“The issue is now quite clear. It is between light and darkness and every one must choose his side.” G. K. Chesterton

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Wifey Wednesday: The Four Freedoms Revisited, Part 4--Freedom from Fear


 
 


She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  Proverbs 31:21

Let’s face it ladies, we live in scary times.  We all know nice children from good families who somehow still end up in trouble.  Everyday there’s a new missive from the bishops warning us about further government encroachments on our religious freedoms.  Many of us don’t know who’s going to be the next person in our circle to lose their job.  But we need not be afraid.  Consider the following reasons why:
  •  God is enough.  I cannot begin to tell you how many times this simple truth has kept me going through everything from a broken girlish heart to a mother’s heart broken by my own children’s misdeeds.  I think it is best captured in the following verses:  
    Psalm 46: 1-5

    God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
  • God is ultimately responsible for how our children turn out.  While we are responsible for doing our very best as parents, God has given our offspring their own wills.  We need to remember that He is their God, too.  At some point they are responsible to Him, and not to us, for their behavior.
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  • The gates of hell cannot prevail against us.  Sure, the current administration seems to be out to get us, but this not the first government to be anti-Christian.  In fact, the Church was born within the context of persecution and has never been without it for even a day since.  Consider this:  when Jesus spoke these words, he was only months from going to the cross at the hands of Roman soldiers.  So, did he lie?  I don’t think so, and you know you don’t either.
Matthew 16:15-19
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.   And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
  • God’s people will never be left hopeless.  No matter what, God will always provide what’s best for us.  That means that even if what we think is the worst thing possible happens to us, it is in fact the best because it passed through the hands of a loving God.
 Psalm 37:  23-27 
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Bio
Susan Mathis is delighted to be a daughter of the Church, the wife of James and the mother of Chris, Josh and Maggie.  In addition to homeschooling and homemaking, she also blogs for freestuffandsamples.com.

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