"Do Not Be Afraid"

Reading the Christmas story in the books of Matthew and Luke, the command "do not be afraid" stirred something in me.

"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard..." 

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife..."

"Fear not (shepherds), for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people." 

Did you know that the command to "not fear" is supposedly found 366 times in the Bible? God knew we would need His assurance daily!

If you've followed my blog at all, you may have picked up on a subtle theme.  I didn't realize it till recently, but it just jumped right out at me and spoke to my deepest fear.

My fear of being alone.

God has seen me through seasons of incredible loneliness in my life.  I've experienced the hurt of rejection, the loneliness that came with moving several times throughout my childhood, and the pain of emotional isolation as I had learned over the years that it wasn't safe sharing my heart with others.

God has done the sweetest work in my heart since Jesus drew me into a  life-giving relationship with Him three years ago.  He has broken chains, torn down walls, and taught me to trust in Him completely.  He has been my strength and given me a courageous voice to speak Truth in love.  Seriously.  I serve a Lord who is in the Radical Transforming business.

Yet, I'm still human, with doubts and fears, in the constant molding of His Hands.

My God Calling devotional for two days last week was also about fear...

Never let yourselves fear anybody or anything.  No fear of My failing you. No fear that your faith will fail you.  No fear of poverty or loneliness.  No fear of not knowing the way.  No fear of others. No fear of their misunderstanding. 

But, My children, this absolute casting out of fear is the result of a Perfect Love, a perfect Love of Me and My Father.  Speak to me about everything. Listen to me at all times.  Feel My tender nearness, substituting at once some thought of me for the fear.  

The powers of evil watch you as a besieging force would watch a guarded city- the object being always to find some weak spot, attack that, and so gain an entrance. So evil lurks around you, and seeks to surprise you in some fear.  

The fear may have been but a small one, but it affords evil a weak spot of attack and entrance, and then in come rushing despondency, doubt of me, and so many other sins.  Pray, My beloved children, for that Perfect Love of Me that indeed casts out all fear.

I knew God was speaking to my heart... could He be any more direct?  I began praying that God wipe away my fears of loneliness and meet me in my needs as my Father, my Brother, my Friend, my Teacher, my Husband, my Strength, my Counselor, my Shield, my Shepherd, and my Stronghold as I step out in faith.

You know what God did? He comforted me and filled me with a freeing peace about next year.  I know I will experience emotions of loneliness in being separated from friends and loved ones, but God will be with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9).   All I need is Him!

And yet more answer to prayer?  I met a young woman for lunch last week who will be living within walking distance from where I'll be in the D.R. We shared how God called us, what the Lord is stirring in our hearts, our excitement for next year, and our longings for the future.  Before parting ways we got to pray for one another.  I AM SO BLESSED! God TOTALLY heard my prayers for community in the D.R.!

So, in confessing my fears, what are you afraid of? What is holding you back? What lies have you believed?

Is there a conversation God is asking you to have? A decision He is asking you to make? A Truth He is asking you to believe?

Can you imagine what our lives could be like if we didn't let our fears control us?  Surrender everything to the Lord, including your fears, and you wont regret it.

"I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears" Psalm 34:4

Childlike Faith

I've learned it's contagious.  Childlike faith.  When I spend any amount of time with children, my heart is captured by what is truly important in life.

Yesterday I made it back up to The Shack to help volunteer with the kids.  I was immediately bombarded by hugs...  I really miss teaching there!  I got the opportunity to lead a small group of 3rd graders and we discussed our favorite names of Jesus. Going around the circle I heard Jesus, Light of the World, Everlasting Father, Messiah, and Immanuel,  "God with us".   

We pondered how Joseph might have felt when the angel of the Lord came to him in that first dream telling him to name their son Jesus.  Many of the kids exclaimed that they would have "peed their pants!"

That's just it.  No inhibitions. Just real...  Isn't that how God wants us to come to Him?  (I don't mean with dirty pee pants, but I know with certainty He'd take you that way, too!)

There is a simple innocence about the way children think and pray that encourages me to return to that state.  It's what Jesus spoke of in Mark 10: 14-15...

He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

I think that's why I love spending time with kids.  Their faith is contagious.  They come as they are and are hungry for Truth.  They pray what's on their hearts and know God hears their every prayer... and we've prayed some pretty awesome prayers together.

Nothing is impossible for their God and the whole world lays before them.   I cannot even begin to describe the feeling I get when a child learns something new about God from the Bible, tells a friend about Jesus, or is overjoyed to share how they saw God move that week. You can't help but be filled with joy in knowing that the Kingdom of God truly belongs to such as these.    

And it's not only childlike faith, it's childlike giving...

A little girl gave me this note and box of her toys to take to kids who need joy 

The whole Shack went to work coloring 30 backpacks for kids in the villages

Another child, knowing I'm going to home school, gave me his math book with $5 of his own tucked inside to support this mission

These children have faith in what God can and will do, and I'm encouraged by how God is moving in their hearts to advance His Kingdom.  

Childlike faith knows no age... it's for all who come to the Lord and ask for Him to live in their hearts.  It's that simple. It's childlike.  

  

Night of Support

Last night my friend Ashley hosted a get-together in support of the ministry I'll be doing in the D.R.  I felt so loved and supported by those who attended.  I am still overwhelmed by how good God is in orchestrating last night's event.

I had only recently met Ashley.  We met for the first time when her family came to UCUMC and her son joined us in "The Shack," the ministry I led for 3rd-5th grades.  We then met again, months later, at a silent auction our church held in support of various missions around the world.  It was at this event where Ashley invited me out for lunch to hear more about what God was calling me to do.

At lunch, Ashley shared with me what God was speaking to her.  Unbeknownst to me, God had been stirring (and stirring!) in her heart to hold an event for me to share His calling on my life and to ask for people to join me prayerfully and financially...

HOLY COW!

I was so humbled by Ashley's response to the Lord.  It was an amazing evening! We ate, we talked, we prayed, and God was present.  I am so grateful for the people God has placed in my life as He continues revealing to me that I am not alone, nor ever will be!

If you, too, would like to support the ministry I will be doing with Missionary Ventures in the D.R., you can click on the following website and choose the box for "Field Coordinator Ministry- Preferenced for" and type my name, Lauren Ferguson.

https://www.mvi.org/donations/

Thank you and God bless!