LS & BC Health Memoirs – February 1-2, 2022
Let God Rule Your Garden by Kristie Valentin
Falling in Love – Amy Sapp
The Promises of God for September
Finding Peace in the Storm
Faith Trumps Fear by Virginia Harris
Happy April 18th! It is a great day to have a great day! Today’s devo is “Faith Trumps Fear” written by Virginia Harris! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today! Make today an awesome day!
Faith Trumps Fear – Virginia Harris
II Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
According to my online dictionary, the definition of fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Fear is a very common human emotion. We can be happily going along our way when all of a sudden….Wham! Something happens, or a thought pops up in our mind, or we hear something…and instantly that spirit of fear grips our heart. Although, this is a very common emotion, this spirit is not of the Lord. I pray that these thoughts that have helped me when I am fearful will be a help to you.
1. Fight fear with truth. Psalm 53:5 “There were they in great fear, where no fear was:…” How many times do we worry and fear the unknown? We fear what might happen. We ask, “What if…?”
Understandably we cannot go through life throwing all caution to the wind and never planning or thinking about the future. We must, however, trust that unknown future to the One who knows and sees all things. When those fearful thoughts invade our minds, we must run to Scripture to remind us of our all-powerful, all-knowing God who loves and cares for us individually.
If you fear being alone, go to Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
If you fear persecution, go to Psalms 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
If you fear sickness or death, go to Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
2. Look to be a help to someone else who might be struggling.
Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Not only is it helpful in getting our minds focused on the needs of others and off of our fears, it is actually a sin to not do good when we are able.
James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
When those thoughts of fear and doubt begin to plague our minds, make a conscious decision to refocus our attention on encouraging others. If you like to cook or bake, head to the kitchen and get busy making something delicious to share. If your skills lie elsewhere, maybe sit down and write a note or letter to someone who is in need of encouragement. How special a hand written note is these days. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the convenience of texting, but sometimes I miss the frequent hand-written notes of days gone by. I often think I need to do better in this area. I know how much it means to me to receive such a note. In whatever way that is comfortable to you, reach out and show that you care. You’ll quickly find that your fear has faded some.
3. Saturate yourself with good, godly, uplifting Christian music and Scripture. Music has SUCH power. Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” With the modern convenience of smartphones with Scripture and music apps available for no cost, avail yourself of these tools in uplifting your spirit and keeping your thoughts positive and God-centered. If those around you prefer quiet to constant music playing or other noise, use some wireless ear pods so you can put one in one ear and still hear if someone needs you. Find some Christian podcasts to enjoy. Two that I enjoy regularly are the Friend to Friend podcast hosted by Jessica Smallwood and Pastor’s Morning Musings hosted by my wonderful husband, Pastor Jeff Harris. There are so many avenues where we can feast our minds on God’s Word and things that will help us in our Christian life.
Growing and strengthening our faith is the key to fighting fear. No matter how strong our faith, we are still human and will still fear at times. Through the truth of God’s Word, purposing to focus on encouraging others, and completely enveloping ourselves in godly music, Scripture, and other godly influences, we will be able to lessen the grip of fear in our lives.
https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/faith-trumps-fear-virginia-harris
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 29-30 April 2020
April 29
845 woke from a very strange dream. [I was in search for finding myself – I was looking for me. I found myself at a conference of some sort sitting at a table with an army recruiter. I had just taken the entrance exam and they were revealing my score. I had scored in one of the highest percentile and excelled in the computer knowledge aspect. The news was shocking and exciting. They wanted me to start right away. I told them I’d have to pray about it and discuss it with my husband because I had a family it would affect also.
I immediately shared the good news with “-” (blonde girl we were houseparents to at Hope – her name escapes me presently). She was so excited for me. I sadly told her I probably won’t be able to walk that path because it would affect my husband’s pastorship and I couldn’t take that away from him but there had to be a way I could do something similar instead. Maybe I could pursue getting a degree in computers via help thru a retrain program or something. I cried. ]
1100 Decided to open the wholetones chroma DVD and listen/watch on my laptop while working on few things. Started listening but only hearing music. My vcl player needed to be updated. Ugh. Always something.
At first the videos were a little hard for me to watch. All the movement is hard for me to follow (mind you that I’m working thru a brain injury). I decided to watch the “How to use Chroma” session. I just wanted to cry. Hearing and seeing what the healing frequencies are suppose to work towards healing. I’ve read the book but I cannot remember what I read. I struggle with memory and comprehension. This in and of itself is bothersome, but a peace comes over me when I recall the Scripture and hymns I memorized as a teen.
I never thought about the possibility of people not feeling worthy of receiving healing. Why would someone not feel worthy? Why would they feel shame? Do I feel that way? No! I want to be healed. I just don’t know how.
900 fear is the hardest to overcome. It is a stronghold that can govern our lives if we let it.
1159 moderate pain. Headache minimal about 4. Neck hurts. Shoulders ache. Bloody nose though not streaming just when blowing nose. Sinuses congested. Hands swollen and achy. Low back aches. Rt hip throbbing. Lower lft leg tourniquet tightening feeling. Legs ache.
April 30
128 still wide awake
530 woke when Joe gave me kiss to go to work. Couldn’t go back to sleep. Purposely stayed in bed and tried to no avail.
600a have nosebleed. Took few minutes to get it to subside. Feeling weak and lousy.
715 Decided to get up after reading my Bible. No sense waiting time.
730 Rae left for work. I’m by myself for few hours. Ah Peace and quiet. I put on Wholetones Chroma but only listen to first one Open Door. Fiddled around doing little chores I haven’t been able to do. Took couple hours to find right size box to ship a pkg.
1000 my where has time gone? Still have lots to do. Need to figure out classes for next year and order books. Finally have Jordon’s classes figured out. Placed one order today for Math & Home Ec. Still need to nail down Raes classes. I’m so perplexed. Ugh.
Recvd email bank statement was available.
1230 Raes home from work. Ugh. I didn’t get near as much as I wanted to. I’m tired. Decided to take lunch. Ate lunch and began balancing checkbook asking God to help me not take as long as last time. I have to go through it few times because I’m missing something. Several errors. Took me 2.5 hours to balance checkbook. My head is throbbing and I’m exhausted.
300 I feel a crash oncoming. I try to get comfortable. I’m hurting. Rt hip & low back throbbing something aweful. Feel myself about to crash and lay head down. Next thing I know it’s 4pm and I’m coming to. I’m so tired still if only I could sleep longer.
415 gotta get up to get ready for church. Joe picking us up tonight. Glad he’s driving.
AHIF posted…
Interesting read…would you say that you still feel fatigued years after your injury?
I answered…
Yes. I’m 3 years out this July. Though I’m doing better I get so wore out especially when needing to use my brain for thinking and processing for lengths of time. Wish I could get someone to understand it and explain it to me.
They replied…
Hi Melissa! Here is an article about fatigue…https://www.brainline.org/article/fatigue-after-brain-injury-brainline-talks-dr-nathan-zasler
1159 I’m exhausted by awake. Rt hip & low back intense throbbing as if caught in horrific knot. Cramping in rt side. Legs ache & random twitching. Neck hurts. Bad headache. Feet tingling. Hands achy & swollen. Lft knee is looking better but hurts. Applied frankinsense oil roll on to knee to aid in healing. Also taking 2-3,000 mg Vitamin C. Random sharp stabbing pains through body.
Taking pain rx & muscle relaxer or I won’t get any sleep.
Prescription for Worry & Fear
Journal Entries 4-7 Nov 2018
Nov 4
6:56am Joe woke me up gently this morning thankfully because I was in the middle of a bad dream. It was weird. I told Joe about it he said he thinks my brain is trying to heal itself cuz it’s going through events in my life I’m trying to figure things out
Symptoms: left arm had shooting pain from shoulder to fingertips, lower back hurts, bags crampy and achy, slight headache
9:38 muscles twitching and spams in left arm near elbow. Its bad emough its jerking my arm
11:43am- spams in left arm near elbow continue and are bothersome. Red spot on left hand bright red and inflamed
11:59 rt ear ringing
Nov 5 – no entry
Nov 6 – no entry
Nov 7
6:30am Rough night. Woke several times. Head aches. Eyes watery. Leg muscles spazing. Stuffy nose. Feet tingly. Hands ache and tingly. Skin itchy.
11:49am – 3rd-5th Choir kids practicing for upcoming Christmas program. Singing little bit with them. Starting to hurt in upper chest and back region. Had to spot (stop).
2:00pm – son lost his phone. Spent an hour stressing & praying that we’d find it. Found it in grandma’s car where it slipped down crack.
3:00pm- thundering and raining outside. Pain levels increasing. Body tensing every time the thunder roars. I can feel it rumbling in my bones. Son tries to reassure me that everything’s going to be okay. Headache is gwtting worse. Try peppermint under tongue first.
4:00pm – Took tension headache & 250 mg magnesium.
5:00p- ate dinner. Headache starting to ease. Rest of body hurts horribly. It’s thundering & lightning with periodic rain. Joe’s drving is scaring me tonight, but I’m already tense from storm. Prayer is absence of fear. Lord, please help me not to fear.
Prescription for Worry & Fear
“The reasons our problems often seem overwhelming is [that] we allow the things of time to loom larger in our gaze than the things of eternity. The tiniest of coins, when held close to the eyes, can blot out the sun.” -Selwyn Hughes
Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God’s prescription for worry & fear is to be thankful in all things. Sometimes that’s a hard pill to swallow.
Worry tends to cloud our minds. Fear tends to immobilize us. Both make our problems seem like a mountain, not the molehill they are. Both have no room for God.
Thankfulness is an important key to have in our lives. For when we are thankful for what God has done in and through our lives, it gives us the power to change not only our attitude but also our perspective.
Prayer is also another important key. When we allow the cares of this world to occupy our minds, we cause static in the communication lines making it difficult to hear when God is trying to speak to us.
Prayer is our lifeline to God.
Take time to talk to the Lord in prayer. Thank Him for all He has done past, present, and future.
When we choose to pray, we decide to have a thankful heart regardless of our circumstances, this allows God to guard our hearts and minds. Prayer & thanksgiving not only magnifies Christ but also delivers us from fear (Psalm 34:3-4).
Courage
Definition:
Av1611.com defines Courage as that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:8-9
Courage comprehends that God gives us the strength to face any situation, trail, or affliction. It is the ability to recognize that God is in control of all things.
Courage is meeting the opposition with confidence knowing that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
We should encourage ourselves with the promise and presence of God. Don’t allow the sense of your own faults and insecurities discourage you. God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. God will be with us wherever we go.
If we are to be successful, we must be willing to focus daily on God’s Word, determine to obey God’s commands, and trade our fear for courage.
Additional Scripture:
Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:4, Ephesians 6:10, John 1:27, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 56:3-4, Isaiah 41:10-13, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 31:24, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Timothy 1:7, John 16:33
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me to always be strong and courageous in my character and actions. Give me courage to be a bold witness with whomever I come in contact. Use my life as a faithful testimony for You. Help me whenever I tempted to quit to keep going on. Help me to always have a cheerful spirit even when things don’t go as expected. Please give me courage to accomplish what needs to be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Hymns of Praise:
- Stand Up Stand Up For Jesus
- Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
- Dare To Be A Daniel
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- Faith of our Fathers
- My Country, ‘tis of Thee
- Nearer, My God, to Thee
