A Very Fearful New Year?

Fear…not a great emotion to start off the New Year.  This morning, I awoke with a startle, a snake biting me.  It jumped from the grass where I was getting the water off the concrete.  I jumped, kicking Denise and we both woke up.  Now I understand the scripture that I read with the boys this morning.  Matthew said, “The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’� 

My prayer for this year is that we can conquer fear.  That in Christ we would be empowered to move into risky situations that allow God’s power and love to be seen clearly for those who are stuck.  Fear cripples so many of us and keeps us from doing that which is best.  We may embark on the good, and might even think or dream about what is best, but to actually pursue we just don’t do.   

Now, as I am getting ready to close out this first new day I pray for the people in my life.  This has been a scary first day, the sea lion in Happy Feet had my little girl burying her face in my chest, and I feel not so happy about those cute little lions.  I ate it on the bicycle, something I haven’t done in a long time, thanks to the chain coming off. (thank God for dirt and grass)  I am also quite aware of the influences in my life and in the lives of my family.  Tears don’t flow that often, but fear has a way of drawing them out.  I pray as the email I received today that it would be tears of joy that slap us in the face this year.

 

Lord Jesus, make your sea calming presence known for us in this excited, risky, and scary new year.