Fear

Scientists tell us that humans are born with only 2 natural fears. Anyone that's ever observed a baby knows that babies jump at loud noises. Babies are also fearful of falling. As we go through life we LEARN TO FEAR other things. Worth noting is that fear almost always relates to future events, such as worsening of a situation, or continuation of a situation that is unacceptable. Fear could also be an instant reaction to something presently happening. 

There is a lot of fear in Arizona and it is an emotion that is felt no matter the language you speak or the color of your skin.  I'm not sure what the root of the fear is from exactly, but it is a very powerful emotion that is fueling feelings of anger, resentment, vulnerability, hatred and a host of many others. If there’s one word that seems to describe our world and its mood today it is fear. It seems like every day the headlines scream of some new crisis in our world that threatens to plunge us into chaos. Fear sells. Nothing will motivate us to run or standstill and hide faster than fear.  The business world has known for years that fear sells and have learned to take advantage of people during times of fear, even if it is just something that's anticipated. Jesus spoke of a time when men’s hearts would fail them for fear. (Luke 21:26) We seem to be living in just such a time as that today. 

The good news is that Christ has come to take away the source of our fears. Fears are real. Christ does not tell us that we should simply cheer up and they’ll all go away. It is right to fear death if we do not know Christ. It is right to fear loneliness or the problems that seem to overwhelm us, because those things are very real. But so is Christ, and when we realize that He has dealt with sin and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God, then we do not need to be paralyzed by fear any longer. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

 

Growth

Our devotion for our first night in Phoenix was led by teammate Elizabeth who encouraged us to pull a star from a hat. Upon that star would be a printed word which would be our prayer word for the week.  She did this exercise at her church for Epiphany, and encouraged us to let the star choose us. When were ready, we could share what we were thinking.
When the hat got to me, I pulled out the star with GROWTH printed on it.  Internally, I groaned.  I wanted to draw another one immediately. I don't like mine.  I really don't.  I know GROWTH is usually seen as something we're supposed to desire.  We exclaim as children "When I grow up..."  or adults proclaim to us "wow! you're so grown up!" or we scold someone who we deem immature in their social actions to "grow up!"  But, growing is hard.  It hurts. It can be exciting, but also intimidating and overwhelming.  It often happens in small, incremental ways instead of the straight predictable trajectory I'd prefer.  Sometimes growth only happens when other non-growing areas are cut off.

I know this week will be a time of growth.  How can it not when I'm experiencing so many new things? But, I confess that I am resistant.  GROWTH is closely connected to TRUST for me.  And TRUST is my prayer and theme word for 2011.  I don't care much for it either.  But I'm trying. Come, Holy Spirit, Come. 

2 Peter 1:3-8

Don't Put It Off

 ^3-4Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.  ^5-9So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.