FEAR NOT!

FEAR! Something all of us have to confront and conquer. A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. I would only imagine that this fear can come upon the lives of men and women of God when faced with those that are a threat. Unfortunately with recent news in a church in Charleston – this fear is brought to us all. For just one week ago, nine lives were stolen after a bible study. A horrific and extreme tragedy hit our church and a crime inconceivable. For the families that lost loved ones…those that are grieving… as a body of Christ, we grieve with you! Our prayers go out to all the loved ones of Charleston. I can’t image the thoughts of all the people that congregate at this church. For those that stood home on that day or those that survived. God knows all things, for the souls of all those lives are before the Lord. As a Christian, a wife of a pastor, a woman of God, I can only say how sorrowful I am to have learned that this happened in a house of God. May God continue to bring comfort in this time of loss.

The bible tells us to have no fear. A reminder of what to do in the most difficult times of our lives. I am sure that even the most prominent people recorded in the bible were also faced with fear. There was a man in the New Testament that was stoned, by the name of Stephen. He was a man of faith and integrity, doing the work of God.

“Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:8-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

After this man had stood up boldly to confess the word of the Lord, that did not stop these men from committing such a hideous crime. I can only imagine that the presence of God covered him even during this tragedy in the same way that the presence was covering the lives of those last Wednesday in Charleston, South Carolina. In a time like this we grieve with those that have lost loved ones. We pray for those that lost excellent leaders, mentors and givers.  We pray for those that are wounded by the impact and memory in a church setting. Now we will overcome evil with good [Romans 12:21].  We will love one another [John 13:34]. We will keep them in a constant prayer for protection and inner consoling [James 5]. Our hearts hurt too, especially when it is an attack against the body of Christ.

What is this world coming to! As the Word declares in Matthew 24:12, “In the last days Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” But there will be some that show the Love of God still. This love will cover a multitude of sins! For there are people everywhere gathered together in agreement to lift up this town in prayer and provide services to assist. Thank God for a remnant of people that still walk in the ways of God. We can no longer focus on self but come to a point where we are constantly considering the needs and lives of others. This goes beyond self. This is about a world that is being impacted by trials and tribulations. We can help. We can change. We can love.

May we have no fear!

May we continue to walk in love!

May we shine forth the love of Jesus in our hearts and let the world know that such tragedy will not separate the body of Christ but only bring us together even closer. For what the enemy means for bad, God will turn it around for the good. Let us put all our trust, hope, faith and love into action during such a season as this.

Dear Charleston!
WE LOVE YOU! WE ARE PRAYING WITH YOU!
FEAR NOT! God is with us…

With Love,

A Servant of the Lord.