Tag Archive - fear

Worry Is Killing Us

May 23, 2012 in Spiritual Growth with 30 Comments

This morning I was looking at Matthew 6 and the one question Jesus asked in verse 27 has been totally messing with me. He asked,

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Think about that question. Can anyone here honestly say the time they’ve spent in fear, anxiety, or worry has added any value to their life?

This particular word “worrying” translated in the Greek literally means “to be drawn in different directions.” Worry pulls us apart. I read the other day where a John Hopkins University doctor said, “We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than non-worriers, but that is a fact.”

I believe the reason worriers die before non-worriers is because we are inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear, worry and anxiety is not true to the way we’ve been wired. Everything about you from your tissue… to your brain cells… to your soul is constructed by our Maker for faith and not fear. To live by fear is to live against the reality of your creation.

I thought we could spend some time today just listening and praying for each other. Where are you tempted to live by fear instead of faith? What are you anxious, worried, or fearful about today?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6.

Goodbye

November 17, 2011 in Leadership, Spiritual Growth with 20 Comments

I’m really tired of you establishing the limits of my life.

I’m really tired of you taking me back to where I’ve already been.

I’m not going to give into you. Not today.

Goodbye Fear.

When You Walk Through The Fire

November 9, 2011 in Spiritual Growth with 51 Comments

Every day I run into people that seem paralyzed by fear.

Some of you are afraid….

Your marriage will never be what you long for it to be.

You’ll never get married.

You’ll never have children.

You’ll just have one dead end job after another.

You’ll never get out of debt.

You’ll never really be able to trust God in powerful ways.

It’s true that… Fear establishes the limits of your life.

This morning I was reading Isaiah 43. I’ve got a personal situation right now that scares me to death and it was so applicable. I know the right thing to do, but I simply fear the ramifications of stepping out in faith and doing it. I’m somewhat paralyzed by my fear but this verse brought me so much comfort.

I’m hoping you’ll do more than just go through this passage. Let this passage go through you. Read it a few times and let this beautiful promise sink deep into your heart.

Isaiah 43
Israel’s Only Savior
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

What’s one thing you fear these days?

I Hate Mice

December 15, 2009 in Random Fun with 80 Comments

At the risk of losing my “man card” once again, I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of mice. For the life of me I can’t figure out why so many of us seem to be terrified of a little creature we could kill with two fingers, but the fear seems to be pretty wide spread. Nothing makes me freak out, run, and scream like a little girl like a mouse on the loose.

For the past couple weeks we’ve had quite the problem with these little creatures in the Cross Point Nashville office complex. There have been numerous reports of mice scurrying around.

After the first Sunday service each week I meet with several members of the programming team and a few staff in my office to review the service and see if there are any adjustments that need to be made to the additional services at any of the three campuses. During the middle of the meeting this past Sunday a mouse literally ran under my chair and then darted through Dave Senes’s legs before going under my closet door for refuge.

That’s one brave mouse.

For your entertainment here’s a quick video taken on THIS GUY’S iPhone right after the traumatic event.

What creature in the animal kingdom are you most afraid of?

Worry Is Killing Me

February 10, 2009 in Cross Point Church, Leadership, Religion with 57 Comments

Sunday at Cross Point Nashville I continued the series “Paralyzed” by talking about the ‘fear of the unknown’. You can check out the CP video or audio podcast HERE to listen to the entire message.

We looked at Matthew 6 and the one question Jesus asked in verse 27 has been totally messing with me. He asked,

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Think about that question. Can anyone here honestly say the time they’ve spent in fear, anxiety, or worry has added any value to their life?

This particular word “worrying” translated in the Greek literally means “to be drawn in different directions.” Worry pulls us apart. I read last week where a John Hopkins University doctor said “We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than non-worriers, but that is a fact.”

The reason worriers die before non-worriers is because we are inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear, worry and anxiety is not true to the way we’ve been wired. Everything about you from your tissue… to your brain cells… to your soul is constructed by our Maker for faith and not fear. To live by fear is to live against the reality of your creation.

I thought we could spend some time today just listening and praying for each other.Where are you tempted to live by fear instead of faith? What are you anxious, worried, or fearful about today?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6.

Fear Of Failure

January 14, 2009 in God, Leadership, Religion with 51 Comments

A couple months ago I did a very informal survey via twitter questioning peoples’ greatest fears. By far the most common response was fear of failure.

I’ve spent some time thinking about that fear. It’s interesting because it’s certainly at the top of my fear list.

A matter of fact, I have an area of my life right now I sense God calling me to take a step of faith and trust Him. I know God could use this. I know lives could be impacted. All I need to do is step out in faith, but I’m embarrassed to admit the fear of failure is keeping me from totally giving of myself.

I don’t get it. Why do I fear failure so much? It’s not like it’s that uncommon in my life. Why do you fear it so much? We all fail on a fairly regular basis.

I think it has something to do with control.

Failure is a reminder that control is an addictive illusion which will permeate your conscious over time.

The reason you hate failure so much and the reason I hate failure so much is because it’s a reminder you’re not really in control of your life. Some of us despise the idea of failure so much we’ll not allow ourselves to take risks or make decisions where there is even the possibility of failure.

How about you? Why do you think so many of us struggle with the fear of failure?