Once we started and decided on this mission, there have been roller coasters of emotions. Not only from our friends and family with concern, but from us as well. Leaving your home to fly half-way across the country to minister to people who live in a much different setting than you is a scary thing. Watching the news and hearing all the "bad" things happening there is a scary thing. Having friends and family tell you stories of people they know who traveled to Uganda and what has happened is a scary thing.
But what is fear? The Bible describes it perfectly...
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
God didn't design us with fear. He didn't create us to be fearful...He gave us "power and love and self-control". So where does this fear come from? It comes from man. It comes from past experiences. It comes from things not going the way we always like them to. Fear isn't real...it's our imagination. It's the devil trying to stop us from doing things. Having a fear of spiders is your imagination. The spider on your wall can't hurt you. Now, are there spiders that could hurt you? Absolutely! By why let those couple of spiders ruin everything for you.
In life we have bad experiences. We go through bad things and that puts fear in our heart. God tells us to "be strong and courageous". He doesn't want that fear in our hearts. He wants us to cast out that fear and live a life knowing and trusting that "God is with you wherever you go".
Making the decision to travel across the world to a country that we don't know, to minister people we have never met before is a big decision. There are "scary" parts to this mission trip. We could get sick, hurt, or see things we don't want to see. Every morning when you step out your front door you are exposing yourself to getting sick, hurt, or seeing things that you don't want to see. That doesn't stop you from going to work, school, or doing the things you love to do though. And that is why those man-made fears will not stop us. Seeing the smiles, the joy, the discovery, the learning, and the love casts all those fears away. Will we wander off to the plains of Africa on our own? Of course not. We are going to use our brains because we do know things could happen and that is why we will be prepared. We have each other, we have love for others, and we have God. What more do we need?
Fear is imaginary. I challenge you to do something today to help cast away your fears. Throw the spider out the door, climb up that ladder, sleep without a night light on, jump out of a plane, or go on a trip to change your life. Open your heart to God. He is your "light and salvation". You shall not fear.
God Bless
But what is fear? The Bible describes it perfectly...
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
God didn't design us with fear. He didn't create us to be fearful...He gave us "power and love and self-control". So where does this fear come from? It comes from man. It comes from past experiences. It comes from things not going the way we always like them to. Fear isn't real...it's our imagination. It's the devil trying to stop us from doing things. Having a fear of spiders is your imagination. The spider on your wall can't hurt you. Now, are there spiders that could hurt you? Absolutely! By why let those couple of spiders ruin everything for you.
In life we have bad experiences. We go through bad things and that puts fear in our heart. God tells us to "be strong and courageous". He doesn't want that fear in our hearts. He wants us to cast out that fear and live a life knowing and trusting that "God is with you wherever you go".
Making the decision to travel across the world to a country that we don't know, to minister people we have never met before is a big decision. There are "scary" parts to this mission trip. We could get sick, hurt, or see things we don't want to see. Every morning when you step out your front door you are exposing yourself to getting sick, hurt, or seeing things that you don't want to see. That doesn't stop you from going to work, school, or doing the things you love to do though. And that is why those man-made fears will not stop us. Seeing the smiles, the joy, the discovery, the learning, and the love casts all those fears away. Will we wander off to the plains of Africa on our own? Of course not. We are going to use our brains because we do know things could happen and that is why we will be prepared. We have each other, we have love for others, and we have God. What more do we need?
Fear is imaginary. I challenge you to do something today to help cast away your fears. Throw the spider out the door, climb up that ladder, sleep without a night light on, jump out of a plane, or go on a trip to change your life. Open your heart to God. He is your "light and salvation". You shall not fear.
God Bless