Evangelist Lisa  

I have adopted the motto "Do It Scared!" At times we are afraid to venture out and try new things or even pursue our dreams and desires.  Simply because we are fearful of the unknown, or that something bad will happen, or just hearing the word NO.

As I drove in to work today, I began thinking about all the people I know who are talented, creative, and highly skilled in areas where others struggle.  And the only link I could connect with each of these people was FEAR!  Be it fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of hearing no, or just plain ol' fear.

Fear has been acronymed as F-alse, E-vidence, A-ppearing, R-eal [Is acronymed a word? who cares this is my blog].  See, get the picture? I could have immediately become fearful of the thoughts and opinions of others about my choice of using acronymed.  But, I have chosen (without disrespect) to make my own path, to dispel the curses of childhood taunting, verbal abuse, and other things that crush our vision of our destinies.  I'm moving cautiously ahead beyond the bounds of fear, and doing it scared.

Now let me be very clear, I am not saying that I am this fearless wonder, and fear never creeps its ugly head into my matters; ah…it does.  However, I have been supplied with a weapon against fear.  And it is the Word of God.  The bible says in 2 Timothy 1:17 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”   Praise God!  This is encouraging. 
 

God has given you and I power against the forces of darkness, and that’s through His love, and keeping our mind on Him.  He says in Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

So, if you're looking for some magic formula; there is not one.  Saints, we’ve got to have our minds renewed to stay, trust, and obey.  It’s just that simple.
 

Be encouraged, and keep moving!

When we talk about truth what exactly do we mean?  As it pertains to the Word of God, what do we mean or what are we attempting to express?  The bible tells us that God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), (Ps 119:142, 151).

We must be very careful to consider the whole truth of God’s Word.  In order to be in full compliance with the truth of God’s word, we must consider the entire bible as the infallible truth of the Word of God. 

For example, I have two decks of cards.  But there are some cards missing from each deck, but enough to put both decks together to make a new deck.   It’s taking what I have from both decks, to make a complete deck of cards.

This is what I believe Jesus did when He brought law and grace together in the New Covenant.

Jesus did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, he came to fulfill (Mat. 5:17).  We then say, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. . .” (Rom 10:4), and that’s right.  It is the LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS that has ended.  What that means is; we are no longer made righteous by upholding the law.  It is Christ Jesus through whom we have our righteousness. 

Is the OT the law?  No.  It’s the Old Covenant (and we don’t want to get into that right now).  However, there are principles contained in the OT coupled with NT (New Covenant) truth that are vital to victorious living through Christ.

(Now back to the deck of cards)  If I attempt to play with the deck that has missing pieces, I’m limited in what I can do with what I have.  I don’t have every piece I need to win.  But to God be the Glory, He has brought together all.  He has put the missing pieces into place.  He has removed the limitation.  He has made it possible to win.

I’m happy!  Now when you look at the Bible, don’t see it as the OT and NT, like it’s some divided or split object.  After all, Christ is not divided . . . (I Cor. 1:13).  In fact, it is the WHOLE Word of God; it is the WHOLE truth of God.   When we began to respect and accept the WHOLE Bible as our instruction manual (meaning the principles contained therein), we will begin to experience all of the things that God has promised to those who believe. 

Remember it is the WHOLE truth that moves the Hand of God.  He’s made ALL to work together for our good . . . (Rom 8:28) . . . Now play to WIN!