Fearless

Wycliffe, Huss, Jerome, Luther, and so many others. Fearless. No matter what.

How were they so fearless, in the face of anything?

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18.

"That was a terrible crisis for the Reformation. For centuries Rome’s sentence of excommunication had struck terror to powerful monarchs; it had filled mighty empires with woe and desolation. Those upon whom its condemnation fell were universally regarded with dread and horror; they were cut off from intercourse with their fellows and treated as outlaws, to be hunted to extermination. Luther was not blind to the tempest about to burst upon him; but he stood firm, trusting in Christ to be his support and shield. With a martyr’s faith and courage he wrote: “What is about to happen I know not, nor do I care to know.... Let the blow light where it may, I am without fear. Not so much as a leaf falls, without the will of our Father. How much rather will He care for us! It is a light thing to die for the Word, since the Word which was made flesh hath Himself died. If we die with Him, we shall live with Him; and passing through that which He has passed through before us, we shall be where He is and dwell with Him forever.”—Ibid., 3d London ed., Walther, 1840, b. 6, ch. 9." – {GC 141.2}

The answer is clear: It was because of God's love that they were fearless. It was through their trust in God's loving care and understanding of His will and love that they could be fearless no matter what the future hold or what they were facing at the moment.

He cares

Grunt, groan, wha wha... What could I do to help the little one? After trying to get her back to sleep a few times, I realized there was nothing I could do but wait, so I decided to go back to bed till she was ready for my help. But I wasn't sleeping. I was paying close attention to everything that was happening. Mom soon came in and tryed offering her food, as I had done, and was no more successful than I. It was simple: food wasn't what she needed.

Mom kept trying to offer her food, not knowing what was really going on. Still, I said nothing. I just waited. When the time was right, I got up and gave her what she needed.

As I returned to bed, I thought about it. Just because I couldn't help her immediately, and it didn't look like I was doing anything about it, didn't mean I was ignoring her or didn't care. Sometimes there are battles that we have to fight that God can't help us with. But it doesn't mean He doesn't care or is ignoring us. He's paying close attention to our cries, watching just what's happening to us, wishing that He could help us. And when the time is best, He comes to our aid. What a loving God!

Words

Words can be:
A blessing or a curse
Worthwhile or idle and a waste of time
Words can heal or hurt
Encourage or discourage
Sometimes they can even mean a life saved or lost

But we will have to meet every one of our words again. Will they be worth meeting or will we be ashamed of them?

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement." (Matthew 12:36)

Father

Father, I think that itʼs time now

Time to do it over

Time to start again

Re-breath in me a freshness, like the day that I was born

Father, Iʼm so lost & lonely now

Tired of wandering

Tired of turning round

Iʼve wandered empty circles

I canʼt find You anymore

Father, I know that You love me

Love me in my sorrows

Love me in my woes

I thank You for accepting me into Yoru arms again

Father, You know I need You, Father.

Father. Father.

--Lauren Smith

Amazing...

"By defeat they conquered."

(Just think about it)

(The Great Controversy, Page 41)