MAC KIRK

 12 Steps to Living Without Fear--God's Providence Romans 8   I discovered a new devotional for these 40 days and this seems a strange and unusual way to bring up a message about living without fear( as our focus is God working with us to make all things work together for good.) But listen this is our reality as well.  God's ways are not our ways despite our thinking. He is in charge, bluf ( bottom line up front) and would we want it any other way? "But the Lord did not say, “I am going up to Jerusalem.” He said, “We are going.” It is this “we” that we  have to emphasize. For it does not apply only to those  first disciples; it also applies to us insofar as we want  to be his followers. For us, too, the way to glory passes  through suffering and death. To suffer with Christ  for sin in the obedience of faith; to give up all foolish  wishes and vain hopes with our eyes fixed on him; with  him and in love to him to give our old self up to...

 Step 2.  " 12 Steps to Living Without Fear"    What does fear have to do with forgiveness?  We are looking at forgiveness today and see that dwelling on the past , judging ourselves (in an extreme way) and others create fear.    To forgive literally means I send away, (b) I let go, release, permit to depart, (c) I remit, forgive, (d) I permit, suffer. The original greek is  aphíēmi (from 575 /apó, "away from" and hiēmi, "send") – properly, send away; release (discharge). biblehub.com   Ogilvie nails down the issue about fear and forgiveness ," The panic over being discovered for what we've been, combined with memories of hurts from others produces a feeling of uneasiness about the past and a fear of the future." p. 63 12 Steps to Living Without Fear Our goal is to " let go of my hurting memories of the past.  I will not anticipate the repetition of past pain; I will accept forgiveness from the Lord and will forgive everything and everyo...

 Living Without Fear Series    The word fear in English and Greek is phobia.  I once woke up in my house near my reading light and there was a humongous beetle crawling up the wall near me.  I was telling a former church friend in Florida about it ( he was a Deacon in a PCA Church) and his reply got me laughing.  Of course I did not want to laugh at the time.  He said, " Maybe he wants to say hi to you in the morning."  He usually had a good joke or kidded me when I knew him in Miami.  He had not changed .    If we live on the fear line in our lives then there is something that can correct and help us---we fail to act because of our beliefs unfortunately in a good way because we are afraid.  " My fear is really loneliness for God. Therefore I will claim His promise to never leave me or forsake me" ( Lloyd Ogilivie ) Hebrews 13:5-6.  " Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have...

  Colossians 3:12-17 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.   The Collect The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany O GOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us s...

 I am concerned about the world, the Church , and my own personal spiritual life.  I know I need to improve and get better.....the 3 weeks before Lent, Ash WED on FEB 22 are times of preparation in the Church. We call them the Gesima Sundays. Scripture for FEB 5 is emphasizing our need to get closer to God and His commandments. The Collect The Epistle The Gospel   The Collect O LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.   The Epistle 1 Corinthians ix. 24. KNOW ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorrupti...