Fear Not: a Conversation for Every Day of the Year

It's never too late to enter into this conversation. Hear your Lord speak to your heart: My child...

prayer

Fear not...you are never alone for I am with you!

Fear not...you are never left out for you are one with Me !

Fear not...you are never condemned, but always accepted! I not only love you...I like you!

Fear not...you are always adequate with My adequacy...no matter how helpless and inadequate you feel!

Fear not...you are alive with my everlasting, indestructible life, no matter how dead you feel inside! I am your Life!

I AM in your "right here, right now," whether it be suffering in a hospital room or struggling over a wardrobe choice in your closet...and everything in between...I am with you!

Lord, I believe, help my unbelief...

You are my Courage, when I am afraid!

You are my Adequacy, when I am helpless and afraid of failing!

You are my Comfort Zone, and nothing You send me is outside of YOU, my Comfort Zone Christ!

Abba

You are my words, the Word, when my words fail me!

I invite you, O my King, my indwelling Lord...

into my fears...one by one...moment by moment...day by day...

into my mind and harassing thoughts...

into my nervous system and blood pressure that tends to be like the wind and waves being tossed to and fro...

into each and every thing I face today and for as many days as we walk together on this earth...

I chose YOU afresh this year... this day, my God.  Amen.

The Lord is ever present with us.Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy...and the God of peace will walk with you. Philippians 4:5b-9 VOICE

And the Winners Are...

Thank you all for your God-honoring comments. It was such a joy to read each one and praise our "Ever With Us God"! I so wish I could give each of you a copy!*

And now the fun part...the winners are...{drum roll please!}

Deanie

Marianne

Janet

Congratulations, ladies!

To read the praise of these and others, click here to go back to my previous blog. Join in worship as we remember the God who

...offers us a relationship that encompasses every dimension, every direction, every angle, every aspect, every nuance, every everything, and every everyplace...His loving Presence totally cocooning us in His Son by faith.

Have a blessed Christmas as we celebrate our Emmanuel, God with us!

*Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and WestBow Press. The ebook version is very inexpensive. If you are in the Dayton Area, please com to My Book Launch Open House on January 14, 2016  (7-9pm) at BellHOP Cafe in Bellbrook, OH. A number of books will be for sale there, profits going to the community ministry of BellHOP...also author signed.  ;)

Book Give-Away in honor of our Emmanuel!

Dear friends, new & continuing (did you notice I didn't say "old"?), Please join in to praise our Emmanuel-Jesus and at the same time, enter to win a copy of The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension.

This is the perfect time of the year to begin reading this devotional/Bible study book because the key truth is how God is with us on every possible level. To read more about it, click on the title of the book above and/or also the link to a page on my blog: The With-ness of our God.

So the give-away is simple:

Just leave a comment below sharing one way the Lord showed you that He is with you. It could be in a particular circumstance where He showed Himself to you.

It could be in a verse or passage that you cling to that promises He is with you.

It could be in a song, a sermon, a sign, or even a license plate (thank you, Kitty!). The sky is the limit...please don't make it hard.

Then I will put everyone's names in the proverbial hat and have an impartial person (a friend or grandson) pick out 3 names. Yes, 3 give-aways! I'll contact each of you via your email, sign your book (per your instructions), and mail it out asap.

DEADLINE: Friday, December 18th (so I can send them out, and you can receive them by Christmas -- potential gift?)

Then let us praise our Jesus as we read what others have shared.

In the meantime, while you are reflecting on how the Lord has been with you, enjoy the song below that I just heard for the first time this year. I know, it's been out for several, but the Lord let me hear it the very Christmas when my book was published...isn't that just like HIM! Evidnce to me that He is with me and cares. So now your turn...come on and join in. We will praise Jesus with you, sisters & brothers!

With love & joy in our Jesus, Jan

[youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2e4nIIMN1I']

The skies don’t seem to be as dark as usual The stars seem brighter then they’ve been before Deep within I feel my soul a stirring As though my hope has been restored

The shepherds say they’ve heard the voice of angels Confirming rumors spread across the land That a child protected well from Herod’s anger Is our Father’s Son, and the Son of man

Love is raining down on the world tonight There’s a presence here I can tell God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel He’s a Savior we have been praying for In our humble hearts He will dwell God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel

I feel compelled to tell all who will listen That peace on earth is not so out of reach If we can find grace and mercy and forgiveness He has come to save, He is all of these

Love is raining down on the world tonight There’s a presence here I can tell God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel He’s a Savior we have been praying for In our humble hearts He will dwell God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel

Love is raining down on the world tonight There’s a presence here I can tell God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel He’s a Savior we have been praying for In our humble hearts He will dwell God is in us, God is for us, God is with us

You’re the Savior we have been praying for In our humble hearts You will dwell You are in us, You are for us, You are with us, Emmanuel

New Year Prayer and Encouragement

Frances Havergal

I love praise and worship music...and many of our contemporary songs express the heart of what we often go through in our lives. But time and again, what a treat to sink down deep into an old hymn book and enter the depths of communion expressed by saints of old.  One such saint of old is Frances Havergal and here are two of her little known hymns written to be sung at the beginning of a new year.

The first I discovered on facebook a few days ago...and then it just "happened" to be one we sang at church* today.  What a delight!  The second, also sung at church today, thrilled my heart.  In it the recurring theme of fear not discovers me again.  And the reality of God's presence with us pervades both.

Please enjoy, dear brothers and sisters, even if you don't sing.  Enjoy them as a poetic way to pray and worship your way into the year ahead.

Another Year is Dawning

Another year dawning

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be In working or in waiting, another year with Thee. Another year of progress, another year of praise, Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace, Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face; Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast; Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love, Another year of training for holier work above. Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.

​Standing at the Portal

Standing at the portalOf the opening year,Words of comfort meet us,Hushing every fear;Spoken thru the silenceBy our Savior’s voice,Tender, strong and faithful,Making us rejoice.

Refrain

Onward, then, and fear not,Children of the day;For His Word shall never,Never pass away.

Abba

“I, the Lord, am with thee,Be thou not afraid;I will help and strengthenBe thou not dismayed.Yea, I will uphold theeWith My own right hand;Thou art called and chosenIn My sight to stand.”

Refrain

For the year before us,O what rich supplies!For the poor and needyLiving streams shall rise;For the sad and sinfulShall His grace abound;For the faint and feeblePerfect strength be found.

Refrain

He will never fail us,He will not forsake;For His eternal covenantHe will never break.Resting on the promise,What have we to fear?God is all sufficientFor the coming year.

Refrain [youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av5BKbgwbvc']

*Believers Assembly, Bellbrook, OH

Fear Not: a Conversation (a.k.a. prayer) for the New Year

My child...

Fear not...you are never alone for I am with you!

Fear not...you are never left out for you are one with Me !

Fear not...you are never condemned, but always accepted! I not only love you...I like you!

Fear not...you are always adequate with My adequacy...no matter how helpless and inadequate you feel!

Fear not...you are alive with my everlasting, indestructible life, no matter how dead you feel inside! I am your Life!

I AM in your "right here, right now," whether it be suffering in a hospital room or struggling over a wardrobe choice in your closet...and everything in between...I am with you!

Lord, I believe, help my unbelief...

You are my Courage, when I am afraid!

You are my Adequacy, when I am helpless and afraid of failing!

You are my Comfort Zone, and nothing You send me is outside of YOU, my Comfort Zone Christ!

You are my words, the Word, when my words fail me!

I invite you, O my King, my indwelling Lord...

into my fears...one by one...moment by moment...day by day...

into my mind and harassing thoughts...

into my nervous system and blood pressure that tends to be like the wind and waves being tossed to and fro...

into each and every thing I face today and for as many days as we walk together on this earth...

I chose YOU afresh this year, my God.  Amen.

The Lord is ever present with us. Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy... and the God of peace will walk with you. Philippians 4:5b-9 VOICE