TIME AFTER TIME.....FEAR NOT Donna (Ensign) Woods

LUKE 2:10

Time after time......I've prayed.

Each time the Lord says,"Be not afraid"

Doubts in my eyes have shown

My haunting fear of the unknown....

When I stand and tremble in fear

My Father God draws near.

As I curl up at His feet

He whispers, soft and sweet:

"I've listened each time you prayed

I've come, so you needn't be afraid."

In the dark valley of burden and care

He whispers,"I'll walk with you there"

"Be not afraid of the future planned

I'll give you strength to stand."

"If you crumple as pain draws near,

Remember....I know each tear."

"When firey trials are glaring hot

Peace, be still, and fear not."

"As mountains loom before you....

My courage will help you through."

"So rest....in peaceful sleep

As I will guard and keep."

"I'll hold you close....both day and night.

Remember.....your battles....are Mine to fight !!!"

The Circle written by Donna (Ensign) Woods

Standing, ready to fight

Teeth clenched. Jaws tight.

While the accused whimpers in fear,

Knowing pain and death is very near.

The circle closes in.....

Upon the judged one lost in sin.

Rocks ready----weapons of death,

To torture till the final breath.

Hearts pounding.

Accusations resounding....

Condemned by man and here to die.

Tears of the lost, beg and cry.

The accusers circling, ready and waiting...

Blood thirsty rocks hesitating....

Circling like animals around the kill

Thirsting for blood to spill.

Sweat glistening in anticipation

Tears pouring in desperation.

Feet stirring clouds of dust

Hearts filled with disgust.

The accused curled on the ground

Desperate pleading with every sound....

 

Where are you, in this circle of death ??

Holding the rock ?...Or taking your final breath ??

Where are you ?

What are you about to do?

Hurl rocks with a blood thirsty cry?

....Or are you the one about to die ?

 

What have we all become ??

To Satan's lie have we succumb ??

Drop your rocks and walk away !!

Fall to your knees and pray.

If you're on the ground.....stand !

This is not what God planned.

Get up, and sin no more.

Walk through tomorrow's door.

God's people don't belong in the circle !!

....Not casting rock and stone

Or cowering all alone.........

A Child's Fear by Donna Ensign Woods

I had a very vivid imagination as a child

During the day, I laughed and played....and smiled

 

But when bedtime came in the dark of night

My heart and mind trembled in fright

 

Witches and bats lurked behind the attic door

....And under my bed awaited more.

 

Evil little monsters with claws and fangs

Blood thirsty creatures....awaited in gangs !!

 

In the dark upstairs and all alone

The wind became a demon's moan....

 

The brush of branches from a tree

Became demonic beast taunting me.

 

I often lay facing my dresser mirror....

So I could see my entire room----filled with fear !

 

In my closet lived a ghost...

I think I feared it the very most.

 

I imagined it floating around my bed

As I quickly covered my head.

 

Horrific and long was sleepless night

Heart pounding in my ears of fright

 

On fearful nights while laying in my bed

A single prayer played in my head

 

I whispered it over and over till I fell asleep

Because I somehow knew it would protect and keep.

 

Even as a child, the Lord's Prayer was power

To comfort and protect in my fearfilled hour.

 

Though wretched demons surrounded me

Threatening to torture and devour me

 

God sent angels to guard over me

From chains of fear, to set me free.

 

I knew demons were close, but could not touch

Because Father God loves me much !!!

 

And now....I've learned the demons are real

Their sulfer breath I smell and feel.

 

They still taunt and threaten to destroy

Laboring to steal my joy.

 

But I peacefully sleep all night long

God has replaced my fear with His song.

 

As angels stand guard around my bed

The Lord's promise plays in my head.

 

Reminding me there's nothing to fear...

For He Himself stands very near !!!

Empty Spaces by Julie Short

Recently, I began to pray for God to pour me out and fill me up with Him.  I catch myself thinking “less of me more you, God.”  I felt good about this, and I kind of puffed up, “Look at me I’m allowing God to pour me out.”  I guess I thought it was like pouring out a glass of water and filling it with fresh cold lemonade. 

I find myself relating to Peter when he told Jesus, “Just don’t wash my feet. Wash all of me.”  Like I am telling God, “Go ahead, pour me out. I’m ready.” 

Well I thought I was ready, that was until the pouring out process began.  My real ugly selfish stuff that I had filled myself up with began to surface. Answered prayer, but as it surfaced I began to see how big it was, how full of selfishness I actually am.  I began to think if God pours me out, there won’t be anything left.  I thought I will crack and smash to the floor like an egg falling from the kitchen counter, hitting the floor and exploding into a mess of goo and goop that needs to be discarded. 

My haughty hopes dashed- maybe this pouring out process wasn’t such a good idea after all.  I shared my dismay with a dear friend and she began to explain her thoughts using (of all things) an egg.  She asked me if I ever blew out an egg at Easter.  I said no, so she explained the process of gently poking two holes in the egg one at the top and one at the bottom.  She then explained how the thick yoke actually comes out the tiny hole.

 Hope again, while God is gently blowing out my selfish gunk he is filling the empty spaces with his love, mercy, grace and the Holy Spirit.  So when my selfishness begins to be emptied out, I won’t crash to the floor, but will be filled with new life, as I read God’s word and pray.

I wonder if that’s what we all fear, the empty spaces, to different degrees.  I feared the empty space of being poured out because I had filled my life with self-doubt, self-pity, with my-self.  I believe there are many things we can fill the empty spaces of our lives up with.  Some fill the emptiness with food, some fill it with stuff, some even to the point of hording, some use drugs and alcohol, some fill the emptiness with being busy, some work, details, perfection.

  

The only way we are truly able to fill the empty spaces is by allowing God, to fill us up by giving him our ugliness, repenting, being baptized and following Him.

The Unknown by Vaneta Andrews

The fear of the unknown grips me to the point of tears. Those tears usually come when I am broken by God’s calling. It’s as if He is saying, “Why are you worrying about this? Haven’t I proven myself time and time again?” Yes He has so why do I find myself worrying about something I have absolutely no control over?

When I started this writing on 5/1/2010 we didn’t have any answers about Tim’s health. Even though the answers and the end result was not what we wanted God saw us through every step of the way!

Now as a new year rolls in I find myself fearful yet again! The fear is still that of the unknown … what is my/our “new normal”? what will this New Year hold for us? and the list goes on and on! BUT when fear gets the best of me I am reminded that …

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

I hope that you (& I) will be able to rest in the shadow of the Almighty in 2011!

No Lines by Julie Short

Life can be like paper without lines.
The lines represent our hopes and dreams.
One phone call, one doctors visit, can erase the lines.
Grieving the loss of the lines takes time.

A time of questions, what just happened?
Yesterday, there were lines and today they are gone?
Why were our lines taken?

A time of anger,
other people have their lines
why can’t we have ours?
How can we live,
now that our dreams are wiped away?

How do we even begin to write
on paper without lines?
Where do we put the words?

We stare at the blank page in disbelief.
We somehow feel as if we stare long enough,
the lines will suddenly appear.
Oh how we want the lines back.

More questions.
How can we possibly go on without lines?

After a long walk through grief and disbelief,
we wake up one morning.

We realize that the unthinkable has changed us.
As we walked with God
through the valley,

finally the task of writing
on paper without lines
seems do able

. With Gods strength and guidance
we
pick
up
the
pen.

Moments by Julie Short

Overwhelmed with:
Fear
Loneliness
Debt
Agendas
Pain
Anxiety
Anger
Grief
Guilt
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Lack of time
Lack of energy

But, what does God want me to do today?
How can I reach out and feel less lonely today?

Praise God that I don’t have to live yesterday today
And I don’t have to live tomorrow today.

I can live in the moments of this day,
some will be good,
some blah,
some challenging,
some painful,
and some beautiful, unforgettable.

If I live the moments of this day,
cherishing the good moments
celebrating the great ones
letting go of the ones I have no control over
(after all we only have control over ourselves,)

if I push away the remnants of yesterday
and I don’t grab tomorrow before it comes

If I simply live in the moments of this day,
one moment at a time,
relying on God to lead, guide and protect
Hiding His word in my heart.

I don’t feel overwhelmed.

Moments are doable
they don’t have room for yesterday
or tomorrow.

They only happen today one at a time

Praise God for moments!

Life's Mountains by Donna (Ensign) Woods

Our life journey can be symbolized by the wondrous mountains. Sometimes we celebrate, dance and shout from the mountain top. Sometimes we are trying to carry the mountain, feeling its crushing weight pressing down upon us, making us feel as if we can't survive another moment.

With excitement and energy, we struggle to climb....to reach the goal, to succeed, to win...often times finding the trail is too steep, too difficult, too dangerous. What if I slip? How far will I fall?? Struggling to stand once again. Bruised. Battered. Exhausted to say the least. Should we search for an easier path? Have we decided the reward is not worth the climb?

Boulders block the path making it seem impossible to continue on. Sometimes the boulders seem like mountains themselves as we encounter them unexpectedly (illness, financial problems, death, divorce......boulders of the worst kind.) Do we have the strength to crush the boulders, roll them out of the way, or find a way around it?? Or do we simply need to rest against it for awhile?

Some days on the mountain are fun and carefree… and wonderful!!! There are winding paths filled with wildflowers and waterfalls.......and Peace. There is warm sunshine with a songbird symphony; secret caves of mystery, adventure... and hidden treasures.

Suddenly we realize darkness surrounds our mountain. Fear and uncertainty lurk behind each rock and bush and around every turn; predators close in, their warm, sticky breath upon our necks. We frantically struggle to focus on the mountain top. The mountain can be so overwhelming and yet so awesome. Pleasant surprises and unexpected dangers.

As each of us journey up our mountain, we find renewing strength and comfort in knowing that God is NOT waiting for us on the mountain top. He is climbing WITH us. He has planted the wildflowers for us to find and He smiles as we drink in the beauty of the mountain view. He taught the songbird to sing just for us. He is there to help us stand each time we slip and fall. He sits beside us to give us strength as we lean against those “big” boulders.

So climb and be blessed by the journey each day. Don't focus so intently on your feet and the placement of each step on the rocky trail. Stop from time to time and be inspired by the view. Look with anticipation at the trail before you, with all of its mystery and wonder and don’t forget to look back and remember… and be blessed all over again. Life is not about just reaching the mountain top...it's about enjoying the climb.

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not grow faint.”

Possibilities by Donna Ensign Woods

Possibilities rain down on me,
For tomorrows, I have yet to see.

When confused and filled with fear,
Possibilities draw me near.

During the midnight of my day,
Possibilities are sent my way.

If ever a door shuts in my face,
Possibilities take me… to a new place.

Praying for those I love so dear,
Possibilities born with every tear.

My Lord hung upon the tree…
So possibilities… could rain down on me...

Fear by Joyce Schafer

What are my fears?

Snakes—as a young girl I remember the chickens making lots of noise and going out to check on them. I also remember stepping on a snake (barefoot.)

Rats—as a young farm wife, I remember a feed room that every time I opened the door a rat would run across the floor. It got to be a routine. Open the door, watch the rat run across the floor, fill feed buckets, and pray that the rat had no friends.

Deer—as an older farm partner (notice how the name changed as my abilities grew,) I remember walking down a field road to get a grain truck only to have deer run out of the corn field. Let me tell you! Deer are really, really big and really, really fast when they are right in front of you.

Skunks—I have never personally encountered these but I have smelled dogs that have. I have no desire to smell like that ever in my lifetime.

These are some of my visible fears but my worse fears are those you cannot see:

Cancer—I have had cancer and have watched my sister and my mother die of cancer. I really fear going through this again or going through this with a loved one.

COPD and Asthma—Not being able to breathe is a big fear. Not being able to do what I want to do is also a big fear.

Accidents—I know the fear of a car going in circles on an icy road and another car backing into my car on a dry road (double fear since a small grandson was in the back seat.)

So how do I deal with these fears when my husband is running late, when the kids are driving on bad roads, the grandkids are sick or I’m waiting on biopsy results?A friend gave me this verse. Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.”

I wish I could say I don’t worry and I don’t fear but I would be lying. I can say I do pray and I do believe that God will take care of my loved ones and me.

Comfort by Theresa Zuber

We all face fears which can vary from phobia's that cripple our ability to enjoy life to just everyday worries that occupy too much of our valuable time. Regardless of the severity, scripture assures us that we need not fear because “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4b) So.. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:13) Therefore..”Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1)

Take comfort in this passage from Isaiah 41:10-13. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

All powerful God, help me to rest in the shadow of your wings, to trust you have my life in your control and to turn to you when I am afraid. Who better to chase the monsters from my thoughts?