"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." FDR - 1933 (not true, but a great stepping off place to talk about fear.

"Fear is the path to the dark side. - Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."
another interesting statement. from "Star Wars: Episode I" written by George Lucas. would this mean that true fearlessness would come from complete detachment - from people, etc. Surely this is not the way of God.

Solution - "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7.

okay - how do we do that? so much has to do with where our minds go - what we think on -
Phil. 4:8,9 goes on to say - "Finally,brothers, whtsoever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things....and the God of peace will be with you."

Fear, itself, is not a totally bad thing. We are told to 'fear God." and we should!!
To understand the root of our fears will bring us to an understanding of the nature of our fear and its proper place in our lives. Another admonition is to fear lest any of us fall short of the glory of God.
Growth in Grace deals with fear.

"If the Sin therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 7:36



'We are designed with a great capacity for God; and sin and our individuality are the things that keep us from getting at God." 11/18 mufhh

Our obedience, to present ourselves and whatever we hold on to, are how we are brought into the captivity of Christ.

"The test of the life of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is."
11/16 mufhh

"The promises of God are of no value to us until by obedience we understand the nature of God."
11/17 mufhh

a few favorite quotes for the design

"The truest thing about me is, not what I think or feel, but what God says."
My thinking is so influenced by what I 'want' to be/have/etc. that I cannot trust it alone. I do have the 'mind of Christ' (1 Cor. 2:16b - 'but we have the mind of Christ and do hold the thoughts, intents and purposes of His will.' - Amplified version), but I also have influences and must sift everything by the Word of God - through the Word itself and often the Body of Christ not just feelings or my ideas.
So - what does God say about me?