Do not be Afraid

From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you. In famine he will deliver you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword. You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes. You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals.
Job 5:19-22

The bible's #1 command is "fear not," but we all do fear many times in our life, even though God has proved himself time and time again in the bible. But God still reminds us to fear not all the time. There were many people in the bible who God reminded to have faith in him.

God told Abraham "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield" (Genesis 15:1)
God said to Isaac "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you" (Genesis 26:24)
God told Jacob "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go" (Genesis 28:15)
God said to Moses ""My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."" (Genesis 33:14)
God told Elijah "do not be afraid of him" (2 King 1:15)
God said to Jeremiah "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you" (Jeremiah 1:8)

But seriously, why do fear?

1. We don't believe in God's Sovereignty
Fear is not always rational. Most of the time, fear is based off of what may or may not happen. Fear can give you the impression that your know and see all. Fear can create an image were your are god. Trusting in God, who knows the future, is much better than trusting in our own understanding.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

2. We create our own vision instead of seeking God's
We when are fearful of what we imagine the future might hold, we are imagining a future without God. We are seeing a future that God is not in.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

3. We are often false prophets
A false prophet is someone who makes incorrect prediction about the future. Fear is making a prediction that will most-likely not happen.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:22-26

4. We follow false gospels
Fear is when we try to control our life, instead of allowing God to do it.

Fear can seem impossible to overcome, but with God's help, all things are possible.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
-Ruth

Sources:
http://pastormark.tv/2012/05/09/4-reasons-why-we-fear

Photo Credit:
http://goodnewsgreatjoy.blogspot.com/2011/08/take-courage-it-is-i-do-not-be-afraid.html

Micah: Introduction (Part 1)

The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
Micah 1:1

Micah is one of my favorite books because to me, it shows the power of God. The book of Jeremiah even quotes Micah:

Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: " 'Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.' "Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the LORD and seek his favor? And did not the LORD relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!"
Jeremiah 26:17-19

There is also a Casting Crowns song that has lyrics based on Micah. In their song "Courageous," there is one line towards the end that says "Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God."

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

The first thing Micah writes down (after his opening) is about when the Lord comes. Micah holds on to the hope that Jesus will come, and we hold on to the hope that Jesus is coming back. God has not abandoned us, He will return.

Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.
Micah 1:3

Photo Credit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Micha.jpg

Next

Daily Reminders #18

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Photo Credit:

https://plus.google.com/photos/100643351085576662411/albums/5883017136325275697/5883017136030938674?sqi=115016065974905007689&sqsi=3368798d-3b05-4592-97ca-7af981cdf235&pid=5883017136030938674&oid=100643351085576662411

Daily Reminders #17

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.
Isaiah 40:12-17

But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
Jeremiah 10:12-14

Photo Credit:

http://www.klove.com/blog/scottandkelli/post/2012/09/07/A-Good-Reminder.aspx

Daily Reminders #12

But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
Jeremiah 10:12-14

Snow

Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle? From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?
Job 38:22-23; 29-30

He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
Psalm 147:15-18

God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.' So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
Job 37:5-11

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 1:18

Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes? Do its cool waters from distant sources ever cease to flow?
Jeremiah 18:14

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome.

Ezekiel 1:22

When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.

Exodus 16:14

On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost.

Zechariah 14:6

Photo Credit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Snow_Scene_at_Shipka_Pass_1.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Schneeflocken_in_Deutschland_-_20100102.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fresh_snow.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Skiing_Christmas_%2705_034.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frost_patterns_2.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Feather_ice_1,_Alta_plateau,_Norway.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windbuchencom.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frozen_Wappinger_Creek.JPG

Trees: The Cedar

He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.
Leviticus 14:6

he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
2 Samuel 7:2

In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and pine logs he wanted, and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths, of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year.
1 Kings 5:10

The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was to be seen.
1 Kings 6:18

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him.
1 Chronicles 14:1

Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit.
Job 40:15 and 17

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
Psalms 92:12

What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. 
Songs of Songs 8:8b and 9

You who live in 'Lebanon,' who are nestled in cedar buildings,
Jeremiah 22:23a

They made all your timbers of pine trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
Ezekiel 27:5

Wail, O pine tree, for the cedar has fallen; the stately trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down!
Zechariah 11:2



Cedars can live to be 2,000 years old! I think it's easy to see that God uses these trees to represent strength and might. And God is even strong than his cedars


The Acacia
The Cedar
The Palm
The Fig
The Olive