Posted on 06/29/2012 7:58:35 PM PDT by Conservaliberty
I am 25 years old. That is pretty young, in the grand scheme of things. Still, I am an adult--I am married, I am a voter, I am a taxpayer...in short, I am a grown up.
But the recent news stories have reduced me to a cowering five-year-old, wanting to hide in my father's lap. But, I am a grown up now, and there is nobody's lap to hide in.
Watching the news stories, I keep thinking of my history classes. I remember being shocked at some of the things that happened in history, being offended by them, being glad that they were all in the past.
At 10 I thought communism was obsolete, since only China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba were communist. I grew up in a haze of patriotic fervor and faith in the belief that America was the best country in the world and that nowhere else would give you more rights.
Ah, a child's perspective.
This is my plea to fellow Freepers--I don't know how to deal with these recent rulings. Our country is falling apart at the seams. My husband (who is going to be a pastor) and I have had conversations about what to do when the chips are down--we are talking about martyrdom. In America. Persecution.
I think that's why this recent Obamacare ruling has me so scared. This is why the gay movement / abortion lobby frightens me. These are the issues that are going to crack the church.
Today, it's paying for contraception. Soon, it's performing gay marriages whether you like it or not. How long until you get punished just for teaching that sin is sin? And once that has happened...how long until the central doctrine of Christianity is verboten?
I fear for my husband. I fear for our future children. I fear for the church. There is so much fear, and it is all around me.
This is America, you know? I always thought as a kid these were the fears I'd never have. America's government is now big and scary and menacing...and I am so very, very, small.
I know that God is in control of things, and I remind myself that He will defend His church no matter what, from age to age. But the persecution is coming--it's already here. I don't doubt that God is at my side and that He will be with me...
But the unknown terrifies me so much.
The world is big and scary, and I am small. So small.
Why leave the best country in the world?
Is it not worth fighting for?
Sniff
Now. THAT is an American!
Bless you son. It will be well
I pray so too.
And you all have given me faith.
I wish I could have meet your father. A hero.
It is going to be less easy to be a moral person and a Christian person and leader. When I get scared, I come up with a plan.
In socialism, they don’t respect the right of differences in associations, opinion and thought. They will make it difficult...BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE! Our God makes them look like pipsqueaks. Which is why they hate God.
Christians have to organize to make it through whatever comes along right now. We can’t afford to leave one another in isolation to struggle alone.
For example, a Christian woman got kicked out of a University in Georgia for not celebrating sodomy. A Christian University should bring her in immediately.
So this is how we will do it and we will walk stronger than ever before. As Christian leaders, keep this in mind when you see Christians who have been harmed by the beast system. Use your connections and networks and organize wealth and opportunity to come to their aid. We’ll need a hotline and big networks of Christians to help. We’ll grow our way through this. God owns everyone and everything. He’s all powerful. You are His kid and you can sit in his lap.
Very well said
One of my favorites Scriptures of comfort:
John 10
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
No one can pluck us out of the Father’s hand, so we are always in “good hands” :)
We are all small, but grains of sand can stop a machine altogether.
This is my favorite scripture when I am afraid.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Our pastor has said that he would not be surprised if he is imprisoned at some for preaching the gospel.
I’m a 59 year old woman and I will tell you that though I often cannot figure out what the Lord is doing, I have found that He can be trusted in every circumstance - sad, dangerous, difficult, whatever.
As others have said, hide scripture in your heart. I imagine you know the Bible Promise Book - find those that speak to you and memorize them. Pray for wisdom and strength to meet whatever comes. Rejoice that you can tell others of the hope found in Jesus, no matter what the future brings.
You have already seen the Lord at work in your life. Write down your “God moments” - those in the past and as they happen, which they will. When you are sad or afraid, you can remind yourself of the times God has acted on your behalf and be encouraged.
Remember the stories of women of the Bible - Deborah, Esther, Ruth. My sisters in Christ and I love this scripture from Esther
Esther 4:14
English Standard Version (ESV)
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Your presence at this time in history is not an accident. God has purpose for you, and only when that purpose is done, you will be with Him. Until then, He sees you, He loves you and He will provide everything you need.
I am so touched by the men who are ready to rise up on your behalf. It is times like these where we have the privilege of living what we believe.
God bless you and your family.
I sent you a Private Freepmail that you might want to share with your husband.
Ping to Jim Robinson
A very important, profound thread — the most touching I have ever seen on FR.
In the Bible He said 365 times “do not fear, do not be afraid”. If He says something that many times, He meant it.
Of course, we are only Human, but when the shadow of fear comes over you, pray for His Light to shine.
That’s what I’m trying to do. Some days, it takes an effort, but I tell Satan “shut up”, and keep going.
That’s me. Exactly.
“People should not fear their government. Government should fear their people.”
(V for Vendetta)
A dog can be beaten by a cruel master. The dog may learn to cower and shrink from the master’s approach. That same dog, may suddenly turn on its master and rip him limb from limb.
Yea, though I walk through the shadow of the Valley of Death, I will fear NO EVIL.....
There is some good in the world...and it’s worth fighting for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xDD7egEN2k
Live your life as well as you can. Take time to participate in the political process. Embrace God and family, you can never go wrong with that.
Don't let the socialists get you down. The Bible? I read the ending...we win! Cheers...
Thank you GenXteacher for those wise words, and thank you Conservaliberty for this thread. It is my belief, that the ruling has marked a true turning point for this nation, and it is my prayer, that we will use it to turn back all those who seek to oppress us.
May God bless and keep you, and may He give us all strength.
Tatt
You aren’t alone - as you’ve realized by now.
Age has nothing to do with it.
Find like-minded people and stick together.
Learn some skills - nothing like developing competency in some skill to drive out the fear. I learned to shoot in the last two years. When I was your age, I never thought I’d fire a gun, much less own one.
Pray. A lot.
Then pray some more.
Go vote. Make sure your circle of influence votes.
Write/call/email your representatives at every level. The battle won’t be over in November. It will just be starting.
Pray again and again.
I think many of our brave troops, including many here who served our country (thank you all!) on this thread, will tell you all humans have fears. When the time comes, God will give you the courage, strength, conviction and power to do what He wants you and your husband to do.
We all must drench ourselves with God’s word and “remember” what He has already done. Let His words become a part of who you are. You are a daughter of the God of the Universe who sees all thing, knows all things, and controls all things. He will never let you experience anything that is too much for you to handle. God keeps His promises and will never let you down.
We are all called for a purpose, to serve God. You and your husband have a special calling serving Him in the ministry. We are also suppose to serve others by telling them the truth of the gospel, by serving the poor, the sick, the homeless......just as Jesus did. You and your husbands work in the ministry will fill the sick, the poor and the homeless (and many others) with the knowledge that their is a place that the Father has prepared for us, His children, where there is no pain or suffering; a place where we will dwell with God for eternity. He will teach God’s truths and teach them to live it. One last suggestion. Watch Veggie Tales, “Where’s God when I’m scared” It will make you laugh, and we all need to find the time to laugh.
I think many on this thread will find time to keep you and your husband, as well as others who are truly fighting on the front lines against the evil of our time, in our prayers.. I find this comforting. It’s a prophecy of Jesus coming, as well as puts life into prospective and reminds us all the God has done.
Isaiah 40
40 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord[a];
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.[b]
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
*********************************************************
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever. ”
*********************************************************
9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c]
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
*******************************************************************
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
*****************************************************************
12 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?
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[d] of the Lord,
or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
14 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?
15 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.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.
18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
to set up an idol that will not topple.
21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
****************************************************************
23 He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
**********************************************************************
25 “To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
******************************************************
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
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