There is No Fear in Love

Have you ever had a moment, at any point in your life, when you were in a restaurant or a public place and you bowed your head and closed your eyes to pray feeling so vulnerable or exposed?

You are opening your heart to profess your love to Christ, in front of many who may not believe that He truly exists.

I know there were many moments early on in my walk that I wanted to peak out the corner of my eye while praying to see if anyone was watching. I never thought too much further into it, because as I have grown in my walk with Him, it no longer matters who sees me praying because He is important to me. But the other day, had a moment of vulnerability as I sat down to eat and pray alone in a restaurant, like I used to have early on in my relationship with Christ. And for a moment, I was concerned who was watching me as I prayed. And it puzzled me, so I asked the Lord, “where is this coming from?” I have no need to be concerned because I love you and I know you have me covered. I just sat with this thought for a moment with my eyes closed. And then the Lord said very gently to me, many times it is hard for human beings to be truthful about how they feel, believing that they are more susceptible to harm when being honest.

We fear being hurt, especially in front of others. If something goes wrong in our lives while loving a God that we know in our hearts, but no one can physically see, it makes us even more visible. It brings to light what we live and walk by in faith.

Having faith in God, something, or someone, when there is no tangible evidence for it, is a risk. And there is a possibility that you will be criticized, laughed at, talked about, and more but because we trust, we are able to open our hearts to take a step forward.

A lot of times we do not step out on faith because we are thinking, “Will I be accepted?’ “ Will I be loved?” “Will someone hold me up in my time of need?” “And where is the physical evidence of it all?”

When we do not believe that we have something strong and substantial to remind us of Christ’s [someone’s] love for us, it can be frightening.

When all we have is what people have told us about Him, it can be frightening.

When all we can do is base His love off of what we see in others lives, it can be frightening.

You want to trust and believe because the person’s spiritual conviction is so strong in their lives but there is no physical evidence, it can be frightening.

Sometimes all people believe they have are small clues that advocate who Christ is in their lives, and His interest in them but not a concrete and solid something that they can put their hands on with their human mind. This not knowing and lack of tangible, touchable, proof can make one feel abandoned, victimized, and insecure. So they do not take a risk in loving what they cannot physically see because it is not logical, so why take a chance when one does not know if He is going to respond?

These are only small nuggets of reasons why we should take a chance on God:

“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us.” -1 John 4: 12-13 (NLT)

“All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” – 1 John 4: 15-16 (NLT)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” -1 John 4: 18

His love is never forceful, and He loves us through all of our doubts, fears, and questions.

Now that is a great love!

As my good sister friend would say, “Get to know Him!”

About the Author :

Francine E. Ott is truly thankful to have a relationship with God and is seeking Him daily for guidance and any opportunities to walk closer with Him in truth and love. Francine is a choreographer/dancer, teacher, and soon to be counselor who has a heart to see God's transforming power, renew, restore, and heal the minds, souls, and bodies of people's lives.

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The Lullaby

My sweet little girl has so much energy and character, it’s often hard for me to keep up with her and maintain the level of stamina needed to sustain her needs. Thankfully, God created coffee, and I express my appreciation to Him for it daily. I truly do enjoy every minute with my daughter though, and we have so much fun together doing the things that I would normally consider mundane. She thinks that folding laundry and washing dishes are a special treat that result in a broken heart for her if Mommy dares to do them without her. If my husband or I have the audacity to take the recycling or trash out without including her, we can expect a full on meltdown. She seems to want to mimic anything that I do, and I often hear her saying phrases that she has obviously picked up from me as well. I am so thankful to say that these phrases are “Bless His Heart” or “Be a Good Listener” rather than some of the former choice words I would've spoken before God snatched me up.

Each day, after being up for hours and using all the sass she has to help me do these tasks, as well as dancing, singing and playing for a good while, the time comes for her to take a nap so that the "crankies" don’t set it. If you have a child, you know that this can sometimes go smoothly, and other times it can test your patience more than any other task you've ever attempted. I’ve found the most consistent part of this process is that she asks me to sing a song to her. The lullabies I sing to her vary depending on the day or what I’ve been listening to close to that time, and since I am one of those people who finds a song she loves and plays it on repeat for a year, I typically know a lot of the lyrics to a lot of songs. This comes in extremely handy for singing lullabies, so all you future Mamas out there, keep this in mind.

The pastor of our church has done a series recently called ‘God is Able’ and among lighting a fire in many other areas, this has also reignited my love for the song with the same title by Hillsong. My little girl has fallen asleep every day for two weeks now while I recite these words over her: “God is able, He will never fail, He is Almighty God, Greater than all we seek, Greater than all we ask, He has done great things…” (if you have never heard the song, Google and listen and repeat as necessary). This has resonated with me on a whole new level lately. There is nothing that God is not able to do. There are so many things in our world, in our lives, that we think are not possible because they simply don’t happen for us the minute we decide we want or need them. As my pastor said in this series “You can’t microwave a miracle.”

Our world and society has become so accustomed to the fast paced response in every facet that we can’t understand why our heart’s desires aren’t being fulfilled immediately upon request. Patience is a virtue that the majority of us do not have. And the truth is that in the waiting time, the space between our request and the response, that’s where the faith comes in. Taking the time to kneel, and pray in the silence, that’s when we realize that God is able. He WILL never fail. Even if we don’t get what we want, His plan is always better than what we could’ve hoped for.

If you’re in the midst of the waiting period, sing yourself a lullaby. And imagine what God is singing over you, what He has planned that is immeasurably above anything that you’ve set for yourself. Praise Him, because He is worthy above any other desire in your heart.

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things

About the Author :

Emilee Lowe is a Christ following wife and mother who lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a former hair stylist who is committed to being used by God in whatever way He sees fit.

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He is With You

God wants to remind you of a basic truth today. Simple, yet, if we grasp and cling to it, it is a truth that will bring so much peace. He wants to remind you that He is with you and for you. Now, this may seem like a Christianity 101 truth. However, there are thousands upon thousands of believers who struggle daily with accepting this.

I mean, they know that there is a God, but sometimes they feel such a frustrating disconnect from that same God whom they worship and even love because they can't "feel" His Presence. And all they want is to "feel" near and close to Him. (Anybody ever been there?)

It is only right that we, as His creation, hunger and thirst for His Presence. We were created for Him and for sweet communion with Him. It's only right that you crave that which you were created for. But, because of emotions and human nature, when we feel a certain way or when we don't sense His Presence, we become frustrated, discouraged or even feel distant from Him.

It's then, in those moments where so many begin to beat themselves up and think something is wrong with them personally because they can't, as they say, feel Him.

Stop doing this to yourself. God gave you this desire for Him. Don't allow the desire He gave you to be distorted. You were made to crave. You will always desire more of Him. Moses was a man that spoke to God face to face, as a man speaks to His friend. Yet, even He wanted more. Even though he walked in a place of intimacy with God that many have never experienced, he still said, in Exodus 33:18- "Please, show me Your glory."

He wanted more of God than He was already experiencing. So, there is nothing wrong with you when you desire more of God. Actually, you need to check yourself when you find yourself complacent and not wanting more of His Presence in your life. You were created for His Presence. Nothing is wrong because you crave and desire Him and want to even feel His Presence. Whenever you experience God, you will always want more. It's wrong when we believe our flesh and our emotions.

Our relationship with God is not determined by or based on how we feel. It's based and established in faith.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV)

Your feelings and flesh should never dictate to you or have anything to do with your relationship with your God. Don't allow emotions and feelings to tell you that because you feel or don't feel a certain way that He is not with you.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. (Psalms 139:7-10 NKJV)

God basically says here, "I don't care where you go in this entire universe, I'm there."

Even if you make your bed in hell, His presence is there.

There is no place you can be that God is not. When you're driving in traffic, He's there

On your job, He's there. Even though, you may say you can't feel Him at times, He's always there.

Have peace in knowing that He's there.

God promises His children that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed.)

It doesn't matter how you feel at any given moment, your feelings don't affect Him, nor the fact that He's omnipresent.

Our wavering, ever changing feelings and emotions don't change the fact that He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us.

We must walk in His promises with confidence as His children. Having peace knowing that God said He would never leave us and that He will always be with us.

Let's Pray:

Father, help me to rest in knowing that you are always with me and that my feelings can never change the fact that you love me with an unfailing and unconditional love.

About the Author :

Pastor Pamela Bell is a passionate, lover of God, who desires to see God's people walk in the knowledge of who they are in Christ. She resides in Mobile, AL and serves as an Elder at her church, Gulf Coast Christian Center. Pastor Pamela enjoys reading, spending time with friends and all things chocolate.

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Balloons over Spotlights

2013 was a year of weddings. That is if you were a celebrity. By the end of the year, if I read or heard one more comment, tweet or hashtag of Kate and Willliam, or the engagement of Kim and Kanye, I was going to scream.

But God, I Want To Be a Wife!

Have you ever thought, "I wish there was a manual on how to be a woman, on how to get and keep a man and becoming his wife?" There are so many books today on this subject, but all they teach are how to play games and manipulation tactics that are fleeting, and used as bait to “catch” a man. Many of them teach the opposite of what a Godly woman truly looks like and if we are not careful we will end up following the ways of the world over Gods ways. Those books work if you want to attract a particular type of man, but it will not attract a good man, a husband, a man of God. Thank God He gave us a “manual” on all matters including becoming a Godly woman; a woman that is to be valued and cherished—a wife. That book is the Bible.

I can’t lie, I was blessed with an incredible mother. She taught me (by actions) what it looked like to be an incredible woman; sacrifice, honesty, kindness, patience, a spirit that won’t quit and that outside beauty would never compare to the beauty of your heart [click to tweet]. There are so many who have not had an example of how to be a woman or a wife, more importantly a Biblical wife. We can no longer plead ignorance on the matter. No more excuses, we have all we need written clearly word for word.

But God, I want to be a wife!

Do you really think God is going to bless you with a husband if you carry yourself more like a "side chick" than a wife? [click to tweet]

No! He blesses us with marriage as a lasting commitment not a fleeting romance. Some think that marriage is like buying a new pair of shoes. You know the overpriced, foot candy dripping with color and that high heel making you and your feet look like you just stepped right out of a glamour magazine? That is until you buy them, after you've put them on a credit card instead of working for, and patiently saving the money to purchase them. Then the novelty fades, the trend changes and, well,  you're bored and to top it all off you’re broke, mad, and wanting a newer pair of shoes because your old Jimmy Choos are like garbage compared to the newest thing on the block. Marriage is not done to show off. It is not something to be used to show ourselves and others around us that we have value. It is not a trend. It is serious and not to be taken lightly.

Godly women don’t become that overnight. Let’s jump in and see what Gods Words says about some of the traits of a Godly Woman.

Traits of a Godly Woman:

• Noble Character (Proverbs 31:10, 29):

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

no·ble adjective \ˈnō-bəl\ : having, showing, or coming from personal qualities that people admire (such as honesty, generosity, courage, etc.) (Merriam-webster). Or as KJV puts it: Great; elevated; dignified; being above everything that can dishonor reputation.

A great example of a woman in the Bible who exemplifies this quality is Ruth. Ruth is a true example of what a Proverbs 31 looks like. Boaz speaks directly to her about this trait, “And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character (Ruth 3:11).” What speaks to me about this verse is, Ruth was not the one boasting about how noble of a woman she was, it was a quality that everyone saw in action and she was known for it.

Verse 29 states, “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” A noble woman stands out. She surpasses the trends. She doesn't just do noble things here and there, she is noble in the utmost core of her being.

• Works With Eager Hands (Proverbs 31:13,15-18,24,27):

I put these scriptures under the same categories because they speak about similar things, how a woman works. First off, she is not lazy. She doesn’t sit around eating bon bons watching Maury, while her husband works all day. She doesn’t huff and puff about working (whether working outside or inside the home). Scripture says she works with “eager hands” (vs. 13) she sets about her work “vigorously” (with strength and energy) (vs. 17), she gets up while it’s still dark (vs. 15) & works late into the night (vs. 18). This lady gets stuff done. She doesn’t sit idle if she is unemployed, she contributes to the household anyway she can scripture says, “she makes linen garments and sells them” (vs. 24). Also, “she watches over the affairs of her household” (vs. 27). Never a dull moment.

• Guards her mouth (Proverbs 31:26):

Verse 26 (NLV) says, “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.” She doesn’t speak about everything or on every topic. She guards her mouth with diligence to ensure that what comes out of it speaks life, uplifts and is covered in wisdom. She is kind in her speech and is careful with the words she chooses to use. This is a woman who is not spreading gossip or hearsay, but knows the importance and impact of her words and in turn guards her mouth.

For other verses on guarding your mouth see: Proverbs 21:23, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 12:18, Titus 3:2

• She gives to the needy (Proverbs 31:20):

Verse 20 says, “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands her hands to the needy.” She doesn’t just help the needy and give them the littlest help possible, but she embraces them and extends her hands. She gives them the most she can while loving them and making them feel seen and not invisible. She does not snub her nose at the needy while feeling she is over them.

She never just gives the least of what she can get away with to be seen as a Godly woman. Instead she gives the most and even more to those around her. This is a woman, who is not pretending to be a Godly woman, but at the core of her heart and being, she is and that is something that cannot be faked.

• She’s prepared (Proverbs 31:21-22):

“When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.”

She is prepared. Her family has warm clothes ready in advance for the changing seasons. She does not wait until the season changes and then run around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to find a deal at target on warm clothes. She has planned ahead, so she has no fear or anxiety over the changing seasons in the weather or in life.

• Knows her beauty is not based on physical appearance (Proverbs 31:30; 1 Peter 3:3-5):

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

This is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible. It teaches the absolute opposite of the world teaches. It teaches us that the most beautiful women in the world are beautiful because of their fear, reverence and love of the Lord. This trait is continual and does not change the way physical beauty does.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.”

Scripture is very clear on where we should place our value and it is not on physical appearance. True beauty never fades, because true beauty is eternal and internal. This is not to say that we as women are not to take care of our physical appearance, we should take care of ourselves outwardly and internally. But, we must be cautious not to make external beauty an idol. The world tells us that the only way to be seen, valued and to become a wife is to look and act a certain way. That what the world sees as beautiful and sexy is a half-naked woman who flaunts certain body parts for attention.

Ladies, let me remind you, we are not of this world. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather be respected then have attention, which usually is short-lived and fickle.

About the Author :

Leilani Glassmyer is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. Gods Grace is her air.

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Unqualified, Inadequate, and Irrevocably Anointed

I find myself at that place once again of feeling like I’m unqualified and inadequate.

I’ll be the first one to admit that the dreams God have given me are way over my head, so much so to the point that sometimes I pause and ask, “Me God?...Are you sure?”

God is calling me to be a doctor. I’m very passionate about the field of medicine and seeing people made whole physically and emotionally. But even with all this passion and vision, fear and anxiety creep in when I’m studying for the MCAT, which is the admissions test to get into medical school. This will be my second time taking the exam after an unsuccessful first attempt, and of course discouragement has set in. However, through this gruesome process God is teaching me to rely on His Holy Spirit every second, while He continues to whisper words of peace and comfort in my ear that I’m right where He wants me.

God has anointed each of us for a special work that is beyond our capability of completing in our own strength. The anointing very simply put is the power and manifested presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

When God anoints us, His supernatural reality collides with our human experience to create the miraculous. [click to tweet]

Often a clue that God is calling you to a certain area is when the dream that He has given you is SO much bigger than yourself, and requires a big, great, God to do it through you. Your dreams should leave you giddy, excited, and overwhelmed by the greatness of it all. Ephesians 3:20, Amplified Bible, tells us that God’s power works within us to do “super-abundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].” God’s anointing works within us, changes us, and qualifies us.

You are right on track when you understand that you must rely completely on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to fulfill your purpose [click to tweet]. We have to remember what the Word says: “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit’, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Zechariah 4:6, NLT). How amazing is it that the armies of heaven are backing us up? You have a divine destiny to walk into and it’s only by the grace and favor of God on your life that you will be able to stand. He will open doors for you that seem impossible to open in the natural because you are His Beloved daughter and you are called. From the world’s perspective, I’m not considered a competitive applicant for medical school, but God’s calling on my life says otherwise.

In a sense, feeling unqualified and inadequate is the perfect posture to maintain when you desire for God to use you. With all of “you” out of the way, God is able to do His best work and get all the glory. “We ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7, NLT). This treasure within us is the very presence of God and the gifts and dreams He has deposited within each of us.

God’s dreams for you are big, breathtaking and miraculous. Only a big, breathtaking, and miraculous God can bring them to pass. When you are anointed, it does not matter what others say or what the obstacles are. You can rest, knowing that as a Daughter of the King, you are called and anointed to be you and to dream magnificently.

About the Author :

Endya Joy is a young woman on the journey to becoming a future physician. With a passion for ministering to girls and young women, she desires to be a vessel in which God uses to heal the whole person. She is a girly girl, has a slight obsession with books, and dreams of traveling the world one day. God and family are everything.

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