Whoever coined the phrase “fraidy cat” has never met my over-sized orange Tabby, Justice.

He weighs about 15 pounds, looks like the feline equivalent of “Rocky Balboa,” and has an attitude to match! He likes to sit on the top stair leading down to our basement. I, on the other hand, do not like him to sit on the top stair leading down to our basement!

It was on that very top stair where the battle of wills between Justice and I began.

I stepped down, descending toward the basement, when something smushy made me lose my balance. Before I could tell what it was, a very disinterested “mew” rose from beneath my feet!

“Justice!” I squealed, "get out of my way!”

He did not move, but, I continued downward, assuming the footprint on his back would convince him to move his fat, furry physique.

Hours later, as I ascended the stairs, engaged in a phone call with my friend Karen, I stopped mid-sentence with a yelp! I tumbled, dropped the phone, tripped, and landed on the floor. I could hear Karen, from the receiver, asking, “What happened? Are you okay?”

Then I heard it. “Mew.” This time, he sounded a little more interested and a lot more irritated. I screamed louder at that cat. “Justice, MOVE!”

I brushed myself off, picked up the phone and finished my call, reassuring Karen that I was sure Justice would now no longer sprawl himself on the top stair. After all, I had to have scared at least one of his nine lives right out of him!!

Moments later, I proceeded back down stairs one last time to get my computer when, you guessed it, JUSTICE!! This time, I caught myself before the tumble and managed enough balance to kick that cat on his plump, padded hiney! He didn’t move! No fear! He was not governed by fear, he was immovable.

Why can't we be like that? Immovable, rather than running scared when life hammers us?

In one of my favorite books, “The Princess and the Goblin,” George MacDonald says this about the Princess Irene’s foolish decision to fearfully run from her safe castle into the dark mountains:

“...but that is the way fear serves us; it always sides with the thing we are afraid of.”

This is why we can't let fear govern us... we must allow faith to govern us. Fear betrays us, faith never does. Fear makes us run, faith makes us immovable. Faith will always be on your side - cheering you on, defending you. Fear, is always against you. It serves that which you most want to avoid... it deceives you, manipulates you, and overcomes you.

The Apostle John wrote about what makes us immovable, what grounds us and what should govern us. He said, “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” He that is in the world is the author of fear, but, greater than he, greater than the fear he tempts us with, is He that lives within you AND ME! God, who lives in us, is worthy of our faith, our full reliance and belief. We usher in fear when we choose to believe lies instead of truth, the enemy instead of God. In fact, most of the time, fear comes from unbelief.

Beth Moore says; “Fear is an emotional outburst of unbelief.” The way I like to think of it is; fear is always a feeling and faith is always a choice. I recently read a clever acrostic for the word "fear:" False Evidence Appearing Real.

It's true that sometimes our emotional response of fear is prompted by a genuine emergency and God grants us fear to protect us from certain danger. But, most often, our fear is an emotional response to the belief that we can't trust God with our situation. Just like the little Princess in MacDonald’s story, we run from the very refuge God is using to protect us. We stray from that which we know is trustworthy, and allow fear to propel us into an emotional tailspin that lands us into the arms of our enemy.

For that reason, we must remember that God didn’t give us the spirit of fear. He gave us power, love and self control instead. Don’t run from the thing you are afraid of, the fear itself does not serve you. Believe the reality of your powerful God, not what seems to be real and feels so powerful. When you feel afraid, let it remind you that you can trust God to stabilize you. Let faith make you immovable!

Be strong and courageous!
Joshua 1:9 NASB

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark,
and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET
http://www.jenniferrothschild.com
email me: JR@jenniferrothschild.com

Decorations: Our centerpieces were white bird cages from a second hand store. We left the doors slightly open and put moss and flowers in each one. We hot glued a bird inside, and butterflies around the outside of the cages. (We wanted the cages open symbolizing freedom.) We sprinkled colored bath salts on the tables around the cages.

Each table was covered with spring colored tablecloths. (Daisies/gingham, blues, yellows, lavender.) At each place setting we used square paper plates in colors that complimented the tablecloths and wrapped plasticware in napkins that matched the plates.

Refreshments: We served sandwiches, pasta salad, fruit, green salad, and chips. For dessert we had rainbow sherbet with a mint sprig and sugar cookies. We kept drinks simple with lemonade, iced tea and coffee.

Program: Our speaker spoke about being free in Christ and asked us to discuss at our tables what we wanted to be free from. Some of the answers were: anxiety, fat, fears, anger, people pleasing.

She then shared with us that Jesus has set us free and that by having an authentic relationship with Him, we can learn to be free from the things that keep us bound.

The women who attended were blessed by the event and the speaker.

Submitted by: Patti Patterson, Women's Ministry Coordinator
Email: plpatti@aol.com
Church: MidCities Baptist Church, California

A study leader recently asked me for a recommendation for leader materials or a study book specifically for Proverbs. I immediately thought of doing an inductive styled study, but then thought, "Hey! I'll ask the girls what they would recommend!"

So, let me know! Remember... we are looking for a study book specifically on Proverbs. Send you recommendations to robyne@womensministry.net.

Thanks for your input! Next week I will list your top suggestions.

In Him... Robyne Beaubien, Editor

Music and Ministry...This has been Bridget Taylor's focus for the past 18 years. As both a Top 20 Inspirational singer, speaker and author, Bridget has traveled the US making a difference one life at a time!

Bridget Taylor's I Choose Joy Weekend Women's Conferences teach women that having a joy-filled life starts today! The conference begins with a Friday night concert by Bridget. Saturday is filled with fun, fellowship and finding Truth in God's Word.

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