Category Archives: Personal

What, Me Worry?

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In the 1800’s on the American frontier, homesteaders had to be concerned with how much firewood was cut for the winter months. Concern over this kept men cutting whole trees most of the summer and into autumn — right up until the snow hindered the task. Then, as the cold winds blew, anxious thoughts would also arrive: would this be enough wood?

I’m thankful for modern conveniences, like central heating. But there are still things that tempt me to worry. Christians are not exempt from giving in to anxious thoughts. What makes you worry?

The Bible gives us several helpful insights into dealing with worry and anxiety. Here are FIVE that I recently shared with some men from my church.

#1. WORK HARD, BUT DO NOT WORRY. Read Matthew 6:25-33, from the Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore, do not worry about your life…” Jesus said. Yes, you should labor for food, shelter and clothing, but you should not entertain the fearful thoughts that create worry and anxiety. Someone else once said, A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work!

#2. DO NOT BORROW WORRY FROM TOMORROW. Read Matthew 6:34 — “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,” Jesus says, “for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Why import troubles from tomorrow, when today’s troubles keep us busy enough?!

#3. GIVE GOD YOUR ANXIETIES: 1st Peter 5:6-7. Of course, many of us hesitate to ask for help (that’s pride at work), and so we also hesitate to ask God for help with what worries us. I think that’s why Peter first writes about being humble before God (5:6) before he exhorts us to cast all our cares upon Him (5:7). What’s really sweet about this verse is what it tells us about God: “He cares [literally, ‘is anxious’] for you.” Let God’s divinely broad shoulders bear your anxious fears!

#4. GET FROM GOD PEACE & HELP: Philippians 4:6-7. God has peace available for anxious folks like us. Ask Him for it. The bigger principle at work here is this: Worship and worry are mutually exclusive. If you spend time in God’s presence (in prayer and at peace) your anxieties will flee. Fill your mind with thoughts of who God is, and what He has promised to you. A.S. Rouch has said, “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” I would propose the converse as well: thanksgiving and praise of God trickling through your mind and heart will cleanse away worrisome fears, and foster peace of mind, and hope in God.

#5. OBEY THE WORD & EXERCISE YOUR FAITH! Let me, lastly, direct you to the beginning of Psalm 37 (vv. 1-7), where we are shown how to walk in faith (to trust and delight in God, to wait upon Him, etc.). Real faith walks this way; superficial faith will endlessly dance with worries, and miss the joy of drawing close to the Lord of life and peace.

Why let worries linger in your life, O believer? Do your work, worship God with a thankful heart and walk by faith.

Pastor David

Heather & a God Who Hears

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Dear Friends,

Some of you may have heard our recent early morning cry for help and prayer when Heather fell to the floor at our house a week or so ago. Let me share the details, but first give praise to our God who hears and answers our prayers. Heather is home and acting normal — healed, we believe, by the Lord.

It was Monday, Oct. 17 (my day off). Shortly after breakfast, as I was playing with young Daniel in our living room, Heather was passed to me to hold. As I took her, I attempted to lift my right foot out of Dan’s grasp, but he had tied my feet together with his bathrobe belt. My right ankle twisted and I fell suddenly to the floor, while Heather went forward out of my grasp. I watched in horror as she fell head first to the floor. The family scrambled to provided aid, and when she lost consciousness while lying on the sofa I called 911. While waiting, we were helped by Dr. Steve Kineke on the phone — until the ambulance arrive. She had awoken by that time, and the paramedics were optimistic about her condition. While traveling to Albany Medical Center, though, she again passed out again, and could not be awakened. On our arrival, the doctors quickly examined her neck and limbs, and ruled out injuries there, but ordered an immediate CAT scan given the huge “egg” on her head and since she was not acting herself.

The CAT scan came back all clear, and within the hour Heather was acting herself again. PRAISE THE LORD. Just after Noon, the doctors released us to take Heather home to rest and watch.

While at the ER, Andrew had called several folks from CPCC to share our need for prayer. Our neighbor Tom Melnik (a fellow believer who works downtown) walked in and sat with us for a time. We thank God for this family. As we left the hospital, we were met by my good friend Pastor Wayne Brandow coming to pray with us — all the way from Galway, NY.

We thank them, and all of you who prayed. We are certain that this severe injury was healed by the God who hears and answers prayers.

The great Charles Spurgeon once said (commenting on Psalm 32:6):

REMARKABLE ANSWERS TO PRAYER VERY MUCH QUICKEN THE PRAYERFULNESS OF OTHER GODLY PERSONS. WHERE ONE MAN FINDS A GOLDEN NUGGET, OTHERS FEEL INCLINED TO DIG!

yours by divine mercy,
Pastor David Bissett