A Christmas Story Lee Stroble

A Christmas Story Lee Stroble

What we say and do really matters during this special season – as I found out when I was a skeptical newspaper reporter

The Chicago Tribune newsroom was eerily quiet on the day before Christmas in 1974. As I sat at my desk with little to do, my mind kept wandering back to a family I had encountered a month earlier while I was working on a series of articles about Chicago’s neediest people.

Sixty-year-old Perfecta and her granddaughters Lydia and Jenny had been burned out of their roach-infested tenement and were now living in a tiny two-room apartment on the West Side. As I walked in, I couldn’t believe how empty it was. There was no furniture, no rugs, nothing on the walls – only a small kitchen table and one handful of rice. That’s it. They were virtually devoid of possessions.

In fact, eleven-year-old Lydia and thirteen-year-old Jenny owned only one short-sleeved dress each, plus one thin, gray sweater between them. When they walked the half-mile to school through the biting cold, Lydia would wear the sweater for part of the distance and then hand it to her shivering sister, who would wear it the rest of the way.

But despite their poverty and the painful arthritis that kept Perfecta from working, she still talked confidently about her faith in Jesus. She was convinced he had not abandoned them. I never sensed despair or self-pity in her home; instead, there was a gentle feeling of hope and peace.

I wrote an article about the family, and then I quickly moved on to more exciting assignments. But as I sat at my desk on Christmas Eve, I continued to wrestle with the irony of the situation: here was a family that had nothing but faith and yet seemed happy, while I had everything I needed materially but lacked faith – and inside I felt as barren as their apartment.

I walked over to the city desk to sign out a car. It was a slow news day, with nothing of consequence going on. My boss could call me if something were to happen. In the meantime, I decided to drive over to West Homer Street and see how the Perfecta and the girls were doing.

When Jenny opened the door, I couldn’t believe my eyes! Tribune readers had responded to my article by showering the family with a treasure trove of gifts – roomfuls of furniture, appliances, and rugs; a lavish Christmas tree with piles of wrapped presents underneath; carton upon bulging carton of food; and a dazzling selection of clothing, including dozens of warm winter coats, scarves, and gloves. On top of that, they donated thousands of dollars in cash.

But as surprised as I was by this outpouring, I was even more astonished by what my visit was interrupting: Perfecta and her granddaughters were getting ready to give away much of their newfound wealth. When I asked Perfecta why, she replied in halting English: “Our neighbors are still in need. We cannot have plenty while they have nothing. This is what Jesus would want us to do.”

That blew me away! If I had been in their position at that time in my life, I would have been hoarding everything. I asked Perfecta what she thought about the generosity of the people who had sent all of these goodies, and again her response amazed me.

“This is wonderful; this is very good,” she said, gesturing toward the largess. “We did nothing to deserve this – it’s a gift from God. But,” she added, “it is not his greatest gift. No, we celebrate that tomorrow. That is Jesus.”

To her, this child in the manger was the undeserved gift that meant everything – more than material possessions, more than comfort, more than earthly security. And at that moment, something inside of me wanted desperately to know this Jesus – because, in a sense, I saw him in Perfecta and her granddaughters.

They had peace despite poverty, while I had anxiety despite plenty; they knew the joy of generosity, while I only knew the loneliness of ambition; they looked heavenward for hope, while I only looked out for myself; they experienced the wonder of the spiritual while I was shackled to the shallowness of the material – and something made me long for what they had.

Or, more accurately, for the One they knew.

With Perfecta and her granddaughters in the back of my mind, a few years later I decided to investigate Christianity and ultimately ended up becoming a follower of Jesus. To this day, I continue to carry the lessons I learned from Perfecta and the girls.

The truth is that people are more spiritually receptive this time of year. What we say and do can make a big difference in pointing people toward the unique Son of God, whose birth we commemorate this month.

So please join me in making this Christmas season count for Christ by bringing his message of grace and hope to our neighbors whose hearts are secretly barren without him.

The Winter of your Soul

Psalms 74:17: You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.

What I will be sharing with you in a moment is what I read this today in one of my devotionals. But I read it today as the morning paper it was so relevant....We get disappointed with people and the lack of results we see especially in ministry. But I know that God controls the seasons. Here in the North East it gets cold. I love winter, at least until after Christmas them I am thinking of warmer climates. Winter to me has been more of an ambience of the Holiday. It fits well with Christmas and the New Year’s celebrations. You may love snow; some of you even love the cold but no one likes winter in the soul unless but it has a purpose! It is sent by God for a reason.

Here is what CH Spurgeon says I have tried modernizing the English without butchering the poetry too much.

"My soul, you start this wintry month with your God. Remember this: Summer and winter show He is in control of every season. In fact, he said that these are signs of his enduring promises. {Gen 8:22} Even the cold snows and the piercing winds all remind you that He keeps His pledge and promises and assures you that He will also keep that glorious covenant which He has made with you in the person of Christ Jesus. He is true to His Word in the seasons of this poor sin-polluted world, and he will do everything he promises because of Jesus Christ.

Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it you are going through your soul’s winter it can be very painful to you: but there is this comfort, namely, that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the budding flowers of expectation: He scatters the frost like ashes over the once green meadows of our joy: He casts forth His ice like morsels freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all, He is the great Winter King, and rules in the realms of frost, and therefore you should not, you cannot murmur. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other ills, are of the Lord's sending, and come to us with wise design. Frosts kill harmful insects, and kills raging diseases; they break up the soil in the fields, and sweetens the soul. Oh that such good result would always follow our winters of affliction in our soul!

How we prize the fireplace and the heat when it is so cold. How pleasant is its cheerful glow! Let us in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let us draw near to Him and in Him find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of His promises, and go forth to labors which suit the season, we cannot be lazy like the man in proverbs who will not plough by reason of the cold; for he shall be a beggar in summer because he has no harvest.” Spurgeon {Edited}

"Summer and Winter Spring time and Harvest, Sun, moon and Stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness mercy and love. Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see....all I have needed thy hand hath provided, Great is they faithfulness Lord unto me."

An opportunity for you to advance God's Kingdom!

Hey guys,

God is doing some amazing things and I want to invite you to get in on the action.

I am currently part of a church plant in NJ and God is calling to add to that plant a new work in Pennsylvania. Though you may not live in these areas you can get in on the great reward of seeing people’s lives changed for eternity.

Ever wanted to make a real difference but you were not sure how?”  “Ever wonder how you could change your part of the world without leaving your home?”

  

What I am asking from you:

We need prayer partners!  We need you to come along side of us and pray these TWO new ministry opportunities:

My promise to you:

1. I will send you a weekly email with 1-3 specific prayer requests as well as answers to previous requests. You will be in the loop of all prayer needs!
2. At least once a month I will send some sort of teaching/notes on prayer. 

Send your reply with a "Yes" in the subject line to pastormikegibney@gmail.com 

Your grateful friend, -Mike Gibney

 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.

Psalm 138 Pray this say this

Psalm 138 I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.

2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

3 As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

4 Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words.

5 Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great.

6 Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.

7 Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.

8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. {NLT}

Say this: I am thankful for you my God. You are the only real and true God in the presence of all the so called gods. You are awesome and great!  In the face of the so called Gods of materialism, sex, entertainment and religion there is no one like you.  

Thank you Lord for your unfailing love! You are so faithful to me. You never fail in your promises to me because they are backed by your good name and all the resources of the universe are at your command.  As I pray you answer me by giving me strength and you encourage me. I will sing because of your greatness.  

Thank you for your words for truly you made me a King and a priest.  All glory belongs to him who loves me and has freed me from my sins by shedding his blood for me. He has made me a King and priests for God my Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. {Revelation 1:5-6} 

Pastor Michael Gibney: GOT PEACE?

Pastor Michael Gibney: GOT PEACE?: "Good song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tLh-ANUm7Q&feature=related John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as..."

GOT PEACE?

Good song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tLh-ANUm7Q&feature=related

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

God wants to give us peace. Have you ever asked what peace is? What does it mean to be at peace?   Are you troubles by situation and circumstance?  Are you distressed in turmoil than I have hope for you….PEACE!  A peace that the bible says passes all understanding that means you have peace when there is no reason to have peace.

For the ancient Greeks and Romans, peace was more important in theory than in practice. They deified the concept in the *goddess Pax or Eirene. She was a youthful female, holding in her left arm a horn of plenty, a cornucopia, and in her right hand an olive branch or the wealthy infant Plutus. She was one of the Horae, a goddess with power to make things grow, personifying the *seasons.

By contrast, in the Bible peace is a key characteristic of God and a prominent concept. As in its ancient counterparts, the Bible's prominent meaning of peace is political. But the political meanings of peace are associated with emotional and physical meanings and numerous images from the military, agriculture and home.

The word "peace” expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures. Peace is the rule of order in place of chaos. When a person is dominated by peace, he has a calm, inner stability that results in the ability to conduct themselves peacefully, even in the midst of circumstances that would normally be very nerve-racking, traumatic, or upsetting.

The Hebrew counterpart, the word shalom, indicates that this dominating peace ultimately gives rise to prosperity in one's soul. Rather than allowing the difficulties and pressures of life to break him, a person who is possessed by "peace") is whole, complete, orderly, stable, and poised for blessing.

As noted, peace in its classical understanding was personified as the youthful female Pax. Now, we do not believe in false Gods or any idol. But consider the true Lord allowed his word to be written in languages would have impacted people of ancient times. They had an image and something to compare it to in their minds. Jesus is the source of what all religions are looking for all in one.

Biblically, she would be a strong, wise, swift and determined warrior, yes warrior God’s peace is fighting to deafest unrest and disorder and Chaos in our lives. The personified Wisdom of Proverbs is a much better image look here in  Proverbs 3:13-17 {ESV} “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,  for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than  gold .She is more precious than  jewels, and  nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”

See lady wisdom holding a horn of plenty to signify God's riches and an olive branch as a symbol of reconciliation. See the Bride of Christ doing the same to this impoverished guilt ridden and chaotic world.  

Today do you need his peace?  He is offering it freely, without charge you do not have to work for it; you pay for it with faith.

Repeat these scriptures…print this out and use one day or read them all out loud today…send them to a friend and let’s spread some peace.

Love you

Mike

Peace scriptures:

For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us. Ephesians 2: 14

And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God's will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. James 3: 18

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 7

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. Psalm 4: 8

Acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall prosper and great] good shall come to you.Job 22: 21

When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.Proverbs 16: 7

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.Isaiah 26: 3

Lord, You will ordain peace (God's favor and blessings, both temporal and spiritual) for us, for You have also wrought in us and for us all our works. Isaiah 26: 12

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14: 27

Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).Ephesians 6: 23

Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3: 16

First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. 1 Timothy 2: 1-2

Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God! Matthew 5: 9

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12: 18

So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another. Romans 14: 19

Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] 1 Peter 3: 11

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Thessalonians 5: 23

Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!Psalm 34: 14

And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. Isaiah 32: 17

My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places. Isaiah 32: 18

Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea. Isaiah 48: 18

Salt is good (beneficial), but if salt has lost its saltness, how will you restore [the saltness to] it? Have salt within yourselves, and be at peace and live in harmony with one another.Mark 9: 50

Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.Hebrews 12: 14

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3: 15

Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Romans 5: 1

Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you! John 20: 19

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16: 33

May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1: 2

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns! Isaiah 52: 7

There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked. Isaiah 57: 21

Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.2 Corinthians 13: 11

To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace. Luke 1: 79

Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace--your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness--depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Luke 19: 42

And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near. Ephesians 2: 17

Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace. Ephesians 4: 3

And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 1 Thessalonians 5: 13

 

 

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pastorgibney

Blog: http://mikegibney.blogspot.com/
Church Web Site: www.newgathering.com

Messages on line: http://sermon.net/NewGathering

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pastorgibney

Pastor Mike Gibney New Gathering {New Jersey} Life Connections {PA} www.newgathering.com 908-688-3331-NJ 484-505-0991 PA Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information intended for the use of the designated recipients named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer.

Hillsong - The Father's Heart - With Subtitles/Lyrics - HD Version

Dealing With Anxiety

Dealing with Anxiety


A friend of mine wrote me the other day, I will keep him anonymous, but he asked a question that I think affects us all in some way or another. 

"I was in church a couple of weeks ago, and the Homily was on worry. What the homily was saying was Jesus does not you to worry. The Homily said if you worry you do not have faith in God, and worrying is a sin. The Homily also said for pass worries God will give you mercy, for present worries, God will give you love, and for future worries God will give you providence. Since I have been out of work, worry has been a part of life. Based on that Homily, I do not have faith in God, and I am quite a sinner. Please give me your thought on that." 

Well, I think all of us struggle with this sin.  Who among us at times has not been overwhelmed with the idea of the future?   I am very compassionate on this subject and have struggled myself with this faith robbing sin. Jesus can take away worry from our heart with a supernatural peace if we let him.  I think what we must keep in mind is that when Jesus brings up to us that we are worrying, it is not to condemn us, but so that we will find and pursue diligently the peace that He has for us.  However, I think that we cannot look at worry and say, “well I can’t help it is just my personality.”  Or to say, “Well you do not understand what I am going through who wouldn’t worry.” 

Rick Warren said, “Worry is practical atheism. It says you don’t really believe your loving Heavenly Father will keep his promises to care for you.”

Here is a sermon outline I preached on Worry and anxiety and some confession at the end to help you.  Say them every day till you feel God’s peace and believe that he will help you!

Dealing with Anxiety

Phil 4:6-9 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. NASU

Introduction:

What has you anxious these days?  I’m not talking about the little foxes in this life that are the nit-picking elements of everyday life. I’m talking about the gut wrenching giant monsters of worry that crawl on your bed at night and steal your sleep.  Those anxieties that ruin a weekend away or take away pleasure from vacation and fill your thoughts.  Nobody has the same list of worries all but all lists have the same effect. They steal a smile and take our joy.

Are you anxious? Really anxious Maybe we need to punctuate some things?  What you need is a comma. No, on second thought, if you’re anxious, you probably need something stronger like a semi-colon or a period. Of course you couldn’t go for an exclamation point that would be too much to ask.  Punctuation has never been my strong point.  I guess I was not taught it well enough or was not listening in English class.  Nevertheless it is important. 

Sometime if you have a magazine or a newspaper handy, try reading it without using punctuation marks. It doesn’t make sense. It just becomes a string of words. The meaning is lost. It lacks direction. Punctuation is mean to guide the reader into the true meaning of words and phrases; Punctuation gives life and purpose to words. For many of us our lives represent an article with no punctuation. There are no pauses for prayer, no commas or full stops of silence or solitude. Life becomes just one hectic string of worries that robs from us the true meaning of life that the purpose of his words the author intended for us to see.

Phil 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Who hasn’t thought about these verses lately?  Especially the command not to worrying about anything in verse 6

The word anxious in Greek means, “to be divided or distracted.”   IN LATIN THE WORD MEANS ANXIUS, IT ADDS THE SHADED MEANING OF CHOCKING OR STRANGLING.  The word has also found it way into the German language wuergen it means  “to choke or strangle Physically strangulation is connected with the mental anguish of worrying.

Lets look at anther scripture Mark 4:14-20

There are four kinds of soil. {Exposit} 

Mark 4:14-20 "The sower sows the word.

15 "These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.

16 "In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;

17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.

18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,

19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

So what is anxiety?  It is the painful uneasiness due to impending fear. It mental, emotional and spiritual strangulation. At it’s mildest; we churn inside; at its worst, we panic. We even have something called panic attacks where so literal pass out because they cannot cope with life anymore.

What does anxiety do to you and I? Why is it wrong?  What’s the problem? Here are four statements that prove it is wrong.

• Anxiety highlights the human viewpoint and strangles the divine. So we become fearful.

When we worry we have such a high level of awareness of the human events surrounding us that Gods ways and perspectives are blocked out. Gods thought are removed from sight.

Anxiety springs from the desire that things should happen as we wish rather than as God wills.

• Anxiety chokes our ability to distinguish between the incidentals {minor} from the essential {major}, so we get distracted.

In the midst of our worried world, May things are added .One worry always build upon other, one upon another, one upon another. Our whole life seems to topple in our top-heavy world of anxiety. We concentrated on what should not be a care instead of the real needful things in life

•  Anxiety twist so many worries around our hearts that we cannot relax, so we become unfruitful

Fruitful people are relaxed people. As far as Eternal production goes it demands relaxed people!

Heb 12:11-13 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

• Anxiety drains off our energy and joy making us judgmental rather than accepting of others, so we become negative.

As worry wins the battle siphons our energy we become negative, and expect wrong and we find it. Afraid of the future, discontent with the present and afraid of dying we become the worrying animal.  We are the only things in God’s creation that seem to worry. Charles Spurgeon said “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength. “

Some of our hearts are about as calm and peaceful as the floor of the stock exchange.  Inside there is a feeling of panic Worry has flooded the market, causing the value of the fruits of the spirit to plummet. Peace is down a thousand points and steadily dropping. Joy has posted a serious decline. The trading is chaotic and confused. It could be a repeat crash mimicking the great depression of 1929.  Is this you? Are you life being chocked by worry?  They say when BOA constrictor has it victim it takes as it chokes its victim it takes up the slack. As they gasp for air he tightens his body around it victim until they are lifeless. George Muller once said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”

Is there a growing sense of panic in the pit of your stomach?  Are you feeling distracted and overwhelmed by worry?  Depression could be next. —But it doesn’t have to be. You can turn the market around with a little sound investing.  Determine what is important by the word of God and put those things first all other can wait.

Matt 6:25-34  "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

31 "Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear for clothing?'

32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God never built a Christian strong enough to carry today's duties and tomorrow's anxieties piled on top of them.    Theodore Ledyard Cuyler (1822-1909) 

Listen to the Apostle Peter in:

1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Lets do that now!

Lets stop for a minute here and put away our bible and close our eyes. Lets pray a prayer you listen and agree with my and I will pray it.

[1]Father, we know it is not right for so much hope, Joy and peace to be stolen from us every day. Yet sometimes there seems to be no escaping for us from the treadmill of our daily lives.

We ask you to help us, to guide us into a finer way of living. Check our impulse to spread our selves so thin that we are exposed to fear and doubt, to the weariness and impatience that makes our tempers wear thin, that robs us of peace of mind, that makes skies gray when they should be blue, that stifles a song along the corridors of our heart.

May we have:

• The mercy of God to forgive us.
•  The strength of God to make us resolute to do his will
•  The grace of God to be kind, tender and affectionate one to another
•  The patience of God to believe in the ultimate triumph of thy kingdom on earth. This we ask in your name Jesus in whom all peace resides. Amen.

[1] Prayers of Peter Marshall

Here are the confessions {these are to say OUT LOUD} every day..This is how you retrain you mind and build you faith..FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD..... 

• I cast all my anxieties (worries) upon the Lord, because He cares for me. 1Pet 5.7
• I have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I let my requests be made known to God. Php 4.6
• I do not fret or worry or get anxious because of wicked people. I am not envious of wrongdoers. Ps 37.1
• I am still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him. I do not get uptight or worry over the one who prospers through dirty tricks and dishonest methods. Ps 37.7
• I will hold myself from getting angry about this stuff. I will stop getting really angry with people. I'm not going to worry about it - because this kind of worrying just leads to worse evil. Ps 37.8
• It is vain to rise early and go to bed late and work anxiously. God gives me sleep because He loves me. Ps 127.2
• Anxiety in my heart would weigh me down. Instead I will receive and meditate on good words which will make me glad. Pr 12.25
• I don't fret because of evildoers, and I won't wish harm on the wicked because they are having undeserved benefits. Pr 24.19
• I am like a tree planted by water. I don't fear when the heat comes. I am not anxious in the year of drought. I don't cease to bear fruit. Jer 17.8
• I am not anxious about my natural life, what I shall eat or drink, nor about my body, what I shall wear. I refuse to have an anxious mind. Mt 6.25
• I am not anxious about tomorrow. Tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Mt 6.34
• I am not going to be anxious when on trial for the Lord. Mt 10.19 Mk 13.11
• I am not going to be anxious about household problems. Lk 10.41
• I am not to be with an anxious, doubtful mind. Lk 12.29
• God wants me to free from worldly anxieties. I am concerned only for the affairs of the Lord. I cast all my anxieties (worries) upon the Lord, because He cares for me.
• 1Pet 5.7
• I do not fret or worry or get anxious because of wicked people. I am not envious of wrongdoers. Ps 37.1
• I am still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him. I do not get uptight or worry over the one who prospers through dirty tricks and dishonest methods. Ps 37.7
• I will hold myself from getting angry about this stuff. I will stop getting really angry with people. I'm not going to worry about it - because this kind of worrying just leads to worse evil. Ps 37.8
• It is vain to rise early and go to bed late and work anxiously. God gives me sleep because He loves me. Ps 127.2
• Anxiety in my heart would weigh me down. Instead I will receive and meditate on good words which will make me glad. Pr 12.25
• I don't fret because of evildoers, and I won't wish harm on the wicked because they are having undeserved benefits. Pr 24.19
• I am like a tree planted by water. I don't fear when the heat comes. I am not anxious in the year of drought. I don't cease to bear fruit. Jer 17.8
• I am not anxious about my natural life, what I shall eat or drink, nor about my body, what I shall wear. I refuse to have an anxious mind. Mt 6.25
• I am not anxious about tomorrow. Tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Mt 6.34
• I am not going to be anxious when on trial for the Lord. Mt 10.19 Mk 13.11
• I am not going to be anxious about household problems. Lk 10.41
• I am not to be with an anxious, doubtful mind. Lk 12.29
• God wants me to free from worldly anxieties. I am concerned only for the affairs of the Lord. 1Cor 7.32
• The only thing to be concerned for is the welfare of the churches. 2Cor 11.28 Php 2.20 1Cor 7.32