Tag Archives: Fear

ag·o·ra·pho·bi·a

14 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by in Observations, recovery

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Checking the dictionary it says this about agoraphobia:

“An abnormal fear of being in crowds, public places, or open areas, sometimes accompanied by anxiety attacks.”

This isn’t a definitive article on this condition. I honestly don’t know lots about it. I can say that it’s often misunderstood due to TV and movies that suggest it’s just a fear of being outside or around people. Basically, a person can experience this at any place or area, even one’s own home.

Check this out:

This is 87 Avenue, just east of 170 Street in Edmonton, Alberta. Up until a few weeks ago, we lived in this area. Due to a journey we took with a wonderful young person, I had a full on encounter with a psychologically abusive person who came after me. It wasn’t the fault of the person we welcomed into our life but it was related to that time. The person that came after me, lives in the area off to the right.

After we moved, we came back a few days later to do one last check for mail (just in case anything got missed by the post office forward). As we crossed over 170 Street, my heart was gripped with anxiety.  My heart rate shot up and I just had this sense of fear. This wasn’t the first time I had this experience in this area, it’s happened most every day when passing this area and don’t get me started on what it’s like to walk here rather than drive) but it was the first time it hit me – I had developed a mild agoraphobia. My hope is, over time and not being in the area for a long time, I will have healing and be free from that person’s impact on me.

Totally Attractive 

09 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by in Inspiration, Spirituality

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This is from one of my favourite authors. I believe she was inspired when she wrote this amazing insight.

“The shortness of time is urged as an incentive for us to seek righteousness and to make Christ our friend. This is not the great motive. It savors of selfishness. Is it necessary that the terrors of the day of God be held before us to compel us through fear to right action? This ought not to be. Jesus is attractive. He is full of love, mercy, and compassion. He proposes to be our friend, to walk with us through all the rough pathways of life. He says to you, I am the Lord thy God; walk with me, and I will fill thy path with light. Jesus, the Majesty of Heaven, proposes to elevate to companionship with himself those who come to him with their burdens, their weaknesses, and their cares. He will make them his dear children, and finally give them an inheritance of more value than the empires of kings, a crown of glory richer than has ever decked the brow of the most exalted earthly monarch.” – {RH August 2, 1881 Par. 6}

Let God Lead

27 Saturday Aug 2016

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Great post! Are you letting God or your fears lead you?

 

The mountain goat feels perfectly at home on the precipice. He knows not fear. The heights are his friend, his defense against predators. There’s no need to fear heights. Abandon the lowlands, and dare to scale the heights. Don’t fear the plan and destiny God has for you. Leave behind your “security.” Since predators prowl […]

via Conquering fears — Mustard Seed Budget

Our Heart Song – No Fear

30 Tuesday Dec 2014

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Psalm 23 is a personal Heart Song to the One who has loved us from the very beginning. Are you able to sing it?

As we continue our series about our Heart Song, consider the lines: Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Look at how the writer changes from “The Lord is my shepherd” to “YOU are with me.” It just became even more personal, closer and more intimate. Why?

In the dark valleys of our lives it often seems like God has gone missing. We lose a loved one, we get bad news from the doctor, we are laid off or we get a call from the police concerning one of our children. For many, the dark shadowy valleys are even greater, even darker. And if we were to zoom out and see this planet from the angel’s perspective, we would realize that Earth is the “the shadowiest of all shadowy valleys.”

And yet, from our hearts we can sing that we don’t need to be afraid for the Divine shepherd is with us. He is our Emmanuel. He is with us by his presence, he is with us by his compassion and understanding, he is with us by his determination to defeat the things that keep us from him. Into our fear God comes with the message:

Do not be afraid of me.
Do not be afraid of what I am asking of you.
Do not be afraid of going where I am leading you.

To the extant that we trust him; believe who he is and what he says, we too can sing our Heart Song.

Will you believe today?

The Three – Context Part 2

19 Thursday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it? I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find this urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

The message of the three angels in Revelation 14, is a response to what has been revealed in Revelation 12 and 13. In these chapters we are told about a dragon, a sea beast and a land beast. These aren’t real creatures but symbolic images that represent powerful agencies active in the world today. We do this today – the USA is an eagle, Russia is the bear.

Because of the evidence in the text, we can see that these creatures make up a satanic anti-trinity: the dragon counterfeits God the Father, the sea beast counterfeits God the Son, and the land beast counterfeits God the Holy Spirit. The sole purpose of the anti-trinity is to steal away the hearts and minds of all people from God’s love. This is their last ditch appeal to the human race to embrace self – either for gain or out of fear.

Most of Revelation 14 reveals God’s equally intense appeal to the human race to find their hope and life in his grace. It’s urgent; choose NOW – today – before it’s too late! It’s God’s invitation to be among the faithful remnant described in the first five verse of chapter 14.

The intensity of the appeal is due to it being the last message to a dying world. How do we know? The very next scene is Christ’s second coming. The message of the three angels is the writing on the wall; God’s heartfelt cry to deliver people from the clutches of Satan.

So the question today is, which appeal is for you?

The Three – Introduction

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

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If you just had a few moments to call out a warning to people you love, what would you say and how would you say it? What would you be willing to risk? If you knew that the warning would be scoffed at and ignored, would you still give it?

I ask you to consider these questions and more in a series called, “The Three.”

In the last letter of the Bible, there’s a lot of symbolism; a story being told with vivid imagery. In that letter we find this urgent message in Revelation 14:6-11.

This passage has it all: angels, the entire world, fear and glory, judgment, worship, Babylon, adultery, beasts, wrath, and more. It ends with the dire message:

“There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

We already have some questions: What’s going on here? Why is this message in the Bible? Why do some parts sound horrific? Who is this message for and why is it being given?

Would you be willing to come along with me over the next few weeks as we seek the answers to these questions?