was lying beside me, I was safe. There wasn’t anyone under my bed, out the windows or in my closet. Just her presence next to me dispelled all my fears. I guess I thought no one would dare even think about coming near my room when Momma was on guard!
As adults we have fears too. They may not be childhood fears but they are still…just as real…just as scary and probably even more so. How will my mortgage get paid this month? Will the cancer go in remission? Will my spouse or my children ever get sober? Will my children come to the saving knowledge of Jesus as their Savior? Any of these sound familiar to you? This is just a grain of sand compared to the many different fears I’m sure you could add to this list. So what do we do? Where do we turn? Is there a place to go, someone we can turn to…to get that same peace and comfort that I found as a child in the arms of my Momma?
Yes! Yes! Yes! Our God knows that His children have too many fears to count. His word is filled with references on that very subject. In Ps. 56:3-4, David is afraid and cries out to the Lord, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You; in God whose name I praise. In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Jesus comforts His disciples in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
What great words of comfort these are to you and me. Although my Momma’s presence dispelled my fears for a time, in reality if there was someone there under my bed, she might have fought like a wild bear but she couldn’t have protected me against everything. She couldn’t be with me all the time and she would eventually leave me alone in bed with my fears at 11 years old.
Jesus gives us more than the world or our Mommas’ could ever possibly give us. He has given us His Holy Spirit that is always with us. Jesus gives us His peace and His presence. Dt. 31:8 “The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you, He will not leave you alone or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Are you afraid today? Will you turn to the world and its temporary comforts? Or will you reach for the One who is always with you. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, not only is He with you through all fears and trials, He will be there to take you to glory when God calls you home. Ps. 73:23-24, “I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”
He is the Great Comforter, our Prince of Peace.

Mary Ann

There are times in life, in the ministry I am in, when it is easy to become overwhelmed with the evil in the world. I was speaking at a women’s retreat in September, and several of the ladies and I were sitting around the breakfast table chatting. They were interested in the Colony of Mercy (the men’s residential addiction program) and the proposed women’s residential program. As conversation’s have a way of doing we meandered through various topics until we got into a discussion about the prevalence and destruction of addiction. It seemed everyone at the table knew someone or knew of someone that was trapped in this ugly, devastating bondage. My own spirit grew heavy as we shared our thoughts about pornography, alcohol and drugs. The more we talked the more depleted I felt. More than once it caused me to call to mind and remind my breakfast companions that it is a good thing that God is still on the throne, high and lifted up, sovereign in the affairs of men and women. That morning, I probably needed that reminder more than anyone else at the table.
I am so glad I know Jesus Christ!!! I can’t imagine going through the trials and difficulties of life without the hope that only God can give. People disappoint, children rebel, husbands leave, things cease, money comes and goes, and bills come. Sometimes life hurts.
Yet God never ceases to be involved in the affairs of men. He never abandons us (And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8). He is an ever present help in time of trouble (God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1). Our God reigns, forever. (Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11) I want to stand up and shout-Halleluiah. One day, everyone, every one, will bend their knee to Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as Lord! One day, that smirk will be wiped off Satan’s face!! One day we (God’s children) will be free from the practice, power and presence of sin. One day, faith will become sight. Oh, how my heart sings.

I oft encourage my heart with these words:
I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
Be reminded. Be encouraged.
Diane

Being a Woman of Influence Part V –

Romans 12:11 (New International Version)
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord”.
This week we have looked at a queen, a women leader, two sweet women and some no named women….so where does that leave us?
Maybe after this week have you found yourself in one of these women. Maybe you really can not relate to any of them. Let me challenge you to study women of the Bible. I have enjoyed so much learning all about them. Many times in church we study the lives of biblical men but “woman to woman”, we can learn a lot.
The whole point of this series is for us to stop and learn from some important times in history and from some important women. If the Lord has chosen to share the lives of these women in the Bible – there must be something for us to learn.
I shared with you earlier in the week that it only took one woman to take prayer out of school. Where were you when she was doing this? Why did you allow this? What could you have done to make a difference? Are you the one who will bring it back?
Our nation is loosing its freedom! Our nation is addicted to drugs, sex, money, things, food, lifestyle, “being #1” and so much more. If our focus is always on these things where does that leave us as a nation when the enemy moves in? Are you the one woman who can make a difference in one life so in turn they can change one life? It only needs to start with one woman. Can you save a Nation like Ester or Deborah?
I have a poem in my kitchen that says… “In a thousands years from now it will not matter how much money I have, what kind of car I drove and how many dishes I washed, but it will matter the time I spent in someone’s life.” WOW I need to read this every time I am washing the dishes and my four year old needs me to play with him or my seventeen year old need to talk. I need to make a difference in these two precious lives.
Ephesians 6:7 (New International Version)
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men…”
I do not know what God has called you to do or what gifts he has given you. I know that many times I feel like what I have to offer is not enough. I feel that someone can do it better and probably has. Well this is all true, but God has called me to do certain tasks whether someone is better at it or not, it was ME He called!!
I trust our time together this week was an encouragement and that I have been able to be a woman of influence even in a small way to you. Remember that God loves you and will always be there with words of wisdom, encouragement, and instruction for when we need to refreshed. Maybe this poem will encourage your heart to serve him always. Lynn W
One Talent

I have no voice for singing;
I cannot make a speech;
I have no gift for music;
I know I cannot teach.
I am no good at leading;
I cannot “organize”;
And anything I write
Would never win a prize.
But at roll call in the meetings
I always answer “Here”.
When others are performing
I lend a Listening ear.
After the program’s over
I praise its every part
My words are not to flatter
I mean them from the heart.
It seems my only talent
Is neither big nor rare:
Just to listen and encourage,
And to fill a vacant chair,
But all the gifted people
Could not so brightly shine
Were it not for those who use
A talent such a mine!

Christian Missions Press Inc.
Waynesboro, Georgia

Being a Woman of Influence Part IV –
No Named Women of the Bible
They made a mark in History!
They touched a life!!

Redeeming the time …..because the days are evil.

“Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposely and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time (buying up each and every opportunity), because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 Amplified Bible)

Nameless Bible Women – are you a nameless Woman?

There are so many important women in the Bible without a name – there does not seem to be a clear reason as to why.

Many women in the Bible left their impact upon history and played an important role in events; they were in influence and touched a life if not a nation.

Noah’s Wife –
What a position she was in. To encourage her husband, keep her sons and daughters in-law motivated to build an ark during a time when they had never seen rain.

Wow no rain ever….what would we think if God asked us to build an ark or to support someone who is to build it because of the rain coming. Rain that wasn’t even here yet or ever seen by any of us. Would we?

Noah’s wife must have been a strong woman when you think how many years her husband was called to build this ark, never seeing rain and being surrounded by people that thought he was crazy and having to keep her man going to get the job done.

Job’s Wife:
Unlike Noah’s wife…Jobs wife, who in their traumatic times -told her husband to curse God, turn away and from him to kill himself. She allowed Satan to take over her will to continue. She stopped relying God.

Peters Wife:
From Paul we learn that Peter’s wife accompanied her husband on some missionary journeys; caring for his many needs.

Peter is said to be an impulsive man, and had a tendency to quit when things went against him. Possibility coming home in a mood she would need to encourage him, caution him to go slowly, and to strive to rise above trials and disappointments.

In the end she was killed before her husband for what they stood for. and her husbands last words to her were…..Remember the Lord.

Is rain coming in your life, our homes our churches our nation, that we don’t understand or have never seem before? Is God calling you to build an ark?

When times are going crazy…do you want to turn your back on God and curse him? Or thank him for what is doing in your life.

If the Lord called us to accompany our husband on a journey would we willingly go? If and when the time came for us to go face to face with our enemy and our faith…would we cry out “Remember the Lord”?

Is God calling to you to be a no-named woman of influence? Could you be the no-named woman who could lead a new way and be an influence for God?

“So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 from the Message)

Lynn W

Being a Woman of Influence Part III –

Deuteronomy 10:12 (New International Version)
“… to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…”

We have looked at 2 women so far that have been leaders both in very different ways. Both were chosen to do a particular task for the Lord and both had very different gifts to use. In the end they were both a very big influence to many lives.

We all have different roles and gifts given to us. Let us look at two wonderful ladies whose family was very special to the Lord.

Mary and Martha –

There home was a place where the Lord would come when he needed rest and friendship. Oh what a place to be in, to have my home a place that the Lord would want to come when he needed something. They were known in their community to be in good standing, their family was said to be a pillar.

I remember reading a track when I was younger; I think it was called “If Jesus came to your House”. It was referring to what he would find there etc… If the door bell rang and the Lord was there, could you invite him in immediately or would you need to ask Him to wait until you move a few things around? Or could you welcome Jesus into your home as these two ladies did.

Are you a Mary or a Martha? Looking at both of these ladies, they both had certain gifts told to us in scripture. Mary preferred to sit before Jesus for spiritual instruction and Martha was usually busy supervising the hospitality of the home.

Martha was hospitable – the bible says “she received Jesus into her house”
Mary – the bible says “she was found at the feet of Jesus”

Romans 12:13 (New International Version – UK)
“Share with God’s people who are in need.”
Now these are both very important things that need to be done. We need a time of spiritual refreshment ( time with just me and the Lord), and we also need a practical time of getting our homes organized and set for the hospitality ministry that the Lord will bring to us.

Both sat before the Lord, but while Mary thought that listening was better Martha felt that feeding Jesus was as necessary as waiting upon His word.

So where am I going with all this…Some say Martha was too busy (yet she was serving in a more practical way) and some say Mary was sitting and learning for too long.

We can do both and need to do both….but remember not to be too busy and forget to sit at His feet and then again once you have sat at his feet and have been refreshed get up and start serving.
Psalm 37:5 (King James Version)
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Ok ladies today sit before the Lord and ask him to help you be a “Women of Influence” and then get up and serve for Him today.
Lynn W

Being a Woman of Influence Part II –

Judges 4 & 5… Deborah

Here are some questions for you to start with…

1. What are you excited about?
2. What is your purpose?
3. Do you make a difference in a life?
4. What is one thing that you have done in your life that will be remembered in eternity?
5. Are you leaving a legacy and if so about what?

Deborah was a true heroine for the Lord who can show many of us just how to answer the Lord’s call on our lives. Careful attention to her story may challenge our assumptions about what and who we can be as women.

The Bible introduces Deborah as prophetess. None of the other judges bore such a title. The word proclaims that not only did Deborah hear the Lord as Judge but as Prophet too. We see in scripture that she was in the beginning a homemaker, then became a judge, a prophet and then a leader and finally song writer.

At first we see that Israel was in real trouble, and had been for twenty years. A leader was needed to inspire them to fight the enemy. There are interpretations in some commentaries that say God only used a woman because no one else was available. I find it difficult to believe that God could not rise up a single man capable of doing the job in twenty years time. He chose Deborah a woman!

Deborah saw the oppression of the Canaanites and the idolatry of Israel. Deborah became a leader once she was stirred up enough and lead the way for men to fight. She became a military dictator, directing the battle against King Jabin and winning it.

She acted when the Lord called; her authority came from the Lord. It does not mention that she sought her husband’s permission first which can show us that we as an individual have a mission or a job to do based on our gifts that God has given us. Some insist that women must leave their ministries that they are in upon marriage but we can see that is not what the Lord instructed Deborah to do.

When they went to fight the enemy it was on the land near the river. The enemy went forward to fight the battle but did not look around at their surrounding first. The ground had been flooded prior and the enemy’s wheels got stuck in the mud and the battle was WON! In the end Israel rejoiced at the victory.

(What an example for us…..have we looked at all that is around us before we make our move so our wheels don’t get stuck in the mud and we loose the victory)

Above all of Deborah’s remarkable gifts was her trust in God, which is ever the source of any woman’s highest adornment.
Psalm 37:5 (King James Version)
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Ladies I bring to you this story of a strong Godly woman who made her mark in history for us to realize that as women we have a very important role. Is God calling you to take the lead? Are you a leader who needs to step up to the plate and start using your gifts and abilities for the Lord?
The Communists intend to promote chaos, confusion and conflict. They play upon the conflict of classes, races and of creeds. They seek to produce degeneracy and corruption until the people are ready for a change, regardless of what that change is. Any activity of the Communists which promotes the revolution is called a peaceful activity. Any activity of the free nations in resisting Communism is called a warlike activity. It is the Communist belief that if they can promote their program, a nation like America can fall like a ripe plum to Communism without warfare.
(Women who made Bible History – Harold J Ockenga pub 1964)

4 entries found for degeneracy.
de�gen�er�a�cy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d-jnr–s)
n. pl. de�gen�er�a�cies
1. The process of degenerating.
2. The state of being degenerate.
3. Corrupt, vulgar, vicious behavior, especially sexual perversion.
4. Genetics. The presence in the genetic code of multiple condones for the same amino acid.
Times are changing and our Nation which is “free” is now under attack. We are being attacked by the enemy in more ways than one. As we read the quote above some attack by corrupt, vulgar, vicious behavior and sexual perversion. Our Nation is addicted to some of this – we don’t even need their help in destroying us. We are doing this job all on our own.
We need “Women of God”, we need to stand strong and firm and realize that we can attack our enemy. We can be women leaders in today’s world and we can save our Nation.
Deborah was a great example to us all. Get moving and remember that our enemy is on the land and their wheels can easily get stuck in the mud. Ask God for the flood that is needed to make the difference. Get EXCITED, GET MOVING, TAKE LEADERSHIP, GET INTO SOMEONE’S LIFE, STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT and ask God to use you to change a life, a family and NATION.

Lynn W

Being a Woman of Influence Part I –

I have been teaching at retreats and women’s groups over the past 2 years on “Being a Woman of Influence”. Recently I did a retreat on this subject and we reviewed some women of the Bible and the influence they had on history. For this week let us look together at women that God used in different ways and see what we can learn from them…I hope you enjoy!

Esther – a woman who saved a Nation!

Esther to me is truly a fascinating woman and was a chosen woman by the Lord.

A few quick notes about her life.

1. She was adopted by a foster father (her cousin).

2. She had a gift of beauty.

3. She was recognized by the King and he chose her as his new wife.

4. She took her place as Queen even though it was not her choice.

5. She was not ashamed of her own race – in the end she needed to stand up and admit who she was and where she came from. This helped her save her Nation.

6. She was a great leader and when decisions were needed to be made she was ready to do it.

Esther was placed at a very key time in history when her nation needed to be helped. Now we know that the Lord does not need our help to do anything but He chooses to use us and it is up to us to respond to his calling.
Esther 4:14 (New International Version)
“… And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Many times we talk about the phrase ‘for such a time as this”. God called Esther and this was her time. I am intrigued by this phrase. To think that God has called each one of us to make a mark in History. God created each of us for His purpose and to help complete his work. How exciting to think that God wants to use me in a special way. WOW!
Ladies it only took this one woman to save a nation. It only took one woman to take prayer out of school. It takes only one woman to save or change a life.
We are in uncertain times as we all know. The Lord’s return can come at any moment. Has and is God calling you to this point in time to save a life, a family, a NATION? Can you be the one to put pray back in school?
Remember it only took one woman!!! For such a time as this….Is this your time?
Lynn W.