Category Archives: Fear

Convoy of Hope to Moore, Oklahoma

oklahomaOn Monday, May 20th a category 5 tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma. This is the strongest category of tornadoes measured. It was 2 miles wide with winds that reached between 200-210 miles per hour. It left 17 miles of destruction behind. More than 240 were injured. The death toll stands at 24.

Soon after the tornado died out Convoy of Hope had a disaster response team on the ground. Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope, said “Our prayers are with the families who have been affected by the Oklahoma tornadoes. Our team on the ground is already providing crucial information that will help us as we mobilize to send emergency supplies and teams to Oklahoma.”

This is not the first time Convoy of Hope has experienced tornado relief. Just two years ago when a tornado hit Joplin, Missouri they were there and still helping today. What they learned while in Joplin is helping Convoy of Hope today in Moore, Oklahoma.

Convoy teams have been working nonstop loading tractor-trailers with relief supplies. They also coordinate response efforts to the Moore, Oklahoma area. Continuing rain and thunderstorms in the area have made response efforts more challenging.

According to Ryan Grabill, disaster response coordinator, “There are thousands of people here that are now homeless and we want to reach to as many of them as we can.”

convoyThere are six tractor-trailer loads of supplies that have been deployed. Additional shipments are planned based on need.

Utility crews have knocked down broken power lines and put up new ones. Survivors are finally able to return to their homes and retrieve their belongings. This is only the first phase of a full-scale response that will last for many weeks, if not months.

Convoy of Hope began with just two guys handing out food and water from the back of a truck. It is now a global movement where different organizations join together to carry out Convoy of Hope’s mission. Their mission is to feed the world. This is achieved through feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.

Although it hurts even more when one hits close to home, the organization can respond especially fast. That provides real hope for the survivors.

One survivor, Rhonda Crosswhite, a sixth grade math teacher, used her body as a shield for her students. When interviewed later she admitted, “I did the teacher thing that we’re probably not supposed to do. I prayed — I prayed out loud.”

Many people have experienced the power of prayer in the midst of a huge problem. If you are facing a crisis today, prayer might be the key to moving forward again.

If you need a bit of help getting started, why not pray this prayer? “Dear Jesus, I am sorry for the wrong things I have done in my life. I know I need help to move forward. I want your forgiveness and peace. Please take my life and change me. I want to live for you! In your name I pray, amen!

If you prayed that prayer, click the button below and someone will contact you to help you take the next step towards peace.

-Catherine Anderson

 

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Exorcist Author: Fearful Reactions Surprising

Today is October 31st, the day some people call Halloween. It is a day when many people delight to be afraid. One author has played a key role in that fear for more than 40 years. Author, William Peter Blatty wrote the book: “The Exorcist.” When it was first made into a movie in 1973, people had such terrible nightmares, they required therapy and medication.  Now the book will be made into a new and perhaps even more frightening movie.

The impact of “The Exorcist” has always been a bit of a mystery for Blatty who wrote the book to raise awareness about God, not the devil.  In a FoxNews.com commentary he wrote: while I was working on "The Exorcist," what I thought I was writing was a novel of faith in the popular dress of a thrilling and suspenseful detective story – in other words, a sermon that no one could possibly sleep through.” (Read More about the Fox News Commentary.)

 His goal was to write about exorcism in order to point people toward God. Blatty said: (I thought) “Someday, somebody’s got to write about this, because if an investigation were to prove that possession is real, what a help it would be to the struggling faith of possibly millions, for if there were demons, I reasoned, then why not angels? Why not God?" Unfortunately, Blatty’s message was lost due to the graphic evil portrayed in the movie.

When fear overtakes us, it can paralyze us. We can become afraid about tomorrow. We can be stricken with panic attacks, allow one fear to create other fears and even become paranoid.  The result is that we live in fear instead of victory.  We worry instead of thrive.  Many people resort to stress management techniques in an attempt to overcome the fear they welcome into their lives through a horror movie or by toying with evil on Halloween. If you live in fear, you can find peace.

God can help you be free from fear. If you are afraid about tomorrow God can help you defeat fear itself. It begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.  You can start that relationship by talking to God.

If you do not know what to say, why not say this prayer? “Dear Jesus. I am sorry for the things that I have done wrong. I am tired of living in fear. I need your power to overcome the problems my fears have caused. Please help me to live in victory and take my fears away. I proclaim you Lord and Savior of my life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

If you prayed that prayer, why not click the button below and someone will be in contact with you to help you take the next step in your walk with God.

- Bill Hennessy

 

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Live Free From Fear

What would life be like if we were free from fear?  Can you imagine living without worry, not being afraid about tomorrow? Fear does not need to have a strangle hold on you!

Left to grow unchecked, fear about tomorrow can lead to panic attacks. Panic attacks can lead to paranoid thought patterns. The cycle is vicious. 

If you live in fear, you know the toll that worrying can take. You may have tried many different stress management techniques to overcome your fears.  You understand that fear itself can become a destructive force in your life. It can define your boundaries and soon you struggle with fear in every arena. 

How can you overcome fear? Go to Jesus. Jesus understands how easily we can become afraid. He lived among us. He knows the dangers we face just in ordinary living.  He promises to guide our lives so that even in the most difficult circumstances we can hold on to hope and joy. His hold on our lives reassures us, helps us overcome worry and live free from fear.

If you need that kind of faithful help to overcome your fears, ask Jesus to become Lord and Savior of your life. He promises to never leave you nor forsake you. He knows what makes you worry. He will help you in times of trouble and offer you the kind of hope that doesn’t depend on circumstances.

If you are tired of being frightened, call out to Jesus. It is as simple as speaking a prayer. “Lord Jesus, I need you to be Lord and Savior of my life. I am sorry for the wrongs I have done. I need your forgiveness. Please become Lord of my life and help me to overcome my fears. Help me to stop worrying and to place my trust in You, in Jesus’ name.  Amen!”

-Bill Hennessy
 

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Fearing Tomorrow

 

Have you noticed how many people express fear about tomorrow? It’s little wonder that people look to stress management experts for help to stop worrying or to end panic attacks. But can new self-help techniques really change our reality?

What is fear?  Fear comes in many forms, but nearly all fear stems from a lack of control over things that we cannot change. Imagine driving in heavy traffic when a speeding car suddenly appears to your right.  There is no place for you to move out of the way.  All you can do is wait for the sound of crushing metal.  It is the kind of experience that can frighten the strongest person.

That helpless feeling sums up why fear affects us so powerfully.  Being afraid overwhelms us when we cannot control our circumstances. If you spend much of your time worrying, if it seems you are always frightened,  or if you have allowed fears to stack up in your life until you believe you might be paranoid, there is hope.  Jesus knows your fears and is ready to lead you out of fear and into peace.

Fear is mentioned in the Bible more than 350 times.  God understands that many people have no greater enemy than fear itself.  Fear can prevent us from accomplishing great things.  Fear can stop us in our tracks, but fear is not the most powerful force in the universe.  God is able to overcome fear once and for all.

The Bible teaches us: “there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)  What does that mean? 

We must create a relationship with Jesus Christ to find peace. Once we have that, no power on earth can cause us to live in fear. That’s because once we have relationship with Jesus, our sins are forgiven and God holds our futures in His hands.  

- Bill Hennessy
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Overcoming Fear

 

Modern living can be hazardous!  The stress we face each day causes many people to suffer panic attacks.  People spend so much time worrying.  Businesses are making millions offering stress management techniques that often don’t work as advertised.

What is fear?  Often it is concern over life issues that we feel we can’t control.  When we face hard times, have difficulty in relationships or financial problems, we can become overwhelmed.  Life seems to pile more problems on top of the problems we already face. It is enough to make us paranoid!

There is hope!  Jesus came and provided a way to overcome fear.  He taught us that perfect love casts out fear.  Think about it this way: When you are alone in a storm, the sounds and force of the wind can seem overwhelming. But, when you experience the storm with another person, it is still just as strong, but you take comfort from being with another.  

God is a constant companion to those who put their trust in Him.  He helps us to overcome our fears and panic attacks. He can deliver us from being paranoid. He can help us to overcome fear itself. 

The first step is to overcoming fear is enter into a relationship with God. You can do that by asking Christ to come into your life and be your friend. He can forgive you for the things that you have done wrong and offers forgiveness to all who ask.  Then, He offers to walk with us every step of the way.  Jesus can help you through every battle you face in this life and promises you eternal life with Him.  What is fear?  An opportunity to turn your life over to Jesus!

-Bill Hennessy
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Your Focus, Fear or Forgiveness?

“You aren’t paranoid if someone is really chasing you!” It is a funny saying if you are not the one facing fear. If you are, you probably know all about the panic attacks, worrying and effort required containing and managing your fear. Many people have a hard time even determining what is fear and what is just a realistic view of a difficult situation.

Stress management has become big business in many parts of the world. People will spend their live savings in hope of overcoming fear.  What is the solution?  How can you live beyond your fears?  The Bible tells us: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” I John 4:18 (ESV)

When we find God’s forgiveness for our wrong-doing, we begin to experience love, perfect love.  Fear is connected to punishment, not forgiveness. When we focus on all that we have been forgiven for, we begin to change our pattern of thought.  God fills our minds with gratitude for new life and fear becomes something that we can finally manage and overcome.

If you’ve suffered from panic attacks, if you have spent too much time worrying, if you have battled your thought life and felt no relief, it is probably time to take a step of faith and try Jesus! When you do, you can overcome fear itself!

-    Bill Hennessy

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Overcoming Fear Itself

Years ago, we moved to a third world country in Africa.  We were newly married and our son was only ten months old.  The transition from one culture and country to another can is stressful under any circumstance but, our move was especially so.  We faced the normal daily issues of living in a third world country such as having to boil your drinking water, bleaching your vegetables, not eating fresh fruit unless we peeled it, and  being attentive to going outside when the mosquitoes were in full force.  The aspects of life were considered “normal” and were not cause for fear itself.

What became an increasing cause for worrying was the constant need to monitor my family’s safety.  If we left anything outside our house at night then it would be stolen.  If we did not lock the car doors or the doors to our house then intruders would invade and steal.  The safety of my loved ones became so paramount my thoughts that I became paranoid.

My need for quality stress management was accentuated as we encountered what was then a new disease called “HIV/AIDS.”  We were told that it was transmittable through the air and well as when someone touched you in any way.  We were told that the disease would kill you also immediately after coming in contact with you.

All the genuine issues and the misinformation given us about life added up to panic attacks!  I was worrying constantly and trapped by the bonds of fear.  Finally, I determined that this was not the life that I wanted to live.  I turned to the Lord in prayer and asked Him to bring me relief.  I stood on the promises in the Bible that He is my protector, my strength, my healer, and my friend.  I then lived the words of the chorus in the old church hymn:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”

I recommend highly to you that you release your panic attacks and even fear itself and turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Focus not on the problem but on the Answer!

- Mark Flattery

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Fearing the Future

As moms, we can find ourselves fearing many things. Some of those fears can be how we will provide for our families, how to raise our children properly, or how to keep our marriage going strong. 

All of these things can cause us to worry. I sometimes feel like the world will collapse around me because I can’t give up my fear of what is going on in my life. I look at my daughter and wonder if she will grow up with the knowledge and understanding of how our world works.

When it comes to my daughter, I sometimes fear even the unknown things that could harm her like illness. These things sometimes happen to people for a variety of reasons. None of them can be controlled by me.

You might call me a "control freak" in many ways. If I do not control my thoughts I can become paranoid about what the future holds. The hardest thing for me to do is to turn my fear over to God.  In those moments, I  have to remember that only God knows the future. I must force myself to remember all of the times He helped me in the past.  When all is said and done,  only He is able to know the future or how my daughter will fare as she grows up.  Because He is God, I can release my fears to Him and let Him guide my future.

- Rachel Joubert

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