Date: 5/04/09
Don't Fear What Is Frightening
by Pam Woodson
While checking my luggage
in at the Tulsa airport very early one morning, the woman at the desk said, "You'll need your driver's license available
to get checked through to the departure gate. The alert is orange." Orange indicated the highest risk of terrorist
attacks, under red, the code for an all-out attack in progress. I just stood there looking at her. I had not been aware that orange
was commonplace after 911. All I knew was, I was flying alone...and it was ORANGE. I called Woody on my cell. "Woody, they're on orange."
I thought maybe he would tell me to come home immediately or would show overwhelming concern. Still sleepy, he halfway muttered,
"You'll be okay, Pam; God is with you," or something deeply compassionate and comforting along those lines. Every five
minutes in the airport terminals I was in, announcements came over the loud speakers reiterating the orange level and instructing
us not to leave our baggage unattended or exchange any item with strangers. If I so much as heard them say the word "red" even
ONCE, I just may have started walking back home...sorta. At breakfast, lunch, and all the in-between time, Woody just kept
telling me the same thing: It would be okay; God was with me. Well, he was right. Now, I hadn't been totally shaken
up over "orange," but it did rock my boat at least a LITTLE. It did not need to rock my boat at all, though; because, sure enough,
it turned out okay -- God had been with me.
Since then, the war on terrorism officially has
been declared to be a mere disagreement of minds. A new scare is here now: the swine flu. Today's headlines on Monday,
May 4th, read that the warning concerning it may be heightened soon to the highest level, level six. So how am I seeing
this? What am I thinking about it? First off, people should do anything they personally determine they ought
to do, like washing hands often, covering the face when coughing or sneezing, wearing a mask, taking medicine for symptoms of
sickness. Nothing wrong with natural precautions or remedies if desired. Secondly, however, and most importantly, we should
shift gears and put the emphasis not so much on the natural but on the spiritual. We should put our
faith in God and get rid of fear. Fear can be a tormenting, paralyzing emotion that grips our mind, while God ultimately
is our solution to every dilemma...and our reason NOT to be afraid.
First Peter 3:6 really stood out
to me the other morning. It says, "Do not fear anything that is frightening." Something can be frightening, but we do not have to
be afraid because of it. Along the same lines, Proverbs 3:25, 26 says, "Do not be afraid of sudden terror." Terror may come on the
scene, but we are not to fear. Psalm 91 (NASV) says, "You will not be afraid of the terror by night." Again, apparently we do not
have to react to terror, or something frightening, by being afraid.
If God is telling us we can do something
-- not fear in the face of frightening, terrorizing things -- it must be possible to do. Maybe not easy, but possible. So
you might be asking how you can deal with feelings of being afraid when they crop up in you as a result of frightening things
going on in the world around us. Basically, by trusting in God. Psalm 91 says, "You will not be afraid of the terror...FOR you
have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your
dwelling...I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TROUBLE." Fear does not gain dominance when you seek refuge in the Lord, abide in Him, realize
that, like Woody told me, "God is with you." In Isaiah 43:5, God again declares, "Do not fear, for I AM WITH YOU." Proverbs
3: 25, 26 says not to be afraid of sudden fear, "for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught." In
shaky times, put your confidence in the Lord. Be confident that He is with you and can help you. God is with you
-- now decide to be with God. Stay close to Him and trust in Him at all times as your Refuge from harm, Your deliverer, your
Protector, and your Strength. Keep your eyes on Him. In Matthew 14, as Peter was miraculously walking on the water
toward Jesus during a storm, he was fine as long as He kept His eyes on the Lord. The moment he focused instead on
the huge waves, he "feared what was frightening" and began to sink. Still, Jesus reached out His hand to save Him when he called out
to Him for help.
Even if a level reaches orange or six, the Most High God is on a much
higher level. He has power far greater than any problem, including that of terrorist attacks and the swine flu. In light of this,
do not fear what is frightening.
--------------------PW--------------------
Date: 4/27/09
Comfort Food
for the Soul
by Pam Woodson
Growing up, I had the best of both worlds: I lived in the city and got to visit my grandparents
in the country. They (and then my grandmother for years after my grandfather passed away) owned a 40-acre farm in Missouri. Our family
took ten zillion trips to her farm. Nothing much to do there, yet EVERYTHING to do there. My sister and I would
beg my dad to take us "tromping through the woods" in the summer and sliding on boxes across the frozen pond in the winter. We
skipped rocks across the water; watched the cows chomping on grass (not for long though, 'cause it quickly became way
boring); climbed up into the barn hayloft; shot at tin cans with our rifles; and learned to drive on the deserted, narrow, gravelly,
dirt back roads, where the greatest danger as a beginning driver was swerving the car into the ruts or ditches on each side.
My grandmother was a true cook, country-style. Every "supper" had two or three meat dishes, a few vegetables (some they had grown
themselves), homemade rolls, and a couple of desserts. She made SURE she fixed your favorites...AND insisted you eat two huge
helpings of everything. Lunch and breakfast were almost as big; and after each of them, her routine kicked in: She'd clear the table
with my mom and aunts, wash the dishes, sit down in the living room to talk for a few minutes, then go in the kitchen to start preparing the
next meal! The aroma of food cooking indoors was wonderful, and the beautiful Missouri scenery and fresh air outdoors was
just as enjoyable. I had tons of cousins, aunts, and uncles, and have tons of memories of being on that farm with them and Grandma. She
is in heaven now, and the farm got sold (but not before I rushed to take pictures of it). So what does this city girl
do now to stay country? Our family goes to Branson for vacations. Friends might wonder why we choose to go there almost every
year. Sure, it's fun...but more. It's comfort food for my soul. There are beautiful landscapes all across America and throughout
the world; but there's something about Missouri's to me. I'm used to it. It's familiar territory. It plays a sweet chord I recognize.
Seeing the rolling hills and green trees triggers instant contentment in me and draws a smile. They take me back to my roots. They keep
something alive in me I like from my past, while I enjoy it and the life God has given me today. Comfort food for the soul
is a specialty God cooks up in our lives. He made our soul. Psalm 139:13, 14 (NASV) says, "For Thou didst form my inward
parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful
are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well." We each are unique. God formed us to be unique. We were wonderfully made; we're
each a wonderful work of God. Deep inside, "[our] soul knows it very well." My soul knows it very well every time I see
the Missouri scenery. What is YOUR comfort food for the soul in your own unique life? Enjoy it when you can, and thank the
One who has given it to you to enjoy.
--------------------PW--------------------
Copyright 2009, by Pam Woodson. All rights reserved.
Audio: What the Bible Says About Disagreeing with Government (9 min)
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Comments
Praise & Worship CD's
Hello Love (Chris Tomlin)
Beautiful
Name (Church On The Move)
Hillsong CD's
Michael W. Smith CD's
WOW Worship CD's
Top-Ten Playing On My iPod
Over
My Head, Brian Littrell
I Know You're There, Casting Crowns
Today Is the Day, Lincoln Brewster
With You, Mark Willard
God With Us, MercyMe
You're
Not Alone, Meredith Andrews
Only You, David Crowder Band
Your Grace Is Enough, Matt Maher
What You Give Away, Vince Gill
Blessings, Martina
McBride