Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” -Matthew 14:27 HCSB

Most of us know the expression where there is fear, there is no faith or some variation of it. Jesus told His disciples to have courage. But how do we acquire it?

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10 HCSB

I have lots of things going on in my life that could easily lead to fear and dscouragement. However, they don’t necessarily have to. For me to do that would be both self-destructive and render me ineffective for the kingdom. The reality is that, as a believer, I have a toolkit at hand to combat such things. The enemy would have me forget that or not know it at all.

What are those tools I am referring to? First and foremost, we have the Bible. The Scriptures are where we can find God’s directions to us on how we should maintain both our relationship with Him and with our fellow human being. Secondly, we have fellowship with other believers from which we can draw encouragement, direction and knowledge from those who have more experience walking the Christian walk and studyng His word. The Bible specifically enourages us to assemble as believers. Corporate worship and study is invaluable to us as His children.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -Hebrews10:24-25 NIV

So let us live today, mindful of the hope imparted to us by our precious Savior’s sacrifice for us and His resurrection to eternal lfe. He goes to prepare a place for us (as He is quoted in the Bible). Will you be ready to move into that place at the appointed time? It is my hope and prayer for you that you may be able to say with confidence that you are. It makes dealing with the pressures and assorted things that we face in this life. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB77

For starters, the Bible is explicit that we are to get together for worship, fellowshipping and encouraging each other in growth. Finding a local congregation of believers to join and contribute to is simply being obedient to the LORD and will reap many blessings.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. -James 2:14‭-‬17 CSB

I love my church. If you go to church, I hope you love yours too. Church is so much more than just studying God’s word and singing a few songs, it is an important avenue for fellowship and thus encouraging each other to work for the goals of our Father’s kingdom. The people at my church are warm, loving and show their caring through deeds — not just nice words and prayers.l

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. -James 2:18 NIV

Before we started attending and eventually joining the church my wife and I belong to now, we checked out a couple of different churches to see what would best fit for us in our Christian service. We have come to appreciate a more traditional style of worship and found a church that reminds us more of a Baptist church in style and theology. The bottom line is that we think the Holy Spirit has drawn us to the church we joined. For the record, the church my wife and I belong to is the Preston City Bible Church in Preston City, CT. It is fundamentalist in doctrine and practice (although not KJV-only). I find it to be Spirit-filled (NOT to be confused with Charismatic or Pentecostal). The church has grown, is active in the community and various forms of outreach. The people are great and we have come to love many of them as the family they truly are.

It is my hope and prayer for you the reader that you too may find a local fellowship of believers to help strengthen and encourage you in achieving the kingdom-minded goals our LORD has for you!

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” -NIV84

Too often, we act as though God owes us healing whenever we demand it — like He is our personal butler, delivering whatever we want when we ‘ring the bell.’ Sorry, but it doesn’t quite work that way.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV84

Quite often, dealing with physical ailments is the catalyst that propels us closer to Him. The sweet relationship we may have with our Lord is worth so much more than material success, physical health or anything else we may think is of value in this world.