Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 542
November 15, 2010
Lessons from the 1940s - Freedom from Fear
Seventy years ago, the world was a fearsome place. Nazi Germany controlled most of western continental Europe and pummeled Britain with almost daily bombings, militarist Japan was brutalizing coastal China, and Fascist Italy was making dangerous progress in eastern Africa toward Britain's vital Suez Canal. The United States wasn't at war, but faced two terrifying choices - to go to war, or to let evil win.On January 6, 1941, in his State of the Union Address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that everyone deserved four fundamental freedoms - freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. At the time, the Axis dictators stifled freedom of speech and worship, and conquered peoples lived in great fear and want.
Within five years, the governments that had caused so much fear and death were toppled. The external triggers of fear were removed - but did fear disappear?
The human mind is inclined to fear. This can benefit us as we imagine possible dangers and protect ourselves. A healthy amount of fear motivates us to do our best work on the job, to fasten our seatbelts, to vaccinate our children, to save for the future, and to brush and floss.
But fear has a tendency to worm inside, make itself at home, and spread its poison. Fear of ridicule can keep us from doing the right thing. Fear of failure - or success - can paralyze us on the job. Fear of being hurt can impede true friendship and love. Fear of whatever threat is popular on the internet this week can disrupt our lives.
This is no way to live. The most common command in the Bible is "Do not fear!" God wants us to trust Him completely, and fear is a lack of trust. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." We should let His perfect love drive out fear (1 John 4:18) and live in the freedom God desires for us.
Only in the Lord will we ever find true freedom from fear.
Battlefields & Blessings - Giveaway Winner!
Thanks to everyone who left a comment last week for the drawing for Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan by Jane Hampton Cook, Jocelyn Green, and John Croushorn. The winner is...Lisa Boyle! Lisa, I left you a message on Facebook. If you didn't win, the book is available at your local bookstore or on-line at Amazon, ChristianBook.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. Thank you so much to Jocelyn Green and AMG Publishers for providing a copy of the book for review, giveaway - and great enjoyment!
November 14, 2010
Today in World War II History
65 Years Ago—Nov. 14, 1945: Penicillin reported as treatment for scarlet fever.
November 13, 2010
Today in World War II History
65 Years Ago—Nov. 13, 1945: France conducts free elections and approves Gen. Charles DeGaulle's moderate socialism.
November 12, 2010
Tools for Shoving off Shame
"Have you asked God to forgive you?" May asked. "So many times I've lost count." Ruth's mouth puckered. "Then he's already forgiven you. Now you can heal." Ruth's head shook from side to side. As a nurse, she knew of no procedure or medication or surgery to remove shame. In my novel A Memory Between Us, the heroine, Lt. Ruth Doherty, struggles with shame over her past. This six-part blog series deals with shame that lingers after sin has been forgiven or there was no sin to begin with, as in abusive situations. Here's the first post: http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-blog-series-shoving-off-shame.html God doesn't want us to live under a heavy cloak of shame because: 1) Christ redeems us (http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2010/10/shoving-off-shame-christ-redeems-us.html) 2) Christ covers us (http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2010/10/shoving-off-shame-youre-covered.html) 3) Christ restores us. (http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2010/11/shoving-off-shame-restoration.html) Tools for Shoving off Shame Even when we know the truth, when we know we're forgiven, covered, and restored, we can still find ourselves in shame's downward spiral. How can we deal with this shame and shove it out of our lives? 1) Recognize it can be a long battle. Depending on your personality and history, shame may be a stubborn enemy. Don't allow yourself to get discouraged in the healing process. Even when you feel you're healed, shame can still rear its ugly head occasionally. Squash it back down. 2) Prayer Your best and most potent weapon is prayer. Rest in the assurance of God's forgiveness and ask for His help in dealing with shame. 3) God's Word To recognize lies, you have to know the Truth. Daily Bible reading fills your soul with truth and imprints God's promises into your mind and heart. When a verse really speaks to your situation, memorize it or write it down or make it into a song, whatever you need to keep it in front of you. My favorite verses about shame are Isaiah 54:4: "'Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood,'" and Isaiah 50:7: "Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame." Other great verses about shame include Psalm 25:3, Psalm 34:5, Isaiah 61:7, Ezekiel 39:25-26, and 1 Peter 2:6. 4) Discipline of your mind God has already done His part and He's given us all we need to live free lives, but we need the strength of will to come out from shame's dark shadow. Listen for those nasty lies, refuse to dwell on past sin and shame, and dwell on the truth. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." This is no passive task, but an act of the will. Likewise, when we're told to "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14), this is also an act of the will, to throw off the cloak of shame and put on the cloak of Jesus' righteousness. Next week, we'll wrap up the series and talk about how we can rise again and live the lives God wants for us.
Today in World War II History
November 11, 2010
Today in World War II History
November 10, 2010
Battlefields & Blessings - Giveaway!
We all know Veteran's Day is more than a day off work or school, but a day to ponder the sacrifices made for our freedoms. Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan by Jane Hampton Cook, Jocelyn Green, and John Croushorn allowed me to ponder at a deeper level. Although America's been at a state of war for almost ten years, for most of us, life goes on as always, interrupted by occasional reminders. The long lines at airport security. Calls for care packages. Newspaper articles. A friend requesting prayer for her soldier son.
The stories in this book bring the realities of the war on terror to poignant life. Battlefields & Blessings is organized in devotional format, with a short story for each day accompanied by a Scripture verse and prayer, but it can also be read straight through. I was touched by stories of the Army chaplain who "happened" to be at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, of medics fighting to save wounded soldiers, of a mother hearing of her son's death, of a young woman struggling during her boyfriend's deployment, and of soldiers in the heat of battle. But most of all I was inspired by God's presence through all, and how these people turned to the Lord and grew through their experiences. Battlefields & Blessings not only illuminates the fullness of what these brave men and women do for our freedom, but it challenges us to grow in our faith as well. I highly recommend it.
On a purely superficial level, I was also drawn to the design of the book, from its "deckle" page edges with that old-fashioned torn look, to the built-in flaps on the cover. This book feels nice in your hands.
For more information about Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan, please visit http://www.battlefieldsandblessings.com/. One of the authors, Jocelyn Green, also has a wonderful website ministry to support military wives at http://www.faithdeployed.com/.
I have a copy of Battlefields & Blessings to give away! To enter the drawing, please leave a comment and include your email address in the following format: sarah [at] sarahsundin [dot] com. I'll pick a winner on Friday, Nov. 12.
Today in World War II History
November 9, 2010
Today in World War II History
