Do Not Be Afraid

                                                            Matthew 14:27

                                    But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,

                                     "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

Before going to the mountain to pray, Jesus instructed the disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the sea. Because Jesus stayed on the mountain longer than they had anticipated, the disciples found themselves alone and being tossed about by furious winds. Jesus, seeing they were in distress, came walking across the waters.

                            Now in the fourth watch of night Jesus went to them, walking on
                            the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they
                            were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
                            But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!
                            It is I; do not be afraid!"                              Matthew 14:25-27

As I thought of what was happening to the disciples, afraid for their lives, and then seeing someone walking on the water toward them, I understood why they cried out in fear. I would too!

Then I read Jesus' reply,
                         
                            "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

This made me think of times I have been afraid. Times I didn't know where to turn or what to do. I realized Jesus had come to me in those moments, not walking on the water, but by a word spoken, a smile given, a note received, or a devotional I've read, giving me hope for one more day. He has led me, not to the other side of the sea, but to the other side of my heartache, confusion, or fear. And as He said to the disciples, He has said to me,

                             "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

                               For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
                               But of power and of love and of a sound mind.
                                                                                                 2 Timothy 1:6

                               For I, the LORD your God, will uphold your right hand,
                               Saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you." 
                                                                                                 Isaiah 41:13



                       I am exited to share with you my newly release Daily Devotional,

                                                          "Living in the Vineyard."

       

Available through Amazon.com (type my name - Cyndy Lindblad - in the search bar) or by emailing me at 452eagleswings@gmail.com.  Cost: $20.00. "Living in the Vineyard" is also available as an ebook.
       

Cast Out

                                                             John 9:35
                                          Jesus heard that they had cast him out;
                                      and when he had found him, He said to him,
                                           "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

Being healed by Jesus, the Jews brought the blind man to the Pharisees to explain to them how he had been healed. When the blind man told him how Jesus had put clay on his eyes the Pharisees were outraged, casting him out of the synagogue. Hearing he had been cast out, Jesus came to him.

Have you ever been cast out, rejected, falsely accused of something you did not do? It is devastating. You feel so alone. May it be a comfort to know, even if the whole world turns against you, Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. He will find you in the midst of your despair and devastation.

                            For He Himself has said,
                                 "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
                            So we may boldly say;
                                 "The Lord is my helper;
                                   I will not fear.
                                  What can man do to me?"         __Hebrews 13:5b-6

Jesus asked the man He had healed, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" When we are cast out, He asks us the same. Because we believe in Jesus, we can trust Him. Because we trust Him, we know what Jesus tells us is true. Though the whole world rejects us and we have been cast out from among those we thought we knew, Jesus is there. We can hang on tight to His hand as he leads us through the heartache to the other side of healing.

                           The LORD is my light and my salvation;
                           Whom shall I fear?
                           The LORD is the strength of my life;
                           Of whom shall I be afraid?               __Psalm 27:1

                          "Have I not commanded you?
                           Be strong and of good courage;
                           do not be afraid, nor dismayed,
                           For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
                                                                                     __Joshua 1:9





It is with much excitement I announce the release of my devotional,

                                                             "Living in the Vineyard,"
                                                        Listening for the Voice of God.

 Available on Amazon.com. Type my name in the search bar.

"Living in the Vineyard" will also be available as an ebook in early January