How Jesus Frees Us From Fear (4-Minute Video with French Fries)

 

"How Jesus frees us from fear
What can you do when you are gripped by fear?
There’s good news — Jesus Christ can free us from fear.
But how does He do that?  And what’s my part?
Here’s an illustration that’s helped me understand –

• why we feel fear,

• how Jesus frees us from fear,

• and what’s our part in the process."

 For more encouragements in living a life of faith by trusting in Jesus as our all satisfying Treasure, please visit Steve Fuller's blog, "Living By Faith Blog", which has been very helpful and challenging to me, as I hope it will be to you as well!  :-)

Faith is Able to Do All Things

Faith is an appropriating grace.

Faith looks upon God, and says with David,
"This God is my God forever and ever!
 He shall be my guide unto the death!"

Faith looks upon Christ, and says with the spouse,
"I am my Beloved's--and my Beloved is mine!"

Faith looks upon an immortal crown, and says
"Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory."

Faith looks upon the righteousness of Christ,
and says, "This righteousness is mine to cover me."

Faith looks upon the mercy of Christ, and
says, "This mercy is mine to pardon me."

Faith looks upon the power of Christ, and
says, "This power is mine to support me."

Faith looks upon the wisdom of Christ, and
says, "This wisdom is mine to direct me."

Faith looks upon the blood of Christ, and
says, "This blood is mine to save me."

Faith has a kind of omnipotence in it;
it is able to do all things.

 (Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth" 1667)

Song: Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Click here to listen to song

"This song is intended (as a) plea for the Holy Spirit to bring His divine light to three areas: our personal spiritual growth, our ministry to the poor and needy, and our evangelism and missions work. Too often songs calling for the Spirit’s presence and power stop at the first area, our personal affections and holiness. While that is certainly an important work of the Spirit, without which we would be left to our own cold-heartedness and indifference to spiritual things, the Spirit must also empower our outreach as well. Acts 1:8 says “you [disciples] will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” We see that the purpose of the Spirit’s power in this instance was given in order to send them out to the mission field and make their gospel labors effective. May the people of God today cry out for the Spirit’s presence and power to animate and enliven every aspect of her ministry!"

~Music and song description from: Reformed Praise

"My grace is sufficient for you."

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me!" 2 Corinthians 12:9

God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. This means that the Divine power is most conspicuous--when our weakness is the most thoroughly felt. We have got first to be emptied of all self-conceit and self-confidence. A bucket cannot hold air and water at the same time. As the water comes in--the air must go out. The reason of some hard trials--is to get the accursed spirit of SELF out of our hearts! When we have been emptied of self-trust--we are in the condition to be filled with might in the inner man, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Christian must not only realize his own utter feebleness--but he must give up what worldlings rely on, and admit that "vain is the help of man." That poor woman who had tried all the doctors in her neighborhood, and had only grown worse in body, and poorer in purse--is a touching illustration of our invalid souls. She, having despaired of human help--came crouching to the feet of the Son of God. One touch of His garments sent a new tide of health through her veins. Just so, contact with Christ brings currents of the Divine power into our souls--so that we can do all things through Christ who strengths us!

This is the real office of faith. It is simply the linking of our utter weakness--to the omnipotence of Christ! We furnish the weakness--and He furnishes the strength--and that makes the partnership! The baby furnishes a hungry little mouth--and the mother furnishes the nourishing milk. The mother is happy that she can give the full supply--and the rosy darling is happy as it draws in the sweet contentment. What a beautiful picture of my poor, weak, hungry soul--resting on the bosom of the Infinite Love! There is no danger that the supply will ever give out, for my Lord, my Feeder, my Supporter--is constantly saying unto me, "My grace is sufficient for you." In this way we are strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power.

(Theodore Cuyler, "God's Light on Dark Clouds")

Depraved Indifference

Will we rescue these little ones for our King and His glory?  This is a powerful message!

A Sweet Little Treat!- McDonalds Coupon

Thought some of you might enjoy this coupon! Just click on the picture or the link!  :-)

http://custom.serving-sys.com/hosting/OMD/mcd_en.html

This life is a valley of tears!

"In the world you have trouble and suffering." John 16:33

This life is a valley of tears!

Have I mistaken this thorny wilderness--for a garden of flowers?
Have I mistaken this place of danger--for a palace of delight?
Have I mistaken this waste howling desert--for an enchanting grove?

If the world has joys, it has none for me--they are carnal or unlawful. My joys must be pure and spiritual. If the creature affords pleasures, they cannot suit my soul--
  its honey is mixed with gall,
  its sweet with wormwood,
  its wine with water,
  its gold with dross,
  and all are mixed with poison!

The pleasures I should seek are such as my soul may . . .
   feed on without danger,
   feast on without excess,
   and rejoice in without sin.

Again, why do I expect comfort in this world? Can I hope, or even desire, to go through the valley of tears--with singing? Can I hope to dwell in the house of mourning--with joy?

This sinful world is too barren a soil to bear true joy.

This is the night of weeping; and though weeping endures through the night of time, yet joy comes in the morning of eternity!

 ("Solitude Sweetened" by James Meikle, 1730-1799)

While we mourn over our many maladies

(Henry Law, "Family Prayers")

"This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4

While we mourn over our many maladies--we see that increase of faith would be the grand remedy! Our hearts are often . . .
  the cage of every unclean bird,
  the fount of every loathsome desire,
  the deadly fruit of every poisonous tree,
  the open wayside of every earthly lust and passion.
This is because our faith sleeps. Awaken it, good Lord--give it more strength, until all impurity is cast out!

We now go forth to intermingle with the world. This foe is artful to entrap us. It will approach in an enchanting guise. It will extend many a gilded bait, and will present many a poisoned cup. Lord, increase our faith--and we shall scorn every painted bauble, and trample down every bewitching snare! We shall then be more than conquerors, for this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith!

May our hearts be entirely weaned from the world, dead to its outward enticements, and wholly consecrated unto You. Help us by Your grace--that we may live with You, and to You, during the little speck of our earthly sojourn.

Oh! hear the cry of our anxious hearts, and increase our faith, through the merits and for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Paul Washer's Testimony

I LOVE TESTIMONIES! To hear the wonderful works of God is just well . . .AWESOME!!! Our family has listened to hundreds of Paul Washer sermons. His testimony is so encouraging. Actually, everyone's testimony is encouraging! Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see!

Nothing But the Blood!

"I read a news clip tonight about a Syrian boy who escaped being shot in a massacre.  How?  He soaked his clothes with his brother’s blood while the gunmen shot the rest of his family.  So, how can we escape the righteous anger of God toward us?  How can we escape the second death which is hell?  We must be soaked in the blood of God’s Lamb, that is, I must trust entirely in the shed blood of Christ as a payment for sins, even mine.  Soaked!  Nothing but the blood!  Don’t suppose that church membership, baptism, good deeds or good intentions will merit you anything before God.  God’s death angel ‘passed over’ the children of Israel (like a tornado that did not touch down).  Why?  Exodus 12:13b  when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.  By sincere faith, sprinkle your soul with the blood of the Lamb of God.  These only will be left standing in the end, Revelation 7:14b, 15a  These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation (this life, Acts 14.22) , and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  For this reason, they are before the throne of God.  This is the essence of the good news, the gospel.  Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!"
- Bob Jennings Journal