Fear Factor

For GOD has not given us a

 SPIRIT of FEAR

but of Power

 Love  and of

a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

"Lord, I am just thinking about how grateful I am that You have not given us control of anything except ourselves, our choices and our thoughts.  Our understanding is finite, limited and for good reason.  Our minds cannot even begin to fathom or contain Your level of knowledge.  This should keep us humble because not one person on this earth knows it all.  I'm so glad that I don't because I believe it could destroy me to know too much."

When I was a child, I had no fear of most of the things that I fear now.  My brother and I used to spend hours in the desert hunting lizards and horned toads.  We would climb barbed wire fences and everything.  In the middle of summer days with no sunblock or water, the only thing we were equipped with was my brother's BB gun.  He would shoot a lizard and we would be so fascinated.  Talk about rough and tumble.

Now, you couldn't pay me to spend more than 20 minutes in the sun and my deficient vitamin D levels can attest to that.  I do not like to spend a lot of time outside, especially if there isn't any shade nearby.  My lack of sunlight may have caused me to be more susceptible to Multiple Sclerosis and now too much sun can cause me to have a relapse.  You can see details about my MS on my MS blog Did I Mention My MS???

Some fear is healthy and alerts us when danger is nearby.  I call that our animal instincts and we need to have animal responses.  Don't try to rationalize your God given instincts when something is amiss.  When most animals sense danger, they don't mind confronting it right away and nipping it in the bud.  Whether they flee or fight, they are quick to take action.  For most humans, our ability to rationalize causes us to hesitate.  Sometimes that hesitation can be the difference between life and death.  So trust your own instincts.  They are there for a reason.  I'm not saying fight every time you feel danger, instead get yourself to safety and in a safe position as soon as you feel the first hint that something is off.  You could be wrong, but you will at least be alive.

Most of my fears are unrealistic.  I am afraid to swim in the ocean because I just know a shark is out there waiting for me.  That's a true story.  Well that and the fact that I am not the greatest swimmer.  It's the things that don't scare me that have caused me more harm.  Thanks to T.V., I know just enough to be paranoid and irritating.  Getting connected with God on a regular basis is the only thing that helps me maintain a sound mind.  He teaches me how to combat my fears w/o worrying because I know He will always have my back.  He teaches me that even though I am not exempt from problems in this world, He will guide me through every single trial until the day He calls me to come home.

Yes, at times I worry.  Yes, at times I am afraid.  And in those times, the Holy Spirit ministers to me and helps me to keep my focus on Him.  To focus on what is true and how I can manage my fears.

Fear is not be a Factor for me, as long as I keep my mind stayed on Him.

Were You Really "Just Kidding"?

Every now and then I have to reprimand my daughters for being rude to each other.  There are 3 of them and sometimes the older 2 gang up on the youngest or the younger two gang up on the oldest.  One of their favorite excuses for being mean is, "I was just kidding."  "Oh really?", I reply.  "Do you think that just because you were "just kidding" it makes your sister feel better?"  They think about it then realize that a sincere apology is in order.

Kidding and joking cannot un-ring a bell.  Once we speak something hurtful on purpose, the words "just kidding" only make it worse because now it seems like we are making light of cruelty.  Not only that but don't you think people know the differene.  We are all guilty of saying mean and hurtful things to people.  Once we realize that we have rang that bell (saying something that we regret), a sincere apology should follow.

Even if we have hurt someone unintentionally we should apologize.  What if we are not sorry?  You know, maybe you said something that needed to be said but it was not in a loving way.  More out of anger?  Once the dust settles you will feel bad but pride may prevent you from apologizing right away (at least that's the way it is for me). 

At that point, give it to God and ask for His guidance and forgiveness.  Sometimes an apology isn't necessary and changing your attitude is all it takes.  Actions can definitely speak louder than words.  If you do apologize, don't continue to make the same mistake.  Eventually your apologies will fall on deaf ears.

I am very bold and outspoken.  That can be good or it can be very bad.  I used to speak w/o thinking which didn't always turn out good.  As I get older, I gain wisdom about bridling my tongue or atleast speak in a loving way. 

......But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
James 1:19 New American Standard

Kidding and joking should be kept to a minimum (unless you are a clown) and never at someone's expense.  You can be funny w/o acting like a fool.  Keep wisdom and knowledge close by.

From my heart to yours,

Starla D Espinoza

Love Is More Powerful Than Death

Death has not won.  Love is more powerful than death.  Love will last forever, for God is love.

These words were spoken by T.D. Jakes at Whitney Houston's funeral.  I love how God spoke such powerful words through T.D. Jakes.  He stated that he knows "it seems like death has won.  How Cain killed Abel and how Noah died even though he survived the flood.  Isaiah and many more from the bible eventually passed away, and death seemed to win.  But 2000 years ago, Jesus came and said hold on death.  I have overcome the world and I have overcome death.  Death will not win and it will not  be the end ."

I grew up listening to every single one of Whitney's songs.  For me and my friends, her voice was the one that we aspired to have.  I remember we used to practice singing "I Believe The Children Are The Future" in my friend Kashae's bedroom, using a brush or a pencil as our microphone.  I never even got close to Whitney's gifted voice but I will always love every song she ever sang.

I know that Whitney struggled with drugs in the past but I also believe that she knew the Lord.  Was it enough to make it to heaven?  I don't know.  I hope so but only God can say for sure.  I think we would be surprised who we might see in heaven.  One thing I do know is I will be there.  When I die, I am confident that I will take my seat at His feet and be blessed.  Yes Lord.

For more about salvation and heaven, see "Salvation Is A Free Gift" and "Every Man For Himself (Woman Too)"

Love Never Fails

 Define love. What does it mean to you?  It seems that we all have different definitions of love and what it means to us. Do you have Agape (a-gop-ay) or unconditional love?  Just because we say we love someone that doesn't make it true.  If you say it, you gotta be about it. There should be actions behind your love for someone.  What would you do for love? 

Let's start with two things that do not belong together shall we?  Love and money.  First of all, you cannot buy love so that's out.  Well not true love anyways.  Second, the love of money is the root to all kinds of evil.  What evil you ask? ALL kinds of evil.  Let's take greed for example.  There is a show on TV called American Greed.  People have scammed and deceived many people, all for the love of money.  I guess they couldn't make enough of their own money so they had to steal it from other's.  I'm not just talking about survival money, I'm talking about millions of dollars.  And where are these people now?  In prison with not a dime to their name.  Now that's a dime shame.

Now let's talk about tough love.  Whew, that's a rough one.  Having to tell a loved one NO.  This is where you may have to turn your back on a loved one that has continously taken advantage of you.  They expect you to help them all the time, well because you love them.  They actually think that you owe them something.  Most of the time these people are irresponsible and you are usually doing more harm than good by enabling them.  As long as they can depend on your help and your love, they have no reason to change their ways.  Whether it be a drug habit or maybe even gambling.  There are many different ways to take advantage of someone and continue doing it until you love them enough to just say NO.

God's love for us is so great and He will say NO to us if it's not in our best interests.  He know's our hearts.  No does not always mean never, it just might mean the timing is not right.  Trust God to direct you, guide you and lead you.  Let your faith rest not on human wisdom, but on God's power and love.

For the Love of Money

Have you ever seen the movie Indecent Proposal?  It's about a wealthy man who offers a young married couple one million dollars to spend one night with the wife.  The couple agreed to do it, and ended up regretting it.  It destroyed their marriage. 

Here is the question that I have.  What did they think would happen after that night?  They were so blinded by all the plans they would make with the money that they failed to think about their love for each other.  I guess their love of money outweighed their love for each other.  It scares me to think about what we will do and have done for money. 

You know what scripture says about the love of money right?  Well in case you didn't know,  look up  the scripture 1 Timothy 6:10  "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  (Note that it doesn't say the love of money is the root to some evil.  It says all kinds of evil.)

The married couple was so eager for the money that they caused themselves all kinds of drama for it.  As human beings, why do we tend to put more faith in our money than our faith in God?  Isn't God the one who made everything?  Everything on this earth belongs to Him, so why doesn't that knowledge keep us from putting Him in a box?  
Why do we choose to worry about the things which we cannot control?  
Can't we just put our faith in the one who knows all, sees all and who is everywhere?  

Nothing is too big for God.  This is often the pep talk that goes on in my mind almost daily because I need to be reminded that God knows the plans that He has for me.  How much is enough anyways?  The more money we come across, the more money we spend.  We need to learn how to be content whether we have very little, or very much.  And remember this, to whom much is given, much is required. 

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”