For the past three days, I’ve had the privilege of housing and visiting with my friend Karen and her daughter Mackenzie. These two northern gals traveled from Michigan to Tennessee not just to visit. That was an added bonus for me! They came to look at colleges for Mackenzie. (And I might add…they brought freezing rain and snow with them!)

“How brave,” I thought. Allowing her daughter to go to school hundreds of miles away from home is scary for some. It was for me. When my son considered schools in North Carolina and New York, my heart skipped a beat and fear quickly crept into every fiber of my body. I was afraid for one reason. I failed to prepare.

To conquer fear in our lives, one thing we must do is dare to prepare. This is exactly what Karen and Mackenzie were doing. In traveling to Tennessee, they were examining the colleges close up and preparing for each and every detail that would provide Mackenzie with a safe journey through her college days.

It reminded me of Charles Lindbergh who decided to fly across the Atlantic—alone and with a single engine plane!

Help me Jesus!

Lindbergh didn’t just hop on a plane and take off. No. He dared to prepare by first calculating the risks involved. It wasn’t as if he’d never flown before or had to trust the mechanics who built the plane. If so, he would have good reason to be anxious. Instead, he built the plane himself and was an experienced pilot.

Sure, if he had planned the trip on a whim, without planning, we could label him foolish. We could expect to be concerned, but that was not the case. Years of preparation provided Lindbergh with the tools he needed for a safe journey—and with confidence to carry him through!

You and I can thumb through the bible today and find many like Lindbergh who God prepared long before they arrived at a task to be preformed. The truth is He does the same for me and you. Every experience we have somehow prepares and equips us for the future. When you and I are prepared, it minimizes our anxieties and allows us to adventure into a world of possibilities.

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives is the prefect preparation for the future that only he can see.”

What are you anxious about today? Is there good reason for your concerns or have you been prepared to face what’s ahead? If so, give your fears to God and allow your trust in His provision to see you through.

Today, the Proverbs 31 daily devotional, written by Marybeth Whalen, was about fear. Having faced every woman’s greatest fear, (the death of her spouse) I know this subject all too well. That’s why I’ve written a book on the topic. Inside, the first chapter opens with my story. While I can’t share it in its entirety, I’ve can give you the story at a glance.

"My life was a fairytale. First, I became a wife and now I was a mother. I was living my childhood dream just as I had planned… until the night Porter didn’t come home.

Dinner was getting cold. I was pacing the floor with the baby on my hip wondering where he could be, when my father knocked at the door. Immediately, I could tell something was wrong. “What is it, Dad,” I asked cautiously?

“Porter has been in an accident,” he said with regret.

I didn’t stop to consider that Porter could be seriously hurt. That was simply out of the question. Instead, I quickly phoned a friend to keep the baby and concentrated on packing the diaper bag with everything our son might need.

Once our son was settled at the babysitter’s house and Dad and I were on were on way to the hospital, there was nothing else to occupy my mind. I couldn’t help but think about the accident. “How bad is it?” I asked dad, searching for clues in his face.

“I really don’t know. I think…well…what I mean is I’m not clear about what happened. The neighbors said there was… uh…some sort of explosion. We’ll know more when we get there,” he replied, stumbling over every word.

Earlier that morning, Porter had gone to my brother-in-law’s house to help him waterproof his basement. The day before, my brother-in-law had dug a seven-foot ditch around the foundation of the house with a backhoe so that Porter could apply the waterproofing substance to the outside wall. Realizing the substance was highly flammable, Porter felt confident that working outdoors would allow the fumes to escape preventing any danger. Unfortunately, as they worked the fumes mounted in the ditch. With only five feet left to finish, the outside heating and air conditioning unit clicked on igniting the fumes and the ditch exploded. The blast of fire left Porter and our brother-in-law badly burned over the majority of their bodies.

When my dad and I arrived at the Burn Center, my mom and sister were already there. The nurse escorted all of us to a small room where the doctor tried to prepare us for what we were about to see. His explanation was quick and to the point. My brother-in-law had been burned over 40% of his body, yet they expected full recovery. On the other hand, my husband had been burned over 80% of his body both inside and out. They gave him a fifty-fifty chance to survive.

To prevent blood poisoning, the doctor preformed a surgery called skin grafting. The wait was long. It was so long that my mother became suspicious of the elapsed time. She encouraged us to eat the sandwiches our church family had brought. It was the last time that I remember eating for a long while.

Later, the doctor, still in his surgical clothes, walked slowly into the waiting room with his head hung low and his shoulders slouched. No one spoke a word. He slowly bent down in front of my chair and began confirming my worst fears. “In the middle of surgery Porter went into cardiac arrest,” he explained as gently as he could. “His burned body was unable to withstand the trauma of surgery and it shut down.”

When the funeral was over and the people were gone, I found myself alone, a new mother, and a widow at the age of twenty-one. How would I get through this crisis?

The newspapers called me a survivor. On most days I didn’t feel like a survivor, but I had survived. I had lived through my worst fear. But that didn’t mean I would never fear losing another loved one. I do. That’s not all. Every time someone fails to call me when they are running late, I begin to worry that the worst has happened. Is it right for me to be concerned? Are my fears legitimate? Probably so, but the good news is I don’t have to live afraid and neither do you.

Our present day fears are fueled by our past experiences. Nevertheless, God doesn’t want us to go through the rest of our lives justifying our fears. Nor does He want us to live behind some protective wall that shields us from what might happen. God wants to teach us that it’s safe to trust Him. Even if we don’t have all the answers our past will never make sense until we invite God into our present. Then we will see He has been there all along."

© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.

SOLD OUT

Let me ask you, do you often mask your fears? If so, I have good news. God has a remedy for fear. You and I can remove the masks and live a life marked with joy, peace, and confidence. This is not only doable, but God’s desire for you.

As I woke this morning and turned on the TV, mainly to catch school closings due to light snow, excitement was in the air. Today, America makes history as Obama is inaugurated as our first African American President. What a day!

The camera's were on the President's church which was established in the 1800's. I was moved as the journalist spoke about how our past Presidents have worshiped there. At the same time, photographs of the Presidents and their wives were flashing across the screen. Suddenly, I was reminded of my responsibility--to pray for our leaders.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the apostle Paul says, “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

Most of us realize that we should be interceding for our country’s leaders. But sometime we have difficulty knowing what to ask. Below are a few suggestions that I gathered from Charles Stanley's Ministry.

Pray that our elected officials would:

1. Recognize their personal sinfulness and need for the cleansing power of Jesus Christ.
2. Understand their inadequacy for the task before them and their need to pray for God’s wisdom, knowledge and courage.
3. Reject all counsel that violates the spiritual principles of God’s Word and be willing to trust God to lead them in the right direction.
4. Resist the pressures of those who would lead them astray or tempt them to disobey the Lord and His will for their lives.
5. Work to reverse the trend towards ungodliness in our land and to restore America’s Christ-centered values.
6. Be prepared to make godly choices in the best interest of America, regardless of the cost.
7. Rely on the Word of God and prayer for strength and success.
8. Maintain dignity, honor, trustworthiness, and righteousness in office.
9. Strive to be a godly example to the men, women, and children of this land.
10. Remember that while in office, they are accountable to God for their attitudes, actions, and motives.

If God’s people pray consistently and passionately for those in authority, the entire nation will be affected. “The effective prayer of a righteous man [or woman] can accomplish much” (James 5:16).

My family and I went to see the “Wizard of Oz” performed at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center this week. It was fabulous! I must say all the characters performed well—even Snickers who played the role of Toto.

This classic has always been one of my favorites. In fact, I use the principle in taught in L. Frank Baum’s tale in my book, “An Untroubled Heart…Finding a Faith Stronger Than All My Fear.”

Like the characters in Oz, we are all in search of something. For some it’s riches and fame; for others its popularity or position. But the Scarecrow, Tin man, and Lion weren’t looking for any of these things. No. They were in search of something far greater—wisdom, love, and courage.

In order to obtain these wonderful qualities, the friends went on a journey to see a great and power Wizard—who no doubt could grant what they sought. Along their way to the Emerald City in the land of OZ, they were meant with much adversity. Evil in the form of a wicked witch did all she could to keep them from their path. Not only that, but she wanted to steal Dorothy’s ruby slippers that were given to her by the Glenda the good witch. Sound familiar?

Along our journey in life, we too, are met with hardships. Sometimes our troubles are the result of consequences brought on by our own bad choices. Others times they are the results of simply living in a fallen, broken world. Often times, our misfortunes are caused by our enemy, Satan, who is out to steal what God has given us. If Satan can steal our hope, joy, and peace he’s done much to shut us down. Thankfully, like Glenda, our heavenly Father is always watching out for us, protecting us, and guiding us back to the right path.

After arriving at Oz, our friends soon realized that the Wizard was no Wizard at all. Disappointment swept their hearts for they had traveled a long way in hopes of great gain. I can help but identify with their disillusionment. Often, I look to God as if He has a magic wand. With one wave of His wand, my troubles would be over or I could have instantly what I want. But this isn’t the way God works.

It’s often on the journey of life that we gain riches of character just like our friends. You see, in the end, the Wizard helped the fictional characters to see that what they sought they already obtained. For the Scarecrow had a brilliant mind and the Tin-man was a kind and caring friend. …And what about the lion? Well, he was no dandelion at all. He was the bravest of the bunch! Even Dorothy realized that she didn’t have to go looking for what she sought. It could be found in her own back yard.

Like Dorothy and her friends, we don’t always see the obvious—God’s provision in everyday circumstances—but it’s there and available waiting to empower us beyond our imagination.

Okay. Commitment is key to change. Then, why do we see so little change in our goals, health, organization, and spirituality? I think it has a lot to do with passion.

Have you ever seen a new Christian? They are full of life and passion. They want to be at church every time the door is open. They can’t get enough of prayer and bible study, and their excitement for what Christ has done in their life is ablaze with passion. After a while, something happens.

Their life is no longer changing at the same rate.

Their passion for God and church diminishes.

Bible Study and prayer become more like a burden than a joy.

We’re they committed?

Yes! But perhaps their feeling of gratitude, love, and devotion wasn’t deep enough to continue down the path they were on.

What I’m suggesting is this. It takes more than commitment or a surrendered life to bring about real change. It takes genuine love for God.

What enables a spouse from having an affair and staying committed to his/her marriage?

Genuine LOVE.

This same is true for our relationship with God. If our commitment is failing, we need to check our love level. Have we begun to love the world more than God?

Ministry is hard. It demands that I spend myself for others. I admit there are times I want to throw in the towel. What keeps me going is not my love for people, but my love for God.

If I say, like many do in ministry, “I do what I do because I have a heart for God’s people,” then eventually they I give out. Why, because people let us down. Sometimes we can minister and minister without seeing results—especially missionaries. This can be discouraging to the point we lose heart.

We must remember What Christ asked Peter. “Peter, do you love me? If so, feed my sheep.”

Christ knew that in order for Peter to endure, in order to be of use, and in order to stay committed he had to have one thing…undeniable love for God.

So if you’re struggling with commitment, fuel your passion.

My New Year’s resolution is to “Be Still” and “Know God” allowing Him to direct my path for 2009. However, being still doesn’t mean we do nothing. If we want to know God and His ways, we have to be active in our relationship with Him. Just like any other relationship, we have a role to play.

Even after we get to know another person, spouse, or God, we still have to work at our relationship. Change doesn’t come because we make a resolution. Duh! We all know that to be true.

Bad habits can be incredibly difficult to break. (Are you shaking your head in agreement?!) Yet, with the turn of the calendar into a New Year, comes the desire for a fresh start. We want to live healthier, make wiser decisions, get organized, and commit to better relationships.

Commitment is a key word here. In order to break bad habits and bring about lasting change, you and I must commit to make right choices. Christians can experience growth and change by actively committing their lives to the obedience of God’s Word.

The Bible encourages us on our path to newness and change by:

· By the renewing of our minds to think like Christ and becoming a living sacrifice which is holy and pleasing to the Lord. (Romans 12:1-2)

· Once we renew our minds, we are able to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)

· We are assured that nothing—no matter what—can separate us from the love God through Christ His Son. (Romans 8-38)

· Most importantly, when we fall into old ways and temptations, we can easily get back on track through repentance and re-commitment. (Col 1:21-23)

· We must not forget this one—when all else fails, God’s mercies are new every day!

Not only that, but you and I also have His divine power that enables us to be victorious!

Happy New Year!

I love the word “new.” It speaks of beginning again. God knew that you and I would need new beginnings. That’s probably why He makes His mercies new everyday!

I needed a new start for 2009 so I took the Christmas holidays off to spend with my family and with God. As a wife, mom, friend, and minister, I can become spent quickly. If I don’t rush into God’s presence for new grace and mercies—for a new filling of Him, I live depleted.
And it’s not a pretty sight!

I began to complain, feel tried and overwhelmed. I become annoyed at the very people I love and find ministry to be more like a job than a passion. The list goes on. But…

This is not God’s intention.

Instead of striving forward into the New Year with new resolutions God calls us to be still and know that He is God. Being still means DO NOT plan, worry, struggle, or make every effort to plan out 2009. It means to focus on God and allow Him to plan your steps. This is exactly what I’ve been doing.

Have you ever thought about what you and I may be giving up by moving ahead of God or perhaps being discontent with what He’s provided?

It causes me to think about Esau. He had his priorities out of whack. Instead of receiving God’s plan and provision for his life, he traded it for instant gratification—a full belly of stew.

We all know a full belly doesn’t last long before we are hungry again.

Neither does anything we do or trade for God’s perfect plan.

I wonder what our “bowl of soup” is that we’re willing to trade for pleasure now instead of future fulfillment. Will you take a minute to consider that question?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss one thing God has for me and my family. When I’m tempted to plan out this year, I stop. I open the Psalms and suddenly I see that He is God and there is no other. His plans are right, pure, noble, and good. So my New Year’s resolution is simple this year. I’m allowing God to direct my path.