Tag: Christ

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Battle Fear with Love

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Mark Twain once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.” God never said we would never face fear. He said to use love against it. To fight, we must master fear by building love.

Fear is often brought on by not understanding something or someone. We choose to lead with, “I don’t know therefore I must fear.” Instead, if we let love lead us, we take a moment to step back, see God in the situation or person and realize there is nothing to fear. God has this all under his control.

Before you know it, we are letting God lead us, instead of our fear. Let your love of God lead you into battle and you will fight fear right where it stands.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Listen…

James 1:19 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

Quick to listen.

Slow to speak.

Slow to become angry.

I know this is the go-to verse for holding your temper. I believe it is much more than that though. It says, slow to speak. How many times do I offer my advice or try to fix things when I should just be there for someone? How many times have I gossiped about someone or something? How many times have I stuck my nose in somewhere where it doesn’t belong? Slow to anger is just part of this verse. Listening and knowing when to speak and when to just listen are also part of this verse.


Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Self-Discipline is Yuour Tool

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

I have read this verse in the past when I was frightened or anxious or in a PTSD moment. In the King James version instead of self-discipline, it says sound mind. That is the verse I always remember. 

When I read it today in the NIV and it said self-discipline it reminded me of James 1;12 James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” I can overcome these temptations and trials. I was given a spirit of self-discipline. I do not face these challenges on my own. I have nothing to be anxious about. This warrior has the tools, she just needs to use them!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Keep on Trying!

James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

I think too many people look at this verse and see themselves as complete failures. They gave in today and now they are failures. They don’t remember all the times they stood. They don’t think about all the times they will stand again. God never expected us to be tested once and pass or fail. No! Grace picks us up when we stumble so we can try again. Star Athletes are not made over one event. They are honed over years of practice. That is the reason the word persevere is used in verse 12. We will face these trials over and over again. We will stumble from time to time. It is the fact that we persevere or keep trying that matters.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Fear is a Choice

Philippians 4:6-9

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Fear is a choice! It doesn’t start out that way. It sneaks up on you. But when it strikes, there is plan of attack to win the battle against fear. You must first choose to pray, petition and with thanksgiving seek God. Focus Your mind elsewhere on whatever is true, noble, right, pure lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. Put all of this into practice and then….

God will give you the weapon you most desire to defeat the fear…

                    PEACE!

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Sharing is Caring

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

This passage was meant for Christians to help each other keep the faith of God. One way we do this is by sharing our stories. Giving our testimonies, good, bad, and ugly. Tell people about where you have been and what God has done in your life. Share your story. Let others know they are not alone. 

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Timing is Everything

Psalm 31:15
My Times are in your hands.


Andrew Murray was a South African pastor who visited England in 1895. While there, an old back injury flared up causing him to go on bed rest. The lady of the house he was staying at came to him one day because of a friend of hers was in bad shape. She asked Murray if he had any words of encouragement for her friend. He quickly handed her a piece of paper he had been writing on with words of encouragement for himself. It said,
 
“In times of trouble say:
First- God brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place. In that, I will rest.
Next-He will keep me in His love and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child.
Then-He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow.
Last-In his good time He can bring me out again-how and when he knows.
I am here-By God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time.”
 
In this age of microwaves, drive-thrus, and instant pots, we want everything NOW! We would do good to remember that everything is in God’s hands and God’s timing. He knows where we are at and what we are going through. He knew we would be there long before we did. He will be there through it all and with us all the time. His love and grace will see us through, even in our darkest pit.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Is the Sun Really the Center of our Universe?

Numbers 14:9 The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.

You know the commercials that say, “9 out of 10 dentists prefer this toothbrush over this one”? Have you ever wondered if that one dentist that disagreed was right? Maybe, just maybe he knew something the other nine dentists didn’t. Should you still trust the other nine dentists more because they agreed on the other toothbrush? Is the majority, always right? If you believe that then you must also believe the Earth is the center of the universe because Galileo was about the only astronomer to say otherwise…lol!
 
In the bible, there were twelve men who left out on an adventure to explore a new place for the Israelites to inhabit (Numbers 14). Ten of these men came back with very frightening details about how the people were much stronger than the Israelites. They even spread scary rumors among the people of how they would all be devoured by these people (Numbers 13:32 & 33). 
 
On the other hand, there were two men, Caleb, and Joshua, who came back talking about the milk and honey that flowed everywhere, and large amounts of fruits! Yes, the city is well fortified, and the people are powerful, but we can take them. Who would you trust, the ten, or the two? 
 
Well, let me tell you, there was one guy in charge at the time, Mosses, and he knew something the others didn’t. He knew God had said he would give the land of Canaan to the Israelites. He declared, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30). However, the majority won out. The people chose to believe the majority. They were too afraid and refused to go in and take over Canaan. So, God basically cursed them for not following his directions and said none of them would ever see the promise land. They lost out on a wonderful gift all because they chose to follow the majority.
 
Sometimes, in our lives, we need to stand up and not follow the majority. We need to let our voices be heard. When we follow God’s direction, we can be sure we are doing the right thing no matter how wrong it looks to the majority. Sometimes we need to be that one dentist and say, “Nope, I recommend this one over here because it is best for my patients!”

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Home, Safe!

Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God

Mom and I use to ride, walk and run long distances in the county surrounding our little town. No matter how far we went, on our way back we would eventually look up at the horizon and there would stand this group of trees we called Nessie. They looked just like the Loch Ness Monster rising up above the fields. We still had 2.5 miles to get home when we reached them, but every time we
did, we felt like we were already home. We were safe. Everything was going to be ok.

When we are going through something in life, we have something or rather someone we can look up and see on the horizon as well. God is just waiting for you to look up and know you are safe. Quit struggling, be still and know he has got you. You are home. You are safe. Everything is going to be alright.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
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Not Alone, Even in the Pit

Romans 8:38-39 
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
When I was a little kid, I would sometimes walk in my sleep. Most of the time it was OK. I would just end up somewhere in my house, wake up and then go back to bed. However, this time I wasn’t so lucky. I was not at home. I wasn’t even in a house.
 
I was about eight and my parents took me camping. We were at a campground and our spot was on the other side of the park from the bathrooms. I guess I needed to use the bathroom and so I got up, left the camper and started walking in the middle of the night. When I woke up, I realized where I was and started to panic. I was all alone and now I had to walk all the way back in the dark with lots of scary noises all around me.
 
There are times in my life now when PTSD, depression or anxiety sets in and I feel alone. The darkness all around me is deafening. The silence is solid. I retreat to my hole away from everyone. I build my walls all around. I find myself in the pit once again.
 
Much like my night at the campground, I am not alone. As I stepped out into the darkness, I began to pray and talk to God. He was with me in that bathroom and he walked with all the way back to the camper. Deep in the pit he is also waiting for me to call out his name. All I need to do is turn my head towards him and he will swoop in and hold my hand. WE will wait together. WE will walk out together. I will never be alone.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.