Charnock's Hates Sin Thread

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by sandie

Charnock,
I'm going to give you the last word on this thread too.

God be with you and yours.

Sandie,

You referenced fear. Fear can be an asset and it can also cripple. Fear helps us when we look over the edge of the Grand Canyon. It keeps us from jumping and getting too close to risk falling. But it cripples us when it prevents us from doing what we know we should.

I struggle with fear of rejection, although weirdly, I relish in it here on the Forum...can't really explain that one. In "Real life" I have also struggled with the fear of people and I've had a tremendous struggle with shyness. It has held me back repeatedly. It's a bit cliche, but I've found that my fears diminish when I face them head on, and walk up to new people at church, reach out and hug them. Walls fall immediately, both in them and in me. I mean, I'm the pastor, for crying out loud, and I'm scared of people. On stage, no problem. Face to face? Horrible. Every single week, I walk through the wall of fear and hug new people...not just shake their hand. And it works every time.

Like I said, "Face your fears" is very cliche but I encourage you to face whatever fear it is you struggle with and tear down the wall.

[sandie]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Sandie,

You referenced fear. Fear can be an asset and it can also cripple. Fear helps us when we look over the edge of the Grand Canyon. It keeps us from jumping and getting too close to risk falling. But it cripples us when it prevents us from doing what we know we should.

I struggle with fear of rejection, although weirdly, I relish in it here on the Forum...can't really explain that one. In "Real life" I have also struggled with the fear of people and I've had a tremendous struggle with shyness. It has held me back repeatedly. It's a bit cliche, but I've found that my fears diminish when I face them head on, and walk up to new people at church, reach out and hug them. Walls fall immediately, both in them and in me. I mean, I'm the pastor, for crying out loud, and I'm scared of people. On stage, no problem. Face to face? Horrible. Every single week, I walk through the wall of fear and hug new people...not just shake their hand. And it works every time.

Like I said, "Face your fears" is very cliche but I encourage you to face whatever fear it is you struggle with and tear down the wall.

Thanks for reaching out and sharing.
My fears stem from life's experiences and a mother who demonstrated fear on a daily basis.
I'm trying to figure out how to exactly face the biggest fear I have.
It's kind of an abstract fear, I think, at least the biggest fear I deal with every single day.
But, I'll try and take your advice. Thanks again.

I hope this doesn't mean I have to face spiders....shiver!

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by sandie

Thanks for reaching out and sharing.
My fears stem from life's experiences and a mother who demonstrated fear on a daily basis.
I'm trying to figure out how to exactly face the biggest fear I have.
It's kind of an abstract fear, I think, at least the biggest fear I deal with every single day.
But, I'll try and take your advice. Thanks again.

I hope this doesn't mean I have to face spiders....shiver!

So if I can ask....how did your mother demonstrate fear?

[sandie]

Originally Posted by notofworks

So if I can ask....how did your mother demonstrate fear?

Many ways. If there was bad news for the country she took it to the furthest degree....energy crisis, no lights just candles, she voiced concern daily about any number of situations. She was nervous and upset almost all the time over things she had no control over. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by sandie

Many ways. If there was bad news for the country she took it to the furthest degree....energy crisis, no lights just candles, she voiced concern daily about any number of situations. She was nervous and upset almost all the time over things she had no control over. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Ok, got it. I can totally relate to that.

I'm not the "Answer-man" here, but could you consider filling your mind, to the point of overload, with funny, positive, uplifting things? It's the Phil 4:8 strategy. Whatever things are lovely, good report....think on these things. Make the decision. Read books about positive thinking, "Be transformed by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2, NLT). It is a LONG process, but it can be done.

[notofworks]

I hate the sin of taking the Lord's name in vain.


http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/sho...&postcount=432

[sandie]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Ok, got it. I can totally relate to that.

I'm not the "Answer-man" here, but could you consider filling your mind, to the point of overload, with funny, positive, uplifting things? It's the Phil 4:8 strategy. Whatever things are lovely, good report....think on these things. Make the decision. Read books about positive thinking, "Be transformed by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2, NLT). It is a LONG process, but it can be done.

I've been trying and it being a LONG process is so right. It seems that when I think I've got it conqured or at least under control the thing I fear most becomes reality.
Thankfully God never gives up on me!
Thanks again for your response.

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by sandie

I've been trying and it being a LONG process is so right. It seems that when I think I've got it conqured or at least under control the thing I fear most becomes reality.
Thankfully God never gives up on me!
Thanks again for your response.

As a child, I ended every bedtime prayer with, "...and Jesus, please don't let me die and go to hell." There are times the fear comes back and I reinforce God's grace by quoting as much scripture of God's love and grace, as I can.

I still tend to see bad before good. I don't know if I'll ever rid myself of the negativism, fear, and gloominess. But so often, positivity is a choice that has to be made.....daily. In II Corinthians 4, where Paul said "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going", a few verses later he said:

"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day."


Overcoming anything.....anything.....is a daily process. AA has tapped into this truth. Unfortunately, many times, Pentecostals are fed the "Magic Wand" strategy where we go to church, whoop it up, speak in tongues, and everything is fine forever. But it doesn't work that way. It's a daily thing.