FAITH OR FEAR? Don’t you see it? It’s all around us. People seem to be confused, distracted, struggling and confined. Many don’t know what to do or where to go. It’s that uneasy feeling of dread, disappointment, and loss of control of our circumstances. All of the above describes “FEAR”. We are living in very fearful time. Most of our negative feelings are rooted in fear. Especially when we observe situations all around us the WE CAN’T CONTROL. If all we do is watch the news, scroll thru Facebook and wring our hands we become very anxious and worried. However, in spite of all this that surrounds us we are called to live FEARLESSLY. So, you ask. HOW CAN I LIVE FEARLESSLY? Remember! The only way is to spend time in God’s Word and claim His promises of strength, help and calmness. God is still on the throne and there is NO ANXIETY in heaven. Over 100 times in the Scriptures we are told to “FEAR NOT”. The reason? Because God promises to be bigger than our fears. Deuteronomy 3:22 states, “you shall not fear them; for the Lord your God he shall fight for you”. It all comes down to; do we have faith in our Lord God to help us overcome our fears of uncertainty and doubt. How do we do that? Here are a couple suggestions: 1. Acknowledge the fear. What is our fear? Government? Circumstances? Situations? Individuals? Name your fear! To deal with the fear we must name it. What’s the storm? What’s the problem? 2. Change your focus. Once we have identified our fears, the true source of our fears, we can begin to address them in the right way. God has not given us a spirit of timidity. We, therefore, know that God is not the source of our fears. BUT, we do know that we possess power to overcome out fears thru HIM. The only way to reverse the negative process of fear is to shift our focus to the Lord our God AND the most powerful weapon to overcome our fears-the Word of God. 3. Trust the Lord our God. Many are relying upon their own thinking, their own plans and their own solutions. Overcoming fear in our world today is to TRUST the Lord our God. Focus on Him and not the problem. Isaiah 41:10 says, “so don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am the Lord your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.” See it. God is in control. He is the one that gives us strength to overcome our fears. We can’t do it. The Government can’t do it. Only TRUST HIM. The sovereign Ruler of the universe that keeps everything in order and even knows when a small sparrow falls to the ground has give YOU HIS PERSONAL PROMISE. When we turn to Him He has promised to strengthen, help and uphold us. 4. LAY DOWN. Lay down our fears. When we fully and truly TRUST and understand we know that the Lord is faithful, loving and omnipotent. Even in the Old Testament scriptures, when Israel was in captivity God was still in control and all things were working out according to HIS PLAN. The Lord is faithful. So there is no reason for us to hold on to our anxieties and worries. HE HAS PROMISED TO BRING US THROUGH FEARFUL TIMES. TRUST HIM. Even if we can’t change our situations, or the conditions around us – we don’t have to fear them. FAITH OVER COMES FEAR. Because God promised never to leave us or forsake us, we can face anything in life with Him being our guide. Joshua 1:8—9, “Always remember what is written in the Book of Teachings. Study it day and night to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything. Remember, that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.” FAITH OVER FEAR! God has promised. Leonard Navarre Lubbock, Texas

ARE WE CONFUSED! It seems as though the world has gone off the deep end having overdosed on blind and confused medicine. The Bible speaks about being salt and light and touching the world for Jesus. Yet, as we study statistics we can’t tell the difference between the world and the church. I believe we who profess to be Christians are a bit confused. I believe we have confused “going to church” with “BEING the church”. When Jesus called His disciples He told them to “count the cost”. He instructed them that they would have to die to self and pick up their cross daily to follow Him. Jesus’s teachings are hard. They require a completely new mindset and total transformation. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus brought in a revolutionary way of thinking. Expanding upon the old but enlarging the focus of not only their mindset but their LIFESTYLE. We think that “going to church” and having our “holy huddles” is being Christian. But Jesus was not just looking to teach, He was looking for life transformation that takes His church into the world in a completely new way of thinking and believing. AND, BEHAVING. I believe we have confused believing and knowing with OBEDIENCE. It looks to me, that all our Bible studies, small groups and devotions have resulted in great head knowledge of what Jesus has taught BUT WE ARE LACKING IN OBEDIENCE. We can tell you what Jesus has said and what Jesus would do (WWJD) but it has not presented itself into a life transformation in US! In Romans 12:2 states, “do not be shaped by the world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. So you will be able to decide what God wants for you ; and will know what is good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect”. The Bible also states that when we know what to do and don’t do it, it is sin. God’s word states, it is better to OBEY than to bring sacrifice (worship). Doing what God says is more important than just knowing what He says. Even the devil knows but chooses not to obey. I believe we have confused nationalism with Christianity. Yes, I believe this nation was founded on Godly principles. Yes, I believe that many of our original statutes and writing were derived from God’s Word. But simply putting those precepts on paper does not necessarily bring about a changed heart in people’s lives. The transformation comes from the inside out. Not by putting words on a page. Political laws, edicts, and rules will never bring about life transformation. It is my thinking that you cannot legislate Christian behavior or a Christian lifestyle. Life transformation only comes from allowing God’s Word and Spirit to transform our behavior. I believe we have confused legislative direction with Spiritual renewal. I think we have thought that if the government can make enough “right” laws our nation would change and head in the right direction. We have seen from the Bible that even “God’s Law” did not bring about a change of heart. Transformation of lifestyle only comes from a spirit led and spirit controlled life. A born again experience with God’s spirit in us. I believe we have confused “them” with “me”. We keep saying I wish “they” would do this or that. I believe true transformation begins with ME. Not my country, not my political affiliation, not my “church brand”...BUT ME! It’s all personal. ME AND JESUS! Paraphrasing Dr. Tony Evans: “if you want a changed country you have to have a changed state. If you want a changed state you have to have a changed county (parish). If you want a changed county you must have a changed city. If you want a changed city you have to have a changed family. If you want a changed family you must have a changed church.;” If you want a changed church you must have a changed person in the pew (or chair). That means that true Christianity and Jesus transformation behavior BEGINS WITH ME. It’s not a THEY. IT’S US! IT’S A ME. Do I live as Jesus would want me to live. Do I live out in my everyday life - Jesus principles that I have learned from my devotions, Bible reading and “church” attendance. Do I love like Jesus? Do I act like Jesus? Do I stand up for Godly principles like Jesus? Am I obedience to God’s directions like Jesus? I believe we are confused about what’s happening. This is not a game of checkers or video games. THIS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE. THIS IS WAR!!!! It’s earthly (worldly) verses the spirit. It is a battle of God and Jesus verses Satan. This battle wages itself within EACH OF US. Who will win? Who will take control of your mind and your actions. Who will stand in the gap? Who will stand up for Jesus? Who will live for Jesus? If not us WHO? If not now WHEN? There is no ALMOST here. There is no halfway here. You can’t have Jesus by the installment plan. I’ll take a little today and little tomorrow...etc. Jesus said if I’m not with Him I am against Him. The old illustration here is appropriate: “two dogs were fighting. A boy asked the old gentleman, ‘who do you think will win?’. The old man said, ‘the one you feed’! THIS THE TRUTH! IT’S THE WORLDLY VERSES THE SPIRITUAL in EACH ONE OF US. Whichever one we feed will win. I John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you.” THIS IS PERSONAL. ME! YOU! Who is leading us? Who is going to stand up and be counted? Who will answer the call? If not us WHO? I pray that we will give the Holy Spirit control of our minds and lives. Nehemiah 4:14, “then I looked around and stood up and said to the men, the leaders, and the rest of the people. Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and powerful. Fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes”. THE COUNTRY, THE CHURCH, YOUR FAMILY, YOU, ME. It is all depending on us. It depends on each of us feeding the spirit inside of us, listening and then OBEYING! I am praying for you and your families, Leonard Navarre Lubbock, Texas