What Are You Afraid Of?

What ARE you afraid of? Some are afraid of heights, some of small spaces, some even of spiders. Digging deeper still, some of us are afraid of not having enough money or food; and others of being left alone or losing a job. The list carries us as far as our worries will take us.

Whatever the fear, it can consume us and steal our joy. The Bible calls us not to fear, but rather to lay our needs in the hands of God (Luke12:22-34). Our LORD often reminds us not to fear; however fear is not always bad or wrong. Countless times the Bible DOES encourage us to fear one. . .God. Actually we are called to fear Him only! As we fear Him, we take to heart the attributes of who He is - i.e. His power, strength, love, holiness, and kingship. We recognize His power and greatness over us, His creation, and act according to them.

As we begin to comprehend the 'hugeness' of God, we can truly rejoice in how deep, wide, long, and high His love for us really is. The Psalms are overflowing with great promises that the LORD pours out to those who fear Him. He:

25:14 - CONFIDES in them
31:19 - has GOODNESS stored up for them
33:18 - has His EYES on them
34:7 - ENCAMPS around them
34:9 - causes them to LACK NOTHING
60:4 - raises up a BANNER OF PROTECTION over them
61:5 - gives them a HERITAGE
85:9 - brings SALVATION near them
103:11 - has LOVE for them higher than the heaven is above the earth
103:13 - has COMPASSION on them as a father has for his children
111:5 - PROVIDES them with food
111:10 - gives them WISDOM
115:13 - BLESSES them
128:1 - BLESSES their family
145:19 - FULFILLS their desires
147:11 - DELIGHTS in them

So bring before the LORD those fears that are not of Him and let Him transform those fears into the joy of fearing Him alone!

Planted by Streams

He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3

Refreshment and nourishment in the LORD are available in many ways around the Countryside Fellowship. The Encouraging Words Bookstore is one great place to find just this. As the Body finds itself increasingly in the spot of "craving spiritual milk," as 1 Peter exhorts, the bookstore offers a place to learn and dive deeper into God's Word.

Remember to pray for this ministry and LaVerne Wheeler as she oversees it. Several needs that LaVerne has suggested to lift in prayer are that:

• People would take advantage of the great opportunity and blessing that the bookstore provides to be ministered to by the Word
• Guidance would be given to those serving as they are attentive to the LORD in how to encourage and fellowship with those who enter the bookstore
• God would raise up people in the Body to serve in this ministry

My Cup Overflows. . .

Countryside's coffeehouse, Encouraging Words, and the Thursday night dinners, Cafe Koinonia, are a blessing to the Body. They minister in very practical ways and continue to allow a place for the Body to fellowship and encourage one another.

As you lift up these two ministries in prayer, please pray that:

• The LORD's voice would be heard clearly regarding the things that He wants to do with and through this ministry
• Cafe Koinonia would run smoothly both in preparation and delivery
• True Koinonia [togetherness] and fellowship would be developed among those who are ministered to
• Christ would be formed in those who are serving

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Praying For Our Youth

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
It's true! Throughout the Bible God chooses to use the youth to do great things in His name. Check out the ways He used Daniel, Miriam, Josiah, David, Esther, Mary (Jesus' mother), and, of course, how could we forget Jesus. He is still, today, using the youth to work out His mighty plans and purposes as they yield to Him.

In a world of distractions, our youth need our ongoing prayer as they seek to yield, with undivided devotion, to the LORD. Countryside's Jr. and Sr. High youth leader, Jesse Sallas, has provided several ideas for you to keep in mind as you pray for them:

• As school has begun, pray that they would not be distracted by school and the activities that might pull them away from their intimacy with the LORD.
• Pray that God would use them powerfully in their schools for his plans and purposes.
• Pray that the truths the LORD has taught them this summer would be used and grown up in them.