The Root of All My Fears
Most of our insecurity and fears are surface symptoms with a deep root. I have battled insecurity and fear most of my life. I believe it
started when 5 of us kids were on a bike flying down a hill. We never saw the bump sign. My head hit that road so hard that it caused a bone growth on my forehead. The trauma of what followed with surgery and doctor check-ups opened the door to a giant fear. That door never closed until recently.
Before I spoke at a conference in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, I checked on hotel prices. They were so high I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night. I kept
looking around for reasonably priced accommodations. I found them at "The Cemetery Inn" near the battlefields. Arriving home after that weekend, I greeted my wife. She said, "So and so called, and he wants you to call him about those two cemetery plots he offered you a long time ago." I couldn't help but think...
I just came from The Cemetery Inn and now someone is offering me two cemetery plots at half price. The half price concerned me too. I said,
"Lord, I don't like the timing of this. I just came from ministering for You all weekend. What is going on?" Two days later I was to meet this brother at the Cemetery Memorial Park to sign the transfer papers. When I arrived, he wasn't there. I got tired of waiting in the office for him, so I went outside.
When I walked outside, all I could see were grave markers. An eerie feeling came over me. Then the Lord spoke to me, "Son, this is the root of your
lifelong fears. Every doctor visit and every report from your physical exams brought fear to your mind. You are afraid to die! You battled it on a bumpy road at age five. When you were seven and had a brain tumor, death hounded you again. Then 28 years ago, when you had a blood clot in the artery of your heart and a fifty-fifty chance of survival, fear rushed in again. Three days later, you had a heart catheterization. Your heart stopped on the table, and the doctors shocked it back into rhythm.
Have you noticed that I never let you die? I still hold the keys to hell, death and the grave." "I am the living one. I died, but look--I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave." Rev. 1:18 (NLT)
He continued, "What do you think about the Scripture that says, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.' 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) No pain, no doctors, no devil.
Fully alive in My glorious presence forever and ever?"
For a moment I was speechless. He was right. My worst fear had made me vulnerable to an endless list of others. And I failed to compare it to eternity. That day I found peace in a cemetery. As I left those grave markers, He spoke again, "By the way son, the same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives in you. Go live! Go live! Don't be afraid of living. Enjoy every minute of
it."
What's your fear? Losing a loved one, a job, or your financial security? Maybe you are afraid to die and afraid to live. Bring those fears to Jesus. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV) Let His peace envelop you. Let His perfect love cast out all fear.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and
of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 ( KJV)
Dear Friends,
Once I was thanking the Lord for sparing my life
many times, and He interrupted me, "Give your wife some credit. She prayed you through most of it." Wow! What a wake-up call to know how much we can take our spouse for granted, not remembering that they are going through things with us. It is hard on them too. Years ago, when my wife Dagmar was in ICU with a brain bleed, she said, "Don't worry Bill, it's going to be ok." She had more faith than I did. She came through it with no loss of memory or impairment of her body. Again your prayers
touched heaven for us, and they still do.
Thank you for your love and support over many years.
With love,
Bill and Dagmar
Ministry Update: Please Pray and Come Expecting!
* Aglow Southwest Pennsylvania Spring Conference - "Moving Forward In God's Destiny." - Saturday, April 11th ( Registration 9am - Meeting begins at 9:30am. )
Comfort Suites 543 Champ Blvd.
Right off Rte. 283
Spooky Nook Rd.
Manheim, Pennsylvania 17545
(717 - 537 - 9720)
President: Linda Phillips
* Towerville Christian Church - Sunday, April 12th 10am
10 Hannum Dr.
East Fallowfield, Pennsylvania19320
Lead Pastor: Daniel Wagner
610-384-0997
* Lifegate Ministries - Sunday, May 17th 10:30am
8948 Capitol Hill Rd.
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania 17268
* New Life Fellowship - Sunday, May 31st 9:45am
2349 Back Rd.
Sharpsburg, Maryland 21782
Pastor: Darrel
Strite
*** Donations: If you wish to donate to our ministry, you may do so below.
For a tax receipt: Click Here To Donate Online.
Send a check to: ( new address )
Blowing The Shofar
Ministry
1215 Glenwood Ave.
Hagerstown, Maryland 21742
