Fear can cause us to do and think the craziest stuff. It can cause us to doubt God and ourselves, to think the worst instead of the best, to see only the negative instead of what is going on in our lives that is positive, and to be overly hard on ourselves.

Fear can cause us to act and react in ways that cause us to fail or consistently come up short in the things we attempt to do. It is so paralyzing. It creates an atmosphere of failure and makes us believe we are not as good as we really are, which in turn will create moments of frustration not only with ourselves but with others as well. Fear is so destructive that it will ruin good relationships with others for no reason — only what we imagine to be true because we will think so little of ourselves.

Fear will always give you a reason you can’t, or shouldn’t even, try. We need to train our minds to believe that with hard work and being committed to God and His word we can overcome anything — we can succeed — we can win. We need to get so addicted to winning and succeeding that we will overcome our fear (fake evidence appearing real) and go for it.

With God all things are possible. It’s about overcoming the doubt that we have in ourselves and especially in God and His word.

Just a thought,

PSS

The world is working to condition us that somehow because of a virus we must alter our lives, even our spiritual lives. If people don’t comply, they work to shame us.

Fear vs faith:

We cannot now, or ever, allow the world, the government, the media to shame us to conform to this world and its fear. Fear is taught. There was a man speaking to two Amish men, and he asked, “Why aren’t you guys afraid of the virus?” Their response was, “We don’t watch TV!” Fear is taught, and the more we are told to be afraid, and we listen to it — begin to believe it — the harder it will be to serve the Lord. It’s impossible to operate in fear and faith at the same time. Faith in God and His word will dispel fear.

Ignorance vs enlightenment:

The world uses shame to get people into compliance. As believers we are not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices, his ways. The devil works through deception, and I believe a lot of believers have been, and are being deceived. We at times are way too gullible. We don’t question what’s being said; we don’t research it. The result is deception, and we were told not to be deceived. Ephesians 5:6 — Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey Him.

The only way not to be deceived is to research and learn what the word of God teaches, and obey Him — no matter what. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Just a thought,

PSS

Managing:

Managing our time wisely is a key to being successful. If we don’t manage our schedule, our schedule will manage us. In other words, if we don’t prioritize what’s important to us, and for us to do, our time won’t be used to maximize our efforts. We should have schedules — schedules can help us stay focused. Without a schedule, we will waste so much time.  

Prioritizing: 

Some things we hear people say are: “I don’t have enough time,” or “There isn’t enough time in the day.” But there is enough time if we prioritize what are the next important things we need to do. It was important for me to watch my kids participate in sports. So, I would schedule their games on my calendar. It was an appointment. When other things would come up, I would have to decline if they conflicted with that appointment.

Scheduling:

Scheduling our time, properly managing our time, will help us get more done in a day. We allot time for everything — 30 minutes for this, an hour for that. It will increase our productivity as we schedule our time.

Time is so precious, so let’s begin to manage it more efficiently. If we do it right, it will also help alleviate stress and running ourselves ragged.

Just a thought,

PSS

Psalm 139 is a profound reminder of God’s intimate knowledge and omnipresence in our lives. The psalm opens with a declaration of God’s deep knowledge of the individual: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.” This knowledge is not just superficial awareness, but a profound, penetrating understanding of all our ways. The psalmist acknowledges that before a word is on our tongues, God knows it completely. This reveals a God who is not distant or disinterested but is deeply engaged with the intricacies of our lives, understanding our thoughts and actions better than we understand them ourselves.

The psalm continues by emphasizing that there is no place where one can escape from God's presence. Whether one ascends to heaven or makes a bed in the depths, God is there. This omnipresence assures us that we are never alone or beyond the reach of God’s care. In the imagery of being woven together in the womb, we see a picture of a God who is not only Creator but also a personal artisan, intricately crafting each person with intention and care. This speaks to each person's unique value and purpose, designed by God Himself.

Toward the conclusion of Psalm 139, the psalmist invites God to search and know his heart, to test him and know his anxious thoughts, and to lead him in the way everlasting. This is not only a recognition of God's complete knowledge but also a submission to God's lordship and guidance. It reflects a trust in God’s goodness and a desire to be led by Him away from the ways of wickedness. The God of the universe isn’t just a cosmic observer — He is a personal guide and redeemer who knows us thoroughly and loves us completely.

Just a thought,

PSS

Easter reminds us of a truth that separates Jesus from every other name in history. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. He was not just a good teacher, a prophet, or a man with kind words. He is the Son of God who went into the grave and walked out in victory. The resurrection is not just part of the Christian story; it is the center of it. Because He lives, we have hope that is stronger than death, peace that is deeper than trouble, and a Savior who is still changing lives today.

A lot of people are still doing what the angels asked about in Luke 24:5 when they said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” We still look for life in things that cannot give it. Some look to money. Some look to success. Some look to control. Some look to approval. But anything that can die cannot give you life. Only Jesus can do that. Only Jesus can forgive sin, heal what is broken, lift the weight of shame, and give real peace to the human heart.

So, this Easter, do not just celebrate a holiday. Come to the living Christ. Do not settle for religion, routine, or memory when you can know the risen Savior for yourself. The same Jesus who conquered death still saves, still restores, and still calls people by name. The stone was rolled away, the grave is empty, and hope is alive. Only one God lives, and His name is Jesus.    

Just a thought,

PSS